african wildlife safari sandusky ohio

African Safari Wildlife Park

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African Safari Wildlife Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

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African Safari Park is a great addition... - African Safari Wildlife Park

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• African Safari Wildlife Park

First time here. You can buy cups of lettuce, carrots & grab. With the drive thru make sure you... read more

I won tickets so 4 of us piled in the car and drove 4 1/2 hours to check it out. It was chilly... read more

African Safari Park is a great addition to a family trip to Sandusky / Lake Erie Islands!

This was our 2nd time hear, the first being about 10 years ago. It was better this time than we remembered the previous time. For one, they had a significant "family" of animatronic dinosaurs which were quite a spectacle, and no doubt a significant investment for the park. The highlight of the trip for us was the Aviary Adventure, with the budgies / small parakeets. It was very similar to a Butterfly House, where the butterflies land on you, but with colorful birds instead! We spent over an hour there and the kids would have stayed much longer if we had the time. Great photo opp and memorable experience! The Drive Thru is a great opportunity to get up close and personal with the animals as well, however, it is strongly suggested that you take seriously the chance that your vehicle will be scratched - in spite of whatever you may do. With all due respect , holding your cup as far from the vehicle as you can will not keep horned animals from scratching your car. In our case, we had minor scratches that pretty much buffed out, but we drove a van that is already imperfect, We saw some people dealing with scratches in the parking lot. The risk is real! If there were any way to ride through the drive through in a bus or another vehicle, even at an additional cost, it would be a great addition for the park. Again, overall, a great experience. Staff were friendly and available. My son fell on the playground, the staff made sure he was OK and gave him a treat that made his day. The animal programs were a nice addition, and there are ample opportunities to feed and interact with various animals based on your interest level. The parking lot was full, but the place did not feel too crowded, and it was obvious that people were enjoying themselves. This a great place for families, a nice break from the action at Cedar Point, great experience to ground children in what is real. Highly recommend!

Hello! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We are very glad to hear you had a WILD time at the Park! We hope to see you again!

First time here. You can buy cups of lettuce, carrots & grab. With the drive thru make sure you save food for the animals at the end. The ones at the beginning will surround you demand food. Feed who you want then choose windows to move on. The animals were all very sweet. You can pay $20 to feed the animals on the walk thru. There were several. We only choose to feed the giraffes which cost $6. To feed the birds or cost $2 for 1 stick or $5 for 3. Camel rides are $10 per person. They do accept cash & credit. We got to see the live animal show. They brought out three animals to look at. We could only touch the snake. Then if you paid $6 per family you could sit with the snake on your lap. Overall it was a good visit. Spent about 2.5 hours.

Workers were very friendly and helpful. So much fun feeding the animals through the drive through. Just beware they can damage your vehicle.

It’s cruel what they have done to these animals. Trained them to stand on a dusty road, begging for food. Cars trying to avoid hitting them because so many animals converge on the cars. I am sorrow I ever saw this.

Hello. Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your visit to the Park. We would like to talk more about your experience, please send us an email at [email protected].

The park itself is pretty good. Definitely a good, if small, variety of animals. Driving through and feeding the animals is super fun (prepare for a car wash later!). It's a nice setup and not too big. However a few things left us less than thrilled. For one thing, do not plan on eating here. Eat somewhere else beforehand. This place is very seriously not set up for even a simple lunch. We just wanted a couple hot dogs for ourselves and 2 kids, and there wasn't enough. We made do with a pretzel and 2 hotdogs for a family of 4, because that is literally all there was. So take snacks and eat before you go. Also, there are nearly no bathrooms. This is an entire large park, and there is one male and one female bathroom for the entire park, with 3 stalls each. That in no way possible, makes any sense. Every time we stood in line we chatted with others complaining about the same thing. So other than these two issues, the park itself is pretty good and we did enjoy that part. They have a neat educational area too, where you can pet a snake and touch a tarantula.

A total waste of money. The per person price of $22.95 for the off season (compared to the regular $29.95 charge) is ridiculous. In the off-season, the walk-through safari is closed (which we knew) and we also knew the giraffes probably wouldn't be able to be seen. But even at this reduced price, I felt enormously ripped off. You get one cup of food for the whole car (why wouldn't everyone get one when we are all charged individual admission??) and you have to buy more for $5 each. Do the owners really think that a family with a bunch of kids in the car are going to get by with just ONE cup of food? Truly, at this price EVERYONE who paid admission should get a cup if he or she wants it. We were told there were over 400 animals. Be that as it may, but the vast majority of animals we saw were different types of deer, alpacas and llamas. I didn't need to drive 90 miles to see that -- I could have gone to the local petting zoo. The few "exotic" animals we saw, like the zebras, were relatively far away, separated by a wired fence. Even stopping to feed the animals, we went through the whole drive -- TWICE -- in less than 45 minutes. With the 2 extra cups of food we bought we spent almost $80 TOTAL (there were three of us). In comparison, we could have all gone to the Columbus Zoo for a day and spent less money in admission. I tried to justify this waste of money by telling myself it helps the animals. But honestly, it seems to me more like a money-making place than one committed to animals.

