This North Carolina Sanctuary Turns Into A Summer Safari Adventure
Forget everything you thought you knew about typical zoo visits where you peer through glass and strain to spot sleepy animals. An extraordinary sanctuary waits along the quiet roads of Macclesfield, where the rules flip entirely and the animals practically invite you into their world.
When summer arrives in North Carolina, one magical place transforms into an adventure that feels more like stepping into a living storybook than a standard animal encounter. Located at 4313 NC 42, Macclesfield, It’s A Zoo Life offers something incredibly rare: genuine connection with over 100 exotic creatures who seem just as curious about you as you are about them.
This isn’t about observing from a distance or reading plaques on fences. Every guided tour becomes a hands-on journey where kangaroos hop close enough to eat from your palm, sloths hang within arm’s reach, and even a friendly coatimundi might climb onto your shoulder.
The experience feels less like visiting a zoo and more like getting invited to the world’s most fascinating backyard party.
1. Guided Tours That Break Every Zoo Rule You’ve Ever Known
Most zoos keep you safely behind barriers with signs warning against touching anything. At It’s A Zoo Life, those rules vanish the moment your guided tour begins.
Knowledgeable guides lead small groups through the sanctuary, creating intimate experiences impossible at traditional facilities.
Each tour lasts roughly ninety minutes, though visitors often linger longer to soak up every moment. The guides don’t just recite facts from memory cards.
They share genuine stories about individual animal personalities, daily routines, and the unique quirks that make each resident special.
Tours operate on specific schedules, so advance ticket purchases through the website ensure your spot. Walk-in availability remains limited since the sanctuary prioritizes quality over quantity.
Small group sizes mean everyone gets personal attention and plenty of opportunities to interact with the animals.
The tour structure allows flexibility based on animal moods and weather conditions. If a particular creature feels social that day, guides adjust timing to maximize those magical moments.
This responsive approach creates authentic encounters rather than forced performances, making every visit genuinely unique.
2. Kangaroo Encounters That Redefine Up-Close Animal Experiences
Kangaroos rank as the undisputed stars at It’s A Zoo Life, according to countless visitor reviews. These Australian marsupials have mastered the art of charming guests, hopping right up to greet newcomers with curious sniffs and gentle nudges.
Feeding these incredible creatures by hand creates memories that stick with visitors long after they leave.
The sanctuary houses both kangaroos and wallabies, giving guests chances to compare their different sizes and personalities. Some kangaroos display bold confidence, practically posing for photographs, while others prefer quieter interactions.
Baby kangaroos occasionally make appearances, melting hearts with their tiny paws and oversized ears.
What makes these encounters extraordinary is the genuine comfort the kangaroos display around humans. They’re not performing tricks or being coerced into interactions.
Instead, they genuinely seem to enjoy the company, often lounging nearby even when treats run out.
Visitors consistently mention these moments as highlights of their entire trip. The combination of exotic appeal and approachable demeanor makes kangaroo encounters perfect for all ages, from toddlers experiencing their first animal interaction to adults fulfilling lifelong bucket list dreams.
3. Overnight Stays Inside The Kangaroo Cottage
Imagine waking up to find kangaroos lounging on your front porch, peering curiously through windows as morning light filters across the sanctuary. This isn’t fantasy but reality at the Kangaroo Cottage, an Airbnb accommodation situated directly inside the kangaroo enclosure at 4313 NC 42.
The overnight package includes dinner, breakfast, and a personalized tour experience unavailable to day visitors. Guests receive extended time with animals, often meeting residents who stay behind the scenes during regular hours.
The cottage provides comfortable amenities while maintaining that authentic safari adventure atmosphere.
Staying overnight means experiencing the sanctuary’s rhythm beyond business hours. Animals settle into evening routines, displaying different behaviors than during busy daytime tours.
Morning brings peaceful moments watching the sanctuary wake up, with kangaroos stretching and hopping about in soft dawn light.
Multiple reviewers describe the cottage stay as magical and truly unforgettable. The intimate access and personalized attention from staff, particularly owner Bobbi Jo, transform a simple visit into an immersive adventure.
