Feed Giraffes & Rhinos at Longneck Manor

Me and my family came here for a little getaway trip and let me just say, we had so much fun. This place is such a vibe. Seeing the animals that close was honestly an experience I’ll never forget. The rhinos were right outside our back patio area where we could watch them from a distance. Obviously there were safety barriers between our townhouse-style villa and another barrier around the animal enclosure itself, but it still felt amazing being able to see them so close. The place we stayed in was super spacious. It was more like a private little townhouse/villa setup rather than a regular hotel room. There are multiple villas throughout the property depending on the size of your group. Ours was a two-bedroom, three-bed villa with huge restrooms, amazing water pressure, and beautiful backyard views overlooking the rhino enclosure. My cousin mentioned that some of the other villas also overlook the giraffes, but ours mainly had views of the rhinos which was still such an amazing experience. One thing I really loved was how interactive and educational the experience was. The staff was very friendly, informative, and clearly cared a lot about the animals. They explained where many of the animals came from, safety precautions, and how to properly interact with them respectfully. For example, with the giraffes they explained not to stand too close to their neck or face while feeding them because if they turn suddenly you could fall over. With the rhinos, the staff explained that their eyesight is limited, so we had to approach them slowly and talk to them so they knew we were there. There’s a barricade setup with small openings where the rhinos pop their heads through while eating. As guests, we slowly walked alongside the barricade while talking to them until we reached their forehead area where we were allowed to gently pet them. It was honestly such a cool and unique experience being able to interact with them that closely while still keeping everything safe for both the animals and guests. The animal activities were honestly one of the best parts. We got to feed the giraffes and even the sloth which was such a cool experience. The giraffes also got to “paint” on a canvas using this really interesting paintbrush contraption. One person would hold the canvas while another person held the paintbrush setup near the giraffe’s face, and the giraffe would push and move the brush around the canvas creating its own little painting. It was definitely a two-person job and such a unique experience to watch. There was also another activity where the rhinos helped create paintings. They put non-toxic, animal-safe paint on the side of the rhino’s leg and you press the canvas against it to create a little portrait to take home as a memory. Upon arrival they provided little breakfast/snack items for our stay like oatmeal, waffles, orange juice, and protein bars. They also let us choose between cider and bottled water which was a nice touch. The entire property feels peaceful, hidden, and perfect for a relaxing getaway. Just keep in mind that restaurants and stores are about 30 minutes away, and it gets VERY dark at night since the property is more secluded. We personally went out to eat and explore, but you could also order DoorDash if you wanted to stay in and relax at the property. Overall, my whole experience here was amazing. I love animals, so being able to enjoy something this unique with my mom, aunt, and cousin made it even more special. Definitely something different, relaxing, and memorable. I would absolutely recommend staying at Longneck Manor if you want a unique getaway experience in Texas.

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