Wildlife Safari Park
4.6(2.2K)google
4.1(56)yelp
FamilyRoad Trip
Overview
Operated by the world-famous Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, this expansive drive-through park in Ashland offers a spectacular encounter with North American wildlife. Visitors can drive their own vehicles along a scenic four-mile trail to safely view majestic American bison, elk, sandhill cranes, and gray wolves roaming freely in beautifully replicated native environments, complemented by interactive hiking trails and panoramic wolf-overlook boardwalks.
Practical Info
Mon9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-3.5 hours
Best TimeBest visited during its seasonal operational window from April to October. The prime viewing window is between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM when the weather is cool, prompting North American wildlife like bison and elk to be highly active near the drive-through tracks.
Getting ThereThis is a drive-through safari, meaning a personal vehicle is required for entry. Take Exit 426 off I-80 (Ashland), situated right across from Mahoney State Park. Follow the specific 'Wildlife Safari' signs for half a mile to the ticketing booths.
Travel Tips
- This 4-mile drive-through safari strictly enforces an absolute window-up regulation; stepping outside your private cabin inside open carnivore and herbivore fields is a felony.
- Aggressive 2,000-pound bison routinely blockade the driving lanes; vehicles must maintain a 30-foot ignition-off buffer and never sound horns to avoid head-butt rages.
- Domestic animals are completely barred from passing checkpoints or leaving vehicles within properties to suppress violent behavior from resident apex wolves and elk herds.
Reviews
Positive
- A fantastic drive-through safari park where visitors can observe herds of American bison, elk, and white-tailed deer up close from their own cars.
- The environment is designed to mimic nature closely; animals enjoy massive open spaces and look healthy and active, unlike traditional zoos.
- The drive includes a walk-out area halfway through for wolves and bears, equipped with clean viewing decks, restrooms, and a fun playground.
- Management is highly organized with efficient ticketing and entry. Staff members manage traffic at junctions to ensure safe driving.
Heads up
- Seeing animals depends entirely on their mood; if it's too hot or you visit at noon, most wildlife will hide in distant shade, leaving open empty views.
- The drive-through paths can suffer from traffic jams during peak holidays when front cars stop for long periods to take photos, stalling the line.
- The driving route takes only about 40 minutes to an hour to finish; relative to the ticket price, some visitors feel the value is slightly lacking.
- The roads are mostly gravel or dirt; high traffic stirs up clouds of dust from cars ahead, meaning you cannot open windows frequently.