For special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries, this unique accommodation creates memories that standard hotels simply cannot match.
4. Meeting The Cutest, Beloved Residents
Animals at It’s A Zoo Life aren’t nameless exhibits behind glass barriers. They’re individuals with distinct personalities, preferences, and stories that staff eagerly share.
Visitors frequently mention specific animals by name in reviews, testament to the memorable connections formed during tours.
Some animals stand out as particular favorites, though each guest seems to develop their own special bonds. Some visitors fall for a coatimundi, whose friendly nature makes private interactions incredibly special.
Others can’t stop talking about the sloths, porcupines, or the charismatic capybara.
The sanctuary’s approach to animal care shines through these individual relationships. Staff know each resident’s history, dietary preferences, favorite scratching spots, and quirky habits.
This knowledge transforms encounters from generic petting zoo experiences into genuine introductions between species.
Many animals were rescued and found permanent homes at the sanctuary, adding deeper meaning to each interaction. Learning about individual rescue stories helps visitors appreciate the sanctuary’s conservation mission.
These aren’t just attractions but beloved family members receiving exceptional care, and that emotional connection resonates powerfully with guests of all ages.
5. Exotic Animal Collection Spanning Six Continents
Over one hundred animals call It’s A Zoo Life home, representing incredible biodiversity rarely found outside major metropolitan zoos. Zebras graze alongside camels, while lemurs chatter near porcupines, creating an international menagerie in rural North Carolina.
The collection includes animals from Australia like kangaroos and wallabies, African species including zebras, South American residents such as capybaras and alpacas, plus Asian representatives and North American natives. This geographic diversity provides educational opportunities about different ecosystems and conservation challenges worldwide.
Beyond mammals, the sanctuary houses fascinating reptiles in a dedicated reptile house, numerous bird species including cockatoos and peacocks, and farm animals like mini horses, goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens. This variety ensures every visitor discovers something new and exciting.
The exotic nature of many residents sets this sanctuary apart from typical petting zoos. Where else can you interact with a sloth, feed an emu, and hold a snake during the same visit?
This extraordinary variety creates comprehensive wildlife experiences usually requiring multiple zoo visits or international travel to achieve.
6. Hands-On Animal Interactions Beyond Typical Zoo Boundaries
Traditional zoos prioritize distance between humans and animals for safety and conservation reasons. It’s A Zoo Life flips that script entirely, making physical interaction the centerpiece of every visit.
Guests don’t just observe wildlife but touch, feed, and sometimes even hold creatures they’ve only seen in documentaries.
Holding large snakes ranks among the most popular activities, with guides ensuring safe handling techniques for both parties. Fancy chickens, despite their common barnyard cousins, fascinate visitors with their unusual plumage and calm dispositions.
Even more exotic species like sloths allow gentle petting under careful supervision.
These interactions serve educational purposes beyond mere entertainment. Touching an animal’s fur, scales, or feathers creates visceral learning experiences that photographs and videos cannot replicate.
Children especially benefit from these tactile encounters, developing empathy and understanding for creatures vastly different from household pets.
Staff carefully monitor all interactions, reading animal body language to ensure comfort and safety. Not every animal participates every day, respecting their individual moods and needs.
This thoughtful approach maintains animal welfare while still delivering those incredible up-close moments that define the sanctuary experience.
7. Educational Programs Teaching Conservation Through Connection
Entertainment alone doesn’t drive It’s A Zoo Life’s mission. Education and conservation awareness form the foundation of every program offered.
Guides share information about native habitats, endangered status, and ecological roles while visitors interact with animals, turning fun into meaningful learning.
Field trips bring school groups regularly, with programs tailored to different age groups and curriculum needs. Teachers praise the educational value, noting how hands-on experiences cement lessons about biology, ecology, and environmental stewardship far better than classroom lectures alone.
Summer camps offer extended learning opportunities for children, combining animal care education with conservation messages. These programs inspire future generations to protect wildlife and natural habitats.
Participants leave not just with fun memories but genuine understanding of human impacts on animal populations.
