Like most men, I’ve always dreamed about embarking on an African Safari. Following native guides down footpaths, stooping low in tall grass, overlooking large and dangerous animals feeding on the plain.
Afterwards, we’d jump back in the Jeep and head back to camp, swapping tales of adventure and of our great feats. Yup, that sounds pretty awesome. And now, thanks to Safari Wilderness Ranch, it’s possible to get a taste of that at a fraction of the price. Sound Good? Read on.
The ranch is located in Lakeland on a 260 acre swatch of land. It’s a 45 mile drive from Tampa and 50 from Orlando. It’s filled with African herd animals, some of them being endangered, that coupled with its open setting and narrated tours makes for a very unique experience.
I drove up the front drive–a simple dirt road–and parked in the grass next to the other cars. I handed in my Groupon, checked out the nearby animals, and in general mingled with the other adventurers.
Soon, the driver announced for our group to load up in the canopied safari truck and then set us off on a three hour tour filled with close encounters of zebras, ostriches, water buffalo that eagerly ate out of the palm of our hands, and other not-shy animals.
Okay, I know, I know. Even though my photography skills are pretty amazing, they still might benefit from a photography course or two. But regardless, what is amazing is the incredibly close proximity of these rare animals to us.
We were able to reach out and touch them, pet them, and even get slobbered on as we tried to feed them. (There is nothing in the world quite like water buffalo slobber. I now know from first-hand experience).
The great thing about Safari Wilderness Ranch is that the tour never felt rushed. The guide encouraged us to take our time, feed the animals, and ask questions as we traveled across the 260 green acres.
There was never any “we gotta get goin’!” assembly line tour atmosphere. And even afterwards when we pulled back into the station, there was still lots to explore including an aviary and a petting zoo for the kiddies.
So, if you’re like me and want to have your own safari adventure, you definitely need to check out Safari Wilderness Ranch.
Further Information
Location: 10850 Moore Road, Lakeland, FL 33809
Vehicle Safari: $99.00 per person (even if you are under 2) | $9.00 for parking (There are other tours available too. Check their website for pricing.)
Website: http://safariwilderness.com
Phone: 813-382-2120
Doing it on the cheap…
It is always worth checking Groupon as the ranch has run promotions in the past and that is how I did my tour on the cheap.
Sometimes they run specials for people on their email list. So, if you are patient, it might behoove you to join their mailing list and wait until they send a discount code. Don’t worry: I’m on their email list and they don’t spam and they only send out an email about once every three months.
The Safari Wilderness Ranch is accredited by the Zoological Association of America and by the USDA.
