What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4pm Tuesday 9am - 4pm Wednesday 9am - 4pm Thursday 9am - 4pm Friday 9pm - 4pm Saturday 9am - 4pm Sunday 9am - 4pm

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

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Sanford, FL
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

This is the Official Page of the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens located in Sanford, Florida.
(2047)

A conservation resource creating connections that inspire people to take action for wildlife. Guests will see endangered and rare species from around the world while enjoying our beautifully maintained botanical gardens throughout the Zoo. The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens does not tolerate any sort of hateful, abusive or discriminatory speech or vulgar language toward the Zoo or any person on our page. The Zoo reserves the right to remove anyone who goes against this policy.

11/05/2024

Diego, our blue and yellow macaw, can't help but notice the striking resemblance to one of our lanterns for Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, presented by Publix. Lanterns are popping up all over the Zoo, and we are excited for it to begin next week!

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/47Gx5bP

11/05/2024

Host your Holiday Party at the Zoo this season! From corporate events to family reunions, the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is a unique and memorable place to hold your event, with customizable packages and wild add-ons like private animal encounters or group tickets to the Asian Lantern Festival!

For party options, visit https://bit.ly/3u0OUTj or email [email protected]

11/04/2024

Last Chance for Wild Zoo Art! 🎨 Sign up before Wednesday, Nov 6, to join our guided painting session this coming Saturday, Nov 9.

Meet one of our animals up close and paint a portrait that you can take home for yourself! Wild Zoo Art is perfect for kids and adults, whether you're already a master with a brush or you just want a unique Zoo souvenir to remember your experience. Art materials are provided.

Registration ends Tuesday night, so reserve your spot today: https://bit.ly/4fak1Ow

11/03/2024

The Nicobar pigeons in our front aviary have colorful, iridescent wing feathers, and long, sleek neck plumarge. One thing is for sure - these beautiful birds have style.

11/02/2024

The fossa has such amazing acrobatic skills, they can even hang upside down from a branch with their rear feet! These predators hunt on the ground and up in the trees of Madagascar.

11/01/2024

Meet Blast, the Baja blue rock lizard! This colorful fella may be small, but he's a ton of fun to watch as he scales the vertical rock walls in his habitat! You can see Blast for yourself in our Herpetarium.

11/01/2024

🏮 Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, presented by Publix, lights up the night this season! Experience the Zoo like you’ve never seen it before in a wonderland of all-new, hand-constructed lantern displays illuminated by thousands of LED lights on a 3/4 mile path. It all begins November 15 at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Secure your preferred nights before they fill up!

Buy tickets now: https://bit.ly/47Gx5bP

10/31/2024

🎃 Happy Halloween! We hope you enjoy your treats as much as our African crested porcupine enjoys hers.

10/31/2024

🚨 Today's the final day to take advantage of the best prices on tickets to the Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, presented by Publix!

Every lantern is new this year, and prices increase November 1st, so don't miss your chance on the best deal of the season to this year's most popular holiday light show!

Get tickets here: https://bit.ly/47Gx5bP

If you have trouble with the link, visit www.centralfloridazoo.org in your preferred browser.

10/30/2024

We regret to share the loss of Rafiki, one of the stars of our Giraffe Feeding area, after a long battle with chronic illness. The 13-year-old male giraffe was adored by guests, staff, and volunteers. Rafiki touched the lives of many, introducing individuals and families to his gentle species with up-close-and-personal experiences. For more info about Rafiki, please visit https://bit.ly/4e9591Z

10/29/2024

🚨 Last chance to save BIG on this year's Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, presented by Publix! 🚨 Prices increase this Friday on November 1st, so act fast! Select your dates and come see an ALL-NEW Asian Lantern Festival this year.

Get tickets here: https://bit.ly/47Gx5bP

Watch out for scam sellers and only buy from trusted sources. If you have trouble with the link, plaese visit www.centralfloridazoo.org in your preferred browser.

10/28/2024

We're truly heartbroken to announce the passing of Sam, our 35-year-old African grey parrot, due to complications from cancer of the GI tract.

Sam was hatched at the Zoo on July 3, 1989. As an Ambassador Animal for his species, Sam brought his charm and personality to making connections with generations of guests, while enriching the lives of our staff and countless volunteers over the years. African grey parrots are currently listed as Endangered, primarily due to habitat loss and illegal pet trade.

African grey parrots have an exceptional talent for mimicry, and Sam would regularly 'show off' to staff with enthusiasm, making impressive vocalizations that sounded like anything from creaky doors, 'wolf whistles', hawk and owl calls, and even cell phone notifications or a dripping faucet at times. Sam also had a habit of closely supervising Keeper staff when it came time to do maintenance around his holding area.

Sam's personality will be missed, and his impact on our Zoo will be remembered fondly. We recognize that he was as loved by guests as well as Zoo staff. We encourage you to share your memories of visiting Sam in the comments. 💙

10/27/2024

Thank you to everyone who attended our Zoo Boo Bash weekends this year! We had a blast, and we hope you did too! Special thanks to Orlando Health, our Zoo Boo Bash presenting sponsor, for helping to make all of the fun happen!

