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Aggieland Safari

Embark on an exciting, animal-filled adventure, at the Aggieland Safari, a 250-acre safari park and zoo.

Fill your day with family-friendly fun at Aggieland Safari. Admire exotic animals from the comfort of your car at the Drive Through Safari or enjoy a leisurely stroll through the Walkabout Adventure Zoo. With its dedication to education, conservation, and family enjoyment, Aggieland Safari is a must-visit destination that will create lasting memories and a deep appreciation for the natural world.

Drive Through Safari

Prepare for an exhilarating adventure like no other at the Drive Through Safari at the Aggieland Safari. Buckle up and embark on a thrilling 2.5-mile ride through picturesque landscapes, where an extraordinary array of wildlife awaits. As you navigate the winding paths, you'll be amazed by the sight of majestic American Bison, zebras, towering ostriches, and a captivating variety of over 75 wild animal species . Get ready for an up-close encounter like never before as the animals come right up to your vehicle, offering a unique opportunity to observe their natural behaviors and admire their beauty at close range. There are also Safari SUVs available for rent.

Walkabout Adventure Zoo

Meet up to 150 different species of animals in the Walkabout Adventure Zoo! Stroll through educational exhibits and encounter the resident peacocks, exotic birds, lemurs, monkeys, and more. Stretch out your hand and feed a giraffe fresh leafy greens at the Giraffe Feeding Yard. Get up close to birds and reptiles in the Animal Barn and at the Pavillion. End the day watching your little one run and explore at the playscape.

Animal Encounters

Want to interact with fuzzy, scaly, and hard-shelled animals? Sign up for a Wild Animal Safari animal encounter and enjoy a personal encounter with a Southern Tamandua or a reptile while learning the importance of conservation. Join caretakers in feeding and enrichment activities for the Southern Tamanduas or help with the routine care of reptiles and take a tour of off-exhibit reptiles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the aggieland sarafi hours.

Open Monday - Sunday beginning at 9:00 a.m. with extended closing times most Fridays and Saturdays, Spring Break, holidays, and throughout the summer. Check the calendar for the most up to date hours.

How much is a ticket for Aggieland Safari?

General admission tickets include admission to the Drive Through Safari and the Walkabout Adventure Zoo.

Adults (ages 13-64) - $22.50

Junior (ages 3-12) - $17.50

Seniors (age 65+) - $17.50

Where is Aggieland Safari located?

Aggieland Safari is located at 18075 FM 974, Bryan, TX 77808, roughly 20 minutes north-east of Texas A&M University.

Who owns Aggieland Safari?

Parks! America, Inc. purchased Aggieland Safari in April 2020.

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Aggieland Safari

Go wild in aggieland, wild about aggieland safari.

Aggieland is going wild about the Aggieland Safari adventure zoo and drive-thru safari park in Bryan, Texas.  Aggieland Adventure Zoo and Safari Park is an Aggie owned and operated organization born from a love of animal stewardship and dedication to conservation. The park offers over 450 acres of family-friendly, educational, and conservation-based opportunities to interact with over 100 species of wildlife, including several extinct-in-the-wild species and more than 20 endangered species!

An Expedition of Epic Proportions

Drive-Thru Safari

Adventure Zoo

Animal Encounters

Stay, Then Safari

Rest up for your aggieland adventure., stay connected, get exclusive news & special offers.

• 1239 TAMU, College Station, Texas 77843
• 177 Joe Routt Boulevard College Station, Texas 77840
• Local: 979.260.2235 Direct: 888-65-GIGEM (44436)
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Do you have Mother's Day plans?

We have the perfect Mother's Day adventure gift planned for you with a very exciting special addition tour!

Click here to learn more!

CHOOSE YOUR SAFARI

Self-Guided Tour

Take your own vehicle on a driving safari through our 500-acre wildlife park. See and feed over 500 animals from 40 different species at your own pace. 

Guided Tour

Join one of our Safari Animal Rangers and meet animals from around the world. Learn unique facts and hear personal stories from your Ranger Tour Guide.

Giraffe VIP Experience

Start your tour with an intimate encounter with giraffes led by one of our Safari Animal Rangers! Then, enjoy a guided tour of our 500-acre park. 

