Overview

Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Zoo: 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29202-1060;
Garden: 1300 Botanical Parkway, Columbia, SC 29202-1060;
(803) 779-8717; Email: info@riverbanks.org;
Open: Daily 9AM-5PM; Admission: $7.25 Adult / $4.75 Child (reduced rates for groups of 15+);
[Gardens / Wildlife / Zoo Tour ]

Cageless wildlife natural habitat is home to more than 2,000 animals is located near the 70-acre Botanical Gardens.

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Riverbanks Zoo

Riverbanks Zoo entrance is located at 500 Wildlife Parkway just off I-126 at Greystone Blvd.

Aquarium / Reptile Complex (ARC)
ARC might be the single best attraction in the park. A 55,000-gallon Indo-Pacific reef tank includes sharks and moral eels. Other exhibits include snakes, monitors, tortoise, crocodiles, This 20,000 sq.ft facility displays reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates from around the world in four special galleries:
South Carolina
The Desert
The Tropics
The Ocean

African Plains
1.75 acre exhibit is a reflection of life on the African Savannah and features giraffes, zebras, ostriches and black rhinos.

Sea Lion Pool
Watch California Sea Lions frolic in the sun and water.
Sea lion feedings - 10:30AM and 2:30PM

Large Mammal Exhibit
Lions, Siberian tigers and hippos.

Small Mammal Exhibit
Monkeys, jungle cats and kangaroos and other cute creatures.

Riverbanks Farm

• Milking Demonstrations
• Nature on the Farm - wildlife native to farmlands
• Baby chick hatching area

  The Birdhouse - New Exhibit, Feb 2001
  12,000 sq.ft. facility features Riverbanks award winning exhibit of birds.
  Flamingo Beach
  Dinosaur Mural
  Penguin Coast
  Rhino Hornbills
  Tropical Asia
  The Savanna Camp
  Koi Pond

  The Ndoki Forest
  This $19 million expansion project should be completed in 2002. The Ndoki Forest will be a refuge for gorillas and elephants.

  Special Features:

  Sea lion feedings - 10:30AM and 2:30PM
  Milking demonstration - 10AM at Riverbanks Farm
  Diving demonstration - 11AM and 2PM at Aquarium Reptile Complex
  Penguin Feedings - 11:30AM and 3:30pm

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Botanical Gardens

Riverbanks Botanical Garden is great destination to see scenic river views, a walled garden ablaze in color and mass plantings of seasonal flower bulbs. The 70-acre site is located on the west bank of the Saluda River across from the Riverbanks Zoo at 1300 Botanical Parkway, just off SR-378 at I-20 and I-26.

The Walled Garden
An area larger than a football field and surrounded by an eight-foot-tall brick wall with intricate details and arches of a typical English walled garden. The focal point of the garden is a 300-foot-long canal with fountains. It is a maze of colors and fragrances.

Woodland Walk and River Trail
The trail follows the lower two-thirds of the property giving visitors the opportunity to appreciate the natural hillside and shoreline landscaping. Here you will also encounter the ruins of the old Saluda Factory, built 1834 as one of South Carolina's first water-powered textile mills.

Food Services

Kenyan Cafe - indoor fast-food restaurant
Pizza Station - food stations
Picnic Area - west end of park

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