10/26/2024

🐑 It's the last Saturday of October, and that means it's National Hug A Sheep Day! Our Hoofstock keepers, Tatum, Katie, & Holly are excited to celebrate with Jayna and Zan.

10/26/2024

Join us today and tomorrow for the last weekend of Zoo Boo Bash, presented by Orlando Health!

Saturday & Sunday, October 26 & 27, trick or treat at the Zoo, with festival games, animal encounters, decorations, fun themed food & drink, and more.

Don't forget your costumes! They're encouraged for both kids and adults!

Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3XrdubU

10/25/2024

Smile for the camera! Roberta, the Orinoco crocodile gives us a toothy grin. Adult Orinoco crocodiles typically have 68 teeth – more than double the 32 that we have!

The Orinoco crocodile is a critically endangered animal, with only about 250 - 1,500 estimated left in the wild, found only in the Orinoco river basin in Venezuela and Colombia. The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is proud to be a part of the Species Survival Plan for the Orinoco Crocodile designed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

10/24/2024

🎃 There's one more weekend to enjoy Zoo Boo Bash, presented by Orlando Health! Join us at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens this Saturday & Sunday, October 26 & 27, for fun & games, a treat trail for the kids, festive food & drink options, and more seasonal Halloween fun!

Costumes are encouraged for kids & adults! 👻

Get your tickets: https://bit.ly/3XrdubU

10/23/2024

⏳ Just a little over a week left to nab the best prices for Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, presented by Publix! Don't wait – prices increase on November 1! Save even more when you purchase a Family 4-Pack.

Only trust tickets purchased directly from Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens.

Get Tickets: https://bit.ly/4h5mHPb

Address

3755 W Seminole Boulevard
Sanford, FL
32771

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9pm - 4pm
Saturday	9am - 4pm
Sunday	9am - 4pm

Telephone

+14073234450

Website

http://www.centralfloridazoo.org/

Alerts

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Videos

The fossa has such amazing acrobatic skills, they can even hang upside down from a branch with their rear feet! These predators hunt on the ground and up in the trees of Madagascar.

🎃 Happy Halloween! We hope you enjoy your treats as much as our African crested porcupine enjoys hers.

Join us today and tomorrow for the last weekend of Zoo Boo Bash, presented by Orlando Health! Saturday & Sunday, October 26 & 27, trick or treat at the Zoo, with festival games, animal encounters, decorations, fun themed food & drink, and more. Don't forget your costumes! They're encouraged for both kids and adults! Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3XrdubU

⏳ Just a little over a week left to nab the best prices for Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, presented by Publix! Don't wait – prices increase on November 1! Save even more when you purchase a Family 4-Pack. Only trust tickets purchased directly from Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Get Tickets: https://bit.ly/4h5mHPb

Zoo Boo Bash 2024

Check out a few photos from yesterday's first day of Zoo Boo Bash, presented by Orlando Health! The Halloween fun continues today from 9 A.M. - 4 P.M., but if you've got plans, we're also partying next weekend, October 26 & 27! We'll see you there! Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3XrdubU

This weekend, gather the family and join us at the Zoo for the return of Zoo Boo Bash, presented by Orlando Health! Grab a bag and load up on the treat trail, discover fun themed animal enrichment, take a photo op with decorations, play yard games for Zoo prizes, and more! Costumes are encouraged for kids and adults! October 19, 20, 26, & 27 from 9 AM to 3:30 PM. Final entry is at 3 PM. Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3XrdubU

Rhino Flip

You may not realize it, but the Greater One Horned Rhinoceros is capable of running up to 40 kilometers per hour...when they choose to.

Hurricane Milton Recovery

Update: Thanks to our incredible staff and volunteers, we will be open Saturday, October 12 for our normal hours of 9 AM - 4 PM! Recovery work began this morning, and teams quickly got to work clearing debris and assessing damages onsite. There's still work to be done, but we are excited to open our doors again to welcome guests this weekend. Note - due to Hurricane Milton recovery efforts, we will not be having extra events for Zoo Boo Bash this weekend. Please join us next weekend for the return of Zoo Boo Bash! If you purchased tickets for this weekend, your tickets are still good for the remaining two weekends this month.

Kids Night Out - October 12

Parents, are you looking for a date night? Treat the kids to an awesome kids-only adventure at the Zoo on Saturday, October 12. It's Kids Night Out! Registration ends Wednesday, October 9, so sign up today at https://bit.ly/3TLM7ao

PJ, the greater one-horned rhino, doesn't always zoom around at full speed. Usually, he's very deliberate with his moves. Here's a look at him loving his enrichment barrel, decorated by Zoo guests last week during World Rhino Day! Don't worry, he got it out of the corner easily.

Cribo yawn

What looks like a deep yawn from this black-tailed cribo is more likely a behavior called mouth gaping. Snakes can be seen doing this when stretching their jaws before or after a big meal, or any number of other reasons!