Riverbanks Zoo - Columbia, South Carolina - historical zoo with over 3,000 animals

Receiving more than 850,000 visitors each year, Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina is the state's largest gated attraction. The sprawling 170 acres, situated on the Saluda River, houses a large zoo, botanical garden, and aquarium. Since 1973, Riverbanks Zoo has been on the list of National Register of Historic Places and the park itself dates back even further, to the early 1800s.

As a top tourist attraction in South Carolina, Riverbanks Zoo has won the Southeastern Tourism Society's Shining Example Award four times and the SC Parks Recreation and Tourism Governor's Cup Award twice. The zoo is also an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). As one of the leading attractions in the southeast, Riverbanks has an extensive collection of animals and exhibits.

More than 3,000 animals call Riverbanks Zoo home. The zoo has one of the largest collections of birds, reptiles, fish, and mammals of any zoo in the region and is constantly adding exhibits, animals, and adventure to its already long list of offerings. One of the more recent additions to the zoo was the inclusion of African elephants, koalas, and gorillas. In 2002 the Birdhouse at Riverbanks Zoo, which features gentoo, rockhopper, and king penguins, opened and was presented with the AZA's Significant Achievement Award.

One of the most popular exhibitions at Riverbanks Zoo is the Aquarium Reptile Complex (ARC) that covers 20,000 square feet. The ARC features hundreds of amphibians, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates that are found all over the world. The four galleries of the ARC cover four different regions of the world including the desert, the tropics, the ocean, and South Carolina. It is worth mentioning that the ocean gallery holds a 55,000 gallon Indo-Pacific coral reef tank with moray eels, sharks, and many other Pacific Ocean species. The ocean exhibit features daily diving demonstrations by zoo staff members.

The botanical garden at Riverbanks Zoo is something to see. Comprised of 70 acres, it features more than 4,200 species of both native and exotic plants. Visitors may explore the botanical gardens at their own leisure, following the trail system that covers both bottomland and upland forests as well as native wildlife. Visitors can not only enjoy the serene beauty of the lush landscape, but also the natural river views and valley overlooks. Some of the exhibits of the botanical garden include the bog garden, the shade garden, the dry garden, and a treetop bridge.

Because farming is such a big part of South Carolina, Riverbanks Zoo also features an exhibit to help children understand what life is like on a farm. Children are permitted to pet and feed llamas, Nubian goats, and Jersey cows. Other animals within the exhibit include turkeys and rabbits. There are also pony rides provided, which may be the favorite of any child that visits this part of the zoo.

The Riverbanks Zoo is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with longer hours during weekends in the summer. Potential guests who are interested in visiting the zoo can learn more by calling (803)779-8717.