How long is the Safari Signature Tour?

The program runs about 2 to 2.5 hours including check-in and guided interactions.

Guests must be at least five years old to participate.

Are interactions supervised?

Yes—every animal encounter is fully guided and supervised by trained staff for safety.

Can I bring my own animal food?

No—outside food for animals is prohibited; all feed for interactions is provided by staff.

Is the tour refundable?

The experience is non-refundable once booked; review booking terms at time of purchase.

Closed-toe shoes and weather-appropriate clothing; bring rain gear for sudden storms and sun protection for hot days.

Hands-On Animal Encounters at Scatter Joy Acres — Safari Signature Tour (Florida)

Adventure Brief

Get within arm’s reach of kangaroos, feed capybaras, and offer a sloth a protected snack on this small-group, fully guided tour at Scatter Joy Acres in Alva, Florida. Expect two immersive hours of supervised, educational animal interaction and behind-the-scenes stories.

2–3 hours

easy

From $113.00

At 19861 N River Rd in rural Alva, Florida, the Safari Signature Tour offers an up-close animal experience on Scatter Joy Acres at Our Hope & Joy Florida Location. This guided 2.5-hour program turns a six-acre sanctuary into a classroom and a hands-on gallery where kangaroos hop within reach, capybaras accept lettuce from your palm, and a gentle sloth is fed through a protected enclosure. The tour begins with a barnyard feed-bucket session that dissolves the usual barrier between visitor and animal. Guides narrate each ambassador's backstory—rescue histories, temperament, and daily care—while demonstrating safe handling and respectful behavior. Small-group size (limited to around ten guests) keeps the pace intimate: you'll have time to pet, photograph, and ask questions without long lines. Scatter Joy Acres sits on a riverine edge of southwest Florida, where oak hammocks, saw palmetto, and tidal marsh grasses frame enclosures and walking paths. That setting is part of the experience: the scent of wet soil and salt air underfoot, the chorus of songbirds, and the occasional ibis or heron passing overhead remind visitors this is wildlife education set within functioning Florida habitat. Practical details matter. Expect approximately two hours of guided activity within a roughly 2.5-hour window; closed-toe shoes are required, and staff provide all animal feed. Interactions are supervised and vary by animal comfort and weather—staff may limit contact during heat or storms to protect ambassadors. The experience is non-refundable once booked and designed for guests age five and up. Why book this tour when visiting the Fort Myers region? It's one of the few hands-on, ethically managed encounters in southwest Florida that balances access with animal welfare. For families and travelers drawn to wildlife, it replaces passive viewing with education and stewardship; you leave understanding not just how to pet a capybara or feed a kangaroo, but why rescue work matters in a landscape shaped by seasonal floods and development. Included elements are specific and visitor-focused: meet and pet kangaroos, hand-feed capybaras with lettuce provided, feed the sloth through its protected enclosure, and participate in a barnyard feed-bucket experience. The guided circuit covers the facility's six acres and ends with a designated group photo. The program is limited to small parties (roughly ten people), requires guests be at least five years old, and prohibits outside animal food. Arrive on time, follow staff directions for safety, and prepare for weather-dependent changes to the schedule. Book confidently.

About Hope and Joy Sanctuary

Hope and Joy Sanctuary is an animal-focused experience provider located in Alva, Florida. The sanctuary operates Scatter Joy Acres and offers guided, hands-on encounters and tours that connect visitors with a variety of animals. Offerings range from short species-specific encounters — including sloth, capybara, otter, kangaroo, ring tailed lemur, and porcupine experiences — to multi-animal guided tours such as the Wild Welcome Tour, Safari Signature Tour, and the adult-only Reserve Royale Tour.

Each experience is led by trained caretakers who provide behind-the-scenes context, animal behavior education, and supervised interactions designed for safety and enjoyment. Tours combine personal storytelling, feeding and touch opportunities where appropriate, and relaxed walk-through segments that emphasize observation and learning. The Reserve Royale Tour offers an intimate, adult-only setting with drinks and bites at Scatter Joy Acres, while the Safari Signature Tour includes a two-hour guided format with close-up moments with kangaroos, capybaras, and a sloth.

Hope and Joy Sanctuary emphasizes calm, respectful animal interactions and educational conservation messaging. Experiences are presented as family-friendly unless otherwise noted, and they support visitor connection to wildlife through small-group, guided formats. The sanctuary’s public offerings include several species-specific encounters and multiple guided tours in Alva, Florida, allowing guests to choose paced, memorable wildlife experiences with knowledgeable staff.

Available encounters include Ring Tail Lemur Encounter, Capybara Encounter, Sloth Encounter, Kangaroo Encounter, Porcupine Encounter, Otter Encounter, plus the multi-animal Wild Welcome Tour, Safari Signature Tour, and the Reserve Royale Tour. Each option supports learning, conservation, and memorable animal connections for all ages.