the wilds safari tour

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The Wilds - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• (0.24 mi) The Lodge at the Wilds
• (8.09 mi) Secluded Deluxe Log Cabin Overlooking Beautiful Stocked Pond
• (9.81 mi) RiverView Kampground & Marina
• (7.02 mi) Walkabout Creek Campground
• (9.99 mi) Quiet remodeled 8 acre ranch home with firepit, pond and bar
• (9.66 mi) Lock 9 Pizza
• (9.91 mi) El Palenque Mexican Restaurant
• (9.96 mi) Dairy Queen
• (9.75 mi) Subway
• (9.78 mi) Horseshoe Bar and Grill
• (0.04 mi) Wild Zipline Safari
• (7.16 mi) AEP ReCreation Land
• (7.29 mi) Terra Cotta Vineyards
• (6.20 mi) Blue Rock State Park
• (9.00 mi) Big Muskie Bucket

Fall Safari

Mark your calendars for Fall Safari 2024  at The Wilds!

The Event will include:

• An Open-Air-Safari tour led by expert staff members, including Dr. Joe Smith, Vice President of The Wilds.
• Your choice from a curated list of tour destinations that allow you to enjoy the sights, sounds, and beauty of The Wilds.
• Tasty food and beverages will be served at the Bing Overlook Facility after your tour as you enjoy fun activities, mingling, and a mission-focused presentation by staff.
• The event wouldn’t be complete without a lively Live Auction and Fund-A-Need which will raise funds for a new, state-of-the-art giraffe barn.

Donate to The Wilds

If you can't make it to our Fall Safari in October, you still have an opportunity to contribute to animal conservation efforts at The Wilds. Your donations are greatly appreciated by the animal care teams and our growing family of giraffes.

Donate to the Fall Safari Fund

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Safari in Ohio: Take a Wilds Tour, including Safaris, Horseback, Zipline, Sunset, and more!

Looking for something interesting to do this Spring and Summer? Explore  The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio, with nearly 10,000 acres of open range habitat for rare and endangered species.

Go on a Wilds Tour via open air safari, horseback, and more! They have plenty of adventures and even some free activities to enjoy.

credit: Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Pre-COVID photo

The Wilds is home to more than 30 rare and endangered species from around the globe. The animals are provided wide, open pastures to roam, coexist and amaze guests. 

Take a tour through open range animal areas to see giraffe, rhinos, camel, bison, zebras, cheetahs, and many other animals roaming around, while you learn about conservation efforts of the Wilds. There is a Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center, as well as a Wilds Gift Market, Overlook Cafe, Butterfly Habitat, and Birding Station.

Visits to the Butterfly Habitat and the Birding Station at Jeffrey Point are free, though $6 parking fee still applies to non-members for the Butterfly Habitat.

Daily Tours at The Wilds

Reservations are required for tours! Visitors can choose to ride in a pick-up truck to feed giraffes or meet a rhino on a Wildside Tour or feel the breeze on an Open-Air Safari tour while snapping breathtaking photos. Tours start on May 1, 2023 , and book up quickly, so schedule yours now!

Daily Open-Air Safari

There are several different tours available , with the most popular option being the  Open-Air Safari . Ride through the open-range animal areas, where you’ll see rhinos, giraffes and many other rare and endangered animals roaming in large, natural settings.

This tour includes stops at Lake Trail and the Carnivore Center. Open-Air Safari tours are approximately 2+ hours long. 

Prices and Discounts for Open-Air Safari

• $35.00 per person (all ages). Only $17.50 for Columbus Zoo members
• Wilds Members: Free
• Active Member of the Military: Free (must show current ID). Must call to schedule.

credit: Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Wildside Tour

Interact with Animal Management specialists to see the Wilds at work on this exclusive tour. Each experience will vary day-to-day, depending on what program work is taking place at the time of the Wildside Tour.

Small tour groups can see The Wilds from the back of one of the specially modified four-wheel drive trucks with the ability to go off the regular tour roads to get closer to the action.

Tours are approximately 2+ hours long and include plenty of time in pasture to see rare and endangered species in their open-range habitat, and learn directly about programs from your Animal Management guide. 

Prices : Non Members: $139.00 per person  Wilds Members: $110.00 per person 

Wildside Tour photo: Amanda Carberry

Specialty Tours at The Wilds

Adventure-seeking guests can also opt to soar over animal pastures on a Zipline Safari tour, enjoy a relaxing Fishing Safari tour on one of nearly 100 lakes at The Wilds, or saddle up on a Horseback Safari tour through the quiet prairies. 

These specialty tours allow you to pick a more customized or special tour. These make for great gifts, special dates, and bucket list experiences. Specialty tours are available at select dates/times of the week. Plan ahead, as reservations are limited!

Sunset Tours

Want to impress someone? Head to The Wilds for one of these Sunset Tours, available June – September. Twilight is the time when many of the animals are most active.

The  Sunset Safari Tour  is a magical tour with picturesque views. The tour includes an Open-Air Safari tour for viewing the animals when the pastures are bathing in the late evening sun, plus  dinner on the deck of the Overlook Café. 

Non Member: $89.00 per person (all ages)  Wilds Members: $74.00 per person (all ages) 

For guests looking to get closer to the action, the  Sunset Wildside tour  is a great option. This awe-inspiring tour takes guests off the beaten path and out into the pastures, and also includes a lovely dinner.

Non Member: $179/person  Wilds Member: $149/person

The  Sunset Horseback Safari  begins with dinner followed by approximately two hours of riding through grasslands and hillsides, as well as our butterfly habitat.  

Non Member: $89/person Wilds Member: $74/person

For thrill-seeking guests, booking a Sunset Zipline Safari tour  is the way to go. Guests will gear up when the sun goes down on this breathtaking view of The Wilds above the animal pastures. 

$99 per person. Other Zipline options start at $69/person.

Horseback Safari, Zipline Tours, and even a Fishing Safari

Private tours are available, as well specialty tours such as Horseback Safari, Birdwatching, Zipline Tours, and even a Fishing Safari , with these tours starting at $30.

Wilds Adventures

There are plenty of adventures to enjoy at The Wilds. You and your family can explore habitats including forests, wetlands, streams or lakes that most visitors to The Wilds never get to see.