Adventure Awaits At This Drive-Thru Safari Park In Ohio

A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.

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Do you ever dream of interacting with exotic animals from around the globe? Here in Ohio, the answer may be closer than you think! The African Safari Drive & Walk-Through Wildlife Park is a one-of-a-kind experience that allows visitors to experience some of the world’s most remarkable creatures. Whether you’re hoping to marvel at the height of a real-live giraffe or help feed a bison, you’ll find that there’s nothing quite like this wonderfully wild Ohio destination. Here’s everything you can look forward to when you visit this incredible drive-thru safari park in Ohio.

Please note : The African Safari Drive-Thru park is open seasonally. Be sure to visit the website for the most up-to-date information.

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What are your thoughts on this amazing drive-thru safari in Ohio? Would you plan a trip to meet the animals here? Be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you! For more information, be sure to check out the African Safari Wildlife Park online . You can also follow the African Safari Wildlife Park on Facebook for exciting updates and more details.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Drive Through This African Safari Park Near Sandusky For An Epic Adventure

L ocated near Sandusky, Ohio you’ll find the wild and wonderful African Safari Wildlife Park . Here you can drive your personal car on a drive-thru safari and walk through some of the park as well.

Upon arrival at the park you stop and purchase your tickets at a ticket booth. You are given instructions about the park and a ticket for a free cup of food.

As you drive to the entrance of the actual wildlife drive you pass a number of signs that instruct you about being in the park.

Once you drive through the gate be prepared to be swarmed by animals.

They are smart and they know a car means food. I swear, they also know when your windows are up or down.

Inside The African Safari Wildlife Park

The animals are well behaved and we drove through the park twice without any issues. 

When you pull into the wildlife area be prepared to be surrounded by wildlife. Expect the animals to stick their heads in your car window or even try to climb in.

Hint, keep your windows up if you’d like to keep interactions to a minimum.

Em fed the alpacas and deer before we arrived at the larger animal segment. They will try to pull the cup out of your hands so hold on tight and immediately put up your window if it becomes too much.

We really enjoyed the small, young deer. They are so adorable.

Towards the end of the drive there are GIRAFFES!!!

We love giraffes and were so excited to see them, but sadly we were out of food. We were so disappointed that we didn’t have anything to give them.

We ended up driving back to the entrance, buying some carrots and drove back through the park just so we could feed the giraffes.

So. Much. Fun.

In addition to the drive through park there is a walk-through park with the most adorable monkeys.

In addition to the monkeys the walk-through has an ocelot, warthogs, pigs, an albino aligator, and a variety of birds. The funniest thing at the walk-through park is NasPig Races.

The park is seasonal so be sure to check their hours prior to visiting.

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Go Wild at African Safari Wildlife Park

Published March 2021 Get ready for a wild time when you visit the Midwest’s largest drive-thru safari – African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton, Ohio! When was the last time you hand-fed a bison from your car? Or, had a giraffe stick its head through your sunroof? Have you been on a camel ride lately, or had hundreds of budgies land on you and eat directly from your hand? All of these experiences and more are available when you visit this amazing zoological park, open late March through early December. Experiences available may vary by season, but the fun is constant!

Nearly 20 different species of animals are able to be viewed along the drive-thru where you take your personal vehicle. You can see llamas, deer, bison, giraffes, zebras, and more. Admission includes one cup of animal food and additional food, such as carrots and leaf lettuce, is available to purchase (outside food is not permitted in order to keep the animal’s diet consistent). The length of the drive-thru depends on how much you stop and visit with the different animal species – they are a friendly (and hungry!) bunch. Roll down your windows and expect the animals to come right up to your auto – hold out your cup and they will enjoy a tasty snack. Or, scatter some on the ground if you prefer not to hand-feed. Be prepared to have your windows, mirrors, and door licked and rubbed against; it’s all part of the fun! You’ll laugh your way through the safari, while reading about each of the species along the way from the hand-out provided at admission. Admission includes unlimited trips through the drive-thru portion of the park.

