oaklawn farm zoo

There is a nice variety of animals at this zoo, and although it is a small zoo in a small place there are many exciting animals to see.

A couple of months ago we enjoyed our first visit to Oaklawn Farm Zoo so much that we bought a season pass! We have been back several times since and continue to enjoy family outings there. Feeding time is by far the best time to visit as the big cats are most visible and active then. The owner feeds the Lions, Jaguars, Siberian tigers, Cheetahs, Panther, Cougar, Bobcat, etc. Another highlight at feeding time is that everyone who wants to (even our 3 year old daughter) gets to feed "Blueberry" the black bear a peanut. Kids love feeding the goats and deer and also seeing all of the new born animals in the barn. Pony rides for children are available for $1.50. Don't forget to have at the reptiles upstairs in the admission building. Icecreams and other treats are very reasonably priced ($1.75 for very large single scoop in cone or cup).

We just moved to Nova Scotia from California where we had annual passes to the San Diego Zoo, before that we lived in Florida and had annual passes to the Miami Zoo, prior to the we lived near the Seattle Zoo... My kids are zoo aficionados. THEY LOVED THIS LITTLE ZOO! Honestly, it was a great experience! So much more than we ever imagined! We'll be back in a couple of weeks!

5 of us made the drive. I was excited to get up and close with the zebra and zonkey. It was still nice to see them however. The llama's were the most interactive animals. A lot of them were behind 2 layers of fence so you couldn't get anywhere near them. The food there was really good though. Burgers, fries and onion wings were the food of choice, mind you now. I know I'll be going back, need to see feeding time this time. Their liquor stores were all closed on Sunday, in the surrounding area as well.

I've been a big fan of Oaklawn for many years. The owners are very nice people and they surely do love all their animals. It's wonderful that they provide a great home for animals that otherwise might not be so lucky. I've patted several of the big cats and it's a rush to hear a purr from a 500 to 700 lb kitty cat:)I hope this zoo keeps evolving for many years to come.

Nowhere else but in the Annapolis Valley will you find such a collection of exotic wildlife in such a small town

We were surprised this great place in the middle of nowhere. It is in my opinion, better that magnetic hill zoo. Way more big cats and monkeys!! Also eventhough it was really hot out, you could see all of the animals. Admission wasn't bad either. Would really recommend and will be going back!!

I was quite surprised at how big this place was. There were lot's of monkey type animals, big cats, lions, siberian tigers, panther, cheetahs. Some camels, a sleepy bear, zebras and what looked like a donkey crossed with a zebra and an assortment of farm animals, nice belted galloway cows. For out in the middle of nowhere I was very pleased with the assortment. The owners are doing a great job of making the park beautiful with nice flowers and trees everywhere. A nice selection of owls, bald eagles, peacocks and other birds. This place is not to be missed and the fee to get in is cheap, I paid $5. Hot dog $2

We took our two young girls to the zoo and it was a GREAT place! I am usually skeptical about private zoos but this one was very good. The animals looked healthy, with nice habitats. The zoo did not smell like feces (apart from the pigs). Clean, and engaging! Planning to go back when we are in the area again!

We try to make the trip to Aylesford at least once a year to visit the Oaklawn Farm Zoo. This year we had visitors with us. It was made even more fun by siging onto the zoo's facebook site and following the zoo all winter. I was anxious to see Obi and how big he had gotten. It is best to go late afternoon 5-6ish when the animals are due to be fed. They tend to not be very active in the heat of the afternoon otherwise. We timed our trip to catch low tide in the Bay of Fundy, go to the zoo, have dinner and experience the same view with the tide almost in. Highest tides in the world! Take lots of quarters to buy food from the machines to hand feed some of the animals. A baggie is a good idea as well to hold it.

Always enjoy visiting this zoo. The animals are well cared for and the grounds are always clean. Got to see baby piglets born July 3rd, 2014. Adorable. You can interact with some of the animals in a petting area. They even have a reptile section for those not weak at heart.

Pros: Good enclosures, lots of variety in animals, kid friendly, opportunities to interact with some animals, good flow to the park, excellent price pointCons: not as many animals as larger zoos (but you can't expect to have a middle of nowhere zoo to have the selection of a large city zoo) so this really isn't a con - just don't expect a big city zoo experience.I've been to this zoo many times as a kid. Its always been great, but rarely changes (which is good and bad). The price point for this zoo is great! $8 for an adult admission. Can't beat that. That is truly a good value for what you get. There are reptiles in the main building upstairs that you can check out before heading into the main zoo, or on your way out. You have to enter/exit the same building regardless. The zoo has a ton of animals ranging from monkeys to tigers, chickens and pigs to camels and zebras. The exhibits are large and the animals all look healthy and happy. If you have kids be sure to feed the goats and deer some corn kernels which you can purchase from machines around their cages for a quarter. There are also several llamas walking around that you can pat, take pictures with and enjoy on a personal basis in the park. They had 7 of then when we were there, including 3 young. The animals were quite active this time, but in the summer heat expect them to be lying around not doing much. I brought my GoPro with me this time, and taking videos of the experience really enhanced my trip this time. The monkeys are always actively playing, and I even get a zebra rolling around on the ground (scratching its back) on video, which made for a unique visit!!This is one of the best and most popular things to do in the annapolis valley. If you're in the area, this really is a must do!! You'll need 2-3 hours to see the whole thing without children. There aren't water fountains on site, so bring water to buy some. They have ice cream for sale as well at the exit (just before leaving by heading back into the building). Also, there are just the bathrooms in the main building, so don't expect to see any within the zoo grounds themselves.Please let me know if this was helpful!! Thanks and enjoy!!

If you go at feeding time, you get an interactive education about the animals as well. Been to zoos around the world and this one has the best staff that make the experience awesome!

I really enjoyed my visit to the zoo. It can get really hot there mid day so be prepared. I enjoyed seeing all the big cats, they were gorgeous. The zoo has been consistantly maintained over the years and I have been there many times. The one thing I would like to see is a staff member watching the grounds. I know kids will be kids but I watched 2 little boys hitting a barn cat on its back and laughing several times while their mothers stood by and laughed. Another boy drug a stick back and forth on the cheetah's enclosure til the cheetah (obviously annoyed) got up and moved away. If the mothers/fathers of today won't parent their kids perhaps the zoo might have someone watch over the animals.

My two granddaughters, aged 6 and 8, visited the zoo again this week. They have been here many times and continue to look forwarded to each visit. The reptiles are always popular in the upstairs area of the main building. Great displays and descriptive write ups. The horse rides never missed, even though I think it is not that interesting. The monkeys are very entertaining and being able to feed and interact with the goats, llamas, deer, ducks and geese is always popular. The bears, lions and tigers were all easily seen and enjoyed. They never miss the barn for the bunnies and pigs. Overall the two hour visit was inexpensive and entertaining. Very good washroom facilities - clean and accessible.