This Arkansas Farm Lets You Feed Kangaroos, Ride Camels, And See Exotic Animals

Picture this. You’re standing on an Arkansas farm when a kangaroo starts eating straight from your palm like it’s no big deal.

A camel keeps glancing your way, clearly hoping you’ll come closer. A ring tailed lemur watches everything, alert and curious.

I didn’t see this coming at all. The experience feels immediate, like you’re part of it the second you arrive.

No buildup, no distance, just constant interaction and small moments that stick with you. The whole place feels alive.

Every corner has something happening, something worth stopping for, and it never feels repetitive. Keep going, because this kind of hands on animal encounter usually involves a long trip, not something this easy to reach, and you will probably want to come back again.

It feels like one of those places you tell friends about right away, the kind that surprises you in the best possible way every time.

Meet Kangaroos Up Close And Feed Them By Hand

Holding a joey in your arms while its velvety nose twitches against your sleeve is the kind of moment that makes you forget you are in central Arkansas and not the Australian outback.

At this farm, kangaroo encounters are one of the most talked-about experiences on the property, and for very good reason.

Visitors can hand-feed the resident kangaroos, and private holding experiences are available to book online for a more intimate one-on-one session.

I watched a group of kids absolutely light up when the kangaroos hopped forward to take food directly from their hands, and I will be honest, I was just as excited standing right next to them.

The animals here are clearly comfortable around people, which makes the whole encounter feel natural rather than forced or stressful for anyone involved.

One reviewer mentioned that the baby kangaroo holding experience was something their family would never forget, and after seeing it firsthand, I completely understand why that sentiment sticks.

Few farm visits anywhere in the country offer this level of direct, up-close contact with marsupials, and the team here manages it with real care and thoughtfulness every single time. This all takes place at Cockrill’s Country Critters, 2703 Ed Haymes Rd, Austin, AR 72007.

Saddle Up For A Gentle Camel Ride Experience

Camels have a reputation for being a little dramatic, and watching one confidently reach for a feed bucket from a nearby visitor, I can confirm that reputation is completely earned.

Camel rides are among the add-on experiences available at this farm, giving guests a chance to climb aboard one of these towering, personality-packed animals for a ride they will not soon forget.

The experience is supervised by the knowledgeable staff, so even first-timers can feel comfortable settling into the saddle without any nerves getting in the way.

Camel rides are offered when available, which adds a bit of unpredictability to the experience and makes it feel even more special when everything lines up just right.

Pricing for the camel ride is listed as a separate add-on from general admission, so it is worth checking the farm’s current rates before your visit.

Standing next to one of these animals and realizing just how tall they actually are is a genuinely humbling moment that no photograph fully prepares you for.

It is the kind of activity that turns a regular weekend outing into a story worth telling at every family gathering for years to come.

Walk Among Lemurs, Tortoises, And Curious Creatures

Ring-tailed lemurs have a way of making you feel like you wandered onto a wildlife documentary set, especially when one of them fixes you with that intense amber stare from just a few feet away.

This farm is home to lemurs, tortoises, and a variety of exotic animals that go well beyond what most roadside attractions ever manage to offer their guests.

Walking through the property, I kept finding new creatures around every corner, which gave the whole visit a treasure-hunt quality that kept my energy up from start to finish.

Tortoises plod around with that unhurried confidence that only an animal carrying its home on its back can truly pull off, and watching kids react to them is genuinely entertaining.

Staff members sometimes share interesting facts about the animals, turning casual encounters into small educational moments that add depth to the experience.

The variety of species here is remarkable for a farm of this size, and the staff clearly invests time in making sure every animal is healthy, socialized, and ready to meet the public.

Lemurs, tortoises, and the many creatures in between make this particular stretch of the farm one of the most rewarding areas to explore at a relaxed, curious pace.

Discover Unexpected Animals Beyond The Barnyard

Most people arrive expecting goats and maybe a chicken or two, and then a free-roaming emu walks directly up to them and everything they thought they knew about farm visits gets cheerfully rearranged.

Beyond the kangaroos and camels, this property is home to alpacas, llamas, emus, pigs, peacocks, exotic birds, reptiles, and even a capuchin monkey named Miki who has become a familiar presence for visitors.

Miki is often associated with a separate handler who appears at the farm, but his appearances are a consistent crowd favorite that generates plenty of laughter and wide-eyed reactions.

The free-roaming nature of many animals here means that turkeys, baby goats, and the occasional emu might follow you around the property, which sounds chaotic but is actually one of the most charming parts of the whole experience.

Sloths are also available for private encounters, offering guests a rare opportunity to spend close, quiet time with one of the slowest and most fascinating animals on the property.

