A nice animal park in Tampa Florida is Big Cat Rescue where you can see many big cats. As a visitor there you can see many tigers, lions and leopards up close. It is said to be the largest of its kind in the world.
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Visit Big Cat Rescue in Tampa Florida
Opened on November 4, 1992, Big Cat Rescue sees around 30,000 visitors a year. Especially for families with children this is a popular destination. Of course, you can still learn something about the animals there. We recommend to plan at least a few hours for the visit because there is much to discover. On weekends you have to expect more visitors.
If you want to have it quieter, it is best to go during the week. The area is very large with an area of 44 acres. So they have a lot of space and can also move well. Because this park is the home of felines that have been mistreated or abandoned. In this beautiful park these animals have now found a new home.
When was the zoo opened:
November 4, 1992Visitors per year:
Approximately 30,000Size of area:
44 acres
Location, directions and address
We recommend entering the address 12802 Easy St, Tampa, FL 33625 into your GPS navigation device. The metropolis of Tampa is very large and it is easy to get lost there. There are plenty of parking spaces where you can put the rental car. The Tampa airport is about 10 miles south of the Big Cat Rescue. Basically you just have to drive down Veterans Expy Roll Road and then you just have to take the right exit. But everything is well signposted and you will find it easily. So therefore no problem.
Exact address:
12802 Easy St
Tampa, FL 33625What mode of transportation should you use:
Rental carCan you park there:
Yes, there is parking available
Opening hours
Every day of the week you can visit Big Cat Rescue from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Then there are the night tours and then you can come in the evening. So you can drop by whenever you are interested. However, the tours only take place three times a day. You have to find out exactly when they are. Otherwise you have to wait until the next one takes place. For a visit you should plan two to three hours so that you can see everything. Our tip is to always go during the week.
These are the opening hours:
Monday to Sunday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PMHow much time should you plan for the visit:
At least 2 to 3 hours
What does a ticket cost there
For a day tour, adults pay $37. This takes place three times a day during the week. On weekends only two times per day. For this tour you must be at least 10 years old. Young children are not allowed to view this tour. The visit of the Big Cat Rescue is only possible with the Kids Tour. Then there is a Feeding Tour which costs 65 US dollars. If you want more privacy then you can book the Private Tour. This tour costs 150 US dollars. Furthermore, there are many other tours that you can do.
Entrance fees:
Day Tour ( $37 )
Feeding Tour ( $65 )
Private Tour ( $150 )
How many animals are there
As a visitor, you can see around 100 big cats. These are 10 different species. The highlights are certainly the lions and tigers. Of course, they are in a cage and you don’t need to be afraid. From a safe distance you can take great photos. Furthermore there are leopards and pumas.
Certainly also interesting are the white tigers which you probably know from Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat. Normally these are very rare and there you can see them. So this is something very special and you should not miss it on your Florida vacation. Of course, there are also smaller predatory cats that are not quite as dangerous to humans.
Number of animals:
100 big catsDifferent species:
10What should definitely be seen:
The white tigers
Are there also guided tours in the zoo
At Big Cat Rescue, the only way to see the animals is on a guided tour. This means that a staff member walks with the group through the park and past the cages. Thereby you get a lot of information about the way of life. A guided tour is very interesting if you are interested in cats of prey. As a visitor you can take part in different tours.
The normal day tour lasts about 1.5 hours. Very specatcular are certainly the feedings. It is of course an experience to watch there once very closely. Then there are night tours that always take place on Friday of the month. There you can observe the animals also at night. Many of them are nocturnal and sleep during the day.
How long does a tour last:
About 90 minutesAre there also feedings:
Yes, these are very interesting
Do you have to walk around the zoo
Since it is a large area and the animals need a lot of space, visitors have to walk a lot. But there is still the possibility to rent a golf caddy for a fee. This is certainly the most comfortable option. There are also many older tourists and pensioners who would like to visit Big Cat Rescue, but are not so fit anymore. Then you should do this with a golf cart.
Our tip:
Rent a golf caddy ( for a fee )
You can also take photos there
Of course you can also take photos at the Big Cat Rescue. You get there cats of prey in front of the lens that you have probably never seen. So you have there many good photo motives what you can imagine. But you don’t have to be afraid because the animals are safely behind a grid and therefore nothing can happen there.
Are there spectacular cats of prey there:
Yes, definitely
Our opinion
The visit of Big Cat Rescue is definitely recommended if you want to see extraordinary cats of prey. It is already unique in this zoo and therefore it is worth to go there once. It is best to use your own car and there are also parking lots where you can park it. Furthermore, it is certainly a great destination that you can make in Tampa.