Group Adventures

In the comfort of your own caravan or bus, witness animals from around the world, visit giraffes, meet a troop of ring-tailed lemurs, enjoy lunch, and shop.

Educational Adventures

Take your class on a real safari where there's a learning adventure around every corner. Students will love being close to animals wilder than they are!

ADD AN EXCURSION

Prehistoric Experience

Walk amongst dozens of dinosaurs that move, breathe, and can't wait for you to maybe get a little too close. This excursion is sure to be memorable!

Aviary Experience

The only thing better than seeing our birds is feeding them! Come inside with food on popsicle sticks that dozens of budgies look forward to enjoying.

Conservation

The conservation of animals and ranchland is of utmost importance to us at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. We actively collaborate with organizations worldwide to promote a sustainable future for both animals and the land they inhabit.

Wild About Education

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is the perfect place to go on safari. But it's also a place to learn about the wonderful, wild world of animals.  Click on the articles below or on "Read More" to learn something you didn't already know! 

Wild Nature Institute for Education

Teacher's Prompt: Conservation

Horns & Antlers

Aggieland Safari

Review Highlights

“ George the giraffe was friendly enough to pet on his nose but he was really just looking for snacks. ” in 19 reviews

“ I have a season pass and plan on using it quite frequently now that it has cooled off. ” in 2 reviews

“ the drive thru safari was amazing, animals walked up to my car even though we didn't have food for them. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

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18075 FM 974

Bryan, TX 77808

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Amenities and More

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About the Business

Giraffes, hippos, and monkeys, oh my! We are so excited to have guests explore our beautiful and spacious Adventure Zoo Drive-Thru Safari! Aggieland Safari offers the perfect outing for families, field trips, small groups, and large groups alike! You don't want to miss our unique animal feeding experiences, special events, and other fun activities to come! Visit the Adventure Zoo and explore our "Safari on Foot" that includes over 20 acres of up-close exhibits and walk-through animal experiences. Here you'll get a chance to feed tortoises, birds, and giraffes! Then head over to our 250 acre Drive-Thru Safari to connect with hundreds of animals in a way you've never imagined. Purchase a bucket of feed for $5 and have an up close and personal visit from our safari friends, all from the comfort of your vehicle. After working up an appetite, the whole family can enjoy delightful snacks from the giftshop in view of our giraffes and camels! Our giraffes might even pop into the pavilion to say hello! Parents can take a load off and relax under our covered pavilion while the kids romp across the fun activity recreation area, too! …

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Update on my meeting with Lisa Brady, CEO/President of many venues such as Aggieland Safari. I had expressed concern about conditions, etc of the animals. She and I met Thursday with staff members Hailey and Mary. It was a good conversation and a learning experience for all. They have a new baby giraffe named, Mala who lives with George, a fan favorite. There are many new changes coming to the Safari and more positive changes for the animals and the public. *Hailey is raising baby roo, Rudy whose mother rejected him. He is very young and lives in a pouch that Hailey provides and has constant feedings. I feel better and they were open to changes I suggested from the view point of someone involved in the animal world and a member of our community. I really appreciate Lisa for reaching out to me to discuss my concerns after attending the safari recently with my granddaughters in June.

Two caretakers with baby Rudy and me. The other one is of George and CEO Lisa.

I LOVE THIS PLACE AND ALL OF THE SILLY LITTLE ANIMALS! We were best friends with Alpaca #26! He followed us around the ENTIRE time!!!! I loved seeing all the animals in such a big open habitat! The ostrich bird things are really interesting and scary!

See all photos from Joseph Fowler F. for Aggieland Safari

We were in town for a tournament and had to find something to do Sunday afternoon. We were originally going to go to the Zoo in Waco because aggieland didn't pop up in my initial search of things to do. So glad we found it! The kids had an absolute blast. It's such a unique zoo experience. The staff was friendly and informative. A great way to use up an afternoon! Highly recommend, just make sure to buy extra food!

Imagine paying $20 to see some deer and aged signage that has never been replaced. This place is a joke, apparently they got bought out and I am unsure what is going on with it. Really should just be shut down.

