Drive-Thru-Safari-Wildlife-Parks-in-California

Drive-Thru Safari Wildlife Parks in California

California has no traditional drive-thru safari park, but there are 2 places where you can tour wildlife from your own car. There’s also a safari park where guides drive you through in open-air trucks, plus a free meadow where wild elk graze beside the parking lot.

B. BRYAN PRESERVE

Type: Self-guided car safari through a private African wildlife conservation preserve. It’s an AZA-accredited related facility.
Location: 130 Riverside Drive, Point Arena, CA (Mendocino Coast)
Phone: (707) 882-2297
Email: reservations@bbryanpreserve.com
Website: bbryanpreserve.com · Car Safari info · Book a Tour
Social Media:

Size: 110 acres
Animals: Large herds of endangered African hoofstock: Nubian giraffes, Hartmann’s mountain zebras, Grevy’s zebras, greater and lesser kudu, Cape buffalo, addax, Nile lechwe, Somali wild ass, bontebok, sable antelope, and roan antelope.

Car Safari (drive your own vehicle):

  • Price is per person, not per vehicle: $25 per adult, $15 per child under 10 (infants included).
  • It departs once daily at 10 AM only, so arrive 10 minutes early. There are no refunds or rescheduling for late arrivals or no-shows.
  • The tour takes about 60 minutes. You get a map that marks the animal stops and gives facts about each species.
  • It ends at the giraffe pasture, where you can get out and feed the giraffes.
  • Cancellations made at least 3 days ahead are refunded, minus a $5 fee.

Other tours:

Rules:

  • Reservations are required. No drop-ins.
  • Stay in your vehicle except at the giraffe feeding.
  • No motorcycles or RVs.
  • No dogs anywhere on the property, even inside your vehicle.

Lodging: Four on-site cottages: Bridge, Chapel, Zebra, and Giraffe. Overnight guests get 25% off tours.

TULE ELK STATE NATURAL RESERVE

Type: State reserve with a free-to-join, ranger-led “Auto Safari” in your own car. There’s also a viewing platform.
Location: 8653 Station Rd, Buttonwillow, CA 93206 (15 miles west of Bakersfield, about 3 miles off I-5)
Phone: (661) 764-6881 · Sector office: (661) 849-3433
Email: TuleElkSNR@parks.ca.gov
Website: parks.ca.gov – Tule Elk SNR · Live Elk Cam
Social Media:

Size: About 950 acres, with a herd of roughly 30–35 tule elk. Tule elk live only in California.
Other wildlife: Raptors, owls, herons, egrets, roadrunners, burrowing owls, coyotes, badgers, and more. The reserve sits on the Pacific Flyway.

Admission:

  • $8 per vehicle
  • $50 per small bus, $100 per large bus
  • California State Parks passes are accepted, including the free Fourth Grade Pass.

Auto Safari (drive your own vehicle):

  • Runs the 4th Saturday of every month except December, starting at 10 AM.
  • It starts with a ranger talk at the viewing platform, then a tour of the visitor center and the reserve.
  • Only the regular $8 vehicle fee applies.
  • No dogs are allowed on the Auto Safari, even inside your vehicle.

Hours: 8 AM to sunset. On non-tour days, only the day use area at the entrance is open.
Best Time: Late summer through early fall, when the elk are most active. Summer can get above 110°F, so bring binoculars and layers.
Amenities: Elk viewing platform, visitor center, picnic areas with BBQs, restrooms, and drinking water. Everything is accessible.
Pets: Leashed dogs are allowed in the day use area only.

SAFARI WEST

Type: Guided safari park. You ride in open-air safari trucks with a guide, not your own car. It’s ZAA accredited and non-profit.
Location: 3115 Porter Creek Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 (Sonoma wine country)
Phone: (800) 616-2695 · Reservations: (707) 566-3667
Email: reservations@safariwest.org
Website: safariwest.org · Prices · Book Now
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Size: About 400 acres, with 800+ animals
Animals: Giraffes, rhinos, zebras, Cape buffalo, wildebeest, kudu, roan antelope, bongo, cheetahs, lemurs, flamingos, and an aviary of tropical birds.

Safari Prices (Sept–Dec and Jan–May):

  • Weekdays: Adults (18–61) $110 · Seniors (62+) $100 · Teens and children (4–17) $45
  • Weekends and holidays: Adults $120 · Seniors $110 · Teens and children $45
  • Summer prices are higher (June–Aug): Adults $145–$170 · Seniors $134–$159 · Teens and children $50–$55

Tour Times:

  • Oct–Dec: 9 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM
  • Apr–Aug: up to 6 departures daily
  • Jan–Feb: Fri–Sun and holidays only

Rules:

  • Reservations are required. Arrive 15 minutes early.
  • Children must be at least 4 years old. Kids need to be 45 inches tall to ride the top seat.
  • No pets. Service animals are allowed on the grounds but not on tours.
  • Closed Christmas Day.
  • You get a full refund only if you cancel within 24 hours of booking. Bookings made within 72 hours of the tour date are not eligible for a full refund.

Add-Ons:

  • Signature Private Safari: from $1,320 per vehicle, for up to 12 guests
  • Behind-the-Scenes or Rhino/Cheetah experiences: $275
  • Keeper for the Day: $500

Lodging: Luxury safari tents start around $330–$550 per night, with continental breakfast included. Lodging is closed Jan–Feb.
Dining: The Savannah Café serves lunch for $23 per adult and dinner for $35 per adult. Meals must be booked with a tour or stay. A snack shop is also on site.

ELK MEADOW DAY USE AREA

Type: Free roadside wildlife viewing. Wild Roosevelt elk often graze right next to the parking lot.
Location: US-101 & Davison Rd, Orick, CA 95555 (about 2–3 miles north of Orick, in Redwood National and State Parks)
Phone: (707) 465-7335 (Redwood National and State Parks)
Website: NPS – Elk Meadow Day Use Area
Social Media: No site-specific accounts. It’s run by the National Park Service.

Managed by: National Park Service and California State Parks
Animals: Wild Roosevelt elk herds, plus the occasional black bear. During fall rut, you can watch bulls bugling.

Admission: FREE
Best Time: Early morning and dusk. Fall (Sept–Oct) is rutting season.
Amenities: Large parking lot, picnic tables, restrooms, and interpretive panels. The Trillium Falls Trail starts here.

Tips:

  • Davison Road turns unpaved past the day use area, and trailers aren’t allowed on that section.
  • More elk often graze at Elk Prairie, about 6 miles north along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.
  • Keep your distance. These are wild animals and can be dangerous, especially during the rut.

Explore Drive-Thru Wildlife Parks in Neighboring States:
Oregon · Nevada · Arizona