This zoo would be fine if it stuck to serving as a petting zoo with goats, lambs and other farm animals. Unfortunately it has large carnivours --lions, tigers, bears and others in cages that are far too small and with nothing to stimulate them. Most depressing was the couger, with a neurotic expression pacing back and forth in its small cage ---located only several yards from a pen full of loud bleeting goats. All the animals (whether they like it or not) are pelted by popcorn and peanuts all day from the bags that are purchased for that purpose at the front door. The gorilla is also very depressing.
Even my four year old noticed the conditions.

It's not the most well-kept zoo, but it's nice enough and quite reasonable price-wise. Do it on a nice day as it's 90% outdoor. The only thing is that it is 30-40 minutes off the beaten track of Myrtle Beach. There are plenty of brochures distributed around with directions and details. It's worth the time and money. We've gone three times in the 9 years we've visited. Enjoy! Let us know what you think.

This is a small privately run zoo/refuge. There were a few animals, and they were working on an area to house more animals. You can buy monkey/animal food at the front building. We considered this mostly a nature walk, with a few animals thrown in. It was a good way to pass the afternoon and get away from the crowds.

Since our kids are 7 and 8, we have been to many zoos and weren't really looking forward to going to ANOTHER one. Once we got there, we were pleasantly surprised and spent much more time than we anticipated because we were having so much fun! When you first arrive, the low cost to enter is nice. They ask you if you want to buy food to feed the animals for $3, plus you get to keep the commemorative cup. "Feed the animals? Which ones?" They answered, "Any animal that walks up to the fence, except the big cats (lions, tigers, etc.) and the alligators." We were surprised at the wide variety of animals and we fed most of them, including the goats in the petting area. There was even a quiet walk through the woods and lots of shade. We fed bears, camels, monkeys, goats, pigs and more. There are even more animals to see, but you will have to go yourself to find out what you are missing.

The Waccatee Zoo is a woodland setting with a lovely nature walk along the river. It is a lot of fun for the whole family. You can spend the whole day in the shade when the SC sun has gotten you all a little to red for another day at the beach.