I've been here twice so far and loved it both times. There's the driving part which you can buy feed to give to the animals on the way. We ended up buying 2 second time around because the 1 cup went quickly with all the animals to see. And the walking part you can do before or after, but we chose to do after a good drive to stretch our legs. To get to the animals you'll end up walking through a gift shop that has alot for all. You can buy some leaves for turtle or giraffe to feed. Sticks for the birds, which is adorable when they eat it off. And kids had a great area in the middle with a park to play with others and a couple bench areas nearby to rest. If you coming more that 1 or 2 times I beleive they offer a membership that would make it better. All the staff we encountered were very nice and helpful as well.

Just go there. So much fun. The animals are well taken care of and loved. The staff is helpful and nice. So many animals roaming around and living free in large pastures. Buy several bags of food from the store - there are 3 pastures - there are a lot of animals to feed. The walking around part is amazing. The animals look content and well fed. Thank you for taking care of these amazing animals. I truly appreciate everything you do. This is the second park owned by Aggieland I have visited and I just love them, but this one is my favorite so far - though the other was just as good! The kangaroos are so amazing. Everything here is amazing. Buy a lot of food. You will have the best experience. Buy a membership if you can - so many hours of fun, feeding animals, enjoying all the many animals content and taken care of and all the little babies... Too cute. The buffalo are so sweet here!

Aggieland Safari was a great experience. We drove through the park first and fed many animals. They were all very approachable and beyond adorable. It takes about 20-30 minutes to drive through and see all the wildlife. After that, we parked and walked the rest of the zoo. There were many other Animals to view. My daughter fed Georgie the Giraffe. Although very hot this summer, we were still able to enjoy the park and stay cool by going inside the Gift Shop. We will definitely come back when the weather cools down.

See all photos from Juan H. for Aggieland Safari

We love this place! We have season passes and go often!! So fun to be in your own car and see how these animals live together.

First time visit today. Lots of exotic animals. Really enjoyed the drive thru the park but wish there had been more signage identifying the different animals. George the giraffe was friendly enough to pet on his nose but he was really just looking for snacks. The otters were adorable and so excited when the keepers approached with meals. We picked the perfect day with minimal crowds and perfect temperatures. If you haven't been here, take your kids. They will love it.

Came here for the first time with my family. We all had a blast because we never experience a drive through safari before. We've always seen videos, but never thought we'd get the chance. So the tickets are cheaper when bought online. The ticket is good for an unlimited amount of drive through and walkthrough zoo for that one day admission. So you have a choice to buy food from inside the gift shop and drive your own vehicle with the risk of damages from these animals ooooor take a tour bus at no cost and risk damages to their own vehicle lol. Anyways, Matt was our guide and he was pretty funny. He threw some borderline lame dad jokes, but was overall funny and informational. Lots of animals approached the bus including the huge scary ostrich. They also have a retile house and a bird sanctuary. The walkthrough isn't the largest zoo, but it was perfect for us. All the staff here are very friendly. Lots of parking. Shoes are required.

See all photos from Klemens T. for Aggieland Safari

1 other review that is not currently recommended

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Aggieland Safari - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

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Brazos Life

April 25, 2019

Aggieland Safari: OPENING in Bryan, TX

Aggieland Safari : Opening in Bryan, TX

It’s going to be a wild summer for the Brazos Valley! Located near Bryan, Texas , just a short 20-minute drive from College Station and 90 minutes from Houston and Waco , Aggieland Safari is the Serengeti of the South.

During a visit, all ages can expect an expedition of epic proportions that includes an adventure zoo, drive-thru safari, wildlife recreation center, animal feeding experiences, special events, and more! Aggieland Safari offers the perfect outing for families, field trips, small groups, and large groups alike!

In the drive-thru Safari , connect with the animals in a way you’ve never imagined and tour over 250 acres! Purchase a bucket of feed and have an up close and personal visit from our safari friends, all from the comfort of your vehicle.

Visit the Adventure Zoo and explore the “Safari on Foot” that includes over 20 acres of up-close exhibits and walk-through animal experiences. Here you’ll get a chance to meet kangaroos and feed tortoises, otters, birds, and giraffes as well as visit the animal nursery to meet and hold the most precious zoo family members.

