Looking for a wildly fun family day trip that’s just over an hour from Greenville and under an hour from Spartanburg? Our crew recently spent the day at Circle M Safari Park in Shelby, NC — and we’re still smiling about it.
Circle M Safari Park: Things to Do
This isn’t your typical petting zoo. From lemurs eating grapes out of your hand to feeding bison from a wagon ride, Circle M is packed with hands-on animal moments your kids will love. Here’s everything we experienced, including the one-of-a-kind Capybara Encounter.
The Capybara Encounter Was a Total Hit
We started the day with the Capybara Experience, and let me just say — if you’ve never hand-fed a capybara named Capybarbara, you’re missing out.
“It was so chill and fun. We got to pet and feed them their favorite snacks like melons, lettuce, and pumpkin. Their names were hilarious — Capybarbara and Capytan!”
This experience is not included in general admission, but totally worth the upgrade if your kids love gentle, squeaky animals. They more or less sound like overgrown Guinea pigs! The capys were calm, friendly, and happy to hang out while we fed them.
Lemurs, Goats, and Giant Tortoises — Oh My!
After the capybaras, we wandered through the walk-up animal areas where we got to:
- Say hi to several members of the deer family
- Feed grapes to lemurs
- Hand snacks to land tortoises
- Pet a variety of goats, llamas, and sheep
The whole area is stroller-friendly, grassy, and easy to walk through. The animals were super curious and ready to interact.
You can buy animal food at the entrance — we grabbed the large bucket of fruits and veggies ($20) and it lasted us a while, but they also offer smaller cups if you just want a little.
The Wagon Ride: Where the Big Animals Live
Next up was the tractor-pulled wagon ride — and this was easily the highlight for our group.
We got to feed a highland cow, longhorn bull, bison, ostriches, donkeys, zebras, and lots more. The animals come right up to the wagon, and you can toss or hand-feed them treats. Prepare for some slobber and lots of giggles — the ostriches are especially bold.
We loved that this part of the park gave us a chance to see and interact with larger, free-roaming animals in a safe way.
What to Know Before You Go
Here are a few details to help you plan your visit:
- Location: 1179 Whitesides Road, Shelby, NC
- Drive Time: Less than 1 hour from Charlotte, NC and about 1 hour 10 minutes from Greenville, SC
- Admission: General tickets required, with add-ons for encounters and food
- Restrooms: Portable toilets available
- Accessibility: Most areas are stroller-friendly
- Food: Bring your own snacks or purchase drinks and treats on-site
Visit Circle M Safari Park website to check availability and book special encounters.
Make It a Day to Remember
Circle M Safari Park is full of opportunities to laugh, learn, and connect as a family — from feeding zebras on a wagon ride to watching your kids light up while handing lettuce to a capybara. It’s one of those rare places where you’ll leave a little dustier but a whole lot happier.
Planning a trip? Let us know which animal your kids are most excited to meet!
