Dreaming of San Diego Zoo? Discover This Kansas Hidden Gem Instead

For the longest time, when I was a child, I wanted to be a zoologist—a dream undoubtedly inspired by the countless childhood visits to the Milwaukee County Zoo. Animals have always been a great love for me. Even as an adult, I will rarely pass up an opportunity to admire and learn about animals from experts like zookeepers. Yet, when I had the chance to visit the incredible Tanganyika Wildlife Park for the first time, I wasn't prepared for how impactful that visit would be.

Often, I don't support anything resembling animal tourism. However, Taganyika felt different from animal encounters I've seen touted at vacation destinations. They are Zoological Association of America (ZAA) accredited and have certification from American Humane Society for the care and treatment of their animals. They support conservation efforts, particularly with their breeding programs. From my experience and conversations with keepers, this is a place where encounters seem to happen on the animals' terms—not people's. It never felt like the animals were props for our amusement. We were guests in their home.

When Tanganyika says they are a place for a potential interactive, hands-on learning experience, take that to heart. This Goddard, Kansas, zoo is not just another spot to feed goats or learn about monkeys. You really can get the chance for one-on-one time with some of the animals, learning all about their species and eccentricities along the way. That means also recognizing they don't all want to be manhandled: Sometimes, just being closer to them is enough. You can pick and choose from experiences like a meet-and-greet with a capybara or interacting with penguins. The kid at heart in you won't believe it.

At least I didn't—especially since they have a sloth encounter, as we got closer to the sloth house, I realized we would soon be right beside these gentle creatures. As someone with a sloth tattoo, I cannot begin to describe the elation of meeting Chewy. Having him approach me while climbing ever-so-slowly along a rope was the thrill of a lifetime—and I've got the teary-eyed photos to prove it. It's little wonder that meeting the sloths is the most popular experience at Tanganyika.

Where else could you learn that Chewy has a pal and roommate in an armadillo named Jojo? Or be approached by the shy sloth Molasses, who doesn't usually wander over, and then feel like a real-life Disney princess? Even Jojo kept standing on my shoes. Taganyika is a wild place full of surprises, and who knew it would be found in a place in Kansas?

Best of all, this park is now an all-inclusive experience. With your admission, you get unlimited breakfast, lunch, snacks, and fountain drinks while you're at the zoo. So when you get the munchies after feeding greens to the giraffes or watching the rabbits chomping away at some fresh produce, you can help yourself to tasty treats of your own.

Amanda was hosted by Tanganyika Wildlife Park as part of their trip to Kansas with the tourism bureau. All opinions and thoughts expressed in this content are their own.