tn safari park alamo tn

Tennessee Safari Park: A Visitors Guide

Everything you need to know about visiting this hidden gem full of animals

If you're looking for a weekend activity for the whole family, you can take the kids to the Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, Tennessee. Its a place to see exotic animals up close and personal. You can even feed some of them. This drive-through park is a definite draw to the rural area. 

Although it is the county seat of Crockett County , Alamo would be relatively unknown if it weren't for its primary claim to fame: hosting the Tennessee Safari Park. Many West Tennessee residents don't even know this park exists, making it one of the area's hidden gems. The park is situated on a working farm that is used for growing cotton and raising cattle.

The Animals

Tennessee Safari Park boasts over 400 animals from 80 different species . Some of the animals you may see on your visit are llamas, zebras, emus, kangaroos, giraffes, monkeys, and warthogs. There are frequently new babies being born at the park so if you are lucky, you may even get a chance to see some little ones during your visit. The park has one of the largest collections of zoo animals in the United States.

The Experience

There are two parts to the park—a two-mile driving tour and a petting zoo. When you enter the park you can purchase a bucket of feed. As you drive through the park, animals will come up to your car looking for food. Many of them will eagerly stick their heads in your car, giving you the opportunity to pet and to feed them. This is a great photo opportunity and a lot of fun for kids and adults.At the petting zoo, you have the opportunity to feed and pet other animals, including a giraffe!

Tickets cost $16 for adults, $12 kids aged 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and under.

Buckets of feed cost $3. To save money buy $4 for $10. You'll be glad you have extra feed to attract the animals.

Before You Go

• Currently the Tennessee Safari Park does not accept credit cards or checks so be sure to bring some cash.
• The park is about an hour and a half drive from Memphis and about thirty minutes from Jackson.
• Plan to spend between one and two hours at the park depending upon how crowded it is and how fast or slow you go through the tour.
• Try to visit the park in the morning, if possible. The animals tend to be hungrier and more eager to interact then.
• Visitors are encouraged to purchase buckets of feed to feed the animals. Feeding them outside food is not permitted.
• Pets, including dogs, are not allowed in the park. They might upset the animals.

Hours of Operation

The park is open every day of the year except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Thanksgiving. If there is inclement weather check the park's Facebook Page. Snow and Ice can cause the park to close suddenly so it can protect the animals.

• Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am. - 4 p.m. (that's the time of last admittance although the park closes fully at 5 pm)
• Sunday, 12:00 noon - 4 p.m. (last admittance)

Tennessee Safari Park 637 Conley Road Alamo, TN 38001 www.tennesseesafaripark.com

Updated by Holly Whitfield, January 2018

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Tennessee Safari Park

Review Highlights

“ ! Small primates, goats (you can go in and pet and feed them), birds, giraffe s and again the facilities are immaculate ” in 21 reviews

“ Definitely get three bucket ls or more of feed for the car because once you get to the end you will run out. ” in 18 reviews

“ I lost count of how many I fed and everything you've read is true: the emus and ostriches are jerks. ” in 13 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

618 Conley Rd

Alamo, TN 38001

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Overall rating

109 reviews

So much fun, but don't expect to leave with a clean car. Kids loved it, ostrich are always out for food. The animals have learned to grab the buckets from your hands and take them. The camels are the best at it. There's a deal for 4 buckets for $10 I'd personally get 2 of those deals I only got one and the giraffes are last and I didn't have enough food. Lamas are so funny, they will stand in front of the vehicle until you roll down your window to feed them. The walk through zoo was super cute and you don't really need a stroller because it's kinda small and the kids are out playing and feeding the animals. Buffalo are super cool.

This place is great! We made a stop on our way home from Memphis and it really made for a fun afternoon. The place is so clean and well cared for, these animals are safe and clearly very happy in their new environment. At first my husband and I thought the cost was a little high, but by the time we finished up for the day we both agreed that we definitely got our money's worth and would pay to return again in the future. Even my teen/preteen boys were cracking up. So many laughs, and even though my car was totally covered in safari food afterwards it was a really good time . Highly recommend!

See all photos from Jill S. for Tennessee Safari Park

So so so much fun! Highly recommend this place. We had a blast feeding the animals. Plus the walk thru petting zoo was cool. Love this place.

The Safari Park is a fascinating place to discover and interact with some of the most desirable animals in the world. We came on a misty, rainy day and we could not have enjoyed the park more. There is a section that you can walk around in and see the animals and exotic birds. There is also a drive through part. We did both and enjoyed every minute! The only thing that I would add is signs on the fences stating exactly what the animals were that we were seeing. The paper given when you pay the $20 park fee per adult only gives you a list of the animals; some we could not figure out what they were.

See all photos from Christie B. for Tennessee Safari Park

Nice park. Limited kinds of animals but many, many animals to see during drive part. Careful though, these animals are very aggressive and have learned to block your path and try to upset your food cup to spill it on the floor. Our food cups lasted about 300 feet before camels yanked it out of my hand.

