At A Glance
The Hattiesburg Zoo and Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo are both fantastic places to visit for animal lovers in the Mississippi state.
Both situated in their respective namesake towns, Hattiesburg Zoo is a quaint 12-acre sanctuary with a focus on fostering interactive experiences and showcasing exotic species, such as giraffes, capybaras, sloths, and Alpacas.
Specially noted for its wheelchair-friendly infrastructure, this zoo suits families with children of all ages.
However, pets are not permitted within the zoo.
On the other hand, Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo expands over a vast 210 acres, making it more considerable in size than its Hattiesburg counterpart.
The Buffalo zoo is home to over 220 diverse animals, including giraffes and buffalo and allows visitors to bring their own food and drink.
Despite its name, the zoo’s accessible trails may be challenging for wheelchair users.
Like the Hattiesburg Zoo, pets are not allowed, but service animals are accepted.
Prices are more economical at the Hattiesburg Zoo, with the rate for an average family of four being $36.
However, in Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, the same family would need to shell out $60.
Overall, both zoos offer unique animal experiences but differ in size, cost, and accessibility.
Find Out More About Hattiesburg Zoo
- 107 S 17th Ave, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, United States
- 601-545-4576
- https://hattiesburgzoo.com/
Find Out More About Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo
- 2272 Coley Rd, Tupelo, MS 38801, United States
- 662-844-8709
- https://www.tupelobuffalopark.com/
Size
In a comparison of size, The Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo appears to be far more expansive than the Hattiesburg Zoo.
Covering an area of 210 acres, the Tupelo Zoo provides a larger space for its over 220 animals and can take a visitor between 2-3 hours to see all of its attractions.
In contrast, the Hattiesburg Zoo spans a smaller area of just 12 acres.
However, it efficiently houses a variety of animals, including giraffes, capybaras, sloths, and alpacas, and provides a complete experience in a relatively shorter span of 1.5 hours on average.
Despite the size difference, both zoos offer engaging experiences for visitors of all ages.
Price
In comparing the prices of the Hattiesburg Zoo and the Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, some differences become apparent.
An adult ticket at the Hattiesburg Zoo is significantly cheaper, priced at $10 compared to Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo where it’s priced at $15.
The same can be said for child and concession tickets, where the Hattiesburg Zoo charges $8 and $7 respectively, while Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo maintains a uniform rate of $15 across all categories.
Both zoos offer free entry for children under the age of 2.
When considering costs for an average family of 4, the Hattiesburg Zoo is more affordable at $36 compared to the Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, set at $60.
Therefore, the Hattiesburg Zoo seems more cost-effective when compared economically.
The cost of an average family of 4 at Hattiesburg Zoo is $36 compared to 60 at Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo.
Popular Animals
Given their respective size, both the Hattiesburg Zoo and Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo in Mississippi offer a wide-ranging roster of wildlife.
In the Hattiesburg Zoo, you’ll encounter capybaras, giraffes, sloths, and Alpacas amongst its exhibits.
At 12 acres in size, the diversity of the species on display is impressive.
Its notable feature is the giraffe feeding experience which proves popular among visitors.
On the other hand, the much larger Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, which spans 210 acres, is characterized by its buffalo exhibits, featuring a significant number of American bison.
The zoo also houses giraffes, like its Hattiesburg counterpart.
Both zoos place considerable emphasis on animal-centric events and experiences, helping to enhance the engagement and learning opportunities for families and individuals.
However, it’s important to note that the variety of animals differ and one zoo may offer an encounter with wildlife not available at the other.
Accesibility
When considering accessibility for those in wheelchairs or those who have difficulty walking, both the Hattiesburg Zoo and Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo in Mississippi attempt to cater to these needs.
Hattiesburg Zoo, although smaller in size, has gone to great lengths to be wheelchair accessible, and the facility is fitted with walkways that are suitable for wheelchair users.
This makes this zoo easier to navigate, providing an inclusive experience for all visitors.
On the other hand, Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, offering large open spaces due to its 210-acre spread, warns that some trails may be unsuitable for wheelchairs.
While both places are accessible to some level, for visitors with mobility challenges, the Hattiesburg Zoo appears to provide a more wheelchair-friendly environment overall.
Pefect For
Both Hattiesburg Zoo and Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo are ideal for family trips, including those with toddlers or older children, offering engaging animal encounters and learning events.
However, each offers variations in the family experience.
For families seeking a more intimate, short duration trip, Hattiesburg Zoo makes for a fitting choice.
It covers a relatively small area of 12 acres and takes approximately an hour and a half to explore entirely.
This feature, alongside its affordability, perfect in terms of pacing for families with younger children or toddlers.
On the other hand, Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, covering a sizable 210 acres, provides a more extensive visit, taking between two and three hours on average - ideal for families with slightly older children who are ready for a more prolonged and adventurous outing.
While both zoos accommodate visitors with disabilities, Hattiesburg Zoo has wheelchair-friendly walkways as compared to Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, where trails may not be suitable for wheelchair access.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both the Hattiesburg Zoo and Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo offer unique experiences that attract countless visitors each year.
The Hattiesburg Zoo, with its layout set for a family adventure across 12 acres, is an intimate and charming zoo, boasting attractions like giraffe feeding experiences and notable animals like capybaras and sloths.
It provides an easy-going pace, affordable ticket prices, comprehensive amenities and is particularly disability-friendly, encouraging visitors from different walks of life to revel in its diverse range of animal exhibits.
On the other hand, Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo emerges as a more expansive entity covering 210 acres.
It’s best described as a buffalo-centric experience, ripe with animal events, and American bison as a star attraction.
It also ensures an extended visitor duration, featuring over 220 animals.
Unique to this zoo is its allowance for bringing your own food and drink making it a picnic-friendly destination.
The higher ticket price reflects the scale of the zoo and the breadth of experiences it offers.
Two captivating institutions each standing out in their own ways.
Whether your preference leans towards the intimate and varied wildlife of Hattiesburg Zoo, or the buffalo-rich expansive terrain of the Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, you are primed for an engaging, fulfilling day of animal discovery in Mississippi.
Both venues are carefully curated family-friendly spaces, thoughtfully designed to enhance the visitor’s exploration as they draw us into the fascinating world of the Animal Kingdom.