The walk-thru safari, which includes white-handed gibbon, porcupine, wallaby, and more, is available during the warmer months, beginning in May. The walking path winds through tree-lined trails and viewable habitats. Photo opportunities abound and visitors delight in viewing these animals outdoors. Animal encounters include camel rides, educational programs, and feeding experiences, among others. The Aviary Adventure allows guests to walk through an enclosure with more than 400 budgies, interacting with and feeding them. Play with domestic pigs in the HogWILD Experience.

Want to experience it all? Purchase the Zoo-It-All Animal Feeding Experience which includes kangaroo, porcupine, tortoise, and rabbit feeding, plus one budgie feeding stick for the Aviary Adventure. The Zoo-It-All pass does not include park admission.

This family fun park also offers a playground, café and dining area, gem mining, and gift shop. African Safari Wildlife Park is open daily from March-December, rain or shine. To maximize your drive-thru experience, the last car is admitted one hour before park closing. Reservations are available for weekends and can be purchased online beginning the Monday prior to the weekend you wish to visit.

Reservations are not available Monday through Friday and are not required for entry. However, African Safari Wildlife Park is a very popular attraction and reservations to guarantee your entry in the event the park reaches capacity for the day. Discounted tickets to African Safari Wildlife Park are sold at the Lake Erie Shores & Islands welcome centers in Sandusky and Port Clinton. Let’s get wild!

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Drive Thru African Safari Wildlife Park in Ohio

• Posted By Katy Mann

Add To My Planner 11

Our family went on an adventure that I wholeheartedly recommend to every family looking for a memorable experience. We set our sights on Port Clinton, Ohio near Sandusky. After a five-hour road trip from Indy , we arrived at our destination: the African Safari Wildlife Park. Given the length of the drive, I suggest making this more than a day trip. Stay overnight and explore the area’s offerings, from its beaches to ferry boats and the excitement of Cedar Point!

Our time on the beach was delightful, but the highlight of our journey was undoubtedly the Safari. Our little one was surprisingly calm, a stark contrast to my reactions! Imagine the thrill of having an animal approach your car, stick its face inside, sneeze on you, and then gently take a carrot from your hand. At one point, while I turned to speak to my husband, I was greeted by the snorting breath of a creature right in my ear through the open car window! The reactions from everyone in the car were priceless.

Planning Your Visit

Before you go, it’s worth noting that the rates and schedules vary throughout the year. African Safari Wildlife Park is a seasonal park and operates from Spring through Fall. Admission for ages 7 and up is generally less than $20, while it’s less for ages 4-6, and kids under 4 are free. Always check their website for the latest deals and coupons. We found a coupon that allowed our car, holding up to 6 people, entrance for less than $40 in the spring.

Admission generously includes unlimited drive-thru or walk-thru access. There are other animal encounters available during certain times. I highly recommend purchasing additional animal feed, as it enhances the experience. For human visitors, the park provides several dining options but you are welcome to bring your food.

The Safari Experience

The drive-through safari is the park’s crown jewel, allowing you to meet over 50 species of animals, including giraffes, zebras, and alpacas, from the comfort of your vehicle. This immersive journey offers a unique opportunity to feed the animals directly from your car, using specially formulated food pellets provided by the park to ensure their well-being.

Educational Opportunities

Beyond the excitement, the park is deeply committed to education and conservation. It offers educational programs and exhibits designed to inform visitors about animal habits, habitats, and the challenges they face. The walk-through area allows for more intimate encounters with animals, including petting zoos and live demonstrations, fostering a deeper connection with the natural world.

Conservation Efforts

The park’s conservation initiatives are an integral part of its mission, with partnerships worldwide to protect endangered species. Visitors can learn about these efforts and how they can contribute to global conservation, emphasizing the role each of us plays in preserving biodiversity.

Visitor Experience

The park caters to all ages, making it an ideal family destination. With amenities such as picnic areas, gift shops, and dining options, the park ensures a comfortable and enjoyable day out. Throughout the year, it hosts special events and seasonal activities, adding extra excitement to your visit.

As a mother, watching the wonder in my children’s eyes as they interacted with the animals was priceless. It was a reminder of the beauty and diversity of our planet and the importance of preserving it for future generations.

So, if you’re looking for an experience that combines fun, education, and conservation, pack your bags, and head to the African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton, Ohio. It’s an adventure that you and your family will never forget, and it’s completely worth the drive!

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:The African Safari Wildlife Park is a drive through wildlife park in Port Clinton, Ohio. Visitors can drive through the 100-acre preserve and watch and feed the animals from their car.”

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