Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
About
170-Acre Zoo Plus 70-Acre Botanical Garden
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden combines a 170-acre zoo with 2,000+ animals on the east bank of the Saluda River and a 70-acre botanical garden on the west bank, linked by a canopy walk above the river. AZA-accredited zoo with consistent top-25 USA family rankings.
What Kids Can Do
Waterfall Junction is a 3-acre interactive splash zone with a 25-foot cascading waterfall, dinosaur dig, and rope-net climber. Giraffe Overlook lets kids hand-feed giraffes daily 10am-2:30pm. Daily lorikeet feeding 9am-4:30pm in the Australian aviary - kids hold nectar cups for free-flying lorikeets. Boyd Aquarium and Reptile Conservation Center has interactive touch tanks and live shark/stingray feedings. Botanical Garden across the canopy walk has a Children's Garden with edible plants [marked: giraffe feeding and lorikeet feeding require separate paid tickets - timed-entry on busy days].
What's Included
General admission covers zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, canopy walk, and Waterfall Junction. Giraffe feeding $4, lorikeet feeding $3 extra. Train and carousel separate fees. Memberships cover unlimited year-round visits.
Experience
Plan 4-6 hours for full zoo plus garden. Mix indoor (aquarium, reptile center) and outdoor (most exhibits). Bring swimsuits/change of clothes for Waterfall Junction. Free on-site parking. Open daily 9am-5pm except Thanksgiving/Christmas.