Get outside and explore nature this summer with an experience guided by our Conservation Education team as you discover some of the most beautiful areas at The Wilds.

Options include: Daytime Hike, Stream Exploration, Lake Canoeing, and Evening Hike

TBA for 2023

New Experiences at The Wilds

Some of The Wilds’ newest exciting experiences include the Secrets of the Zoo Wildside Tour and WildNights at the Outpost experience.

Secrets of the Zoo Wildside Tour

During the Secrets of the Zoo Wildside Tour, guests will enjoy a special variation of a Wildside Tour led by one of The Wilds’ Animal Management team members, who appear on the hit Nat Geo WILD TV series, Secrets of the Zoo.

WildNights at the Outpost

Guests who opt for a WildNights at the Outpost experience will spend the night in the middle of The Wilds’ pastures with rhinos and other rare and incredible species nearby.

From lounging around the fire pit, relaxing on covered decks and exploring vast, breathtaking views, this once-in-a-lifetime experience includes a pre-packaged cooler complete with camping groceries.  

Nomad Ridge at The Wilds photo: Grahm S. Jones

More at The Wilds

There so much more to do here, including camps, overnight stays (yurts, cabins, lodge), and more!

Membership at The Wilds

Want to go more than once AND support this conservation effort? Get a membership for The Wilds !

Membership includes free Open-Air Safari tours from May through October, discounts on premium safari experiences, free parking, member benefits for Nomad Ridge, The Lodge, and The Wilds’ Cabins at Straker Lake, a subscription to The Wilds’ digital member magazine, discounts at The Wilds’ Gift Market and Overlook Café and more.

Members of The Wilds also receive a 50% discount on regular-priced Columbus Zoo and Aquarium tickets.  

Are you a member of an AZA organziation, including the Columbus Zoo?  You’ll receive a 50% discount on an Open Air Safari Tour offered to members of reciprocal AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) institutions with valid and current membership card. AZA membership discounts not offered on specialty tours or programs (for example, camps, Winter on the Wilds). For additional information or to check on availability, you may also contact [email protected] .

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Reader Interactions

July 9, 2023 at 9:18 pm

Hi! You can find all of the information under Lodging on The Wilds website – https://thewilds.checkfront.com/reserve/?category_id=15&options=hidedates

Pat Beggs says

July 9, 2023 at 2:59 pm

I would like to get information on The Wild where you stay out for the night or more. Can you or do you sleep in tents an have food supplied? thank you

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Savvy Travel Advice

The Wilds Animal Park: An African Safari Experience in Ohio

Last updated: December 4, 2021 - Written by Jessica Norah 22 Comments

The Wilds is one of the largest conservation centers in North America, set on about 10,000 acres of land in Southeast Ohio. The Wilds safari park is home to a number of rare and endangered animals from around the world, including cheetah, rhinos, camels, antelope, zebra, and giraffes, as well as a number of local native species.

Visitors can not only do regular bus safaris to see the animals, but The Wilds in Ohio also offers horseback safaris, fishing safaris, ziplining, a butterfly habitat, education programs, summer camps, and overnight lodging. This non-profit open-habitat safari park is a pretty amazing place given that this is reclaimed land which was strip mined for coal from the 1940’s to the 1980’s, which destroyed most of the natural wildlife and resources in this area.

If you are in Ohio, this is definitely a place to consider adding to your itinerary. We’ll give you all the information you need to plan a trip here and tell you about our own experience visiting The Wilds animal park.

Table of Contents:

Basic Information for Visiting The Wilds in Ohio

Here is all the info you need to start planning your trip to The Wilds in Ohio.

What is the Address of The Wilds?

14000 International Road, Cumberland, Ohio 43732

How to Get to The Wilds Ohio?

The Wilds is located outside the small town of Cumberland, Ohio and the best way to get here is by car. I could not find any public transportation options but you could of course book a taxi or Uber if needed.

It is approximately 75 miles (1.5 to 2 hour drive) from Columbus, OH, 20 miles (35 minute drive) from Zanesville, OH, and 140 miles (2.5 hours) from Cleveland, Ohio. You can find   directions online provided by The Wilds depending on your location. Note that there is a $6.00 parking fee to park at The Wilds unless you are a member.

When is the Best Time to Visit The Wilds?

The best time to visit The Wilds for most activities is from May through September. The Wilds is typically open for its regular visitor season daily from 10am to 4pm May through September and then weekends only in October.

Recently, The Wilds has also started the Winter at the Wilds Tour that allows for pre-registered guests to visit and tour The Wilds from November to March. While many of the regular tours are not available during the winter, the Winter at The Wilds tour is run twice a day. These are more intimate tours with up to 6 people.

What Safari Tours are Offered at The Wilds?

The most popular activities not surprisingly are the Wilds safari tours, and most people take one of the group safari tours that are led by knowledgeable guides. The main tours are given in an open-air bus with a canopy, and there are a couple of places the bus stops where you do a bit of walking.

Tours last approximately 2 hours, but I would allot at least 3 hours for your visit as you’ll need to get the shuttle to and from the parking area, may want to visit the butterfly habitat or other exhibits, and there are also places to shop and eat. 

If you interested in a more intimate experience, you can reserve a Wildside Tour and get a more exclusive safari experience with an Animal Management specialist amongst a smaller group (these are typically offered in an open-air pickup truck) and you get to see some of the daily happenings at The Wilds such as an animal medical procedure, help in feeding the animals, or an ongoing conservation project.

All of the tours at The Wilds take you through all the open-range enclosures where you’ll get to see many of the animals roaming in the fields as well as stops at Lake Trail and the Carnivore Center. You also have access to the Butterfly Habitat which you can explore at your leisure before or after the safari tours. On the weekends during the summer months, these tours are also offered at sunset and include a buffet dinner at the Overlook Café.

Check out The Wilds website for current tours and tour prices , with the open-air bus tours (May through October) currently set (as of October 2021) at $35.00 per person. Wildside Tours (and Winter at the Wilds tours) are currently priced at $137.50 per person for non-members.

Note that all tours must be booked online in advance prior to visiting.

Other Activities at The Wilds?

