Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of many attractions at Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Orlando, Florida Elephants at Animal Kingdom Editor’s note: I was provided with a complimentary tour at Lion Country Safari, and I have also visited on my own.

Lion Country Safari is located at 2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee, Florida 33470. Safari World also includes Safari Plunge water slides, so guests can really make a day of their visit. These include a boat ride on the Safari Queen, a paddleboat, miniature golf, a carousel, a Flying Elephant ride, and the Rio Grande Train. Animals from six different continents can be found at Lion Country Safari, including lions, white rhinos, chimpanzees, zebras, giraffes, and more.Īfter taking a scenic drive through the preserve, guests can enjoy the rides and attractions at Safari World.

This park is home to more than 1,000 animals, which can be viewed along the 4-mile-long drive-through preserve and walk-through habitats on the 320-acre park. Lion Country Safari, Loxahatchee, Florida Rhino at Lion Country Safariįounded in 1967 as the first drive-through safari park in the United States, Lion Country Safari is the largest attraction in The Palm Beaches. I have included drive through safaris and wildlife parks where you can either self-drive your own vehicle or take a safari tour or safari ride through the animal habitats. (I found this article helpful in understanding the different types of accreditation and what it means.)Īs of this writing, this list is only of drive through zoos and safaris that are accredited AZA or ZAA establishments or overseen by government wildlife entities. I have intentionally left out a few safari parks, even ones that I have visited because greater research showed that they weren’t accredited by one of those two widely recognized organizations. That said, I do think we need to be careful about which establishments we support, which is why I have included only the zoos and safari parks that are accredited members of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums or the Zoological Association of America. Although I know many have different views, I see many benefits of these safari and wildlife parks from seeing the simple joy on a child’s face when they see an animal in person that inspires a lifelong interest in animal preservation, to the important research that these parks provide in understanding animal behavior and saving them from extinction. I constantly struggle with the benefits of zoos versus the negative impacts of keeping animals in captivity. The nice thing about drive through safaris and zoos is that most have acres and acres of land for animals to roam in a much more natural setting. As traditional zoos have transitioned to animal conservation and education over entertainment, there has been a shift to larger, more natural animal habitats and enclosures. The Ultimate Gift Guide for Teen Book Lovers (2023) - October 23, 2023Īfter years of traveling around the United States, both with my family and without, I have run across many drive through zoos, safari parks, and wildlife preserves.21 Best Things to Do in the Finger Lakes, NY: Wine, Waterfalls & More! - October 23, 2023.AutoCamp Cape Cod Review: Beachside Glamping on Cape Cod - October 24, 2023.'They've learned if they do that, then the kids feed them a lot more,' said Fitzgerald.Įven without food, you may get a friendly greeting from some in the park like one cow who likes to lick his visitors. SEE ALSO: Martinsville BBQ restaurant continues to bring in victories rich with flavor Nothing makes these guys happier to get snacks through the day. The Park sells feed buckets at the front of the park. You can stop and feed or stop and admire any animal as long as you like. However, it can last as long as you like - because your ticket is good all day long. The tour itself lasts about 45 minutes on average. 'They have full roam of that so they get choose where they go, when they go, what they do, they can choose when they want to go lay down, they can choose when they want to go eat from cars they have full choices all day every day,' said Fitzgerald. 'Our Chinese Pure David Deer these guys are actually extinct in the wild,' said Fitzgerald.Īll in a free-range environment for the animals. 'You can kinda watch the different species and how they interact with each other cause there are certain species that actually hang out together a lot,' said Fitzgerald.Įven animals that are extinct in the wild.

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