For more information, please visit: ​https://www.aggielandsafari.com/

Helpful Resources

• City of Bryan
• City of College Station
• Texas A&M University
• Blinn College
• Radio Aggieland

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Complete Guide to Drive Thru Zoos in Texas

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One thing that is unique about our state is all the drive thru zoos in Texas.

From camels, to giraffes, to zebras, you can find all types of wild animals living at ranches in the lone star state.

We adore animal-based activities when we travel.

We saw some incredibly rare species of Amazon River Animals (including pink dolphins!) while in Peru, we went on a pretty cool safari experience when searching for the Best Things to Do in Sonoma County , and even (accidently) snorkeled with sharks while staying on a Private Island in Fiji.

If you’re Texas-based, you don’t have to spend hours on an airplane to get into some amazing animal experiences. 

We’ve had some pretty amazing animal encounters at Texas drive thru zoos and wanted to share them with you!

Drive Thru Zoos Close to Austin, Texas

Blue hills ranch.

Blue Hills Ranch is located 30 minutes from Waco, and an hour and a half from Austin.  It’s a giraffe and wild animal sanctuary that has a ton of offerings.

At the ranch they have probably the coolest experience options in all of Texas. 

They feature a giraffe dining experience, an otter experience where you can swim with otters, and a driving safari.

We started our day with a dining experience with giraffes. After loading into a dune buggy, we traveled to the part of the ranch where there is a platform amongst the giraffes.

We enjoyed our charcuterie board while Blue and Google the giraffes ate their snacks right from our hands. 

Once Blue was out of his own grapes, he started eating the grapes off of our platter!

It was a very intimate and sweet experience to share with the gentle giants.

After the giraffe dining experience we took a ride in the dune buggy to see zebras, camels, kangaroos, emus, bison, goats, donkeys, and deer.

You can not drive through in your own car, but can ask for a tour in the open air ranch vehicles.

If any of the wildlife centers on this list were a date on the show the Bachelor it would be held at Blue Hills Ranch. This spot is perfect for an anniversary date night, birthday celebration, or even a romantic proposal!

On the private tour and experience side, we’ve truly never seen a place like Blue Hills Ranch in the United States, you can only find something as special as this in South Africa and a few other countries in Africa. 

Book a stay at their cabins for an immersive experience with animals.

For a full property buy out you could even have your wedding here! 

https://www.bluehillsranch.com/ 2032 Blue Cut Rd N, McGregor, TX 76657

The Exotic Resort Zoo

Probably the most notable drive thru zoo in Texas is The Exotic Resort Zoo .  

This exotic zoo is in Johnson city which is an hour drive from Austin, and a 30 minute drive to Fredericksburg where you can hit the Texas wine region or stay at our Fredericksburg Bed and Breakfast . 

At the Exotic Resort Zoo you have many ways to experience over 700 species of wildlife from baby giraffes, to zebras, to ostriches, to ring-tailed lemurs. 

They offer drive-thru tickets where you can use your own vehicle.  Before entering the drive thru zoo be sure to buy a bucket of feed so you can hand feed animals from your own vehicle.   

If you don’t want to drive through in your own car you can join a guided tractor ride tour.  

The main benefits of the guided tour are that you have an educated guide, and in the tractor they can go off-roading so you get even close to animals if they’re not on the normal car path. 

It was so much fun because the animals come in extra close in the open-air tractor experience. 

Do note that for the drive through option they don’t allow RV’s, and you’re not allowed to ride in your truck bed. 

Outside of the guided safari and drive-thru safari, they also have a petting zoo and safari cabins.

The petting zoo is included in your ticket price.  There are a range of animals like kangaroos, antelope, and deer to pet.

Karen made the mistake of wearing a green dress with flowers on it and the deer at the petting zoo started to eat the bottom of her dress!

They also give you the option of buying lettuce to feed their giraffe from the feeding platform.

If you want to stay at the zoo, they offer 8 cabins of different sizes. 

The benefits of staying in their cabins is that your tour and petting zoo is included in the price of the rental. They also have a pool, and bbq area to get the feeling of cooking in the outback. 

