Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

About

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is South Carolina's most visited attraction, welcoming more than 1 million visitors annually to its 170-acre campus straddling the Saluda River gorge in Columbia. Founded in 1974, the zoo has grown from a modest regional facility into one of the Southeast's premier zoological institutions, consistently earning high rankings for its naturalistic habitats, conservation programs, and visitor experience. The zoo is organized around geographic and thematic exhibits. The Australian Adventure houses wallabies, kangaroos, and kookaburras in a walk-through environment. The Birdhouse at Riverbanks immerses visitors among hundreds of exotic birds in an indoor tropical setting. The Farm and the historic Saluda Factory ruins combine natural history with South Carolina's industrial heritage on the gorge below the main campus. A new Ndoki Forest exhibit features gorillas and chimpanzees in naturalistic African forest settings. The 70-acre botanical garden across the Saluda River from the main zoo grounds offers formal gardens, native plant collections, seasonal plantings, and one of the region's finest rose gardens. The historic Saluda Factory ruins, remnants of a 19th-century textile mill visible from the riverbanks, add a layer of cultural and industrial history to the natural setting. The Riverbanks is also an active participant in AZA Species Survival Plans for gorillas, African penguins, and dozens of other threatened species. Education programs for homeschool families are offered through the Riverbanks Education Department, along with school field trips, seasonal camps, and overnight Zoo Snooze events. Free parking is included with online ticket purchase.

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