Exotic Animal World
Exotic Animal World
4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Animal Sanctuary at Butterfly World hosts exotic, free flying butterflies. We are a forever home for over 750 exotic animals, such as antelope, iguanas, monkeys, snakes, spiders and much more. Many of our animals roam freely in the gardens. We also offer a skeleton park, restaurant and edu-centre.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
Features animals
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Restaurants
16 within 5 kms
Attractions
58 within 10 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
225 reviews
Excellent
84
Very good
95
Average
29
Poor
10
Terrible
7
Corne L
Bellville, South Africa172 contributions
May 2023 • Business
Great day trip for school group or a family. Good live show with lots of interesting detail given about some of the animals. Excellent food at the small restaurant for the hungry visitors.
Written 31 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Crazyredpepper
Plattekloof, South Africa626 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
What I really love about this place is all the info that is stuck all over the place. More about each animal, jokes and more importantly the consequences of owning exotic pets. I agree exotic animals should be free in their own habitat. However, having said that, I am grateful for places like these. They give a home to those animals who cannot go back to their ‘homes’. If you love animals, this is a must we need to support places like this.
Written 19 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zak
1 contribution
Jul 2022
Great outdoor walk and enjoyment for the family.
Our Grandparents and I took my daughter there of 7 years. Enjoyable but rather short in what there is to view. We were only advised that to see the Butterflies also was only in the summer. Food was average however slightly overpriced in my opinion. Not hating on the place however. Average trip OK experience price in my opinion is rather high considering.
Our Grandparents and I took my daughter there of 7 years. Enjoyable but rather short in what there is to view. We were only advised that to see the Butterflies also was only in the summer. Food was average however slightly overpriced in my opinion. Not hating on the place however. Average trip OK experience price in my opinion is rather high considering.
Written 13 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marita King
Pretoria, South Africa160 contributions
Nov 2020
We took my grandson, but we had just as much fun. How awesome to interact with the animals as you walk around within in the cages. The lemur had her baby with her so we were fascinated by this little baby lemur playing around mommy.
We enjoyed having conversations with some of the parrots. The kids enjoyed walking between the hamsters and being followed by them.
We actually wanted to see butterflies, but because of the pandemic, import of butterflies from the east were frustrated, so we didn't see much butterflies.
We enjoyed having conversations with some of the parrots. The kids enjoyed walking between the hamsters and being followed by them.
We actually wanted to see butterflies, but because of the pandemic, import of butterflies from the east were frustrated, so we didn't see much butterflies.
Written 29 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BMT66
Cape Town Central, South Africa2 contributions
Nov 2020 • Friends
While I understand that this is an animal sanctuary, and that funds could be low, the area appeared to be quite run down. There was a noticable difference in the upkeep since my last visit about 10 years ago.
I completely understood that due to Covid there were no butterflies.
I completely understood that due to Covid there were no butterflies.
Written 17 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helga K
Cape Town Central, South Africa22 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
Educational, plenty to keeps the kids entertained and so much fun! Really a great place to take kids.
Written 12 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen S
2 contributions
Nov 2019
I love going to Butterfly World we spend quite a while going through the enclosures to view the butterflies. It's so peaceful to sit and watch the butterflies.
Afterwards we always have tea & scones while the children play.
Staff have always been helpful and friendly.
Afterwards we always have tea & scones while the children play.
Staff have always been helpful and friendly.
Written 5 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kwjozi
Johannesburg, South Africa8 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
Not many butterflies for a place called Butterfly World - that was disappointing. The rest of the animals were well cared for and it was a interesting visit. We had an incident with the pink cockatoo in the parrot cage. It was flying freely around us while we were walking around the cage and it then proceeded to land on my partner’s shoulder and bite him twice in the next and the finger drawing blood. This is surly not safe for small kids?
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Disabled traveller
20 contributions
Feb 2020
Enter a wonder world of small animals and particularly butterflies which flutter around you as you walk through beautifully decorated displays.
A small buck may surprise you and daintily walk right by!
The reptile display features a wonderful selection of snakes (particularly pythons).
Don't miss the skeleton display (where you can view animal skeletons as large as a rhino to tiny creatures) and the outdoor displays which include rescued animals, including monkeys.
A highlight of our visit was coming face-to-face with eagle owls in a free flying enclosure. Be ready to look into steely eyes less than a meter away with nothing between you!
Word of warning - some of the areas are very hot so make sure to have something to drink as you meander through magic.
A small buck may surprise you and daintily walk right by!
The reptile display features a wonderful selection of snakes (particularly pythons).
Don't miss the skeleton display (where you can view animal skeletons as large as a rhino to tiny creatures) and the outdoor displays which include rescued animals, including monkeys.
A highlight of our visit was coming face-to-face with eagle owls in a free flying enclosure. Be ready to look into steely eyes less than a meter away with nothing between you!
Word of warning - some of the areas are very hot so make sure to have something to drink as you meander through magic.
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lubger
New York City, NY398 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
You may consider this a mini-zoo - however, it is exactly what it's called: a sanctuary. All animals on display have been donated/surrendered by outside parties and are being taken care of by the team that is trying to instill a sense of responsibility into humans, educating the public on dangers of "domesticating" wild animals (dangers to the animals as well as the people). Every step of the way they remind you not to take wild animals home, not to play with them or try to domesticate them - invariably, that story ends either with such animals being discarded by the owners into surroundings the animal is no longer adjusted for, be it wild nature or the streets.
Most of animals hosted by the Sanctuary are birds, but you also see lemurs, monkeys, meerkats and other mammals plus reptiles and amphibians. Because they are accustomed to people, all animals are very inquisitive and definitely not shy! This makes for a great entertainment, especially if you are coming with kids. The animals that are not dangerous are presented in open enclosures. Some of them are actively seeking attention. It's quite clear that animals are being tended and cared for.
Lots of positive emotions! Come and experience for yourself.
Most of animals hosted by the Sanctuary are birds, but you also see lemurs, monkeys, meerkats and other mammals plus reptiles and amphibians. Because they are accustomed to people, all animals are very inquisitive and definitely not shy! This makes for a great entertainment, especially if you are coming with kids. The animals that are not dangerous are presented in open enclosures. Some of them are actively seeking attention. It's quite clear that animals are being tended and cared for.
Lots of positive emotions! Come and experience for yourself.
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingEXOTIC ANIMAL WORLD: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Exotic Animal World
- Exotic Animal World is open:
- Sun - Sat 09:00 - 17:00
- Hotels near Exotic Animal World:
- (0.49 km) Bona Vista
- (0.46 km) Mon Reve
- (0.46 km) Simonsberg Silo's
- (5.74 km) La Bella Vita Studios
- (7.88 km) Angala Boutique Hotel
- Restaurants near Exotic Animal World:
- (0.06 km) Cafe Lemur
- (0.07 km) Villa Visaggio's
- (0.53 km) Potbelly Coffee Shop & Bakery
- (3.15 km) Restaurant @ Glen Carlou
- (6.62 km) Cosecha Restaurant
- Attractions near Exotic Animal World:
- (0.46 km) Dirtopia
- (1.29 km) Drakenstein Lion Park
- (7.87 km) Afrivista Wine Tours
- (4.57 km) Warwick Wine Estate
- (5.63 km) Fairview Wine and Cheese