From the comfort of your own vehicle or their trailers you can drive through the animals open habitat which they try to make close to their natural environment for their enjoyment. 

This is definitely one of the best drive-thru safaris near Austin.

https://www.zooexotics.com/ 235 Zoo Trail, Johnson City, TX 78636

Topsey Exotic Ranch & Park

Topsey Exotic Ranch & Park is an hour and a half north of Austin. 

The Topsey Park is split into three sections: the drive thru safari, a walkaround area, and a petting zoo. 

The drive thru zoo is the main portion of the park.  You can expect this part of the adventure to take around an hour, but if you want to do it a second time you can do so at no additional charge.  

On the safari you can buy food at their gift shop to feed the animals, and you will most likely run into zebras, camels, and a ton of other exotics.  

For the walking area they have kangaroos, monkeys, lemurs, and more.

For the petting zoo it’s nice that they have more activities, but the animals are mainly sheep and goats. 

https://www.topseyranch.com/ 945 Co Rd 118, Copperas Cove, TX 76522

Buena Vista Wildlife Safari and RV Park

The Buena Vista Wildlife Safari and RV Park is located in between Austin and the Dallas/Fort Worth metros.  

If you’re road tripping through Texas this is a great destination to break up driving because they offer both overnight cabins and they have an RV park. 

This wildlife safari park is packed with items for your entire family.  

They have their drive thru safari that has over 250 animals, there’s a petting zoo, a pool, a fishing pond, and a sports game area. 

They even have a petting zoo cam so you can see this area of their animals online. 

https://buenavistawildlifesafari.com/ 1830 S, S Hwy 281, Evant, TX 76525

Aggieland Wild Animal Safari

Aggieland Wild Animal Safari is a zoo chain that has a few locations in the US, and this location is a great east Texas zoo. 

At their 250-acre safari land they have the standard drive thru zoo, they have a safari bus you can join, they have a normal zoo that you walk around, and they have close animal encounters. 

The animal encounters are very different from others in Texas.

They have reptile encounters, but the special ticket is the cute tamanduas experience. 

If you haven’t heard of tamanduas before, you’ve definitely heard of their bigger cousin the anteater.  If in the area do not skip Aggieland Safari. 

https://animalsafari.com/aggieland-home-about-us/   18075 FM974, Bryan, TX 77808

Drive Thru Zoos Close to San Antonio, Texas

Natural bridge wildlife ranch.

The Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is a top 10 rated safari park in the nation by USA Today . 

There are multiple things that make this wildlife ranch special.

The top of the list has to be the fact that they have and are preserving extinct animals in the wild as well as critically endangered animals. Outside of that, they have most of the general public’s favorite exotic animals. 

Special animals to be on the lookout for are a female cheetah, giraffes, monkeys, zebras, rhinos, and other endangered species. 

After you’ve had an amazing experience at the wildlife ranch you can dine at their restaurant the Safari Camp Grill or bring your own picnic.  

You will truly enjoy your zoo experience at this San Antonio zoo.

https://www.wildliferanchtexas.com/ 26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266

Drive Thru Zoos Close to Dallas, Texas (and Fort Worth)

Fossil rim wildlife center .

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is a non-profit conservation center that is an hour drive from Fort Worth.  The center is well over 1,800 acres of land, and this wildlife preserve houses over 1,000 animals. 

They specialize in captive breeding specifically for endangered species, and even participate in projects to release them back into the wild.  

One noteworthy recent example is with the Mexican Gray Wolf which only had an estimated 700 left in the wild. 

This wildlife center is packed with family fun.  They have the standard self-guided drive through safari trek, but they also offer behind the scenes tours, and really special “T.W.A.N.G.” photo tours with a professional wildlife photographer. 

To finish off the night they have night tours with a campfire, and they also have lodging. 

https://fossilrim.org/   2299 Co Rd 2008, Glen Rose, TX 76043 

Sharkarosa Zoo

Sharkarosa Zoo located north of Dallas is a 126 acre park.

This spot features lions, tigers, and bears!  

They also have unique private animal experiences. 

You can pay for the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with sloths, ruffed lemurs, and even a skunk that won’t spray you. 

