Tucked away in the rolling hills of southern Indiana, Wilstem Wildlife Park in Paoli is unlike anything most Midwesterners have ever experienced.
This one-of-a-kind destination lets you cruise through open animal habitats, come face-to-face with Asian elephants, and watch grizzly bears roam — all without leaving your car.
Whether you’re planning a family road trip or just looking for something truly unforgettable, this park delivers the kind of wildlife adventure most people only dream about.
Get ready to discover everything that makes Wilstem a must-visit gem hiding right in Indiana’s backyard.
A One-of-a-Kind Safari Experience in Indiana
Most people don’t think of Indiana when they picture a safari. But Wilstem Wildlife Park is quietly flipping that assumption on its head, one slow-moving vehicle at a time.
Unlike a traditional zoo where animals are tucked behind glass, here the animals have room to roam — and you’re the one watching from inside your car.
The drive-through format creates an experience that feels raw and real. You’re not separated by thick barriers or crowded viewing areas.
Instead, you’re rolling through spacious natural-style habitats where bison, zebras, and other impressive species wander freely near your windows.
It’s one of the few places in the entire Midwest offering this style of wildlife immersion. For families, road trippers, and animal lovers, that’s a pretty big deal.
The park blends the excitement of a wild animal encounter with the accessibility of a family-friendly outing.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler who’s been on African safaris or a kid seeing a zebra for the first time, the experience hits differently when you’re this close. Wilstem proves that extraordinary wildlife adventures don’t require a passport — just a short drive to southern Indiana.
Up-Close Encounters With Elephants
There’s a moment — right when an elephant turns toward you and you realize just how massive and calm it is — that tends to stop people in their tracks. At Wilstem Wildlife Park, Asian elephant encounters are the crown jewel of the entire experience, drawing visitors from across the country.
These aren’t rushed, impersonal viewings. Structured encounters allow guests to observe the elephants up close in a safe, guided setting.
Knowledgeable handlers walk visitors through the elephants’ personalities, daily routines, and the careful work that goes into their care and wellbeing.
Asian elephants are slightly smaller than their African cousins, but standing near one still leaves you speechless. Their expressive eyes, the quiet rumble of their communication, and the surprising softness of their skin during approved interactions make the encounter feel deeply personal.
Spots for elephant encounters sell out fast — sometimes weeks in advance during busy seasons. If this is the highlight you’re most excited about, booking early is absolutely essential.
Check the park’s website for available time slots and any age or health requirements that apply to participants before your visit.
Seeing Grizzly Bears From a Safe Distance
Grizzly bears are the kind of animal that commands respect the moment you lay eyes on them. At Wilstem Wildlife Park, you get the rare opportunity to observe these powerful creatures up close — without putting yourself or the bears in any danger.
It’s a balance the park has clearly put a lot of thought into.
The grizzly bear habitat features elevated viewing areas that give you a bird’s-eye perspective on the bears’ behavior. Watching a grizzly pace, dig, or stand on its hind legs is a genuinely thrilling experience that photos simply can’t capture.
The sheer size of these animals becomes very real, very fast.
Fun fact: grizzly bears can weigh over 700 pounds and run up to 35 miles per hour. Seeing that scale in person — rather than on a screen — gives you a whole new appreciation for wildlife conservation efforts.
Guided experiences at this habitat help visitors understand grizzly behavior, habitat loss challenges, and what conservation programs are doing to protect wild populations. It’s both exciting and eye-opening in equal measure, making it a highlight for adults and older kids especially.
The Drive-Through Safari Adventure
Picture this: your windows are down, the radio is off, and a herd of bison is slowly crossing the road just ahead of your bumper. That’s the kind of moment the drive-through safari at Wilstem Wildlife Park was designed to create.
It’s unhurried, immersive, and genuinely surprising at every turn.
The self-guided route winds through large open habitats filled with hoofed animals and exotic species from around the world. Animals roam with a freedom that mimics their natural environments far more closely than a typical zoo enclosure ever could.
The result feels more like a wildlife documentary than a weekend outing.
You set your own pace, stop as long as you want, and experience the animals on their terms. Some days a zebra might trot right past your door.
Other days you’ll catch a rare behavioral moment — an animal grazing, playing, or simply resting in the afternoon sun.
It’s a great fit for families with young children who might struggle with long walks through traditional zoo layouts. Everyone stays comfortable in the car while still getting an up-close wildlife experience that sparks real curiosity and wonder about the natural world.
Giraffe Feeding and Elevated Viewing Platforms
Hand-feeding a giraffe might just be one of the most surprisingly emotional wildlife experiences out there. The moment that long, dark tongue reaches out to grab a leaf from your palm, you feel a connection that’s hard to put into words.
At Wilstem, giraffe feeding is a fan-favorite for a very good reason.
The raised feeding platforms put you at eye level with these towering animals, which completely changes your perspective. Most people only ever see giraffes from the ground, looking up.
Standing face-to-face with one — noticing the long lashes, the spotted pattern up close, the calm intelligence in their eyes — is a whole different experience.
Giraffes are the tallest land animals on Earth, reaching up to 18 feet. But despite their size, they have a surprisingly quiet, unhurried energy that makes the encounter feel peaceful rather than intimidating.
Kids especially tend to absolutely love this interaction.