In addition to the main animal safari tours, there are a number of other visitor activities offered at The Wilds. You can easily spend a full day or a full weekend at the Wilds. These include fishing, horseback riding, sunset tours, and ziplining. The Wild Zipline Safari provides the opportunity to view parts of the large preserve and some of the wildlife from above across 10 different ziplines (a shorter version that includes only five ziplines is also available).

For those who live nearby or have more time for a visit, the Wilds also offers educational programs, WildeCamps, and Family Camp weekends during the summer months. They can also accommodate a wide range of events from corporate retreats to weddings to birthday parties.

The Wilds has also been recognized one of Ohio’s Most Important Birding Areas by Audubon. It is a good place to see a number of birds, including raptors, grassland nesting birds, and ospreys. The Wilds has made a birding station located at Jeffrey Point accessible to the public and it is open 24/7 for no charge. 

Accessibility at The Wilds

The visitor areas at The Wilds are generally accessible for those with reduced physical mobility and those in wheelchairs and meet ADA guidelines. There are tour buses and shuttles that can accommodate those in a wheelchair, and you can denote that you need a wheelchair space when you book your ticket.

Most of the tour is spent inside the bus but there are stops where participants can disembark to see the parakeet aviary (a short distance) and the carnivores’ enclosures (a slightly longer distance). 

As with most places, it is wise to call in advance to discuss any special accessibility needs before booking.

What Dining Options are there at the Wilds?

Food and snacks are available for purchase at the Safari Snack Depot, Terrace Grill, and Overlook Café. Note that many of these close during the winter months. Food available includes hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, chicken, ice cream, snacks, soda, coffee, and beer and wine. Evening safari programs during the summer often include a buffet dinner at the Overlook Café.

Can you Stay Overnight at The Wilds?

You can stay within The Wilds parkland or you can stay in a nearby town. The Wilds as you might imagine are in a very rural location but there are towns with lodging within 20 miles of the park.

Staying Overnight in The Wilds park

You have a few options if you want to stay overnight at The Wilds, including staying in a luxury yurt or a large family-friendly cabin.

The yurts are currently adults-only (21+) and are located within the park at Nomad Ridge and are built on large platforms with screen windows, bamboo floors, wooden doors, a private bathroom, and an observation deck for private wildlife viewing.

There are also several cabins that have been recently built around Straker Lake within The Wilds which provides another option. These can accommodate up to 6 persons and are perfect for families or small groups.

If you are coming with a big group or family, you might also consider The Lodge which is a large 6-bedroom cabin complete with a fully-equipped kitchen, bathrooms, television, Internet, washer and dryer, gas fireplace, outdoor fire ring, games, books, canoes, and fishing and boating equipment.

If you book a reservation in one of the yurts or The Lodge, you’ll receive discount pricing on many of the tours and activities offered at The Wilds. We did not stay in any of these lodging options, but we did see them while we were there and both options looked quite nice.  

NOTE: No pets are allowed on The Wilds property, including in any of the lodging, for obvious reasons. They may also not be left in your vehicle, so please be sure to leave your dogs at home. Service animals are of course welcome.

Staying Outside The Wilds

If you are looking for nearby lodging outside the park , you can find a range of options in the nearby cities of Caldwell, Cambridge, Zanesville, and Marietta. The closest lodging is in the town of Caldwell which has several motels and hotels. Some recommended properties are as follows:

• Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham , Caldwell – a 2* well-reviewed good value hotel offering en-suite rooms with inclusive continental breakfast. Offers wheelchair-accessible rooms. Free on-site parking. About a 25 minute drive from The Wilds.
• Best Western Caldwell Inn – This hotel offers a 24 hour front desk, indoor swimming pool, free Wifi, fitness center, and free breakfast. Note that the included breakfast is often served at the nearby family-owned diner (walking distance) Lori’s Restaurant. Offers wheelchair-accessible rooms. A 25 minute drive from The Wilds.
• Baymont by Wyndham , Cambridge – a 2* hotel offering en-suite rooms which also feature a microwave and free on-site parking. Breakfast is included. Just over 30 minutes drive to The Wilds.
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites , Zanesville – found in downtown Zanesville, this 2* hotel offers rooms with coffee makers and refrigerators. Free parking is available, breakfast is included, and there’s an indoor hot tub. Offers wheelchair accessible rooms. Around 30 minutes drive from The Wilds.
• Comfort Suites , Marietta – conveniently located for the Interstate, this 3* hotel has an indoor heated pool and a fitness centre. Offers wheelchair-accessible rooms. It’s also pet friendly (fee applies). Free parking is available nearby, and rooms have microwaves and fridges. Around a 50 minute drive from The Wilds.

You can see more options and compare prices here . 

Need More Information to Plan Your Trip to The Wilds? 

The official  official website  for The Wilds is a very useful to find information or book tickets, but you can also call them at 740-638-5030 or check out their active Facebook page where you can see recent photos as well as potentially find a discount code or win a free visit.

If you want to explore the area around The Wilds more fully you check out other things to do nearby  around Zanesville, Ohio and wider tourism information for the state of Ohio . 

Our Experience Visiting The Wilds 

I grew up near The Wilds and it is by far the largest tourist attraction in our local area, but for some reason or another I had never visited while I was growing up. During college, I knew several people who did research practicums and internships here given the amazing educational and research opportunities that are available here to local students.

In fact, I went to the same college as Jack Hanna , a famous zookeeper and animal expert who has worked with and promote The Wilds. I guess it is one of those things where you look back and realize that you never visited many of the cool places in your own backyard after you have left.

So on a return visit to Ohio to see my family in winter 2014, I made sure that I had time to include a visit to The Wilds. It was definitely time I finally made it here!  After that winter 2014 visit, I returned again in the summer of 2017 to experience one of the open-air tours that was not offered when I visited in the winter in 2014. So I’ll break this down by The Wilds winter visit first and then a bit about the summer open-air safari experience.

Winter at The Wilds Tour Experience

I made a reservation in advance for the Winter at the Wilds tour which is the only tour that is regularly given during the winter months. Ethan and I visited in November 2014 and it was a cold day and so we were bundled up in coats, hats, and gloves for our visit. We arrived at the parking lot (there is a $6.00 parking fee) and we were met within a couple of minutes by someone from the park management team and then our guide who was a member of the animal management team.

