Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, Columbia

Great Zoo!! Laid out very well, friendly employees, and I definitely will return!!!

Well there really wasn't anything special to this zoo. Most of the animals you really couldn't see well, the bathrooms were run down and some of the animals weren't in cages due to maintenance. I don't think Ill make it to this zoo again.

I have been to several zoos around the country. I found that for all the hype the Riverbanks Zoo left something to be desired. There weren't even Chimps. The Gorilla exhibit wasn't conducive to viewing from outside. It seemed that most of the 2000 species were of the aviary variety. The farm for kids isn't really a petting zoo area. It had several larger goats & barnyard animals behind a wooden fence. The kids don't get to walk around in the animals area. Sure they can feed them and pet them but it's just not like I remember when I was a kid. The playground and carousel were nice.You'll need a few zoobucks for the carousel though. The food is moderately priced. Not bad compared to what other zoos & amusement parks charge. The Botanical Gardens were nice. They provide a wide variety of plant life and a lovely stroll on the many paths. Overall, I only give the zoo 3 starts. If you've been to larger zoos, such as St. Louis, Kansas City, OKC, & San Diego try not to get your hopes up. This zoo isn't even in the same class as those mentioned.

This zoo is fantastic! I've been to bigger but never nicer. The zoo flows SO well and is very relaxing. Even the little cafe they have is great. The best part though is the fact that personalencounters with the animals are SO affordable. It was only $10 to go behind the scenes with the penguins and touch one, etc. AND the entrance fee is only $9.00 VERY relaxing and edicatonal. I can't wait until I have children to take with me. In fact, I'm going back in few days.

The Riverbank Zoo is a very nice Zoo.. We just moved here to the Columbia area and we love the Zoo. We will definitely visit again. Very different from any other Zoo we visited. Lots to see and great layout!

My family and I were VERY disappointed in the zoo. We went in an effort to do something different. We honestly had no expectations and still came out extremely disappointed. The bathrooms were awful. I am a guy and I would normally not complain about a bathroom but the smell and the unsanitary conditions of the bathrooms made me wonder if the human bathrooms are like this what is it like for the animals? As with most placed like this the prices for items in the zoo were outrageous. One of the obvious ripoffs was the dippin dots. The large cup was the same size as the small cup. They were just shaped differently. We bought a small and a large and took both cups home. They hold the same amount of liquid! Maybe we just caught this place on an off day but the trash everywhere, unsanitary bathrooms, and getting ripped off for items in the park will keep me from going to this zoo ever again. I will also continue to tell friends, family and visitors to SC never to go there.

Riverbanks Zoo is one of my favorite zoos for a number of reasons. The zoo is laid out in such a way as to not exhaust you while walking around in it. The aquatic life exhibit is great, as is the bird exhibit, specifically the penguins. The gardens are great too. The animal exhibits are super for getting really good close-up pictures. I would recommend going early in the day when the howler monkeys are in full voice...that's a show in itself. Ape Island is pretty hilarious in the mornings as well. Sure, the Dippin Dots are $4 a cup, but hey, it's the zoo! Have some fun!

The Riverbanks Zoo was a great take-in. Loved the elephants, giraffes, gorillas, and grizzlies. Very relaxing setting. Big Con: the 3-D movie. Lasted for 15 minutes and if your age, and certainly your IQ, is greater than that, then forget it!

I live in Columbia and I am not raving about his zoo simply because it is where I live. For those who love animals but hate going to zoos where these beautiful creatures are kept in cages, you will be amazed here. It is an open landscape with healthy animals and beautiful plants. Its a must see if you are visiting Columbia or anywhere within a few hours. The kids love it not just for the animals but there is a working merry go round and a playground. They also have a 3D movie theater and some hands on projects with some of the animals. For the adults, there is an amazing botanical garden included.

Took my out of town guests to the lights at the zoo this year and they loved it! This is a great experience (and time of year) to see the zoo. My son loves the elephants! If you have just moved to Columbia - family memberships are very resonable.