ZooGeorgia, US

Wild Animal Safari, Pine Mountain

Wild Animal Safari provides an up-close and personal wildlife adventure.

About

Wild Animal Safari provides an up-close and personal wildlife adventure. This expansive 500-acre park in Pine Mountain, Georgia, invites visitors to engage directly with hundreds of exotic animals from around the globe, making for a truly hands-on experience. The park offers a unique blend of a drive-through safari and a walk-about zoo, ensuring diverse encounters with wildlife. The highlight is undoubtedly the 3.5-mile drive-through safari, where animals like giraffes, zebras, bison, and camels roam freely and often approach vehicles looking for treats. Visitors can drive their own vehicle, rent a "Zebra Van," or take a guided bus tour, all offering incredible opportunities to see, touch, and feed these magnificent creatures. The interaction is a key part of the experience, with many guests relishing the chance to hand-feed animals directly from their windows. Beyond the main safari loop, the Walk-About Adventure Zoo provides a more traditional zoo experience on foot, featuring animals housed in enclosures such as lions, tigers, sloths, capybaras, monkeys, and reptiles. For an even more intimate connection, the park offers special Animal Encounters, allowing guests to meet and learn about specific animals like sloths, capybaras, and hedgehogs with zookeepers. This combination of immersive drive-through and focused walk-through exhibits makes Wild Animal Safari a must-visit destination for families and animal enthusiasts alike. Enhance your adventure: download the Snappit app to identify the local species you encounter.

The Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, Georgia, has been a local attraction for over 40 years, dedicating itself to animal care and educational efforts. It is one of three Wild Animal Safari locations, with others found in Texas and Missouri. While specific founding dates and detailed historical milestones are not widely publicized, its long-standing presence highlights its role as a beloved and established destination for wildlife enthusiasts in the region.

What to do here

Drive or ride through the safari loop, feeding animals as they approach your vehicle; explore the Walk-About Zoo on foot; enjoy an exclusive Animal Encounter; grab a meal at the Safari Café; and find souvenirs at the gift shop.

Seasonal info

The park may have extended hours during spring break, holidays, and summer months. Bus tour schedules can vary by season, and it's advisable to check the park's operating calendar or call ahead for daily hours and bus availability. In case of severe weather, the park might close for safety, so calling in advance is recommended.

Accessibility

The Walk-About Adventure Zoo, ticket building, restaurant, gift shop, and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. While service animals are welcome in the Walk-About area, they are not permitted in the drive-thru safari for the safety of both the service animal and the park's exotic animals. Some animal encounters are also wheelchair accessible or can be modified.

Plan your visit

Suggested duration: Plan for a visit lasting 2 to 4 hours to comfortably experience both the drive-through safari and the Walk-About Adventure Zoo. The drive-through portion alone can take between 1 to 2 hours, depending on how often you stop and interact with animals. The Walk-About Zoo typically takes an additional 20 minutes to an hour.
Best time to visit: Wild Animal Safari is open daily starting at 10:00 AM, year-round, except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. It's highly recommended to arrive earlier in the day when the animals are often most active and eager to be fed. Weekdays generally offer a quieter experience compared to busy weekends, especially during peak seasons like Spring Break, holidays, and summer.
Location: Georgia, US
Species in this guide: 14

Best for

Families With ChildrenAnimal Lovers And EnthusiastsUnique Photography OpportunitiesInteractive And Educational Experiences

Official website Open in Maps

Don't miss

Drive-Thru Safari

A 3.5-mile route where you can feed free-roaming animals like giraffes, zebras, bison, and camels from your vehicle.

Walk-About Adventure Zoo

A traditional zoo setting featuring animals in enclosures, including lions, tigers, hyenas, sloths, capybaras, monkeys, and a reptile house.

Animal Encounters

Pre-bookable, intimate experiences to meet specific animals like sloths, capybaras, reptiles, and hedgehogs, guided by zookeepers.

Wildlife you might spot

Each card links to a full Explore page with photos, traits, and fun facts.

Giraffes

Zebra

American Bison

African Lion

Tiger

Linnaeus's Two Toed Sloth

Snap map for this place

Start with the big picture, then zoom in to explore individual wildlife observations around this place.

Loading map…

Good to know before you go

Consider a rental vehicle or bus for the drive-thru: To protect your personal car from slobber, scratches, or even dents, renting a "Zebra Van" or taking the guided tour bus is highly recommended.

Buy plenty of animal food

The animals are very interactive and hungry! Purchase multiple bags of approved feed pellets, perhaps one per person, and ration it throughout your drive to ensure you have enough for all the eager creatures.

Arrive early

Visiting soon after opening ensures you catch the animals at their most active and hungry, making for more engaging interactions. It also helps avoid crowds, especially for rental vans or bus tours which can have waits.

Bring essentials

Pack wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and a trash bag, as you'll be interacting closely with animals and might get slobbered on. Wear clothes you don't mind getting messy.

Book Animal Encounters in advance

If you're interested in one of the special animal encounters (e.g., sloth, capybara), book these online at least 24 hours ahead, as slots are limited and are not included with general admission.

Check hours and weather

Always verify operating hours and check for any weather-related closures before your visit by calling the park or checking their official website.

Frequently asked questions

: You have three main options for the drive-thru safari: you can drive your own vehicle, rent one of the park's "Zebra Vans" (which often have bars on the windows to prevent animals from entering fully), or take a guided tour bus. Many visitors recommend renting a park van or taking the bus to protect personal vehicles from slobber or potential damage, as animals will get very close.
: Yes, feeding the animals is a major highlight at Wild Animal Safari! You can purchase approved food pellets at the park's gift shop or visitor center. It is strongly recommended to buy plenty of food, perhaps one bag per person, and ration it throughout your drive, as the animals are often very eager for treats. Be cautious when feeding; for some animals like zebras, camels, ostriches, and emus, it's safer to throw the food on the ground rather than hand-feeding directly to avoid accidental bites. Expect to get slobbered on, especially if animals stick their heads into your vehicle.
: Yes, Wild Animal Safari strives to be accessible. The Walk-About Adventure Zoo, ticket building, restaurant, gift shop, and restrooms are all wheelchair accessible. While service animals are permitted in the Walk-About area, they are not allowed in the drive-thru safari for the safety and well-being of the park's free-roaming exotic animals.