Safari Wilderness Ranch ~ An Unforgettable Animal Safari in Florida

Did you know Florida offers safaris sure to thrill any animal-loving family? Take the kids on safari at the Safari Wilderness Ranch for an adventure they will remember long after the mouse ears have been put away. Here's what to know before you go.

Safari Wilderness Ranch in Central Florida provides an exceptional family adventure with animal encounters (Photo credit: Joann Woolley)

Why Safari Wilderness Ranch

Located in the heart of Florida's Green Swamp Wilderness Area between Orlando and Tampa, the Safari Wilderness Ranch is set on 260 acres of watershed land. Expect to see freely roaming, grazing animals like water buffalo, zebra, wapiti and antelope. This is not a zoo or theme park. You will feel as though you have left civilization behind and are truly entering the habitat of wild animals.

The game ranch strictly limits the number of visitors to the ranch to provide an exceptional one of a kind safari experience and protect the delicate landscape. If an Asian or African safari is not in your travel plans (and even if if is!), the Safari Wilderness Ranch makes an ideal way to create lifelong memories by safari.

Water buffalo eat specially made pellets at Safari Wilderness Ranch in Florida (Photo credit: Joann Woolley)

Customized Vehicle Safari

After boarding a covered safari vehicle, each rider receives a cup of specially made pellets to to feed the animals. Imagine a herd of water buffalo coming up to your safari vehicle with mouths open at the ready to receive the gift you have come to share. Be prepared to smell their breath, that is how close you get to these animals!

Our driver guide, J.J., provided specific instructions for feeding the animals that approached the vehicle. Throughout the safari, she shared her knowledge of each animal herd with warmth and excitement, adding a bit of humor along the way. It was clear she truly loves her job and the animals who live on the ranch.

This is not a free for all safari where you can touch and pet the animals; there are rules for the safety of both the visitors and the animals. There is no shortage of undeniably curious animals to see up close at Safari Wilderness Ranch, yet there is such a vast space for them to roam. Everyone on board the vehicle has plenty of room to get up and move to capture that perfect photo, too.

During the educational and fun safari, our safari group stopped to witness a zebra frolic. The late afternoon warm Florida breeze reminded me that nature is something we must treasure and preserve.

Animals are free to roam where they please at the Safari Wilderness Ranch (Photo credit: Joann Woolley)

Camel Expedition

The next time I am in Florida, I want to go back to Safari Wilderness Ranch and try the Camel Expedition, during which visitors view herds of game animals from their perches on the backs of camels of various species. My children would love to embark on the only known camel-backed, game-viewing safari available outside of Africa.

According to Safari Wilderness Ranch's website, “Our camels are treated with kindness and respect — and they love their jobs. They line up at the gate each morning eager to go to work!” At the end of their safari treks, the camels rest and play in a large grassy pasture with trees and open sky.

Camel Expedition with Safari Wilderness Ranch (Photo from SafariWilderness.com)

Additional Safari Wilderness Ranch Experiences

Camels and jeeps not your thing? Not to worry. You can also view Safari Wilderness Ranch's herd animals via kayak or horseback. Or, you can opt for the Llama Trek, during which safari goers hike through the ranch alongside a gentle llama.

At the conclusion of our Customized Vehicle Safari, our tour group got a chance to meet and feed ring tailed lemurs. These creatures are fun to watch, in part because they are so fascinated by us humans! They lined up to take and eat one grape at a time from our hands. Should your family decide to visit Safari Wilderness Ranch, I highly recommend you add the lemur feeding experience. The delightful glee of children interacting with these small energetic primates will make your visit complete.

Ring tailed lemurs indulge in grape treats at Safari Wilderness Ranch (Photo credit: Visit Florida)

Set aside a good portion of your day to come to the Safari Wilderness Ranch. I promise you will find it to be one of the most pleasant places to learn about animals. Your family will want plenty of time to soak it all in.

Have you ever embarked on a safari adventure? Let us know in the comments below!

A Note from The Healthy Travel Mama: Visit Florida coordinated a media trip for the purpose of sharing family destinations. All opinions are my own, as always.