Riverbanks Backstage .................................................................... Discover our newest animal encounters

Our Backstage Giraffe experience stands head and shoulders above the rest! Right from the start, you’ll become a giraffe aficionado before heading behind the scenes. There you’ll gain a deeper insight into how the giraffe herd is cared for and get an elevated 15-foot view of their barn. See where the herd’s 200 pound diet is prepared before heading downstairs to walk through their personal bedrooms where you’ll gain another towering perspective and discover just how you measure up to the Zoo’s tallest residents. Top off your encounter by meeting up with some giraffes as they lean down to greet you as you feed them a tasty afternoon snack.

If climbing to new heights isn’t quite your speed, come visit our two North American river otters on our Backstage Otter experience. You’ll learn the interesting history of otters in South Carolina, then head behind the scenes where we will turn you into sous chefs— well, more like Zoo-chefs—to help create some afternoon enrichment for the pair. Afterwards, head into the otter bedrooms to watch a training session and feed them a fishy snack. Make sure you bring your sense of adventure as you head out onto the otter habitat to hide treats and snap some pics. Wrap up your adventure by watching the dynamic duo find and enjoy all of the tasty snacks you helped make and hide!

Every weekend at Riverbanks offers a tall order of fun experiences!

On Saturdays you can meet our chilly penguins or slippery sea lions. During warm weather on Sundays you can meet our oldest residents, the Galapagos tortoises or the grizzly bear brothers. No matter which of the six adventures you choose, you will have an otterly great time on one of our Backstage encounters!

GREEN Put Some in Your Spring Cleaning

- Green Team Members Amanda Segura, Garden Education Coordinator, and Haley Albright, Recruiting & Staffing Specialist

This spring make your cleaning routine a little greener with a few easy tips. Cleaning green not only helps the environment but also is better for our wallets, our health and our homes!