The Winter at the Wilds tour is similar to the regular Wildside Tours given during the rest of the year. However, instead of an open-air vehicle, we were in an enclosed heated vehicle, but we were able to roll down the windows as needed to take photos so that was not a problem and we needed the heat! While you cannot get out of the car within the open animal enclosures, you’ll get to walk around in other areas  such as around the Carnivores Center and if you visit the barns during the winter. 

A Bit of Ecology & Conservation at the Wilds

Our first stop was actually not to see wildlife but to see a restoration project being conducted by the Wilds Restoration Ecology department. Friendly Rachael and Kelsey who were hard at work in the wetlands area, talked to us about conservation within the wetlands and they showed us a neat water system they use to monitor and maintain water in the wetlands area.

This is a good reminder that a visit to the Wilds does not just have to be about the animals, but there is almost 10,000 acres of land here and all kinds of ecosystems. Strip mining negatively impacted much of the land and streams in this area and it is amazing to see the revival that has come about because of the hard work by the folks at the Wilds. If you are interested in ecology, botany, water management, birding, insects, etc. let your guide know as there are many different types of environmental projects happening here at any given time!

The Big Cats and Dogs

The next major stop on the tour was to the Wilds’ Carnivore Center. Here you can get out of the car and walk around and see the animals from various viewing points. During our visit, there were painted dogs, dholes, and cheetahs.

Be careful to stay back if you get near the African painted dog enclosures as they are not friendly puppies! I had never seen a dhole before but I remember my friend in college talking about these while she worked at the Wilds. They are super cute canines that are native to Asia and look quite a bit like a fox.

Breeding programs and research at the Wilds is geared towards helping the survival and conservation of these threatened and endangered species. The Wilds has been successful with its cheetah program as the first cheetah cubs were born here in 2010!

The Open Range Animal Pastures

The rest of our visit focused on driving through the open range enclosures, which contain the vast majority of the animals at the Wilds. These include camels, bison, zebra, Southern white rhino, wild horses, ostrich, giraffes, and various types of deer and antelope. You are also likely to see some of the native species that roam around the Wilds such as local deer, birds, or coyote.

If there are certain animals that you are very interested in seeing or want to learn more about, just tell your guide so they can better allocate your time as there is a lot of open space. As animal management specialists who work with the animals, they can help give you the best chance to see the animals you want to see and also give you more time with them if they can. 

During any tour, since the animals live in large open enclosures you’re likely to see many of the species up close while others are likely to be hidden a bit in the trees or near the lake where you might not get an up close view. For instance, we only got distant views of the ostriches who preferred to hide themselves amongst some trees on the opposite end of the lake from us.

We got a good look at most of the animals and we were able to get within touching distance (no touching!) of several animals who largely ignored our vehicle. The Sichuan takin are interesting animals that I have never seen before and there were a lot of these critters along with a number of deer, horses, and antelopes. Some of the deer were losing their antlers or were in the process of doing so which occurs in the winter months. The type of camels at the Wilds are quite funny to watch as they are very curious and will get very close to the vehicle. When they walk, their two humps of fat flop around quite a bit on the older camels. 

Typically, visitors would have the opportunity to tour some of the winter facilities for the animals on a Winter at the Wilds tour to see animals that need to be kept inside on cold days such as the giraffes. But a white rhino baby had just been born a day or so before our visit and so we were unfortunately not able to visit the barns. The animal management team did not want anyone disturbing the new rhino calf and there had not been a press release yet about the new baby. Although this sadly meant we could not visit the animals that were in the winter housing and barns that day (rhinos, zebra, giraffes), it is a remarkable event as the calf was the first fifth generation white rhino born outside of Africa and is a testament to the breeding and conservation program at the Wilds.

Summer at the Wilds Open Air Safari Tour Experience

In the summer of 2017, I returned again to the Wilds with my husband Laurence. This time we did an open-air animal safari tour. These are the most common type of tour that people take on a visit to the Wilds and are typically available from May to September. The tour took two hours and was in an open-air bus.

It was definitely a different experience to visit on a hot summer day, and it was nice to not be all bundled up in a winter coat and gear. It was also nice to see the green grass, full trees, and local wildflowers.

In terms of the animal, we saw many of the same animals I had seen in 2014; however, we also got to see a few animals I had not been able to see on my winter visit such as the parakeets in the small aviary, the giraffes, the white rhinos (although at a distance), and the ostriches. We also got to see the tankins really up close as they were fighting, playing, and mating near our vehicle!

Overall Thoughts on Visiting the Wilds in Ohio

Overall, we had a fun time on both our safari tours at the Wilds. We learned a lot, saw lots of animals, and received a warm welcome from our knowledgeable guides and other staff. A great advantage to visiting in November was that we had the park to ourselves since there are relatively few visitors during the winter months. The only disappointment during that visit was not being able to see the giraffes or rhino, but we totally understood that the health of the newborn rhino calf took precedence over our visiting the animal barns!

During the summer tour, it was nice to see the Wilds all green and alive. It was also nice to see some of the animals like the giraffes and rhinos that I had missed on the previous winter tour. The open-air safari bus makes for a nice way to experience the park and see the animals, and reminded my a bit of my safari experience in Africa. Another good thing about the summer is that there are more food facilities open so you have more opportunities to get a snack or have a meal.

 Overall, I would definitely recommend a trip to the Wilds if you find yourself in this part of Ohio. Not only is it a great place to view wildlife, but the organization is a top-notch research and conservation facility committed to a number of good causes. For me, this was a great chance to visit a cool place that I had missed growing up in this area! 

Are there places near where you have lived that you never took time to visit and then regretted it once you left? Planning your own trip to the Wilds and have a question? As always, feel free to ask us questions about our visit to the Wilds in Ohio or share your own experiences in the Comments section below!

**Disclosure: Just so you know, we received complimentary tours at the Wilds as press. However, as always, this article contains only our own honest thoughts and opinions. You can read more in our  Ethics Code  about how we work.**

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Emma Post author

June 10, 2023 at 7:01 am

Hello All. It is now 2023 and I am just now becoming aware that this place even exist, hopefully it still does. I am very interested in visiting there. Is the reservation still operating? I imagine Covid played an enormous role in why it seems the comments went silent. Also is the climate uninhabited by primates? I absolutely love the great Silverbacks and the chimps. Is this climate not suitable for them? Do you plan on ever having them?

Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

June 14, 2023 at 7:50 am

Yes, The Wilds is alive and well, and you can certainly come and visit. COVID-19 certainly was not great for the park but all is now open and most of the services have returned to normal. The summer season tends to be the busiest and most popular time to visit as it is a nice time to do the open-top buses or the Wildside Jeep or truck rides.

I don’t personally work for The Wilds, I am just a travel writer but I did grow up near The Wilds and have visited several times now over the years.

So there are no primates such as chimpanzees or gorillas at The Wilds. The focus of The Wilds is mainly on conservation and research and most of the animals are ones that can live in open enclosures, basically fields, such as the rhinos, horses, camels, zebra, giraffes, ostrich, etc. Primates would require large enclosures/tress etc. and it would probably not be a great fit for them here. At The Wilds, they do have a couple of enclosures for predators (e.g., painted dogs, dholes, and cheetah), but most of the rest of the animals can roam fairly freely in the open fields. There is also a barn area to keep animals protected and warm in the winter as needed.

In terms of climate, I would say that Ohio is probably not a good fit in terms of the natural habitat for chimps or gorillas. We recently were in Uganda which has both mountain gorillas and chimps and the reclaimed coal fields in southeastern Ohio is a pretty different climate and habitat than most of the places you would naturally find these animals.

As far as I know, there are no plans to have primates but you can of course ask yourself if you visit for any plans and reasoning on their part! The Columbus Zoo, the sister organization to The Wilds, has several primates in its care, although I don’t believe they have any chimps.

Hope that helps and hope you are able to enjoy a visit to The Wilds soon!

Best, Jessica

Becky Malterer Post author

March 30, 2023 at 8:31 am

Have the animals ever attacked anyone?

March 30, 2023 at 9:36 am

As far as I know (I don’t work here), there have not been any serious injuries of visitors caused by an attack by an animal at The Wilds.

When you visit, you are in a bus or Jeep for most of the visit when in the areas where the animals live and roam. The carnivores are behind fences. So visitors are fairly well protected from the animals and most of the animals (e.g., giraffe, cattle, zebra, ostrich) here rarely attack humans anyway. However, they are still wild animals and of course visitors should always be careful and aware during their visit and follow all the staff instructions.

Hope that helps and hope you enjoy your time at The Wilds if you decide to visit!

Jack Alloway Post author

July 15, 2021 at 4:32 pm

I was down in about 10 or 12 years ago and it was a beautiful place and it sounds like you people have done a lot more with it I’m looking forward to coming back down and staying the weekend. Thank yo

July 16, 2021 at 4:01 am

Hope you get a chance to return to The Wilds. Yes, it has changed quite a bit from 12 years ago!

tom hamm Post author

February 29, 2020 at 3:37 pm

look like a great place to visit. Would like to make a trip there in the spring or summer of 2020.

March 1, 2020 at 4:31 am

Yes, Spring or early Summer is a great time to visit The Wilds. It is nice to go when it is warm out but not super hot.

Enjoy! Jessica

Kurstin Chandler Post author

January 6, 2020 at 1:47 pm

Hi, interested in visiting your place.

January 6, 2020 at 1:58 pm

Hi Kurstin, If you are interested in visiting The Wilds now, or between November and April, they are only open to the public for their Winter at the Wilds tours. These need to be booked at least 72 hours in advance of when you want to visit. So I’d go onto their website or give them a call to schedule one of those if of interest. You can find links and their phone number above in the post.

But if you are visiting in the Spring/Summer months, then there are more daily tour options that will be available and you don’t have to book in advance (although still a good idea if you know when you want to do the tour).

Terri Mitchell Post author

April 13, 2019 at 6:56 am

Thank you for your comprehensive review! Just caught the end of Jack Hanna’s wildlife safari insisting The Wilds. I found your site when I searched for info. Happily it sounds like this is a trip that all ages can enjoy and we can camp too! Thanks to your thorough review we’re planning our own visit to The Wilds this summer!!! Happy Travels

April 13, 2019 at 12:10 pm

Hi Terri, Glad you enjoyed our review of The Wilds, and do let us know if you have any questions about planning your trip to The Wilds. Yes, Jack Hanna was very much involved in the planning and conservation efforts at The Wilds (he is a former director of the zoo in Columbus Ohio) and has been a long time ambassador for the park 😉 Best, Jessica

Mark Staib Post author

March 28, 2019 at 2:50 pm

I have a scout troop ,and we are interested coming down and camping either there or near by. We will want to tour and zip line. We would be arriving July 21 and have all of the 22nd to do all of the above.Please let me know if this is do able and how much it would cost.

March 28, 2019 at 4:42 pm

Hi Mark, That sounds like a fun scout trip. You’ll need to call The Wilds directly to get pricing and to book the trip for your group, phone number is (740) 638-5030. Best of luck, Jessica

DONNA AZZ Post author

July 4, 2016 at 3:37 pm

Hi – we will be visit “the wilds” in two weeks and staying for 2 nights (July 19&20). Are there any suggestions you can give us to enhance our visit?

travelcats Post author

July 4, 2016 at 4:32 pm

Hi Donna, I am sure you will have a great time at The Wilds! The summer is a great time to visit as all the facilities will be open and the animals should be out and about.

I would reserve your tour in advance so you get the dates/times you want. The open-air safari tours are great in the summer and a good value, you can also consider a private encounter or a Wildside Tour if they are within your budget.

As many animals will seek shade and naps in the middle of a summer day, I’d recommend trying to be on the first tour of the day or the last as you may see more animals and also it may be less crowded.

Since you’ll be there for two nights, you have plenty of opportunity to see the full park and choose the time of your tour and also explore at a slow pace. If you are staying overnight in the park, be sure to ask what activities are going on during your stay. Often there are boating, fishing, swimming, ziplining, and horseback riding activities available.

If you are traveling with kids, it can be really fun to teach them about some of the animals and have them try to then spot them during your tour and from the observation deck of where you are staying. If you have a pair of binoculars, these can be fun to bring. I’d also recommend buying a few snacks/drinks to bring with you at a grocery store before getting here so you don’t have to rely on always eating at the park as it can add up.