Private tours can focus on specific educational goals, whether birthday parties incorporating animal facts or corporate events emphasizing teamwork and environmental responsibility. The sanctuary’s flexibility allows customization while maintaining core educational messages.
Every visitor departs with greater appreciation for exotic animals and the complex challenges facing wildlife worldwide, proving that connection breeds conservation commitment.
8. Exceptional Staff Creating Memorable Personal Experiences
Reviews overflow with praise for specific staff members, highlighting how individual personalities enhance every visit. Some guides receive mentions by name, each bringing unique teaching styles and genuine passion to their roles.
These guides demonstrate remarkable patience, especially with young visitors learning appropriate animal interaction boundaries. They balance safety instruction with encouragement, helping nervous guests overcome fears while respecting those who prefer observation over participation.
Their ability to read both human and animal comfort levels creates smooth, enjoyable experiences.
Staff knowledge extends beyond basic facts into intimate understanding of individual animal personalities and histories. They share anecdotes about daily life caring for exotic pets, funny incidents, and touching rescue stories.
This insider perspective makes visitors feel like temporary members of the sanctuary family.
Owner Bobbi Jo herself often appears during visits, particularly for overnight guests, adding special personal touches. Her obvious love for the animals and genuine warmth toward visitors sets the tone for the entire operation.
Staff clearly model her values, treating every guest like a lifelong friend and every animal like precious family, creating an atmosphere that keeps visitors returning again and again.
9. Immaculate Animal Care And Facility Maintenance Standards
Visitor reviews consistently emphasize the sanctuary’s cleanliness and obvious animal welfare standards. Enclosures appear well-maintained with appropriate space, enrichment items, and shelter.
Animals display healthy coats, alert behaviors, and comfortable body language around humans, indicating excellent care practices.
Food bowls overflow with fresh vegetables, fruits, and species-appropriate nutrition. Guests notice details like lush greens, carrots, sweet potatoes, and specialized pellets, demonstrating commitment to proper dietary requirements.
Water sources remain clean and accessible throughout exhibits.
The animals themselves provide the best testimony to care quality. Their willingness to approach visitors, relaxed demeanors, and obvious comfort with staff interactions reveal trust built through consistent, compassionate handling.
Stressed or poorly treated animals simply don’t behave this way.
Behind-the-scenes work maintaining such standards requires tremendous dedication and resources. The sanctuary’s commitment shows in every detail, from spotless walkways to well-designed enclosures balancing visitor access with animal needs.
This professional approach reassures parents bringing children and animal lovers concerned about exotic pet welfare, proving that interactive experiences and excellent animal care can coexist beautifully when managed by truly dedicated professionals.
10. Special Animal Encounters And Private Interaction Sessions
Beyond standard tours, It’s A Zoo Life offers private encounters with specific animals for truly personalized experiences. These sessions provide extended one-on-one time impossible during group tours, perfect for animal enthusiasts wanting deeper connections or photographers seeking ideal shots.
The popular capybara meet-up adds extra magic to any visit. These giant rodents, known as the world’s most chill animals, live up to their reputation during private sessions.
Guests spending dedicated time with capybaras often describe the experience as meditative and surprisingly emotional.
The coatimundi also stars in private encounters, his friendly personality shining during individual sessions. Staff ensure these interactions remain safe and enjoyable for both parties, monitoring animal comfort levels and adjusting activities accordingly.
Some animals participate more readily than others on given days, and staff respect those preferences.
Availability for private encounters varies based on animal health, mood, and schedule, so advance contact helps secure desired experiences. These special sessions require additional fees but deliver incredible value through extended access and personalized attention.
For serious animal lovers or special occasions, private encounters elevate good visits into absolutely extraordinary adventures.
11. Convenient Location Just An Hour From Major North Carolina Cities
Macclesfield might not appear on most tourist maps, yet its location offers surprising accessibility. Situated at 4313 NC 42, the sanctuary sits roughly an hour’s drive from several North Carolina population centers, making day trips entirely feasible for urban families.
The rural setting actually enhances the experience, removing city distractions and creating that authentic safari adventure atmosphere. Driving through countryside roads builds anticipation, and the sanctuary’s somewhat unassuming roadside appearance makes the incredible experiences inside even more surprising.