See all photos from Dave S. for Tennessee Safari Park

Had a really nice time here some animals can be aggressive but they are cute and HARMLESS just want the food . lol

We decided to give this place a try on our trip even with some of the negative reviews. We had a blast! It's up to you what you make of the experience. Yes the staff is not very friendly, yes the ostrich are aggressive, so are the Llama and camels. Not mean, but they know you have food buckets and they are use to being fed and the are competing against all the other animals. We made a game out of it! We would feed the deer and when the ostrich and Llama ran over we rolled up the windows. The Buffalo was well mannered and so were the deer and the easiest to feed. The walking zoo was ok and feeding the giraffe was fun but they only want you to feed carrot sticks and they are little pricey in my opinion. Overall it was an enjoyable experience and we would go back again!

I thought this experience was going to be dull, but I was wrong. 20 dollars to drive in and 3 dollars for a bucket of feed. The hooved animals were so fun! (Especially the llamas) They had no fear of the car, and ran along side us trying to get a glimpse of whether or not we had feed. They were relentless! But not as crazy as the ostriches pecking our windows and peeking down in the sun roof! Keep on the lookout! Cuz if you start feeding one, a whole bunch come to bicker over who gets the most. Then theres a walk thru part that is also fantastic! My favorites here were the monkeys and the giraffes. Worth every dime...!

See all photos from Heather B. for Tennessee Safari Park

Great place to visit. Love going there plus they also have a drive-in movie on weekends, weather permitting.

See all photos from Melodee T. for Tennessee Safari Park

Highly recommend this, such a unique experience! Expect at least an hour to drive through the entire park. The lamas, ostriches, and camels can be a little aggressive

16 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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Tennessee Safari Park

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Zebras at the Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, Tennessee.

Jeff Adkins/Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

A major tourist attraction, Tennessee Safari Park sits on a former cotton and cattle farm in rural Crockett County. Open year-round, the drive-through animal park boasts more than 80 species of exotic animals, ranging from zebras, giraffes, and monkeys to emus, kangaroos, and llamas. The Safari Roads section of the park features 5.5 miles of driving trails, where you can purchase buckets of food to interact with the animals. After making the loop, head to the Petting Zoo for a chance to befriend slightly tamer animals, like pygmy goats and other farm favorites. Do keep in mind that credit cards are not accepted here, so bring cash for admission and other activities.

Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at [email protected].

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Explore Alamo, TN

Tennessee safari park.

Claude M. Conley as a young boy had a vision of someday having his own zoo. At the young age of 10 he started with 2 peacocks. Continuing to realize his dream, he purchased the first herd of buffalo in the state of TN from Witchita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Lawton, OK in 1963. Today with over 60 species, the vision continues to grow through sons Claude and Jon. The Zoo and Park reside on a Century Farm, given as a land grant by President Andrew Jackson to Mrs. Helen Conley's family in settlement of the south. Hillcrest began in the 1860's as an agricultural farm and continues to produce cotton today! Over the years we have collected the breath-taking array of animals you see. Thank you for visiting TN Safari Park at Hillcrest, we look forward to seeing you again. West Tennessee is the ideal climate and environment for the animals. The weather is never too extreme and the land is suitable for all the species. More than 200 baby zebras have been born at the park since the 1980s and more than 80 baby animals of other species have been born there in the past 10 years. In addition to the Safari Park, this is a working farm with an additional 200 acres set aside for growing cotton and raising cattle. The Conley Family invites you to visit Tennessee Safari Park. We promise you will not be disappointed in the variety of animals you will see.

618 Conley Rd. Alamo , TN 38001

For the most up-to-date hours and information, please contact Tennessee Safari Park directly.

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Tennessee safari park provides unforgettable experiences.

Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

Claude M. Conley was only 15 years old when he started raising exotic animals on his family’s Crockett County farm in 1963. He began his unusual animal collection with buffalo, peacocks, elk and fallow deer on the same land where his family had been raising cotton and cattle since 1850.

“My father grew up reading about animals and visiting zoos, and he dedicated his life to raising exotic animals,” Claude H. Conley II says. “Today, our family has more than 1,300 exotic animals representing over 100 species.”

The Conley family knew they had something special on their quirky 800-acre farm in Alamo. So in 2007, Claude H. Conley II and his brother, Jon Wesley Conley, opened the farm to the public as a drive-through zoo experience called Tennessee Safari Park .

“We always knew we were going to open a zoo, but we were too busy farming,” Claude H. Conley II says. “We made the decision to open it in 2003, but it took us until 2007 to make it happen. A lot of people told us we couldn’t do it – they said it would never happen.”

But those naysayers were wrong. In its first year, Tennessee Safari Park welcomed 2,500 visitors.

“All the money we made from admission we put back into the park, adding new animals each year,” Conley says. “The number of visitors grows each year. In 2018, we had more than 85,000 visitors.”

A Wild Ride

What draws people to pull off Interstate 40 and spend a few hours touring a drive-through zoo, you ask? Curiosity, for one. Where else do ostriches, buffalo, camels and emus walk right up to your car window looking for a snack?

“Everybody can feed our animals through their car window, and people love interacting with the animals,” Conley says. “At our walk-through area, you can even feed a giraffe.”

