Miami’s Jungle Island

Review of Miami’s Jungle Island, formally Parrot Island.

Miami’s Jungle Island is a fun filled family animal attraction that offers much more than a zoo. Formally called Parrot Jungle Island, this Florida attraction has been in operation since 1936.Originally, the Parrot Jungle Island featured only parrots. The park is still reminiscent of its older days offering parrot shows and lush tropical landscaping, but it has now expanded and has a large array of animals, playgrounds, and exhibits. Jungle Island is much more than a zoo, kids and parents will find themselves both entertained and astonished by the animals living at Jungle Island. The entire park is filled with animals such as birds, penguins, and alligators and beautiful tropical plants making a stroll through Jungle Island a beautiful experience.

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What to Expect

One of the main attractions at Jungle Island is “Winged Wonders” show at the Parrot Bowl. The “Winged Wonders” show features Jungle Island’s beloved parrots and other birds performing and entertaining guests. One cockatoo even rides a bicycle on a high wire and has been doing so for decades. The “Winged Wonders” show also has a six foot tall cassowary bird that swallows a whole apple in one gulp. Other birds featured in the “Winged Wonders” show include vultures and parrots.

Another great show offered by Jungle Island is “Tale of the Tiger.” This show features a variety of big cats performing without cages with humans and other Jungle Island creatures such as chimpanzees, orangutans, lemurs and many more. Some of the big cats featured in the “Tale of the Tiger” show are spotted leopards, black panthers, and even ligers. After the show visitors are offered the opportunity to pose with the baby cats and monkeys for a fee of forty dollars. Though the fee is rather high, the money does not go to Jungle Island; instead it goes to an animal preservation group.

One of the neatest attractions at Miami’s Jungle Island is “Hank the Crocosaurus.” Hank is the biggest crocodile in the western hemisphere. He is over twenty feet long and weighs over two thousand pounds. Besides “Hank the Crocosaurus,” Jungle Island also has other Florida alligators and crocodiles on exhibit for visitors. These attractions are always one of the biggest draws for kids, but some small children may be afraid. If you approach the exhibits with a happy positive attitude, rather than acting scared of the alligators and crocodiles, the small children are less likely to be afraid and will learn much more.

Besides the animal attractions Jungle Island has recently added a fun new adventure for its younger guests called “The Hippo Slide.” “The Hippo Slide” is a giant three story tall inflatable slide located on the beach that kids will love to slide down. During Miami’s colder months the slide is ran without water so kids can slide down it in their normal clothes and not be cold. However, during most of the year the slide is run with water making it not only a fun water slide for kids, it also is great for cooling down hot visitors to Jungle Island. Remember the slide is not just for kids, so adults should not be afraid to have a slide. If sliding is not your thing you can relax on the private beach in a lounge chair while the kids slide.

Tips for Visiting

Here are a few insider tips to make the best of your visit to Jungle Island. Get to the park early in the day and check the weather. In inclement weather Jungle Island closes early and does not offer refunds. In Florida it generally rains in the afternoons during the summer. Another great tip is to check the show times for your visit as soon as you arrive at the park and plan your day around them. Jungle Island can be expensive, but you can often find discounts on their website and they do offer free admission to military personnel.