If you’re looking for somewhere to see elephants in Florida then you’re in the right place.
There’s plenty of places to see elephants all over Florida, from Tampa to Miami.
This post will tell you all of the best places to see elephants in Florida and includes all the information you’ll need for a fun day out.
About Elephants In Florida
There are a range of places in Florida where you can see elephants.
There are some locations in Florida that offer elephant rides and elephant performances.
We would strongly recommend avoiding these places as elephant rides can lead to permanent spinal injuries for the elephants.
You can learn more about why you shouldn’t ride elephants from PETA.
These establishments are not listed in this post due to ethical concerns.
Best Places To See Elephants In Florida
Below I’ve listed all the places in Florida where you can see elephants. I’ve also included essential information such as addresses and opening times.
White Oak Conservation
One of the best places to see elephants in Florida is at White Oak Conservation.
White Oak Conservation is a 17,000-acre conservation center in northeastern Florida. It’s located near the border with Georgia, just a 30 minute drive from Jacksonville.
White Oak Conservation is dedicated to the care of a range of endangered species including elephants and works hard to conserve these species in a sustainable and ethical way.
Their first herd of Asian elephants arrived in 2021 and have their own spacious forest habitat at the conservation center which includes ponds, wetlands and open grasslands.
They currently have 12 Asian elephants at the conservation center but are looking to grow this number soon as additional areas are completed.
Address: 581705 White Oak Rd, Yulee, FL 32097
Opening Times: varies – reservations are required
Check out the video below which shows the elephant habitat at White Oak Conservation:
If you enjoy seeing elephants, you may also be interested in knowing where to see flamingos in Florida.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
One of the best places to see elephants in Tampa is at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is an African-themed animal theme park located in Tampa. It covers 335-acres of land.
As well as thrilling roller coasters and rides, Busch Gardens is also home to a wide range of animals including elephants. The elephants here are Asian elephants.
The zoo at Busch Gardens is the largest zoo in Tampa with more than 200 species of animals.
You’ll find the Asian elephant herd in the Nairobi area. You’ll be able to see them waddling in their pool or foraging for food.
For an extra special experience, you can join the Elephant Insider Tour where you’ll get the chance to get up close to the elephants and learn about how they’re cared for by the zookeepers!
Address: 10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, opens at 10am. Closing time varies – check the schedule here.
Check out the video below which shows the elephants at Busch Gardens taking part in a fun Easter egg hunt:
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Another great place where you can see elephants in Florida is Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park.
This 63-acre zoo is located in Tampa and is home to more than 1,300 animals including a herd of African elephants.
The elephants are located in the Africa section of the zoo. They currently have 6 elephants here.
The zoo also offers an elephant encounter where you can meet the zookeepers and learn more about how they care for the elephants.
The zoo rescues, rehabilitates and cares for animals that need it. It is a nonprofit zoo and is run by the Lowry Park Zoological Society which is a charity.
Address: 1101 W Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:30am to 5pm
Check out the video below to see the elephants of TampaZoo:
Did you know you can also see penguins in Florida? Find out where to see penguins in Florida here.
Myakka Elephant Ranch
Another great place where you can see elephants in Florida is at the Myakka Elephant Ranch near Myakka City, just over an hour’s drive from Tampa.
The Myakka Elephant Ranch is a non-profit conservation center dedicated to caring for elephants and educating guests on elephant conservation.
You can book an elephant encounter at the ranch giving you the once in a lifetime chance to get up close to the elephants.
During the encounters you will get to help feed the elephants and help to wash them.
The ranch features both Asian and African elephants.
Address: 11 miles east of I-75 in between Lakewood Ranch & Myakka City, Florida (exact location emailed to you once you’ve booked a reservation)
Opening Times: varies – reservation required
Check out the video below showing the elephants of Myakka Elephant Ranch:
Zoo Miami
One of the best places in Miami where you can see elephants is at Zoo Miami.
Zoo Miami is both the largest and the oldest zoo in Florida with over 3,000 animals covering almost 750 acres.
The zoo has open air exhibits and due to the hot weather of Southern Florida this mimics many of the animals natural habitats.
Zoo Miami currently has both African and Asian elephants. The African elephants can be found in the Africa region of the zoo whilst the Asian elephants reside in the Asia region.
These areas feature animals that are native to those areas.
Address: 12400 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm
Check out the elephants of Zoo Miami in the video below:
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
The best place in Jacksonville to see elephants is at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens.
This zoo occupies over 122-acres and features over 2,000 animals including 3 African elephants.
You can see the African elephants in the Africa Loop which aims to mimic the plains of East Africa.
The Africa Loop features a 1,400ft boardwalk that guests can walk along as they look out at the animals in their habitats. You will be able to see the elephants from this boardwalk.
The elephants themselves live in the Elephant Plaza section which includes a 275,000-gallon pool.
Address: 370 Zoo Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32218
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm
You can see the elephants being fed at Jacksonville Zoo in the video below:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
A great place in Orlando where you can see elephants is at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
This zoological theme park is part of Walt Disney World Resort which is the largest theme park in the world.
As well as roller coasters and rides, Disney’s Animal Kingdom features hundreds of species of live animals including elephants.
Animal Kingdom is home to an entire herd of African elephants that are free to roam around their habitat that covers 7-acres and includes mud wallows, trees and 3 giant pools.
You can see the elephants on the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction in the Africa region of the park.
Address: 2901 Osceola Pkwy, Bay Lake, FL 34747
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8am to 7pm
Check out the elephants at Animal Kingdom in the video below:
Thanks for reading this post on where to see elephants in Florida.
Wherever you are in Florida, there’s plenty of options here to see elephants in Tampa, Miami, Orlando and more.
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