Like the elephant encounters, giraffe feeding sessions are timed and have limited availability. Reserving your spot ahead of time is strongly recommended, especially during summer weekends and school holidays.
It’s one of those experiences that guests consistently name as the highlight of their entire visit.
Educational Animal Encounters and Keeper Talks
Beyond the wow factor of seeing rare animals up close, Wilstem Wildlife Park puts a real emphasis on education. Daily keeper talks and guided programs give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to care for some of the world’s most remarkable creatures.
It’s the kind of learning that sticks with you long after the drive home.
Staff members bring a genuine passion to their presentations. They share details about feeding schedules, behavioral training techniques, and the specific needs of each species.
Hearing a keeper talk about an elephant’s daily routine or a bear’s enrichment activities makes the animals feel like individuals, not just attractions.
Conservation themes run throughout these programs. Visitors walk away understanding why wildlife protection matters, what threats certain species face in the wild, and how parks like Wilstem contribute to broader preservation efforts.
For students and curious adults alike, it adds meaningful depth to the visit.
If you’re visiting with school-age kids, try to time your arrival around the scheduled keeper talks. The park’s website usually lists daily programming.
Attending even one talk can completely transform how children engage with and think about the animal world around them.
Lodging Options for an Overnight Wildlife Stay
Waking up to the sound of animals outside your window is an experience most people associate with faraway destinations. At Wilstem Wildlife Park, that kind of morning is available just a few hours’ drive from most Midwest cities.
The park offers safari-style lodging that turns a day trip into a full overnight adventure.
Guests can choose from cabins and lodge-style accommodations situated right on the property. The proximity to the animal habitats means you might catch a giraffe grazing or hear the distant sounds of wildlife as you settle in for the night.
It adds a layer of magic that a simple day visit can’t quite replicate.
Staying overnight also gives you a head start on the next morning’s activities. Early-morning hours are often when animals are most active, and overnight guests can take advantage of that window before day-visitors arrive.
It’s a quieter, more personal way to experience everything the park has to offer.
Lodging options vary in size and amenities, so checking availability and booking well in advance is a smart move — especially for summer stays or holiday weekends. Families with younger children particularly rave about how special the overnight experience feels for kids.
Family-Friendly Activities Beyond the Safari
The drive-through safari is the headline act, but Wilstem Wildlife Park has plenty more going on beyond the main route. For families looking to fill a full day with memorable experiences, the park layers in hands-on activities that keep all ages engaged from arrival to departure.
Petting areas give younger visitors a chance to interact with smaller, friendlier animals in a relaxed setting. These low-key encounters are perfect for toddlers or kids who might feel overwhelmed by the scale of the larger animal experiences.
Getting to touch and feed smaller animals builds confidence and curiosity at the same time.
Interactive programs throughout the day are designed with different age groups in mind. Whether it’s a structured feeding activity or a guided nature walk, there’s always something on the schedule that families can participate in together.
The park does a solid job of making sure no one — adults included — is just standing around waiting.
The overall layout is accessible and easy to navigate, which parents with strollers or grandparents joining the trip will appreciate. Wilstem has clearly been designed as a full-day family destination, not just a quick stop, which makes the visit feel genuinely worth the drive.
Conservation and Rescue Mission
Every animal at Wilstem Wildlife Park carries a story. For many of them, that story includes rescue, rehabilitation, or participation in carefully managed breeding programs aimed at protecting vulnerable species.
The park’s mission goes well beyond providing a fun outing — it’s rooted in a genuine commitment to animal welfare.
Several of the park’s residents came from situations where they couldn’t survive in the wild or were displaced from facilities that could no longer care for them. Providing these animals with safe, enriching environments is at the core of what Wilstem does every single day.
Conservation education is woven into almost every aspect of the visitor experience. Signage, keeper talks, and guided programs all circle back to the bigger picture: why protecting wildlife matters and what everyday people can do to support those efforts.
It reframes the visit from entertainment to something with real-world impact.
Supporting a park like Wilstem with your admission dollars directly contributes to animal care, habitat maintenance, and educational programming. For visitors who care about ethical wildlife tourism, that context matters.
Knowing your visit helps fund rescue and conservation work makes the whole experience feel more purposeful and worthwhile.
Essential Visitor Information
Planning ahead makes all the difference at Wilstem Wildlife Park. Located at 4229 US-150 in Paoli, Indiana, the park sits in the scenic hills of southern Indiana — about two hours from Indianapolis and roughly 90 minutes from Louisville, Kentucky.
The drive itself winds through beautiful countryside, making it a pleasant journey in either direction.
The park typically operates on a seasonal schedule, so checking current hours on their official website before visiting is a smart first step. Timed entry options help manage crowd flow, and specialty experiences like elephant and giraffe encounters require advance reservations.
These popular add-ons sell out quickly, especially on weekends and during summer months.
Ticket prices vary depending on which experiences you choose. The drive-through safari is the base experience, with individual animal encounters priced separately.
Bundled packages are often available and can offer better value if you’re planning to participate in multiple activities during your visit.
Wearing comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing is recommended since parts of the visit involve being outdoors. Cameras and binoculars are welcome and encouraged.
Most visitors agree that arriving early in the day gives you the best animal activity and the most relaxed, crowd-free experience throughout the park.