Hidden in the heart of Miami, Florida, ZWF Miami (Zoological Wildlife Foundation) is a one-of-a-kind wildlife sanctuary where you can get up close and personal with some of the world’s most fascinating animals. Unlike crowded public zoos, ZWF offers private, appointment-only guided tours that let you hand-feed sloths, kangaroos, lemurs, and so much more.
Whether you are planning a birthday surprise, a family adventure, or just a unique day out, this place delivers memories that last a lifetime. Get ready to discover what makes ZWF Miami one of Florida’s most talked-about wildlife experiences.
Private Guided Wildlife Tour
There is something truly special about having a wildlife expert all to yourself. At ZWF Miami, every visit starts with a private, guided tour led by a passionate and highly trained staff member who knows each animal by name, personality, and favorite snack.
Forget the chaos of crowded zoos — here, the experience feels personal and unhurried.
Guides like Sophia, Cara, Bonnie, and Davis have earned rave reviews from guests for sharing fun facts, personal animal stories, and answering every question along the way. One reviewer described their guide Bonnie as “super friendly and funny,” while another praised Davis for his attentiveness and knowledge.
That human connection makes the tour feel less like a zoo visit and more like a backstage pass to the animal world.
Tours typically run about two hours and are available Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 AM to 6 PM. The sanctuary is located at 16225 SW 172nd Ave in Miami, FL.
Booking is appointment-only, so planning ahead is essential. With a 4.4-star rating across nearly 900 reviews, it is clear that the guided tour experience at ZWF Miami consistently delivers something extraordinary for every type of visitor.
Hand-Feeding Sloths
Sloths move through life at their own unhurried pace, and getting to hand-feed one is a bucket-list moment most people never expect to actually check off. At ZWF Miami, that dream becomes reality.
These slow-moving mammals are surprisingly engaging up close, and watching one stretch out a clawed arm to accept food from your hand is nothing short of magical.
Sloths are native to Central and South American rainforests and spend most of their lives hanging from tree branches. Their slow metabolism means they barely need to eat, so when one takes food directly from a visitor, it feels like a genuine moment of trust.
The guides at ZWF do a fantastic job of explaining sloth biology and behavior while the interaction is happening, turning the feeding session into a mini education moment.
Guests consistently describe this encounter as one of the highlights of their visit. The calm, intimate setting at ZWF means you are never rushed, and you get a real chance to observe and connect with the animal.
If you are an animal lover visiting Miami, the sloth feeding experience alone makes the trip to ZWF worth every penny and every minute of planning.
Lemur Interaction
Bo Bo the lemur is basically a celebrity at ZWF Miami. Guests mention him by name in reviews, and it is easy to see why — lemurs have enormous, expressive eyes and playful personalities that make them impossible not to adore.
Getting to interact with a lemur up close is one of those experiences that genuinely surprises people with how memorable it turns out to be.
Lemurs are native to Madagascar and are considered one of the most endangered groups of mammals on the planet. Learning about their conservation status while holding or feeding one adds a layer of meaning to the encounter that transforms it from pure fun into something genuinely educational.
ZWF’s guides are skilled at weaving in these important facts without making the experience feel like a lecture.
Reviewers frequently describe the lemur interaction as a highlight of their visit, with one guest saying they “absolutely loved interacting with Bo Bo.” Another reviewer mentioned that Clark the lemur even joined a child’s birthday party at home, showing just how versatile and outreach-focused the ZWF team can be. Whether you meet a lemur on the guided walk or at a special event, the experience leaves a lasting impression that is hard to replicate anywhere else in Florida.
Capybara Encounter Add-On
Capybaras have quietly become the internet’s favorite animal, and at ZWF Miami, you can meet one in person. The capybara encounter is available as an add-on to the general wildlife experience, and guests who spring for it consistently say it is completely worth it.
These are the world’s largest rodents, but do not let that description fool you — they are famously calm, sociable, and oddly lovable.