Feeding the exotic animals can be a hilarious experience, since they are often eager to eat and have been known to put their entire head inside your car in search of food. They’ve also been known to snatch not only the food, but your entire food bucket. (Consider yourself warned.)

Photo by Jeff Adkins

Committed to Conservation

Environmentalists especially appreciate the opportunity to get up close and personal with rare and endangered animals, getting to stroke their velvety soft skin or fur. The reality is Tennessee Safari Park is more than a tourist attraction – it’s a dedicated conservational breeding center for rare and endangered creatures.

“We’ve always been committed to conservation, and it’s been really fun to watch our animal collection grow,” Conley says. “Because we breed animals, there are lots of babies everywhere. We also have about 300 animals that are not in the park and remain off exhibit.”

See more:  Nashville Zoo Exhibit Showcases Heritage Breed Farm Animals

If the past is any indication of the future, Tennessee Safari Park will continue to thrive under the Conley family’s leadership in years to come. Conley’s two young sons, Claude III (age 7) and Caleb (age 3), are the sixth generation to grow up on the farm and are already learning the ropes.

If You Go ...

Tennessee Safari Park

Location: 618 Conley Rd., Alamo

Phone: (731) 696-4423

Website: tennesseesafaripark.com

Hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 12 to 5 p.m. (Last car in at 4 p.m.)

Admission: $20 for adults and $12 for children ages 2 to 12. Animal feed costs $3 per cup, or 4 cups for $10. Tennessee Farm Bureau members can download a mobile or printed coupon for $2 off admission (maximum of six per party) at tnfarmbureau.org/membersavings or through the app.

Know Before You Go: You’ll know you’ve arrived at Tennessee Safari Park when you see the Conley family’s historic large white house, a fixture on the property since 1862. You can purchase buckets of food before navigating the 5.5-mile drive-through in your car. Then visitors can park and tour the walk-through zoo on foot, where you’ll see several types of monkeys, colorful birds and other creatures. Make time to visit the gift shop and eat at the Tennessee Safari Park Grill, which offers burgers, hot dogs, nachos and other snacks.

Travel Tip: Allow about three hours to tour the park. Cash only is accepted at the ticket booth; credit cards are accepted in the gift shop. The grill is open seasonally on weekends.

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Have visited Safari Park se stall times. Always fun.

Wonderful visit on May the 2nd 2021. Wonderful! I appreciate the lovely place who have provided for these animals to live. You park is a jewel. I do have a question . Where do the animals go in the winter? Like the ostrich and giraffe? Thank y’all for you’re dedication. My family had a blast.

Your pricing information is not current. As of today, 2/25/2022 their prices are as follows as per their website. –

Admission to the Park $20 ADULTS $12 KIDS AGES 2-12 YEARS Children 1 and under FREE

Feed Cups $3 each or four cups for $10

OPEN EVERYDAY EXCEPT CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY AND THANKSGIVING *CASH ONLY AT THE GATE *NO DOGS OR OUTSIDE ANIMALS ARE ALLOWED IN THE PARK AT ANYTIME-ANYWHERE

Hi Wendy, thanks for the update! The pricing information in the article has been updated.

Rachel Graf Associate editor, TN Home & Farm

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Tennessee Safari Park

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Tennessee Safari Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sun 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Mon - Sat 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Tennessee Safari Park

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Tennessee Safari Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

• Sun - Sun 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• Mon - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• (3.38 km) Green Frog Farm Bed & Breakfast Cabins
• (3.42 km) The Cotton Gin Cabin bed and breakfast
• (4.70 km) Rama Inn
• (3.45 km) The Holly House log cabin, 100-year-old historic setting
• (3.63 km) A log cabin in the Pines
• (1.51 km) Subway
• (1.44 km) Dairy Queen Grill & Chill
• (2.96 km) TN-Q BBQ
• (3.75 km) McDonald's
• (7.45 km) Bob's Burgers, Pasta and Pizza

Tennessee Safari Park

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Tennessee Safari Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

A learning experience like no other

Come see us at southland safari to get an up-close & personal experience with animals from all over the world right here in clarksburg, tn. this tour will take place on our safari truck which seats up to 20 people. the tour will last approximately 2 hours. we will offer a trained tour guide who will teach you about over 50 different species of animals on our safari along with details about our daily operations. you will not want to miss this exciting adventure.

Ride in our off-road safari vehicle.

Some safari attractions require you to drive your own vehicle through the park. We take pride in offering guided tours in our fully-customized off-road vehicle.

Encounter 50+ species of animals.

Our 125-acre property is home to nearly 500 animals from over 50 unique species. Learn more about the types of animals you will see on your encounter.

See our community while you are here.

West Tennessee is home to historic sites and other fun attractions for adults and kids alike. Learn more about some of our favorite places to visit while you are here!

COVID-19 Guidelines

• Face coverings are encouraged.
• We have tried to allow as much seating on our truck as possible with up to 20 seats available.
• Hand sanitizer stations are positioned in the gift shop, campground, and encounter area.
• The safari truck is cleaned and disinfected after each tour.
• Each cabin is cleaned and disinfected after each visitor stay.
• Gift shop is cleaned and disinfected after each tour visit.