Have a great trip and feel free to come back and comment about your visit to The Wilds!

AwesomelyOZ Post author

August 3, 2015 at 3:36 pm

That’s so awesome! I love the photos of all the animals, esp the camels 🙂 That was a big boy! Looks like a great safari experience 🙂 Thanks for sharing and have a great one Jessica! -Iva

August 14, 2015 at 6:18 pm

Hi Iva, I think that may actually be a big girl:) It was a fun experience, it was not quite Africa but it is as close as you can get in Southeast Ohio and a great place to visit!

Seana Turner Post author

July 25, 2015 at 1:05 pm

You know, this is why I follow bloggers. I’ve been in that part of the country many times and had no idea this even existed. What a fun place! I think I’d rather roam around on a warm day, but I’ll bookmark it for the next time I’m driving though Ohio!

July 26, 2015 at 7:57 pm

Hi Seana, yes the Wilds is a great place to visit the next time you are in Ohio. It is a bit out of the way but a great place to spend an afternoon!

Mar Ward Post author

July 25, 2015 at 6:26 am

When I worked at the Zoo in Alaska, Jack Hanna was a guest speaker at our yearly fundraiser and talked about the Wilds. Ever since I had wanted to visit. Thanks for sharing your experience and some great photos.

July 26, 2015 at 6:57 pm

Hi Mar! Yes, I almost mentioned Jack Hanna in the post. I went to the same college as an undergrad that both he and his wife graduated from and the Wilds is located only about 20 minutes away. He was director of the Columbus Zoo in Ohio for many years and the Wilds now has a close partnership with that zoo. Jack Hanna has visited the Wilds many times and helped promote it. If you are in the Midwest, you should definitely plan a visit as I think it is still the largest wildlife conservation center in North America.

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Admission to The Wilds in Cumberland: Varies depending on the guest selection of tour. Open Air Safari $35/person (Free to Wild members and member of the military), Wildside Tour $140/person (Wild members $110), and Specialty tours, group tours, and zip line safari tours are available.

• Open: May thru September open daily from 10am – 4pm (last tour leaves at 4pm). October open weekends only. November thru April by reservation only. Closed major holidays.
• Location: ( Map It ) 14000 International Road in Cumberland, Ohio
• Phone: 740-638-5030
• Web: Click here 

The Wilds spans nearly 10,000 acres and is one of the world’s largest and most innovative conservation centers.  It is home to rare and endangered animals from around the globe along with hundreds of indigenous species –rhinos, giraffes, and antelope just to name a few; the mission of The Wilds is to lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife.  It is a living laboratory where every aspect of the natural world presents unique venues for personal experience.  The signature experience is exploring The Wilds on an Open-Air Safari Tour to see and learn about these amazing species living in the open-range habitat.  These tours run on a shuttle system through the open pasture areas, and this tour offers outstanding opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.  For more information about additional things to see and do in Zanesville-Muskingum County call 800-743-2303 or www.visitzanesville.com .

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Go On A Safari Adventure This Summer At The Wilds

Start planning your one-of-a-kind adventure, because The Wilds opens on May 1, 2024.

The Wilds is a safari park and conservation center that focuses on conservation science and education through hands-on experiences.

The nearly 10,000-acre park offers huge pastures for over 30 rare and endangered species from around the world, including four takin kids, eight Père David’s deer fawns, a greater one-horned rhino calf, two southern white rhino calves, and a Masai giraffe calf.

So what kind of safari adventure can you go on? The Wilds has a few different daily tour options to choose from. The Open-Air Safari Tour takes visitors through the vast pastures where rhinos and giraffes roam. If you’re on the hunt for more adventure, the Wildside Tour may be more your speed. There, guests can get much closer to the wildlife from the back of a specially modified four-wheel drive truck.

There are also some specialty tours to choose from, including the Zipline Safari Tour, a Fishing Safari on one of the many lakes on the property, a Horseback Safari, and more. Of course, we have to mention that one of the most unique ways to view The Wilds is by booking a night on Nomad Ridge.

This adults-only getaway includes a private yurt overlooking the animal pastures where you can wake up and feel totally immersed in the beauty of The Wilds. If you’re visiting as a family, you can also check out The Wilds Cabins at Straker Lake, which offers accommodations for up to six guests per cabin.

The Wilds is located at 14000 International Rd, Cumberland, OH 43732, and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May through October. Pricing varies depending on the tour and advance reservations are required. For more information about The Wilds, please visit TheWilds.org .

Chelsea Wiley

Chelsea Wiley, first of her name, Queen of the Seven Andals... wait. That's not right. Joking aside, Chelsea is a writer and photographer born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. She is an avid reader and a lover of animals.

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10 Things to Do While Visiting The Wilds

By: amanda osborne, apr 20 2023.

If you ask most visitors… and even the locals…The Wilds is the best-kept secret for adventure seekers and those who yearn for a connection to the natural world.

Nestled in southeastern Ohio, The Wilds sits on nearly 10,000 acres and is one of the largest and most innovative conservation centers in North America. Home to rhinos, giraffes, cheetahs, and other rare and endangered animals, The Wilds also serves as a living laboratory for international and local conservation scientists, with strong emphasis on Restoration and Wildlife Ecology.

Let’s plan your adventure!  In no particular order, here are 10 activities at The Wilds for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike.

Stay in a Yurt

Enjoy an exclusive, adults only (21+) overnight stay for two at The Wilds!  Nomad Ridge provides luxury in traditional nomadic-style structures, immersing guests in the outdoor sights and sounds of nature. With a 24/7 concierge services, wi-fi access, and discounts on special experiences, it’s a truly unique glamping experience!

Take an Open-Air Safari Tour

Book a Safari

Rough it at the Outpost

Dine on a Rooftop

Gaze at cheetahs, African painted dogs, and dholes while you dine at Terrace Grill…it’s rooftop! Food selections include grilled burgers, jumbo grilled hot dogs, soda, and more. Located at the mid-point of most tours, it’s an excellent stop for lunch.

