There are 4 drive-thru safari parks in Georgia. At each one you can drive your own car through free-roaming herds and hand-feed zebras, bison, camels, and more right through your window.
- Wild Animal Safari (Pine Mountain)
- Atlanta Safari Park (Commerce)
- Lake Hartwell Wildlife Safari (Hartwell)
- North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park (Cleveland)
WILD ANIMAL SAFARI
Type: Self-drive safari plus a walk-through zoo called the Walkabout Adventure Zoo
Location: 1300 Oak Grove Rd, Pine Mountain, GA 31822 (about 65 minutes southwest of the Atlanta airport and 40 minutes north of Columbus)
Phone: (706) 663-8744
Email: info.ga@animalsafari.com
Website: animalsafari.com · Pricing & Tickets · Hours Calendar · Drive-Thru Safari · FAQs · Policies & Safety
Social Media:
Size: About 500 acres, with a 3.5-mile paved drive-thru trail
Animals:
- Drive-thru: 400+ animals, including giraffes, zebras, bison, Watusi cattle, elk, camels, llamas, wildebeest, water buffalo, nilgai, and antelope.
- Walkabout Adventure Zoo: 50+ species, including tigers, lions, bears, lemurs, spider monkeys, and giant tortoises, plus a petting zoo.
Drive Time: 45 minutes to 2 hours. Plan 2–4 hours for the whole park.
Admission:
- About $27–$33 for adults, and about $24–$30 for children (3–12) and seniors (65+). Prices vary by date, so check the booking page.
- Ages 2 & under: Free
- Military discount available.
- Admission includes both the drive-thru safari and the walkabout zoo.
Extras:
- Animal feed: about $6 per bag. Plan on one bag per two people because it goes fast.
- Safari van rental: about $30 for up to 6 people. The vans have bars so animals can’t put their heads inside.
- Guided safari bus: complimentary. It runs on weekends only in the off-season.
- Animal encounters with capybaras, lemurs, sloths, and more cost extra.
Hours: Opens daily at 10 AM, and closing time varies by season (see the calendar). Last ticket and last car into the safari are 1 hour before close. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Tips:
- The animals may bump, lick, or scratch your car, which is why many visitors rent a van.
- Only feed the animals with feed bought at the park.
- The park closes in severe weather.
Other: Full-service restaurant and gift shop. Annual passes are available.
ATLANTA SAFARI PARK
Type: Self-drive safari plus a walk-through area with an aviary, petting zoo, and giraffe exhibit
Location: 6210 Highway 326, Commerce, GA 30530 (northeast Georgia, off I-85, about 1 hour from Atlanta)
Phone: (706) 310-5093
Website: atlantasafaripark.com · Hours & Prices · FAQ
Social Media: No official accounts found
Size: 156 acres, with about 2 miles of safari road
Animals: Zebras, llamas, ostriches, camels, bison, antelope, giraffes in the walk-through area, and birds in the free-flight aviary
Drive Time: About 1–1.5 hours. Your ticket is good all day, so you can drive through again until 4 PM.
Admission (per person):
- Adults (13–64): $17.99
- Seniors (65+): $16.99
- Children (3–12): $13.99
- Season passes are available.
Add-Ons:
- Feed bucket: $5
- Giraffe food: $5 per cup, with a souvenir cup. It’s weather dependent.
- Bird food stick: $2
- Wagon tour: available for groups of 15 or more
Hours: Daily 9 AM – 5 PM, and the last car is admitted at 4 PM. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Vehicle Rules:
- Stay in your vehicle in the safari.
- No motorcycles. They’re allowed in the parking lot only.
- RVs up to 42 feet are allowed.
- Jeeps are allowed, but they must have doors on.
LAKE HARTWELL WILDLIFE SAFARI
Type: Small self-drive safari with a walk-through area, Tortoise Lane, a petting zoo, and budgies
Location: 915 Boleman Hill Rd, Hartwell, GA 30643 (between I-85 and Hartwell, about 90 minutes from Atlanta and near the South Carolina line)
Phone: (706) 961-1364
Email: lakehartwellsafari@gmail.com
Website: lakehartwellsafari.com · Pricing
Social Media: Facebook feed is linked on the website
Animals: American bison, ostriches, camels, water buffalo, wildebeest, zebu, elk, zebras, tortoises, parakeets, and more. They recently opened a safari expansion.
Drive Time: About 45 minutes. You can drive through as many times as you want with one admission.
Admission:
- $9 per person in your own vehicle. This includes the safari, the walkabout, and a bag of safari feed.
- Rental vehicle: $20 extra. Rentals have no AC, allow one trip through only, and are first come, first served.
- Safari bus rental is available for groups of 8 or more.
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 10 AM – 5 PM. Last vehicle entry is 4:30 PM, and it’s closed Monday and Tuesday.
NORTH GEORGIA WILDLIFE & SAFARI PARK
Type: Safari drive-thru, guided wildlife walk, and one of Georgia’s largest petting farms. It’s also known as the North Georgia Zoo.
Location: 2912 Paradise Valley Rd, Cleveland, GA 30528 (North Georgia mountains, near Helen)
Phone: (706) 348-7279
Website: nogawild.com
Social Media: No official accounts found
Animals:
- Safari: camels, zebras, warthogs, bison, ostriches, and llamas. The “Bush Drive” section has antelope, emus, and deer.
- Wildlife walk: wolves, kangaroos, lemurs, foxes, capybaras, penguins, and more.
- 400+ animals total.
Drive Time: About 30 minutes for the safari. Plan 2–3 hours for the full visit.
Admission:
- Safari Drive-Thru ticket: about $20 per person. It includes the safari, Bush Drive, Llama Lane, and the petting farm.
- Package tickets add the guided 45-minute wildlife walk and encounters like capybara feeding or meeting the pigs. They range up to about $62 per person.
- Children under 2: Free
- Prices change, so check the website or call.
Hours:
- Usually Tuesday 11 AM – 3 PM and Thursday – Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM. Wednesday hours vary, and it’s closed Mondays.
- Hours change by season, so call ahead.
- Reservations are recommended on the website.
Tips: Guided wildlife walks run on the hour. Restrooms are portable toilets.
Explore Drive-Thru Wildlife Parks in Neighboring States:
Florida · Alabama · Tennessee · North Carolina · South Carolina