One reviewer booked the general wildlife experience plus the capybara encounter as a birthday surprise and had a “wonderful time,” even noting that their tour guide was on their very first tour and still knocked it out of the park. That speaks volumes about the quality of training and enthusiasm the ZWF team brings to every single visit, no matter how new or experienced the guide may be.
Capybaras are semi-aquatic animals that live in groups in the wild, which makes them naturally comfortable around others. Their easygoing temperament makes them ideal for close encounters, especially with visitors who may be a little nervous around exotic animals.
If you are on the fence about adding this experience to your tour, go for it. The extra investment pays off the moment one of these gentle giants waddles over to say hello.
Snake and Reptile Encounters
Not everyone walks into ZWF Miami expecting to fall in love with a snake, but plenty of visitors leave having done exactly that. Britney the snake has her own fan club among guests, with one reviewer recounting the moment she gave their friend a little kiss — completely safe and absolutely hilarious.
Reptile encounters at ZWF have a way of turning the most hesitant visitors into enthusiastic snake fans.
The sanctuary also offers interactions with baby alligators, skinks, and other reptiles that most people have never had the chance to handle. Guide Sophia was praised by one reviewer for teaching them how to hold a gator for the very first time, describing the experience as walking around in a “little section of a jungle sanctuary.” That kind of hands-on learning is exactly what sets ZWF apart from a standard zoo visit.
Reptile encounters are woven naturally into the guided tour, so you do not have to go out of your way to find them. The guides make sure every interaction is safe, educational, and entertaining.
For families, school groups, or curious adults, the reptile portion of the tour tends to generate some of the biggest reactions and the best photos of the entire visit.
Big Cat Viewing
Few things in nature command attention the way a lion or tiger does. At ZWF Miami, big cats are part of the experience, and being able to see them up close in a private, uncrowded setting is a completely different feeling from watching them through a fence at a packed public zoo.
The sheer size and presence of these animals leaves most visitors speechless.
In past years, ZWF offered a lion encounter that guests described as “fun-tastic.” While the specific offerings may vary over time, the big cats remain one of the most talked-about parts of the ZWF experience. One reviewer mentioned seeing lions, tigers, and many animals they had never encountered before, all within the intimate guided tour format that makes every sighting feel personal and memorable.
ZWF also houses an African Serval named Onyx, who captured the heart of at least one reviewer who described falling completely in love with the sleek spotted cat. The variety of feline residents at the sanctuary ensures that cat lovers of every kind will find something to marvel at.
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Bird Feeding Experience
Few things compare to the feeling of a brilliant macaw or a curious lorikeet landing directly on your outstretched hand. At ZWF Miami, the bird feeding experience brings you face-to-face with some of the most vividly colored birds on the planet.
Your private guide explains each species, from their natural habitats to their quirky personalities, making the experience as educational as it is thrilling.
Lorikeets especially love the sweet nectar offered during feeding sessions, and they are not shy about showing it. Watching a flock swoop down and crowd your arm is equal parts chaotic and magical.
Kids and adults both tend to walk away laughing and wide-eyed.
Kinkajou Encounter
With their big round eyes and honey-sweet personalities, kinkajous are the kind of animals that make you stop and stare in disbelief. At ZWF Miami, you can meet one of these rare rainforest mammals up close during your private guided walk.
Native to Central and South America, kinkajous are related to raccoons but look more like a cross between a monkey and a teddy bear.
Your guide will share fascinating facts about their nocturnal lifestyle and fruit-based diet. Holding one feels surprisingly cozy, almost like cradling a small, curious explorer.
It is easily one of the most unexpected highlights of the entire tour.
Baby Animal Nursery Visit
Few things in life are as pure as watching a baby animal take its first curious steps into the world. ZWF Miami occasionally offers guests a peek into their on-site nursery, where young and newborn animals are carefully raised by dedicated wildlife professionals.
Depending on the season, you might spot baby primates, small cats, or other exotic youngsters being bottle-fed and nurtured.
Your private guide will explain the care that goes into raising each animal safely and responsibly. It is a deeply moving experience that puts conservation and compassion front and center.
Kids and adults alike tend to leave the nursery with wide eyes and full hearts.