Flamingo Encounters in Florida

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Want to feed flamingos in Florida? Well, you can! There are many zoos, resorts and safari parks in Florida that offer flamingo encounters.

The following is a list of flamingo encounters in Florida:

(Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I earn a commission from purchases made through the links in this post.)

Discovery Cove:

Address: 6000 Discovery Cove Way, Orlando, FL

Website: discoverycove.com/orlando

Established in 2000, Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive family resort and theme park in Orlando. The resort features fun animal experiences, white sand beaches, tropical lagoons and unlimited food and drinks.

The resort offers a “Flamingle” experience where guests can meet, mingle with and feed the flamingos at the resort.

In addition to the flamingo encounter, the resort also offers various other animal encounters such as an Otter Encounter, a Swim with Dolphins Encounter, a Swim with Sharks Encounter, a Stingray Encounter, and a Trainer for a Day experience.

In 2022, U.S. News Travel named Discovery Cove one of the three best water parks in the U.S.

Discovery Cove is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is owned and operated by Seaworld Parks & Entertainment.

Jungle Island:

Address: 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, Florida

Website: www.jungleisland.com

Established in 1936, Jungle Island is an eco-adventure park in Miami that features animals, a playground and a replica Florida everglades habitat.

The park offers a Flamingo Experience which is a 30-minute encounter during which visitors can feed flamingos.

In addition to the Flamingo Experience, the park also offers a Lemur Encounter, a Sloth Encounter and a private VIP tour of the park.

In 2023, the New York Post named Jungle Island one of the 17 best kid-friendly things to do in Miami.

Jungle Island was founded by Francis and Louise Scherr.

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory:

Address:1316 Duval St, Key West, FL

Website: keywestbutterfly.com

Established in 1992, the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is a nature conservatory in Key West that features butterflies and exotic birds.

The conservatory offers a Flamingo Encounter during which visitors can get up close and personal with the flamingos at the conservatory.

The encounter is only available to one small group of visitors each day so be sure to book the encounter ahead of time if you are interested.

If you would like to visit the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory and want to save money on tickets, Trusted Tours and Attractions sells discount tickets to the conservatory.

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is owned by Sam Trophia and George Fernandez.

Lion Country Safari:

Address: 2003 Lion Country Safari Rd, Loxahatchee, FL

Website: www.lioncountrysafari.com

Established in 1967, Lion Country Safari is a safari park in Loxahatchee that features over 900 animals.

The park offers a Flamingo Mingle Experience during which visitors may enter the flamingo area of the park and feed the flamingos. Entry to the drive-thru and walk-thru adventure park is included.

In addition to the Flamingo Mingle Experience, the park also offers a Giraffe Painting Experience, VIP Tour, Birds and Brushes Experience and Toddler Tour Petting Zoo Experience.

In 2009, USA Travel Guide named Lion Country the 3rd best zoo in the nation. In 2022, USA Today named Lion Country the 5th best safari park in the country.

Lion Country Safari is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is owned by Marcella Leone.

Palm Beach Zoo:

Address: 1301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL

Website: www.palmbeachzoo.org

Established in 1969, Palm Beach Zoo is a zoo in Palm Beach that is home to over 190 species of animals.

The zoo offers a Capybara & Flamingo Experience which is a 30 minute experience during which visitors can get up close to the flamingos and capybara and take photos of them while they learn how the zoo cares for them. Participants must be at least 8 years old.

In addition to the Flamingo Experience, the zoo also offers other animal encounters such as a Tiger Experience, Otter Experience, Sloth Experience, a Koala Encounter and Tortoise Experience.

Palm Beach Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Margo McKnight is the president and CEO of Palm Beach Zoo.

Sarasota Jungle Gardens:

Address: 3701 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL

Website: sarasotajunglegardens.com

Established in 1939, Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a botanical garden in Sarasota that features free-roaming flamingos.

The gardens offers a flamingo feeding experience during which visitors can hand feed the free-roaming flamingos that live on the property.

Sarasota Jungle Gardens is owned by Chris and Nancy Lavick.

Sources:
List of AZA Accredited Zoos.” The Zoo Directory, zoo.directory/pages/list-of-aza-accredited-zoos
Ritz, Eddie. “Florida’s Lion Country Safari Named One of Nation’s Top 5 Safari Parks.” The Palm Beach Post, 5 June. 2022, palmbeachpost.com/story/entertainment/2022/06/05/lion-country-safari-florida-named-fifth-best-safari-park-united-states/7500269001/
Lion Country Safari to be sold.” WPTV, 19 June. 2017, wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/lion-country-safari-could-soon-be-sold
Kaufman, David Christopher. “The 17 Best Kid-Friendly Things to do in Miami.” New York Post. 10 Jan. 2023, nypost.com/2023/01/10/the-best-kid-friendly-things-to-do-in-miami-for-2023/
Our History.” Jungle Island, jungleisland.com/our-history
McCarthy, Kyle and Holly Johnson. “The 33 Best Water Parks in the USA.” US News Travel, 14 April. 2022, travel.usnews.com/gallery/the-best-water-parks-in-the-usa
About Discovery Cove.” Discovery Cove Orlando, discoverycove.com/orlando/park-info/