Tucked away on Moore Road in Lakeland, Florida, Safari Wilderness is one of the state’s best-kept secrets for animal lovers of all ages. This sprawling drive-through safari lets you get up-close with exotic and wild animals roaming freely across hundreds of acres of Florida countryside.
Whether you cruise through in your own car or hop aboard a guided bus or ATV tour, the experience feels like stepping onto the African savanna without ever leaving the Sunshine State. With over 640 glowing reviews and a 4.4-star rating, Safari Wilderness has earned its reputation as a truly unforgettable adventure.
The Drive-Through Safari Experience
Cruising through a real safari without hopping on a plane sounds too good to be true, but Safari Wilderness makes it happen right in Lakeland, Florida. The drive-through option lets families stay comfortably inside their own vehicles while exotic animals wander just feet from their windows.
It is one of the most affordable ways to enjoy the park, coming in at under $20 per person for a carload of up to seven people.
A tour guide leads the convoy and communicates through your car radio, sharing fun facts and safety tips the whole way through. Roads are unpaved and a little bumpy, adding to that authentic safari feel.
Animals like zebras, deer, ostriches, and water buffalo roam freely around the vehicles, making every moment feel genuinely wild.
The tour runs for about an hour, and most visitors say it flies by way too fast. Reservations are required, so planning ahead is a must.
Whether you are a first-timer or a returning fan, the drive-through safari at Safari Wilderness consistently delivers jaw-dropping moments that are hard to find anywhere else in Florida.
The Guided Bus Tour with Expert Tour Guides
If you want to squeeze every ounce of adventure out of your visit, the guided bus tour at Safari Wilderness is the way to go. Visitors rave about guides like JJ, Art, and Jan, who bring the experience to life with deep knowledge, humor, and a genuine passion for every animal on the property.
One guest called JJ “absolutely awesome, funny, knowledgeable, and passionate” — and that kind of enthusiasm is tough to fake.
The open-air bus takes you off-road and into areas a regular car simply cannot reach. You get closer to the animals, hear fascinating backstories about each resident, and feel the full scale of the safari grounds beneath you.
Guides know which animals love attention and which ones prefer to keep their distance, keeping everyone safe while maximizing the fun.
Tours typically last around an hour and a half, giving you plenty of time to soak it all in. The bus tour costs a bit more than the self-drive option, but the added access and expert narration make it well worth every penny.
Many visitors say they would book the bus tour again without hesitation on their next visit.
Lemur Feeding Add-On Experience
There is something almost magical about having a lemur eat right out of your hand, and at Safari Wilderness, that moment is fully within reach. The lemur feeding is an optional add-on to your tour, and nearly every visitor who tries it says it is the highlight of their entire day.
These fluffy, wide-eyed creatures are surprisingly gentle and endlessly entertaining to watch up close.
One guest joked that they wished they could feed lemurs grapes all day long — which honestly sounds like a perfect afternoon. The lemurs at Safari Wilderness are well cared for and clearly comfortable around people, making the interaction feel relaxed and natural rather than forced or stressful.
Kids and adults alike tend to light up the moment these animals approach.
Tour guides walk you through the feeding process and explain the lemurs’ habits, diet, and personalities along the way. Because this is an add-on, it does come at an extra cost, but the memories it creates are priceless.
If you are on the fence about whether to include it, go ahead and book it. Almost no one walks away wishing they had skipped the lemur experience at Safari Wilderness.
Exotic Animals You Can See Up Close
Safari Wilderness is home to an impressive lineup of animals that most people have only ever seen in documentaries or at traditional zoos. Zebras, ostriches, Irish cattle, Asian water buffalo, cheetahs, llamas, antelope, camels, coatis, and KuneKune pigs are just a few of the residents you might encounter during your tour.
The sheer variety keeps every single moment of the drive fresh and exciting.
What makes this place stand out is how freely many of these animals roam. Unlike a typical zoo where animals are behind glass or thick barriers, the open landscape at Safari Wilderness lets creatures move naturally across wide stretches of land.
Ostriches have been spotted trotting right alongside the tour vehicles with hilarious confidence, and water buffalo have approached guests with surprising gentleness.
Cheetahs are among the most talked-about residents, described by visitors as beautiful and undeniably sassy. The park houses animals from multiple continents, creating a rich, globe-spanning experience right in central Florida.
Every tour seems to reveal something new, and no two visits feel exactly alike. For animal enthusiasts, this variety alone makes Safari Wilderness one of the most rewarding wildlife destinations in the entire state.
Animal Feeding Stations at the End of the Tour
Reaching the end of the Safari Wilderness tour feels like a reward in itself, because that is when guests get to hand-feed some of the park’s most charismatic animals. Camels, antelope, goats, and sheep gather at designated feeding areas, eagerly waiting for visitors to offer them treats.
The experience is hands-on, a little silly, and completely unforgettable.
Camels are a fan favorite at the feeding station. These towering, curious creatures have no problem nudging their way to the front for a snack, and their personalities make for some seriously entertaining photos.
Antelope are equally eager but a bit more graceful about it, and the goats bring a chaotic, lovable energy that kids absolutely adore.
It is worth noting that during the main drive-through tour, feeding animals along the route is not permitted due to USDA regulations. All the feeding action happens at the end, which actually makes it feel like a well-earned finale to an already spectacular outing.
