Safari Wilderness
Safari Wilderness
5
9:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 AM
About
Tours daily BY RESERVATION ONLY. Have you ever dreamed of going on an authentic safari? At Safari Wilderness, you will enjoy fresh air year-round as enormous birds soar overhead. Our knowledgeable and experienced guides will tour you through 260 acres, interacting with huge herds of wetland exotic species, Watusi cattle, and Haflinger horses in custom safari vehicles, fitted with shade canopies and stadium seating. Or book a camelback or horseback game viewing safari tour. A llama trek is also available. Indulge your senses in a ring-tailed lemur feeding. Safari Wilderness is a Florida agritourism project. Located 6 mi. north of I-4 between Orlando and Tampa in an expansive and pristine wilderness area.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • PWTripAdv1
    Bradenton, Florida1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun! Fun! Fun!
    Loved Our guide! He was thorough, interesting, and informative, and fun!. He made the trip a true adventure for my brother and I! I enjoyed feeding some of the animals (never had the opportunity before) and watching them run around freely! Lot's of beautifully kept open space. You could tell the animals were relaxed, and felt safe. We had a wonderful time and have been spreading the word ever since returning home! A little tricky getting there. (google maps got us lost, but Safari Wilderness handwritten map worked best), Entrance not real visible from the road (" Wilderness" title appropriate), a little wait at the gate (1:00 pm apt. (Got there at 12:00pm so ate a packed lunch in the car until our guide arrived. See why reservations "only" are necessary! Loved seeing cheetahs (brothers favorite), and the zebra (my favorite). Brother purchased the last cheetah shirt (happened to be his size), and I a zebra shirt! Beautiful art work on both shirts! Amazing experience overall! Thank you for the wonderful adventure!
    Visited October 2023
    Written October 18, 2023
  • Pagstar
    Tarpon Springs, Florida85 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome Safari in the USA
    Yesterday, we had the greatest tour experience imaginable! JJ, our tour guide, was the absolute best guide. ..friendly, pleasant, and so knowledgeable! We learned so much about all the animals. The one one-on-one contact with the animals was awesome. You absolutely must experience this event.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 18, 2023
  • m0niquemcd0nald
    Miramichi, Canada1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    AWESOME!!!
    Definitely recommend the safari truck tour to feed all the animals in the park. You get to feed a lot of the big animals that come right to the truck. The camels were awesome to feed and very friendly. I also recommend the lemur feeding, well worth it…..they are so cute and well behaved. If ever I go to Lakeland again, this will be on my calendar to visit again…..I brought my whole family including seniors and they were so happy they all came. Whether you are an animal or nature lover, you need to visit this park!!!
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 6, 2023
  • Dianne F
    Pasadena, Maryland4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The zoo at our fingertips
    What a great adventure this safari was. the rain did not stop our guide J.J. from making it a very memorable trip. J.J. is very knowledgeable and explained to us how to feed the animals and touch them the proper way. You can see the animals are very well taken care of and have a lot of land, which we covered, to roam around on. Well worth the trip from Orlando to enjoy a bit of nature. The lemurs were fun to feed.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 21, 2023
  • agiamm1451
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Florida"s Safari
    On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, six of us went on the 1:00 pm Safari Visit. Even though the weather did not cooperate, we were able to see and feed many animals. Our guide was very helpful, attending to our needs, and informative. It brought us back to our time on Safari in South Africa, Botswana. Next time, we may try Glamping. Thank you. Michael and Annette Giammatteo
    Visited November 2023
    Written November 24, 2023
  • Jennhureau
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful experience!
    A truly cool experience. We did the open air bus which allows you to stop and feed some of the animals treats and added on the lemur feeding experience afterwards(their hands are so soft like velvet!!!). If you’re looking for a fun experience with tour guides that truly love their job and love the animals then this is the place to go! And well worth the cost!
    Visited December 2023
    Written December 9, 2023
  • Pat G
    Williams, Arizona20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent adventure!!
    My sister and I visited the Safari Wilderness the end of November, and what a treat. We had fun wandering through the park in a jeep/truck with a great guide, Eddie, was very informative and fun to be with. Having the ostrich chase us from spot to spot was a hoot, and the cute Kune Kune pigs were fun to watch run to catch us at the next stop. We also enjoyed the Lemur feeding, they are amazing animals, and wonderful to get so close to them.
    Visited November 2023
    Written December 11, 2023
  • Kim S
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun activity
    My husband and I had a great time! There were a variety of animals. They looked healthy and well cared for. The guide was informative and friendly. It was fun to be able to feed so .any animals! Although the admission tickets are pricey (it would have to be to maintain such a large facility), we will visit again.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 23, 2023
  • Anita B
    Melbourne, Florida114 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    ATV Safari Adventure!