It’s a stink free way to learn about more animals!

https://sharkarosa.com/ 11670 Massey Rd, Pilot Point, TX 76258

Drive Thru Zoos Close to Houston, Texas 

Bayou wildlife zoo.

Bayou Wildlife Zoo is the closest you’ll get to a drive thru zoo close to Houston.  

This zoo is located 30 minutes south of Houston towards Galveston.  

It is home to over 60 species of animals, and you can visit them via their tram ride or through their barnyard encounter experience.  

There are not a lot of drive through zoos near Houston, so consider making a road trip through Texas to visit some of the larger zoos!

https://www.bayouwildlifezoo.com/ 5050 FM517, Alvin, TX 77511

Drive Thru Zoos Close to College Station, Texas

Franklin drive thru safari.

Franklin Drive Thru Safari is a 45 minute drive from College Station.  

They have cabins, a drive thru self-guided drive safari, a baby room for newborn animals, and a reptile house. 

If you’re a fan of cute baby animals, you can buy a specific ticket for it, and get an up close experience with the cute new animals.  

Every time you visit there will be different species of animals since animals are only babies for a short period of time before they’re fully grown. 

The reptile house features snakes of both venomous and non-venomous varieties in their animal enclosures, as well as other reptiles (if you’re brave enough to enter!)

https://www.franklinsafari.com/ 4324 W Hwy 79, Franklin, TX 77856

Grapeland Safari

Grapeland Safari is a super affordable drive-thru safari.  It’s under $10 bucks for this animal experience! 

This is a smaller park, but it features beefalo’s which is a cross between a cow and a bison. They also feature kangaroos, zebra, and more.  

This is a good affordable break from a road trip because it’s not that close to a major city. 

https://www.grapelandsafari.net/ 13440 US-287, Grapeland, TX 75844

Drive Thru Zoo FAQs:

Are dogs allowed at drive thru zoos in texas .

Although you’re enjoying these from the comfort of your vehicle, dogs are not allowed at drive thru zoos as they can disrupt wild animals.  

It also puts your dog at risk.  Dogs could be viewed as a predator or prey, and both of those situations aren’t worth bringing your dog to.

So keep fido at home for everyone’s safety.

What are the Big Five Safari Animals? 

The term “Big Five” was originally coined by big-game hunters and refers to the five most challenging animals to hunt on foot in Africa. We were lucky enough to see all of them live in the wild on our Luxury African Safar i prior to visiting the Best Things to do in Cape Town .

Today, the term is widely used in the context of wildlife tourism and conservation. 

The Big Five safari animals are:

African Elephant: The African elephant is the largest land mammal and one of the most iconic animals in Africa. It is known for its impressive size, long tusks, and distinctive trunk.

African Lion: Lions are majestic and powerful big cats that inhabit the grasslands and savannas of Africa. They are highly social animals, living in prides led by a dominant male known as the “king of the jungle.”

African Leopard: Leopards are elusive and solitary cats known for their agility and camouflage abilities. They are excellent climbers and often retreat to trees with their prey to avoid competition from other predators.

African Buffalo: Also known as the Cape buffalo, African buffaloes are large bovines that live in herds and can be quite aggressive when threatened. They are formidable creatures with strong horns and are known for their resilience and toughness.

African Rhinoceros: Both the black rhinoceros and white rhinoceros are part of the Big Five. Rhinos are large, herbivorous mammals with prehistoric origins. They are heavily poached for their valuable horns and are critically endangered.

These five animals are highly sought-after by safari enthusiasts due to their size, beauty, and significance in African wildlife. However, it’s important to note that the term “Big Five” does not necessarily reflect the ecological importance or conservation status of these species.

There are so many drive-thru zoos with different animals in areas that the parks try to keep close to their natural setting with Texas having a similar climate to parts of Africa.  We were shocked at the wide variety of animals you will find at each pack.  So, no matter where you are in Texas you’ll most likely have a safari drive-thru near you. 

It’s amazing that you don’t have to book a flight to Africa to see many of these exotic animals in an open habitat, all you have to do is take a drive through Texas.

So hop in a car, take a road trip, and have fun!

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Super helpful drive through Texas zoo list!

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Your Top Wildlife Destination

979-828-5256 open everyday 9am-5pm.