Operating hours accommodate weekend and weekday visits, though the sanctuary closes Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. Friday, Wednesday, and Thursday tours run from ten in the morning until one in the afternoon, with Saturday maintaining the same schedule.
This limited schedule helps prevent animal stress from constant visitor traffic.
The relatively short drive combined with the concentrated tour schedule makes It’s A Zoo Life perfect for special occasion day trips. Families regularly make the journey for birthdays, anniversaries, or simply spontaneous adventures.
The sanctuary’s location strikes that sweet spot between accessible and secluded, close enough for convenience yet far enough to feel like a genuine escape from everyday life.
12. Birthday Parties And Special Events With Exotic Animal Stars
Standard birthday parties at pizza places or trampoline parks pale in comparison to celebrations at It’s A Zoo Life. The sanctuary hosts birthday events where exotic animals become party guests, creating celebrations kids talk about for years afterward.
Party packages can include guided tours, special animal encounters, and personalized experiences tailored to the birthday child’s interests. Imagine blowing out candles while a kangaroo hops nearby or opening presents with a sloth hanging overhead.
These aren’t typical party entertainment options.
Corporate events also find unique venues at the sanctuary, offering team-building activities unlike conference room exercises. Interacting with animals breaks down professional barriers and creates shared memories that strengthen workplace relationships.
The sanctuary’s flexibility allows customization for various group sizes and objectives.
Special occasions like anniversaries gain extra magic through sanctuary visits or overnight cottage stays. Couples seeking memorable celebrations beyond dinner reservations discover that hand-feeding a camel or waking up surrounded by kangaroos creates romance through shared adventure and wonder.
The sanctuary staff’s attention to making events special shows in countless glowing reviews from celebration visitors.
13. Simple Booking Process Through Website And Advance Planning
Planning your visit starts at itsazoolife.com, where straightforward ticket purchasing and waiver signing streamline the arrival process. The website clearly outlines tour times, pricing, and availability, eliminating confusion and ensuring smooth experiences.
Advance ticket purchases prove essential since walk-in availability remains extremely limited. The guided tour structure means specific time slots fill quickly, especially during peak summer months and weekends.
Booking ahead guarantees your preferred date and time rather than risking disappointment.
The online waiver system handles necessary liability documentation before arrival, saving time during check-in. This efficiency means more minutes spent with animals rather than standing at registration desks.
The process takes just minutes and provides all essential information about what to expect.
For questions about private encounters, overnight stays, or special events, contacting the sanctuary directly via phone at 252-266-7974 or email at [email protected] provides personalized assistance. Staff respond helpfully to inquiries about animal availability, group accommodations, and customization options.
This combination of online convenience and personal communication ensures every visitor arrives prepared for their adventure, maximizing enjoyment and minimizing stress from uncertainty or logistical confusion.
14. Four Point Eight Star Rating Reflecting Consistent Excellence
With 4.8 stars across 827 Google reviews, It’s A Zoo Life maintains remarkable consistency in delivering exceptional experiences. This rating reflects not occasional brilliance but sustained excellence across thousands of visitor interactions over extended time periods.
Reading through reviews reveals patterns of praise: knowledgeable staff, well-cared-for animals, unique interactions, and genuine passion permeating every aspect of operations. Negative reviews appear extremely rare, and when present, typically address minor scheduling issues rather than fundamental experience problems.
The sheer volume of five-star reviews from diverse visitors validates the sanctuary’s quality. Families with toddlers, couples celebrating anniversaries, school field trip groups, and elderly guests all report equally positive experiences.
This universal appeal across demographics demonstrates thoughtful program design meeting varied needs.
Repeat visitors frequently appear in reviews, mentioning second, third, or fourth visits with continued enthusiasm. This loyalty speaks volumes about lasting value beyond initial novelty.
When people drive an hour repeatedly and recommend experiences to everyone they know, that sanctuary clearly delivers something genuinely special that transcends typical tourist attractions. The numbers simply confirm what individual stories reveal: It’s A Zoo Life consistently exceeds expectations.
