Animals & Wildlife

Founded in 1988 by Dayton O. Hyde, the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is one of America's greatest private wilderness areas. Located near Hot Springs in southwestern South Dakota, it is owned and operated by the Institute of Range and the American Mustang and is dedicated to giving America's unwanted wild horses a life of freedom. There are hundreds of wild mustangs roaming free across 11,000 acres of wind-swept prairie. Our Visitor Center and Gift Shop are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., daily. (Please call to let us know you are coming to the shop.) Tours are available year-round, weather permitting. There are two-hour and three-hour options, ranging from $200 per person to $400 per person. Tours depart at 9 a.m. Call for reservations.

The Reptile Adventure Zoo in Sioux Falls invites you to meet & interact with reptiles up close. You'll not only get to explore and learn about amazing reptiles, but you'll also have the chance to adopt one of your own. Our shop has great reptile-related gifts and toys as well as specialty supplies for the care of reptiles.

The D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives provides exciting visitor opportunities, and it gives back to the local community of Spearfish and the surrounding area. We welcome visitors to the historic, federal, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service hatchery and museum for an educational, closeup view of the fish production process. We also have a gift shop, historic house and rail car staffed by our volunteers and available for educational tours May through September. Admission is free.

Red Truck Alpaca Farm is a small, family-owned alpaca farm since 2022. Located southeast of Brandon, our farm consists of 21 adorable alpacas and we encourage you to come out and visit the farm to meet them. Visitors can learn about raising alpacas and stop by our farm store to see our various alpaca products. Follow us on our social platforms to keep up-to-date with our events. You are welcome to bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic. We have concessions and fresh baked cookies in our farm store. Our hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; and 12-5 p.m., Sunday; and by appointment on weekdays.

The Bramble Park Zoo in Watertown is the second-largest zoo in South Dakota. On 18 acres, we feature approximately 800 animals representing 130 species from around the world and those native to South Dakota. Also on-site are the Discovery Center, Australian Adventure, Bear Crossing, Terry Redlin Environmental Center, Diversity of Life Complex and an interactive KidZoo. We have daily hours, year-round. Hours of operation are extended Memorial Day through Labor Day.

From the comfort of your own vehicle, see black bears, wolves, elk and more in their natural environment in this unique wildlife park. After your drive, take a stroll along the outdoor Wildlife Walkway to discover even more animals in their outdoor habitats. Located south of Rapid City, on your way to Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Caputa Alpacas is a free, family-friendly attraction minutes east of Rapid City. We are the only Alpaca farm in western South Dakota. We offer a fun and educational experience for the entire family. You can visit us year-round, seven days a week, but please call ahead for hours.

Named a Top 10 US Safari by MSN, 2015, our Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour will take you where only we can go: off-road. Trek through Custer State Park in an open-air jeep in search of pronghorns, elk and the noble buffalo. Along the way, our guides will share historical and educational facts about the park and wildlife, and help you spot the critters. Tours depart daily from the State Game Lodge, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., May through October. The ride takes about 1.5-2 hours.

Home to a unique animal park set in beautiful botanical gardens, Reptile Gardens has been a staple in the Black Hills since 1937. Our iconic Sky Dome houses rare and fascinating reptiles, including Komodo Dragons, Axolotls, and Maniac, the Giant Saltwater Crocodile. Immerse yourself in the Safari Room indoor jungle filled with a brilliant array of tropical flowers and plants, along with birds, and reptiles. The grounds are a colorful mosaic of flowerbeds planted each year with more than 40,000 flowers. Visiting with the award-winning staff, having a conversation with a parrot, and getting up close and personal to take a selfie with 500-pound giant tortoise are experiences your family will never forget! Reptile Gardens is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest reptile collection. Located six miles south of Rapid City on the road to Mount Rushmore, we are open year-round (see our website for seasonal hours and rates).