© 2022 by Franklin Drive Thru Safari. 

At Franklin Drive Thru Safari, we offer unique, informative, and interactive educational experiences. Learning up close and personal with one of our qualified experts is the best way to understand our animals. No matter your age or your background, there are always opportunities to cultivate your knowledge and love of animals and nature. Please get in touch today to find out more.

The Lazy River will be opening soon!         Check out our page above

Cabin rentals.

What's better than driving thru our Safari?  Yes, you guessed it, staying in one of our cabin houses.  Our cabins are located just off of the Safari, but that doesn't mean you wont see any animals.  Call the office today to book your rental

We have a firepit, grills, and full kitchens. Also a full bathroom, picnic tables and more.  You can listen to the birds and view the scenery while you stay with us. 

4324 West Highway 79

Franklin TX 77856

979-828-5256

Opening Hours

9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Franklin Drive Thru Safari

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Franklin Drive Thru Safari - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• (3.53 mi) Franklin Inn & Suites
• (4.09 mi) Best Western Franklin Town Center Hotel & Suites
• (7.99 mi) Pin Oak Bed & Breakfast
• (7.09 mi) Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hearne, an IHG Hotel
• (8.00 mi) Ingraham Castle
• (2.42 mi) Mudd Creek Chop House
• (2.55 mi) Dixie Cafe
• (8.09 mi) Johnny Rebs Dixie Cafe
• (4.09 mi) Pioneer Cafe
• (3.62 mi) Amigos Y Familia
• (8.38 mi) Camp Hearne
• (5.07 mi) Franklin Ranch Comminty Park
• (7.76 mi) Hearne Railroad Museum Depot
• (6.25 mi) Fly Gap Winery
• (8.26 mi) Common Scents

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You Need To Explore This Brand New Wildlife Safari Near Houston

The world is crazy, things can get intense, but at least there will always be animals to pet. It's kind of crazy that we live in a time where you can just have access to wild animals located on a beautiful ranch an hour outside of Houston.  Aggieland Adventure Zoo & Safari Park opened it's doors to the public on May 9th and word has quickly been spreading on Instagram that this is becoming an eye-popping place to visit and explore the outdoors. 

Word is, the idea was born out of an intense love for animals, and a dedication to conserving the land in which these wild animals thrive. There are many great spots in Texas to check out animal wildlife, but it's always a huge plus when places such as Aggieland Safari have plenty of space for animals to roam. Also, it's a nice plus when guests aren't crammed in elbow to elbow.

See on Instagram

The park has two main attractions up and running right now including an Adventure Zoo and a Drive-Thru Safari which are both included in the price of admission. You can live your own little version of The Lion King as you see their huge collection of animals including kangaroos, wild boar, giraffes, hippos, monkeys, and even lemurs. For a zoo that just got itself up and running, Aggieland Safari can't be conquered in just one visit. Side note: Don't be ashamed to take a visit to the petting zoo!

Since the park opened early this Summer, people have been flocking to the location and it has been a popular destination for students living in College Station. The facility is for all ages and if you buy tickets online they're $22, and $25 in person.  

Animals have the ability to be the fuel to happiness, a way to step outside of our day to day lives and just enjoy nature in a way that few places in Texas can offer. Make the trip, feed a giraffe, trust us you'll be smiling all day. 

Aggieland Adventure Zoo & Safari Park

When: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 7 days a week (Note: Final Car Enters At 4 p.m.)

Address: 18075 FM974 Bryan, TX  77808

Why You Need To Go: Free your mind and enjoy some fresh air, groovy animals, and more all at a low cost. 

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National Volunteer Month: Help Habitat For Humanity build homes for deserving families

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) -If you want to help a non-profit provide shelter for families in Bryan-College Station, Habitat For Humanity is looking for volunteers.

There are opportunities to help build homes individually or with a group.

Volunteers can also work in Habitat For Humanity’s ReStore sorting new and gently used household items that they sell at a discounted price.

Director of Development Carl Orozco says volunteers can see the impacts they are making from the ground up.

“You actually can use your hands and at the end of the day you can kind of see what you’ve done.”