Ginger, one of the resident sloths, is often described by visitors as having a calm, gentle personality that makes the private experience feel incredibly personal and unhurried.

Every species here adds another layer to a visit that rewards the curious and surprises even the most seasoned animal lovers in the group.

Enjoy Hands On Encounters Designed For Families

From the moment families walk through the gate, this place operates on a simple philosophy: let people actually touch, feed, and connect with animals rather than just observe them from behind a railing.

General admission is priced at ten dollars per person, with children under one year old entering for free, making it an accessible outing for families working with a real-world budget.

Add-on experiences include pony rides, hayrides, face painting, and snake holding, each priced at five dollars, so families can customize their visit based on what each kid is most excited about.

Private encounters with sloths, monkeys, kangaroos, reptiles, baby llamas, and alpacas can be booked in advance through the farm’s website, which is a smart move for anyone who wants guaranteed time with a specific animal.

Staff members are consistently attentive and focused on making visitors feel comfortable, helping create a relaxed environment where families can fully enjoy the experience.

The farm also hosts birthday parties and school field trips, either on-site or as mobile events that come directly to your location, which is an incredibly convenient option for group organizers.

Every layer of this place seems designed to make sure families leave with full hearts, muddy shoes, and a very long list of favorite moments from the afternoon.

Capture Unforgettable Moments With Rare Animals

There is a specific kind of joy that appears on a person’s face right after a sloth wraps its slow, deliberate arm around their shoulder, and I watched that expression appear on multiple visitors during my time at this farm.

Photo opportunities here are genuinely special, because not many places in the United States let you hold a joey, stand beside a camel, and pose with a ring-tailed lemur all in the same afternoon.

The private encounter sessions are especially photogenic, since they give guests unhurried, one-on-one time with animals like Ginger the sloth or the baby kangaroos without the background noise of a larger crowd.

Staff members allow guests enough time to enjoy the moment and take photos, which helps create a relaxed and memorable experience from start to finish.

Exotic birds and other animals add spontaneous moments throughout the day, creating candid photo opportunities that no one plans for but everyone ends up loving once they scroll back through their camera roll.

The farm’s open, natural setting provides a warm, earthy backdrop that makes every photo look like it belongs in a travel magazine rather than a casual snapshot.

Bringing a fully charged phone or a good camera is absolutely worth the extra bag space, because the moments here tend to arrive fast and disappear just as quickly.

Experience A Place Where Farm Life Meets Wildlife

Something about walking a property where domestic farm animals and exotic wildlife share the same open space creates a feeling that is genuinely hard to find anywhere else in the region.

Horses, cows, pigs, chickens, and ducks coexist here alongside kangaroos, lemurs, sloths, and camels in a way that feels organic rather than staged, which is a credit to how the owners have built and managed the space over the years.

Janice and Ed, the founders, have described this farm as a dream they built from the ground up, and that personal investment shows in every detail from the animal enclosures to the way the staff interacts with every single visitor.

The barnyard atmosphere carries a nostalgic warmth that reviewers frequently mention, noting that the property feels like a place rooted in genuine love for animals rather than a commercial operation chasing ticket sales.

Free-roaming animals wandering the grounds, including baby goats and the occasional peacock, give the farm a lively, unpredictable energy that keeps every visit feeling slightly different from the last.

A 4.7 out of 5 rating across nearly 400 reviews speaks to how consistently the farm delivers on the promise of a welcoming, well-run experience for guests of all ages.

You can find this one-of-a-kind blend of farm and wildlife at Cockrill’s Country Critters, located at 2703 Ed Haymes Rd, Austin, AR 72007.

Plan The Perfect Visit With Seasonal Activities And Tips

Timing your visit well makes a noticeable difference here, and visiting during cooler months like fall or spring can make the experience more comfortable for both guests and animals on the property.

Summer visits are still enjoyable, but the Arkansas heat can slow things down a bit, so arriving early in the morning when the farm opens gives you the best shot at seeing the animals at their most energetic.

The farm runs seasonal events throughout the year, with Cockrill’s Christmas Critters being a standout holiday offering that includes face painting, hayrides, and photos with Santa alongside the usual animal encounters.

Operating hours vary by day, with Saturday hours running from 10 AM to 6:30 PM and Sunday hours from 1 PM to 6 PM, so planning around those windows is essential for a smooth visit.

Booking private encounters in advance through the farm’s website is highly recommended, especially for popular experiences that may have limited availability on busy days.

Purchasing a feed bucket on-site adds an extra layer of interaction that makes the animals noticeably more engaged and eager to approach visitors of all ages.

You can reach the farm directly at 501-351-4521 or visit cockrillscountrycritters.com for the most current schedule, pricing, and event information before you head out.