Learn about Dining at The Wilds

Zipline Over Animal Pastures

This experience is designed to thrill anyone with a love for wildlife and a passion for adventure. Soar over animal pastures on up to ten breathtaking ziplines during the day OR in the evening!   Hint: Try the “Howl at the Moon” Zipline Tour!

Book Your Tour

Enjoy the Beauty of a Sunset Tour

Experience the magic of the Wilds at sunset! Take in the sweeping views of the Wilds' beautiful landscape bathed in the late evening sun. Enjoy a buffet style dinner, on the deck of the Overlook Café before boarding an Open-Air Safari for a guided tour through the open-range when the animals are most active at feeding time.

Go Mountain Biking

Thanks to a dedicated group of mountain bikers at Appalachia Outdoor Adventures, The Wilds offers a challenging complex of mountain bike trails, open to the public north of State Route 146.

Bring Your Birding Binoculars

With nearly 10,000 acres of grasslands, woodlands, wetlands and lakes, The Wilds is home to a great diversity of bird species. Audubon has recognized The Wilds as one of Ohio's Important Bird Areas, and birdwatchers from near and far have discovered the abundance of bird life here.

Recognizing the value of the birding community to the future of our organization and conservation in general, The Wilds has worked with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife to construct an observation deck, which is open to the public year-round, seven days a week, at no charge.

The Birding Station at Jeffrey Point is a great spot to watch raptors in winter, hear grassland nesting birds in spring and summer, and watch the ospreys returning to the hacksite in the spring. Look for it on State Route 284, between Zion Ridge Road and International Road.

Book a Horseback Tour

Learn About Conservation at The Wilds

Weaved into every activity and opportunity for adventure at The Wilds is a powerful theme: Animal Conservation. Nestled into the southeastern Ohio countryside on almost 10,000 acres of lush landscapes, The Wilds is a conservation center making an incredible impact for wildlife in America's Heartland and across the globe.  We are committed to assuring the future of rare and threatened species through breeding, the continuation of science, and education.

Learn more about conservation at The Wilds

Learn more about The Wilds by visiting https://www.thewilds.org.

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The Wilds: Tips and Tricks

The Wilds Tips and Tricks in Cumberland, Ohio…We finally made it to the Wilds! This is on everyone’s Ohio bucket lists or “Best Things To Do In Ohio” lists. It is ranked as one of the best drive-thru safaris in the USA . So we finally got to see what all the hullaballoo was about.

The Wilds is open year-round and, in addition to their safaris, offers zip line safari tours , horseback riding, fishing, and even luxury yurt glamping . We booked the daily open-air safari . We really enjoyed the nice breeze and unobstructed views. I was happy to see all of the lush landscape that the animals have to roam. It was like they were really out in “The Wild”. However, despite these great things we wish we would have done some things differently and that is what I am going to share with you.

Making the Reservation

We had planned to go on an earlier date, but I waited until the day of to reserve online, so I could get a more accurate weather report for the day. The problem was that when I tried to reserve the tickets I discovered that you can’t make reservations for The Wilds on the same day. So we ended up going to Cedar Point that day instead which wasn’t so bad!

The next time, though, I thought I was prepared, I went to make our reservation a few days in advance. This time everything was sold out except for one seat on 4 different tours! This was really disappointing, but I booked one seat on the 1:15 tour and another seat on the 1:30 tour. I thought that at least we could go even if we weren’t on the same bus.

The Wilds Tip: Reserve your spot way in advance !

Getting There

From looking at the map, it looked like The Wilds was just a little south of Zanesville, Ohio. So we stopped and lingered there for lunch before our tours. Then I put the address into my GPS and found out that it was 40 minutes away ! I thought it was maybe 10 minutes away. We were late! The website says to arrive 30 minutes before your tour and if you aren’t checked in 10 minutes before, they could give your seat away! Panic! I was so worried that we would miss the first bus and that only one of us would get to go on the tour. SHHHH We may have done a little tiny speeding lol.

The Wilds Tip: Do a GPS check before you leave!

We pulled into The Wilds parking lot at 1:13 to get in line for the parking booth. The man at the booth was taking his time talking to the lady in the car in front of us. I got out of my car in a panic and told him we had a 1:15 tour and if we could hurry a bit that would be awesome. He didn’t seem to show any concern – “1:15 you say?”- “Yes!” -“OK”. He continued to talk to the lady. I was like, Really? We almost made it and this guy is going to make us miss it! It costs $40 a person! Finally, they got through and since we had prepaid our $6 parking fee he ushered us on and told us to wait for the shuttle. Wait? There’s a shuttle! Oh no!

The Wilds Tip: Pay your parking ahead of time if you want to save some time. Tell the parking person your tour time (our guy radioed in that we were here). Don’t get mad at the parking person if you are late, it is your fault lol.

The Shuttle

So once you park your car in the parking lot you walk over to the shuttle bus pick-up area and wait. As we parked, we saw one shuttle bus leaving, so we had to wait for the next one. It was already 1:15. I felt we had lost. Now, there was no way we would get to the check-in place and get on the 1:15 tour. However, a thought crossed my mind… maybe the parking guy didn’t seem concerned because there wasn’t anything to be concerned about. Hmmm.

The Wilds Tip: Arrive early enough that you have time to get through the parking line, park your car and catch the shuttle up to check in without feeling stressed out!

We finally got up to the check-in place at about 1:23. We explained the situation. She said “No problem! I’ll just put you both on the 1:30 tour. You can catch the bus just over there.” Relief. On the bus, there were other people who said they were scheduled for the 1:45 tour and just got on this bus early. So, what we learned is that although they seem really strict on their website, they are actually really laid-back, relaxed, and cool once you arrive. In other words, they try to accommodate you the best they can. It appears that they have extra seats on all of the tours for extenuating circumstances.

The Wilds Tip: Don’t stress, try to be on time, but if something goes wrong, know they will try to work with you.

Finally, we were headed off. The first of the tour feels a lot like entering Jurassic Park. You go through a lot of double strong, extra tall gates while they ominously talk to you about how you will be perfectly safe inside lol. But truth be told, that was the end of anything remotely scary. In fact, the animals were mostly so far away from the bus I could barely see them. There were a couple of close-up animals, but it really just depends on where they decide to be during your tour. They could be sitting in the middle of the road or be way out to pasture.