    We did the ATV Safari and it was awesome. Our tour guide was fantastic. We were able to see lots of animals up close. We were able to feed lots of them. Guide was very informative about the animals. Would highly recommend the ATV adventure. Our family loved it!
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written January 1, 2024
  • nankoch
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lots of upclose animal interaction!
    Had a great time on the driving tour with our family. We were in a caravan of 4 vehicles and led by a guide on an ATV in the front. He gave us lots of good information and gave the animals snacks to encourage them to come close enough to our vehicles for pictures. Being circled by an ostrich was pure delight for our kiddos! Well worth the cost! Added on camel feeding at the end of tour. Arrive a bit early to see the animals on display at tour starting place. One note: there is no bathroom access at end of tour, which is a big drawback for a family, especially after interacting with animals and wanting to wash hands.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 4, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles1,061 reviews
Excellent
892
Very good
119
Average
27
Poor
13
Terrible
10

NHhoya
Concord, New Hampshire33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
I was looking for something fun to do with my family while visiting my 97-year old mother in Lakeland. She said she was up for a safari so we drove a few miles and escaped to another world. For two hours we were treated to a unique experience with scores of exotic animals roaming free in a unique habitat on a ranch near The Green Swamp. Our tour guide for what turned into a personal tour for a family of four was JJ, who was wonderful! She shared her passion and vast knowledge of the animals while maneuvering the bus to get the best possible looks at every location and stop. My mother fed several animals right from her seat. The customized vehicle safari is not cheap but we found it memorable and well worth it!
Written June 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

reneelc2016
Springifled55 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
I wasn't going to go at first but am glad that I did. I REALLY enjoyed it and being up close and personal to the animals and Art's (I think that was his name) knowledge of them was very helpful and what the farm does to preserve these animals and give them a natural habitat was wonderful. It was also fun to feed and pet those animals we were allowed to and the different textures of their fur/coats. Was surprised how aggressive the Ostriches were though since I'd never seen them that aggressive before. I would highly recommend this adventure and they also have a "car drive through and an ATV one" if you would rather be w/just family and a tour guide. The bus/truck spaced everyone out just fine and you could go to either side to get pictures or feed the animals.
Written April 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rebecca D
St. Augustine, FL3 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
I had been planning a visit to my best friend in Lakeland for a year. I had called and left multiple voice mails at least once each month during this time as well as multiple emails, messages through facebook and through their website contact system. Often, the voice mail box was full so I would use alternate means of communication. My friend and I are very athletic and wanted to kayak in the morning, then take the camel ride tour in the afternoon. The one time I was able to speak to Jason, he assured me that we would be able to ride camels "no matter what." After speaking with him, I attempted to contact them again to confirm multiple times without success. When we arrived, we were told that there would be no camel ride, and that I had been informed of that. I assured them that I had not been informed of that at all and was very disappointed.
Since we had spent so much money, we decided to make the best of it and go about what was available. I was repeatedly insulted. I was informed that I would not have been able to handle kayaking followed by a ride in the Florida heat. The kayaking was a sad joke. I am a native Floridian and regularly kayak for over an hour, ride horses for over an hour, and then walk 5 miles in one Floridian summer day. To tell me what I can and can't handle was infuriating. I do not recommend the kayaking to anyone regardless of level. It was like kayaking in a ditch they had dug out with bulldozers in a figure 8.
If you want to enjoy this attraction, please sign up for the least expensive option since it isn't really worth what they are charging. If you can just do the self guided tour in your own vehicle, do that. Do not pay for extra buckets of food to feed the animals as this is wasted money. If you ride the big truck for the tour, one bucket of food is provided, and you won't even get to empty that one bucket. I paid for two extra buckets of food for no reason at all. Paying for anything extra is a waste. Since there are no refunds regardless of what happens, I knew not to ask about how much I spent or point out the excessive waste and false advertising. Be warned. It doesn't matter how many times they list camel rides, or even if they tell you you will be able to ride. There is no opportunity to ride the camels at all. The other tours are not worth the expense. At the price they are asking, you might as well go to Disney's Animal Kingdom!
Written August 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Debbie W
Maryland3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
We scheduled a trip to Safari Wilderness a couple days before our trip to Lakeland, FL and were excited that we were able to arrange to hand feed the lemurs while there. The trip started on time and the safari was great fun, despite the rain that happened during the safari. We got a bit wet, but no one seemed to mind too much. If (when) I visit again, I will bring a jacket to keep from getting so wet when or if a rain storm hits. There was a wide range of wildlife. Art was extremely knowledgeable about the animals and answered every question that was asked. Many of the animals came right up to the vehicle we were in. We were able to feed and touch some of the animals on the safari, but not all. We enjoyed feeding all the animals, but in my opinion, the chance to get up close and feed the lemurs was the best part. My daughter and I had a blast. Look forward to going back the next time we are in Florida.