Some tour options, like the sunset tour, do allow feeding during the ride itself. Either way, leaving Safari Wilderness without having hand-fed at least one animal would be a missed opportunity you might regret.
The ATV Safari Tour Option
For thrill-seekers who want something a little more adventurous than a bus ride, the ATV safari tour at Safari Wilderness is a seriously exciting option. Bouncing across unpaved trails in an all-terrain vehicle while surrounded by free-roaming exotic animals brings a whole new level of energy to the wildlife experience.
Visitors who have tried it describe it as a hidden gem within an already spectacular destination.
The ATV tour takes you deeper into the property and gives you a perspective that neither the bus nor the drive-through can fully replicate. You feel every bump, every turn, and every unexpected animal encounter with much more immediacy.
It is the kind of tour that gets your adrenaline going while still being educational and family-friendly.
Like all tours at Safari Wilderness, reservations are required in advance for the ATV option. Availability can be limited, especially on weekends and during peak travel seasons, so booking early is strongly recommended.
The price point is higher than the basic drive-through, but the unique access and the sheer fun of riding through a real safari on an ATV make it a standout experience that is well worth the splurge for adventure-loving visitors.
Safari Wilderness Location and Setting in Lakeland, FL
Stumbling upon a full-scale African-style safari in the middle of Lakeland, Florida, feels a little surreal — and that is exactly part of the charm. Safari Wilderness sits on a vast, privately owned ranch at 10850 Moore Rd, Lakeland, FL 33809, surrounded by open land that gives animals plenty of room to live, graze, and roam on their own terms.
The setting genuinely surprises first-time visitors who are not expecting anything quite this expansive.
The grounds are well-maintained, and the natural Florida landscape adds an authentic backdrop to every animal encounter. Tall grasses, open pastures, and scattered trees create a scene that feels far removed from the theme-park atmosphere that dominates much of central Florida.
Even the entrance, with its large fences and rural atmosphere, sets the tone for the adventure ahead.
Located just a short drive from downtown Lakeland and not far from Tampa, Safari Wilderness is accessible for day-trippers from across the region. The property includes clean, well-kept restroom facilities near the start of the tour, though there are no bathroom stops once the journey begins.
Planning your visit around an early morning reservation is a smart move, especially during Florida’s warmer months when the cooler air makes everything more enjoyable.
Booking, Pricing, and Reservation Tips
Planning your trip to Safari Wilderness starts with one non-negotiable step: making a reservation. Walk-ins are not accepted, so every visit needs to be booked in advance through the official website at safariwilderness.com.
This keeps tour groups manageable, ensures every guest gets proper attention, and maintains a safe, enjoyable environment for both visitors and animals alike.
Pricing varies depending on which tour you choose. The drive-through safari is the most budget-friendly option, running under $20 per person for up to seven people in one vehicle.
The guided bus and ATV tours cost more but deliver a richer, more immersive experience. Add-ons like lemur feeding come at an additional charge, so it is smart to budget for those when planning your visit.
Morning tours tend to be popular, so booking at least a few days ahead is a good idea — especially on weekends or during school holidays. Some lucky visitors have scored private tours simply by booking at off-peak times when no one else signed up.
The park can be reached at +1 813-382-2120 for questions about availability or group bookings. Reading the full details on the website before your visit helps avoid any surprises and sets you up for the best possible experience.
What Makes Safari Wilderness a Family-Friendly Destination
Few places in Florida can pull off being genuinely thrilling for a six-year-old and a sixty-year-old at the exact same time, but Safari Wilderness manages it effortlessly. Families with young kids consistently praise how interactive and safe the experience feels.
Children get to see animals they have only read about in books, and the hands-on feeding opportunities make the whole thing feel like a real adventure rather than a passive observation.
Safety is clearly a priority at Safari Wilderness. Tour guides are thorough about explaining which animals can be approached and which should be admired from a respectful distance.
The setup of each tour — whether by car, bus, or ATV — keeps guests protected while still allowing for remarkably close animal encounters that feel genuinely wild and spontaneous.
Parents also appreciate that the experience is educational without feeling like homework. Kids naturally absorb fascinating facts about animal behavior, habitats, and conservation simply by listening to the guides and watching the animals interact.
One parent noted that feeding lemurs and foxes left her three kids absolutely breathless. For families looking for a meaningful, screen-free adventure that sparks curiosity and wonder, Safari Wilderness is about as good as it gets in central Florida.
Conservation Mission and Animal Care at Safari Wilderness
Behind every incredible animal encounter at Safari Wilderness is a team of deeply dedicated people who pour their hearts into caring for each resident. Visitors consistently comment on how healthy and happy the animals appear, and that is no accident.
The staff clearly views their work as more than a job — it is a calling rooted in genuine love for wildlife and a commitment to responsible animal stewardship.
Many of the animals at Safari Wilderness were not sourced from the wild. Several were acquired through legal channels to be protected and given a safe, spacious home where they can thrive.
The property offers hundreds of acres of open land, giving most animals far more room to roam than they would ever find in a traditional zoo setting. That space translates directly into healthier, more naturally behaved animals.
Supporting Safari Wilderness financially through tour admissions, add-ons, and gift shop purchases directly contributes to the ongoing care of these animals. A few visitors have noted the pricing feels a little steep at first glance, but most quickly agree it is worth it to back a place doing meaningful conservation work.
Every dollar spent helps ensure these magnificent creatures continue to have a safe and loving home in Lakeland, Florida.