Petting Zoos Open
African Safari Wildlife Park
4.3(5,397)4.3 out of 5 stars, 5397 reviews Columbus, OH
About African Safari Wildlife Park
An interactive drive-through safari park where families can feed large animals like buffalo, alpacas, and longhorns directly from their vehicles, alongside offering exclusive behind-the-scenes VIP experiences.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking an interactive, hands-on animal adventureVisitors looking for a fun, affordable road-trip activityGiraffe lovers wanting an intimate, behind-the-scenes encounterToddlers and young children (may find the large horned animals approaching the car intimidating)Older children and teens (will enjoy the novelty of feeding large animals and the educational VIP tours)
Why families love it
- Feeding a variety of animals including buffalo, alpaca, giraffes, and steer directly from your car window
- Highly educational and interactive VIP Behind The Scenes Tour of the Giraffe barn
- Engaging dinosaur exhibit in the walk-through area during the end-of-season period
- Friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive staff who prioritize animal care and visitor safety
- Drive-through animal feeding experience
- VIP Behind the Scenes Giraffe Barn Tour
Insider tips
- Be prepared for animals with large horns getting extremely close to your car; expect minor bumps or scary moments if you are protective of your vehicle
- Check Groupon for ticket deals and discounts before purchasing
- Avoid visiting on cold days if you want to experience the walk-through zoo, as many animals (like giraffes) are kept indoors for warmth
- Book the VIP Giraffe Barn tour in advance for a highly personalized, close-up experience with the animals
Good to know before you go
- Visiting during cold weather or the very end of the season if you want to see all animals active and have full access to the walk-through zoo
- Animals with large horns can get very close to or bump into vehicles, which can be scary for some visitors
- Limited animal visibility and closed walk-through exhibits during cold weather or end-of-season visits
- Crowds
- Lower crowd levels during the end-of-season/colder months, though this also means fewer active animal exhibits
- Value
- Highly affordable family adventure, especially when utilizing discount platforms like Groupon. VIP tours are noted as being well worth the extra cost.
- Food
- Animal food is provided/purchased for feeding the animals from your vehicle
- Accessibility
- Drive-through format makes the main attraction highly accessible for individuals with mobility challenges as you remain in your vehicle
- Safety
- Staff actively monitors the grounds to ensure safety guidelines are met for both visitors and animals
What parents say
"One of the coolest animal parks i have ever experienced! Stumbled upon Animal Safari Wildlife Park years ago on a road trip with my wife. Driving through and feeding all the animals is so fun! Having Buffalo, alpaca, giraffes, Steer and many other animals literally eating out of our hands was such an amazing time. We have been back many times and we're looking forward to visiting again this summer. The entire staff really seems to take great care of the animals. They were all very friendly, helpful and professional. The grounds are well maintained and they are very attentive to providing a g"
2 weeks ago
"Myself and a friend were thrilled to be able to experience the VIP Behind The Scenes Tour of the Giraffe barn on Saturday, 2/1/25. We spent time with 4 of these gentle giants.. Mateo, Pop Tart, Lake & Rudy were so much fun to observe and interact with! Brandon, Anastasia & Kelsey F. were wonderful hosts filled with so much knowledge about these beautiful animals and the A++ care they are given. This experience was so fun, I encourage everyone to book their own VIP tour, you'll have ZERO regrets, trust me!!"
3 months ago
"We had such a blast coming here. It was a last minute last huraaaaa to end our summer and it was so worth it. Just keep in mind that the animals do have horns and are quite scary when they hit your car."
a month ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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