Written June 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mommy of 3
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Family
The brochure looked amazing so we decided to book the tour for 4 people. The price is extremely high—we paid about $600 for our tour. We got there about 20 minutes before our tour. there was a huge gate that wasn’t open until 15 minutes before our tour began. the road was so small that you couldn’t turn around even if you wanted to. Finally, we were allowed into the property. The guide led the 7 car procession to a patch of grass and then told us to walk to the building using a wooden dock-like path. if you have mobility issues, that’s a problem. Finally we get to the house (we could have driven there—I don’t know why they made us walk through the swamps to check in. One lady had part of her group missing since one of the member had a medical emergency. she asked if she could have a partial refund and they told her no because they have a no cancel, no rebooking policy. not ok. When you think of a safari, you think wild animals. Most of the animals at the safari was cows, horses, Guinea Pigs, and some wild animals. You have to pay for all of the experiences. It was nice to feed the animals but for the price, it wasn’t worth it—not $600 worth. Maybe worth $120 at most. After all, you are sharing an open school bus with everyone else. You share the food bucket with others. Most of the time, you are waiting on the bus driver to open and close the gates in between the areas. The poor cheetahs are in a small area. They have some camels, warthogs, lemurs, and birds but they are all in small areas. Kids liked it but again, it wasn’t worth the $600 we paid.
Written March 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Goron08
Columbus, OH5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020
This was by far one of the best experiences I have experienced. It's a bit pricey, but it is totally worth it. Our tour guide Art was VERY knowledgeable about all of the animals and was patient with questions. He made sure we had plenty of time with the animals and is an excellent tour guide. There was a wide variety of exotic animals that we were able to feed from the tour bus. I also paid to feed the Lemurs and wow what a cool experience! Definitely would recommend if you are visiting Florida.
Written December 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cnspsu413
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
The tour was awesome and everything I was expecting! I enjoyed being on the jeep just my fiance and I. The tour guide was very educational and we learned so much throughout the morning. We had many chances to feed the animals and that was a really great experience as well! After the tour ride we were able to go down and see the camels, pet them, feed them, and take pictures with them. After that, I had went to feed the lemurs. I absolutely loved that! They were so gentle and the tour guide explained everything just as they would act and what I should do when feeding them. I would of loved to of kept feeding them! Overall we had a wonderful experience and we will be visiting every time we stay close! :)
Written October 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hilljs7
Orlando, FL57 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
We took the ATV tour and had a blast. Up close and personal with the animals was a memorable experience and we have tons of beautiful photographs. Our guide was so knowledgeable and patient with us, answered all our questions and didn't rush us despite our many photo ops. We were provided a bag of feed pellets and most of the animals enjoy these (except the Zebras can't digest them). Many of the animals ate them right our of our hands! The ATV is the best way to experience this park. With all that said, definitely be realistic when you book this. It is extremely expensive and it seems there are no refunds, so winter/spring is the best time to go when it is not rainy and not too hot. For the money I think the parking fee is really ridiculous and they could also provide bottles of water for while you are out. But I get that this is a very expensive venture to upkeep. Overall if you are will to fork out the money, it is worth the experience.
Written April 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bmjsims
Naples, FL1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Family
I love Disney and Lion Country Safari is really neat, but we enjoyed this safari even more! JJ, our guide, was very knowledgeable and friendly and the animals came right up to the vehicle when they heard her voice! We fed water buffalo, llamas, camels, and zedonkeys! We also added the lemurs and coati encounters. The coati crawled all over me and the lemurs were so gentle and their little paws had soft padding! I brought my camera with the larger lens for the farther away animals and used my cell phone for the close ones. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating, even answering every question my 10-year old daughter had. Given what we've spent at Disney, this was money very well spent!
Written October 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Susan G
Sebastian, FL117 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Family
Visited Safari Wilderness with my 17 and 23 year old daughters. We were the only guests so it was almost like a private tour. The safari truck ride was exactly what we expected bumpy and rough but it was part of the fun. We loved being able to see all of the exotic hoof stock and to feed some of them. We really enjoyed meeting the three camels and the Red Ruffed lemurs. Our guide, Art, was informative. We could tell that he truly cares for the animals. The reason for the 4 instead of 5 was because it was an extremely expensive couple of hours so it was definitely a once in a lifetime event.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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