You can click here to sign up to volunteer to build a home or in ReStore.

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Scholarly squirrels: Exploring the dynamics of Texas A&M’s campus wildlife

Ongoing project will provide undergraduate wildlife students with hands-on field experiences.

April 19, 2024

While Reveille is the undisputed First Lady of Aggieland, one might argue the Texas A&M University campus is also home to a smaller, more mischievous unofficial mascot — the campus squirrel.

Beginning this month, students in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management , RWFM, will use various field techniques and statistical analyses to provide quantitative insight into the world of these bushy-tailed, campus rodents.

Campus wildlife provides unique learning opportunities

Of the eight squirrel species that call Texas home, the highly adaptable Eastern fox squirrel has seemingly found its niche in the open, park-like environments of universities across much of the state. With a variety of habitat options, an abundant food supply, and relatively few predators, it’s no surprise that these campus squirrels flourish.

Ty Werdel, Ph.D., RWFM assistant professor, said this provides the perfect opportunity to integrate accessible, field-based monitoring with academic coursework. 

“The presence of urban wildlife on campus enables our students to conduct research and practice key technical skills in their own backyard,” Werdel said.  

Project launches this spring

Led by Werdel and RWFM graduate students, undergraduates enrolled in Techniques in Wildlife Management will set traps located in trees to capture 12 squirrels across campus. Once the animals are captured, students will collect data such as sex and weight and equip the squirrels with micro-GPS collars.

Werdel said these GPS collars, like very small pet collars, have no detrimental effect on the daily activities of the wildlife wearing them and will provide researchers with fine-scale spatial insight into their movement and behavior.

To mitigate stress on the animal and ensure human safety, only trained personnel will be allowed to handle the squirrels; however, wildlife students will assist in the process. Further, the trapping will take place only in the early morning or late evening hours to avoid the hottest portions of the day.

“It’s important for us to ensure this process results in the least amount of stress possible for the squirrels,” Werdel said. “Prior to even starting this work, we obtained a research permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and approval from the Texas A&M Division of Research Animal Use Protocol.”

Information collected sheds light on the campus squirrels

In addition to monitoring general movement patterns, the GPS collars, other survey methods and statistical modeling will enable students enrolled in two additional undergraduate courses — Wildlife Population Dynamics and Urban Wildlife and Fisheries — to determine the campus squirrel population, as well as home ranges and habitat preferences across the landscape.

For example, thanks to an existing geographic information system, GIS, database of campus trees, along with data on building density and roads, students can correlate squirrel activity and density with particular landscape features. This helps researchers better understand which campus elements squirrels most prefer or avoid.  

Further, students will monitor and assess squirrel mortality, locate and monitor nesting dens, and estimate squirrel populations on campus based on surveys.

“This project will enable students to learn and implement an array of basic wildlife techniques including radio telemetry, census methodology, trapping, GIS and statistical analyses,” Werdel said. “Beyond gaining an understanding of the population dynamics of urban squirrels, this project is really about equipping our students with the skills needed to successfully enter the career field of wildlife management.”

Building on existing campus data

This isn’t the first time Texas A&M students have investigated the behavior of campus squirrels. Twenty-five years ago, Roel Lopez, Ph.D., head of the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management and director of the  Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute , launched a similar project.

“At the time, urban squirrels had never been studied in Texas and had rarely been studied in the U.S.,” said Lopez, then an assistant professor. 

This project spanned six years and led to numerous findings, including that male squirrels on the Texas A&M campus are more likely to die from highway-related deaths than females.

Department faculty were able to revive this project thanks in part to financial support from an alumnus of Texas A&M’s wildlife program.

“College Station and the Texas A&M campus have urbanized and changed drastically since the initial study,” Lopez said. “This will provide an amazing opportunity to see if these changes have affected how these animals use the landscape.”

Werdel said understanding the impact of urbanization on all wildlife species is extremely relevant as cities continue their outward expansion and overlap with wildlife habitat.

“The project’s primary objective is to prepare our students with the technical knowledge and skills needed to conserve and manage any number of wildlife species in an evolving environment,” Werdel said. “While this research is specific to our campus, students will be able to apply what they learn through this project to future wildlife management endeavors.”

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