11 Once-In-A-Lifetime Animal Encounters You Can Have Right Here In North Carolina

One thing you can depend upon in North Carolina is never being bored. The following 11 animal, bird, and reptile-based attractions help to guarantee that notion. From encounters of the hand-feeding variety to seeing those famously beautiful horses in the Outer Banks, these adventures will make you feel a spectrum of emotions – but bored won’t be among them. Check them out below… each description contains a link to a full OnlyInYourState.com article about the adventure. Enjoy!

TripAdvisor/michael m

Facebook/Lazy 5 Ranch

Whether hand-feeding the exotic animals from your vehicle or from the horse-drawn wagon, you're sure to love these (over) friendly lovable animals who also seem to know just how to pose for the best keepsake photos! Get the scoop on this awesome NC animal ranch in this previous article.

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Facebook/Shackleford Wild Horse and Shelling Safari

Combine two of your faves into one amazing safari in this Outer Banks excursion to see the wild horses of Corolla. After you've had your fill of spotting the beautiful wild creatures, set your sights on gathering up some of those piles of shells found on this stretch of sand. Get the details from this previous article.

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Flickr/ Teddy Fotiou

Normally, North Carolinians prefer to avoid bears, especially since to encounter one usually means it has been in your garbage or worse yet, stealing sunflower seeds from the feeder on your back porch. But this unique safari puts you at a camera's distance from the big (lovable?) creatures. Get the details from this previous article.

Aloha Safari Zoo

This exotic animal sanctuary is filled with rescues who love attention. From feeding a giraffe to even nursing a newborn big cat, you're sure to love the animal encounters found at this unique sanctuary. Learn more in this previous article.

Flickr/Valerie

Set out on one of the popular Red Wolf Howling treks through the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in search of this beautiful, but elusive creature. The safari takes place near dusk, just when the wolves begin to howl for the night. More information can be found in this previous article.

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TripAdvisor/management

This little known park is home to a lot of exotic birds. You'll find the largest collection of waterfowl species in the world — right here in North Carolina. You want to pet a Flamingo, right? (Who doesn't?) More information is available in this previous article.

Flickr/Becker1999 (Paul and Cathy)

It may come as a total surprise that we have an entire sanctuary devoted to Lemurs right here in North Carolina. Be careful, these lovable little primates will steal your heart. Get the details on Duke's Lemur Center in this previous article.

Editor's Note: Duke's Lemur Center is temporarily closed. Check the center's website for updates before heading here.

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Facebook/Tiger World

Not many people know that 45 minutes outside of Charlotte there's an endangered wildlife preserve dedicated to the biggest cats in the world. Get the scoop in this previous article.

Google Maps/Debbie Wilson

The world's only estuarium focuses on salt and freshwater species. Here, you'll encounter everything from baby alligators to snakes and stingrays. Find out more in this previous article.

Facebook/All-A-Flutter Farms LLC

See the entire life cycle of the Monarch butterfly at this unique North Carolina farm that raises them - and then sets them free to migrate south with the other millions of Monarchs that head to Mexico each year. Get more information in this previous article.

Editor's Note: This is a seasonal farm. Check the farm's website for open/close dates.

Facebook/North Carolina Zoo

The largest zoo in the world is right here in our own backyard and features a variety of animal encounters. The zoo is known for its spectacular natural habitats and you'll love exploring each country represented. Learn more in this previous article.

Did we overlook any? Feel free to join the discussion and add it to the list!

For thrilling encounters of another kind, check out six of the scariest urban legends in North Carolina.