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If you love otters and capybaras, this one is for you!
Located in Webster, Chase Sanctuary is a non-profit rescue that offers a variety of animal experiences.
They have 15 different experiences including ‘keeper for a day’, mini cow encounter and even lemur yoga but the ones they are known for are the swimming experiences.
Make sure to book in advance though as there are no walk-ins for these experiences.
It’s about 55 minutes from Orlando and just over an hour from Tampa, which makes it an easy day trip.
Please note that while I try to be as accurate as possible, I always recommend checking the official website and socials. Things can change quickly and as much as I try to stay on top of things, it’s not always the case.
🦦 Quick Information About Chase Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservancy
📍 Where: Chase Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservancy
6127 SE 122nd Blvd, Webster, FL 33597
📅 When: By appointment only, with each experience running on its own set days and times
🦦 What is it?
Chase Sanctuary is an animal sanctuary that offers hands-on experiences. 🦦
It’s a 501(c)(3) rescue built around critically endangered primates and surrendered exotic pets.
They rescued and look after many animals that were surrendered after years in private homes.
This includes lemurs, sloths and more!
You will also find a capybara, miniature cows, and a fennec fox. 🐾
Keepers take photos and videos during your experience, which is practical and allow you to simply enjoy the experience.
🏊 The three swims
There are 3 types of swims you can do.
The Otter Swim Lessons is the headline one. You watch a short training session and swim alongside them in a pool. The swim part is hands off, so you’re sharing the water rather than handling them.
The Penguin Swim puts you in the habitat pool with their colony of African penguins. The surfaces underfoot are rocky and sandy, and the penguins come to you or don’t, entirely as they please.
Capybara Swim is a limited-time one. It’s an hour in total: you’ll spend 45 minutes in the water with Cookie, their capybara after watching a 15-minute training video.
🐾 The other experiences
They also have loads of other experiences that don’t include water.
Painting With Primates is a bit of an art workshop where you paint while surrounded by their primate residents.
Mini Cows & Mini Tour includes a picnic with the miniature cows with a walk around the sanctuary.
Keeper for a Day runs 9am to 1pm and has you helping with feeding, enrichment and daily care, and The Ultimate VIP Experience is a private guided deep dive.
They have many more experiences so I would recommend going on their website and see what your options are.
🎟️ Booking: On their website
🧺 What to bring: Closed-toe shoes, water, and a hat, sunscreen and bug spray in the warmer months. Leave dangling jewelry at home. For the swims, arrive already in your swimsuit with a towel and a change of clothes, because they have no showers or changing rooms, just a hose to rinse off.
🚗 From Orlando: 55 minutes
🚗 From Tampa: 1 hour 5 minutes
📧 Contact: info@chasesanctuary.org
🌐 Website: chasesanctuary.org
📘 Facebook: Chase Sanctuary
📸 Instagram: @chasewildlifeconservancy
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