A Trip to St Augustine Wild Reserve

After the stay at home restrictions had been lifted, it was time to start exploring again, with more caution. And so, armed with our local travel manifesto, for a select few weekends, we will be out and about exploring our own backyard. Our first trip out of the house after the restrictions had been lifted in Florida was to the St Augustine Wild Reserve.

Booking and Planning the Trip

It was late May when we decided to visit the reserve, and the weather was getting warmer but not too hot to do an outdoor activity. We had vouchers to the reserve pre-virus, so now was as good a time to use them.

Redeeming the vouchers was easy. The instructions were to email the reserve, pick a date and tour time, and wait for the confirmation. They responded very promptly to my emails, and within a few hours after our original mail, we had our tour set.

During the pandemic, it is required to book tickets in advance, so plan your trip accordingly. They are operating up to a certain capacity per tour, and may not have enough space for walk-ins.

The Reserve

The reserve is located in a residential/farmland area off the International Golf Parkway exit off I-95. Even though it looks really suburban at first, once you get past the cookie-cutter homes, you’ll see ranch-style houses with horses, donkeys, and a lot of land.

The email confirmation gives you exact instructions on how to get to the reserve, as well as parking information. Since the reserve is located inside private property, expect to double-park if the parking slots have already been taken. There are volunteers helping you find parking if you need them, and you won’t spend a lot of time looking for a specific spot.

What to expect at the St Augustine Wild Reserve

If you love animals, then this is a place for you. This is a reserve that houses animals that have been either seized by the authorities, or have been surrendered by their previous owners. You know, private owners who think that having a lion as a pet is a good idea (it’s not), or were rescued from the wild and can’t be released anymore.

The tour does get you close to the animals, but since these are technically wild animals, there are fences that acts as a barrier between you and them.

If you don’t like seeing animals caged, then this is not a place for you. However, keep an open mind, as these animals seem like they are happy and well-cared for, and some of them have ample space to move around. Of course, not as good as being in the wild, but is a good enough middle ground.

You are not allowed to go on your own and must stay with the tour group at all times. There are at least 2 tour guides/volunteers who know the animals intimately and share anecdotes from their time with the animals.

Another thing to note is that mobile phones and cameras are not allowed during the tour. The main reason is that the volunteers and guides do not want you putting your arm, your phone, or any part of your body through the cages in an effort to get an Instagram-worthy shot. After all, you’re there for the experience and the chance to see these incredible animals, so enjoy it instead of looking at them through your phone.

You can opt to get souvenir photos from the ‘store’, where you can get a USB drive with a Powerpoint file filled with photos and a background on the animals that you saw for $10. The ‘store’ also has a photo book for $30, and magnets for $5. This can be your souvenir from the trip, and the photos are definitely worth it.

Final Thoughts – St Augustine Wild Reserve

Expect to spend around 2 hours at the St Augustine Wild Reserve. It is a good stop if you are within the St John’s county area or visiting from Jacksonville.

Are you planning to visit St Augustine Wild Reserve soon?