Lion Country Safari: Experience African Wildlife Like Never Before
Just twenty miles west of the surf and sand of West Palm Beach, you can find yourself on the plains of the Serengeti. Lion Country Safari is like a portal to the great plains of Africa and is home to roughly 1,000 animals, several of which are endangered species.
Sprawling across 600 acres, you can experience earth’s coolest wildlife from the air-conditioned comfort of your own car—which also means you might have some close encounters! When an ostrich sticks its face right next to your window, you’ll definitely get some Jurassic Park vibes. (Don’t worry. The destruction of your yellow Jeep, or any other vehicle, is highly unlikely as Lion Country Safari has yet to adopt a T-Rex.)
In addition to the drive-through portion of Lion Country Safari, you can also enjoy a walk-through portion of the zoo, complete with rides for kiddos, a water park, mini-golf, a petting zoo, and even a giraffe feeding encounter! With so much to do, Lion Country Safari makes for an excellent outing for the entire family, especially if you like to live on the wild side. Let’s roar!
Drive-Through Lion Country Safari
We know the Florida heat can be unbearable at times, but Lion Country Safari negates that problem with their drive-through safari park. You can have the AC cranked all the way up, along with “Africa” by Toto on the radio, throughout your adventure. Talk about going on safari in style! (AC busted? I’ve been there. Don’t worry. Lion Country has you covered with rental vehicles!)
Although the drive-through is a great way to keep cool on hot days, we still recommend going on a cooler day—namely, a rainy day—if you can. Just like you, even Africa’s toughest critters don’t care for the heat. They’re far more active on drizzly days, often romping and playing in the wet weather. If there’s no rain in the forecast, simply shoot for an early morning drive, when temperatures are still cool and animals are still active. The park opens at 9:30 a.m., so getting there around that time is a great way to catch more creatures out and about!
And there are so many creatures to see!
The safari is divided into sections, based on the type of animals at Lion Country Safari. For example, “Las Pampas” is home to Aldabra tortoises (personal favorites of mine) and adorable alpaca while “Gorongosa Reserve” is where the African lions roam. Giraffes, rhinos, and gibbons romp around “Hwange National Park” as water buffalo stroll through “Gir Forest.” Each area is teeming with amazing animals, so keep your camera handy! While you aren’t allowed to roll down your windows, you can still get some spectacular shots due to the proximity of the animals—it’s not unusual to have a zebra clopping right alongside you!
Obviously, Lion Country Safari isn’t your typical zoo.
However, in addition to the drive-through aspect, Lion Country is also special because they’re part of Species Survival Plan programs. Partnering with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Lion Country helps ensure a sustainable population of endangered species in human care, with hopes of creating thriving populations in the wild again someday. Currently, Lion Country is proud to preserve over 35 endangered species, including chimpanzees, giraffes, monarchs, and of course, lions, from the threat of extinction. We love to see it!
Have a Wild Day at Adventure Park!
As if being transported to Africa and witnessing amazing wildlife wasn’t enough, Lion Country Safari has gone above and beyond to provide even more activities for a full day of fun! Rides, a water park, and animal encounters await in Adventure Park!
Rides
There are three rides to provide some extra thrills during your time at Lion Country Safari. Especially suited for younger kiddos, you’ll want to stop by the Flying Elephants, the Carousel, and Rio Grande Train for sure! Board an elephant who has the ability to fly and soar in sweeping circles through the air, or ride one of 30 safari-themed animals on the merry-go-round. Not a fan of getting dizzy? Try a nice train ride around the petting zoo instead!
Looking for something on the grown-up side? Hop aboard the Safari Queen pontoon boat, or take a paddle boat, for a complimentary ride around Lake Shannalee for a chance to see the birds and primates of Lion Country.
Water Park
It’s not often you’ll find yourself advised to bring a bathing suit to the zoo, but here we are! Pack your favorite swimwear, because Lion Country Safari has a great little water park to explore. Open daily, the Safari Splash Sprayground has 23 water features to keep you cool in the afternoon sun, while Safari Falls is an actual water playground with small slides and dump buckets surrounded by shallow water. You can also take the plunge and hurtle down a free fall or loop water slide, though, we should note these big slides are only open on weekends.
More Fun Things to Do
If you want to stay dry but still have a great time, check out the Lion Country Safari hedge-lined maze and test your skills as a true explorer! Or stick to the modern amenities and enjoy a round of safari-themed mini-golf on the complimentary 16-hole course.
Animals and Encounters
The rides and water park are great extras, but we know it’s all about the animals! Thankfully, there are extras in that department, too! After your drive-through safari, take a walk around Adventure Park to see some creatures not allowed near the road—like box turtles, flamingos, and two-toed sloths!
The array of feathered friends in Adventure Park is just dazzling, with brightly colored macaws and lorikeets ready to brighten your day. Reptilian pals like the blue-tongued skink and ball python are waiting to slide their way into your heart, too!
If getting a good look wasn’t enough, there are great interaction opportunities at the petting zoo where you can feed and brush little goats, or you can get really wild and spring for a giraffe encounter! For an extra fee (about $5), you can feed a giraffe and take some stunning selfies! It’s a humbling moment, standing next to such a giant, but they’re gentle and have soft noses, so it’s an extremely heart-warming moment, too!
Have you been to Lion Country Safari? Who’s your favorite animal resident? Let us know in the comments below!
You already know I’m going to say the turtles and tortoises…
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
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