A Wild Time at the Drive Thru Safari at Wild Florida

The Drive Thru Safari Park at Wild Florida is a fun experience for everyone to enjoy in Central Florida. Enjoy the wild animals as they graze and play.

Driving through Wild Safari’s Drive Thru Safari Park truly is an unforgettable experience. You’ll feel that you are transported half way around the world as you watch animals relax, graze, and run around. It’s a blast.

Prior to the State shutting down everything except essential businesses, the kids and I took a recent trip to Wild Florida to check out their Drive Thru Safari. Their gator park and air boat rides were shut down, but the contact less Safari was still open then. It was so much fun!

Now that the state is opening back up again, Wild Florida’s Drive Thru Safari is open again for visitors. It is a great activity for the whole family to safely enjoy. I’m already looking forward to my next trip to check out all the animals at the drive thru.

A Wild Time at Wild Florida’s Drive Thru Safari

The trip takes us about 2 hours so we left early to arrive right before opening. We wanted a great spot in line to get in when it opened at 9am.

As soon as we entered the safari we immediately saw animals roaming the 85 acres. The kids were thrilled.

I left my car in drive and just crept along the gravel road to check out the 100+ native and exotic animals as they roamed around.

The rules for the safari park are pretty simple. Most importantly, drive slowly (5 mph) and stay in your vehicle. It’s pretty simple.

Besides that, you’ll want to stay focused on the animals so you stop them and so you don’t end up hitting one. They come and go as they please so they stroll right along the road, sit at its edge, or cross it whenever they please.

When we checked in, I picked up 2 Safari Scavenger Hunt pamphlets for the kids.

The kids had so much fun looking through it as they identified the different animals as we drove along. Autumn worked at sounding out the name, then I would read them the fun fact about it.

Hunter hopped around from the back seat to stand beside me on the passenger seat as he looked at all the animals. Autumn hung in the back area so it was easier for her to hop from side to side to see all the animals.

I have a weakness for old trees because I think they are so beautiful and I like to thin of the history that has happened all around them.

Of course I listened to the rules and stayed in my car, but I really just wanted to have a picnic under the old oaks there. It was so picturesque.

Keep your eyes peeled along the tree line! Look carefully because it can be tough to see the animals that are enjoying the shade, like the Elk and the Sandhill Cranes we spotted.

Oh hey there, it’s just me checking out exotic animals just wandering around my giant mini van. NBD- ha!

I loved how there was a such a variety of animals for us to see. We saw things that are native to North America, like Elk, White tailed Deer, and Gators. But then, with a turn of the head we saw things like giraffes, zebra, eland antelope. It was like being on an African Safari, but we were still in Central Florida!

The 2 mile gravel road winds through the property taking you past ponds, clusters of old trees, some built structures that provide the animals some shade. The variety of the places for the animals to graze, snooze, and play gives you a great opportunity to see them explore the vast 85 acre drive thru safari park.

The kids loved watching the bison, esp the one that was sticking his tongue out at them. They thought it was so funny to see such a big animal look silly.

Just like on the African safari, we watched animals gather at the watering hole. It was so cool!

This guy was my favorite animal on safari. I just loved him so much.

He was so close so I got some great pictures. Basically, he just stared me down as I snapped an endless stream of pics with my phone and camera. Love love love!

Occasionally, there would be some traffic jams, but it wasn’t from rush hour, it was from the animals. At one point, we had some guys just about brush up against my bumper.

Oh man, I was so nervous! ha! As soon as I saw them coming, I threw my car in park and watched them creep right in front of my car. I swear just inches from my bumper! ha!

The trip around the drive thru safari ends at the the zebra and reticulated giraffe area. When we pulled up, a care taker was feeding the animals so it was really cool to get to see them eagerly have some breakfast.

We did our 2 trips through the safari park in an hour and a half. It was a great morning activity for us.

What is Wild Florida?

Wild Florida is a wild life park that features a fun gator park, air boat rides, and a new drive thru safari.

Where is Wild Florida?

Wild Florida is a gem in Central Florida. It is located on Cypress Lake, which is located south of Orlando, along Florida’s Turnpike.

When is the best time to visit?

You’ll want to visit in the spring, fall, and winter. The hot Florida sun in the summer will often make the animals retreat to the shade among the trees, making them harder to see. If you go in the summer, try to arrive early while the animals are roaming in the cooler morning temps.

How Many Times can you drive thru the Safari?

Your admission includes unlimited trips through the safari while it’s open from 9am to 6pm. If you want to drive thru again, just exit the drive thru, but turn back in before exiting the whole sanctuary. Keep your receipt available to show the attendants in the booth as your proof of purchase. Admission is: $15 per Adult / $10 per Child – Ages 13 and up are adults.

A Contact Less Visit

The staff at Wild Florida has done a great job at creating a contact less safari experience to keep everyone safe. You can purchase your tickets in advance on their site or on the phone at 407-957-3135. This way will eliminate the needs to pass them your card at all and it makes the whole process a breeze.

The gift shop and restaurant are closed, but you can still use the restrooms there. They have marked off 6′ spacing so people waiting in line can safely maintain social distancing.