1. Petting Zoos
- Higgeldy Piggeldy Farm Yard (Cape Town): Located at Imhoff Farm in Kommetjie, this farmyard allows visitors to interact with ponies, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, emus, and rabbits.
- Willow Feather Farm (Pretoria): This farm offers interactions with turkeys, guinea pigs, potbelly pigs, and goats. They also have a tea garden and picnic baskets.
- Flag Animal Farm (Gauteng): Home to over 1,000 rescued animals, including wolves and alpacas, this farm offers daily animal interactions, milking shows, and reptile handling.
- Holmeleigh Farmyard (Port Elizabeth): A family-friendly farm where you can feed animals, milk cows, and enjoy tractor rides.
2. Wildlife Sanctuaries and Parks
- The Giraffe House (Cape Town): This sanctuary allows visitors to feed giraffes and interact with other animals like meerkats and ostriches.
- Drakenstein Lion Park (Paarl): A sanctuary for lions, tigers, and chimpanzees, this park offers a chance to see these majestic animals up close.
- Cheetah Outreach (Somerset West): Here, you can get up close with cheetahs and even take photos with them. They also offer feeding tours and encounters with bat-eared foxes.
3. Animal Farms and Interactive Experiences
- Rietvlei Zoo Farm (Gauteng): This farm offers a variety of activities, including feeding farmyard animals, pony rides, and mini train rides.
- Exotic Animal World (Stellenbosch): Walk through a tropical garden and interact with exotic animals. It’s a unique experience for animal lovers.
- Vredenheim Animal Farm & Big Cats Park (Stellenbosch): Choose between interacting with cute farm animals or visiting the Big Cats Park for a more adventurous experience.
4. Marine and Bird Encounters
- uShaka Marine World (Durban): This marine park offers interactive experiences with dolphins, stingrays, and other marine life. It’s a great place for both education and entertainment.
- World of Birds & Monkey Park (Hout Bay): As the largest bird park in Africa, it houses a variety of birds and monkeys. The monkey jungle allows direct interaction with agile New World monkeys.
5. Unique Animal Experiences
- The Alpaca Loom (Paarl): Meet and feed over 300 alpacas in a scenic setting.
- Monkey Town (Somerset West): This park allows you to interact with monkeys, apes, and other animals. They also have snake and reptile encounters.