The Wilds Tip: Bring binoculars and a zoom lens camera to see the animals and take some great shots. Or book The Wildside Tour instead of the Regular Safari Tour if you want to be able to get up close to the animals. These are the shots I was able to get with my phone. There were a lot more that were too far away for my phone to capture. You can click on a photo to see it enlarged.

We made two stops along the 2+ hour tour. Both stops have bathrooms. The first stop allows you to take a stroll down to the lake and go inside a birdhouse. A second stop is a place where you walk around and see the animals in giant fenced areas. This is not your typical zoo. The fenced areas are huge, so the animals have plenty of space. Again binoculars and a zoom lens would have been useful here. But even if I had, had those things the animals were mostly sleeping in the shade. It was the middle of the day and it was super hot.

The Wilds Tip: Visit The Wilds when the weather is cool (not too cold or too hot), such as in the early mornings to see more animal activity.

Thanks for visiting!

Besides all of these tips and tricks we wished we would have known before our day trip, we still had a great time and saw a lot of amazing animals. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and told a lot of interesting stories about the animals and their behaviors. It’s great that we can experience an open safari right here in Ohio! I hope you enjoyed The Wilds: Tips and Tricks! To read about another and very different drive-thru safari in Port Clinton, Ohio click here .

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Zipline Safari At The Wilds

14000 international road, cumberland, oh 43732, (740) 638-5030, view website, explore further.

The Wilds Safari Tour

A few years ago, I heard of an Open-Air Safari Tour in Ohio called, The Wilds . Being Zoo members, we’ve seen it advertised there as well. In early September, we decided to visit The Wilds while the weather was still nice.

The Wild , situated on roughly 10,000 acres, is one of the largest conservation centers in North America. Comprised mainly of rare and endangered species from around the world, the mission of The Wilds is connecting people to wildlife. They accomplish connecting people to wildlife in many ways. The Wilds offers a variety of tours: open-air safari, wildside, zipline overlook tour, zipline sunset tour, sunset wildside tour and a few winter tour options. If a tour isn’t what you’re seeking, The Wilds offers other options to connect with nature including: horseback adventures, visiting animal facilities and overnight stays.

The Open Air Safari Tour is one of the most popular experiences. Upon arrival, you’ll park your car in the gravel visitor parking lot and walk toward a shuttle. The shuttle drives down the road and drops everyone off for their next destination.

During the tour, you ride through the open-range animal habit inside an enclosed bus with a canopy. The bus travels on a gravel road so the ride in bumpy. During the Open Air Safari Tour, you’ll see animals like: rhinos, camels, giraffes, zebras and a few other animal species. Sometimes animals walk up to the vehicles and stick their heads inside, so if that frightens you, make sure to sit on the opposite side of the bus.

What to Expect?

Reservations are required before visiting. The Wilds schedules reservations over the phone since online reservations are unavailable. Your confirmation tickets are sent via email and you’ll need to bring those tickets for your tour. Parking isn’t included in the ticket price.

What did you pack?

We visited at the beginning of September. It was still pretty warm, but not too hot like the previous summer months. The adults brought waters and I packed the below for my daughters (4 and 1 years old):

What should I wear?

Cool, comfortable clothes and shoes. Although the tour bus had a canopy, we brought hats and sunglasses since it was sunny outside. Tour are held rain or shine, so pack according to the weather. When the shuttle stops, you have the option to get out and explore. Some paths are paved and some are made of gravel. Be prepared to walk up and down hills as well.

Should I bring the kids?

The Open Air Safari tour was 2+ hours long so we felt comfortable taking our oldest (4 years old). Originally, we were going to leave our 1 year old with a sitter, but plans changed and she came along. Knowing this, I had the baby nap on the drive so she was rested when we arrived. The motion and sounds of the tour was enough to keep the attention of my girls; however, after 2hrs had passed, they both started to get pretty antsy. Luckily, we were finishing the tour.

If your child is able to sit and watch a movie, I think the tour would be a good adventure for them.

When is best to visit?

Most tour/safari options are available May- October; however, The Wilds offers a ‘Winter at the Wilds Tour’ running November to April.

We visited in the morning. That way our girls could have a morning activity before lunch/nap time. During the morning tour, we saw a lot of animals that were out and active.

Any other helpful tips for families?

• The Wilds recommends arriving roughly 30 minutes before your tour. Our cellphone coverage was interrupted for a few seconds multiple times on the voyage up. Make sure you plan enough time to arrive, park and settle before your tour begins.
• The nearest gas station is more that 10+ miles away so make sure you plan accordingly.
• There is a cafeteria and gift shop onsite.
• If you’re interested in multiple visits during the year, membership options are available!

Tag me on your trip to The Wilds! I would love to see your adventure!

Hi there! I’m Jeanyne and welcome to my little space away from home/work! Whether you are just browsing or looking to connect, I’m glad you stopped by. Looking forward to knowing you better.

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Shawshank & The Wilds Safari, OH

A group bus tour.

An exciting and inspiring Ohio adventure for your group! Step back in time to 1880; to the glory days of train travel on a 3.5-hour trip on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. See rare and endangered species on a guided safari tour through the 10,000 acre Wilds Adventure Park, then tour Dickinson Cattle Company–a working Texas Longhorn cattle ranch. Tour the Ohio State Reformatory–site of the Shawshank Redemption movie. Relive the “greatest story ever told” as the life of Jesus Christ is performed at the Living Word Outdoor Drama.

This package includes:

• 4 Nights Lodging  
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Zipline Safari Tour at The Wilds

Enjoy The Wilds from an aerial perspective! This 2.5-hour zipline tour consists of 10 ziplines and a rappel built on a series of observation platforms overlooking The Wilds. This tour is designed to excite anyone with a love for wildlife and a bit of adventure.

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Animals Around the Globe

Your Complete Guide to Tiger Safari

Posted: November 22, 2023 | Last updated: November 22, 2023

Get to know the Tigers

Do you like Big Cats?  Have a look at the best places to see Lynx .

Because humans hunt it and destroy its habitat, which once stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

Tiger habitats are pretty diverse and can be found in more places than you’d think! They live in Siberia’s dense forests and roam Malaysia’s jungles. But things are not going well for these elegant cats of prey. Although the tiger has no natural enemies, it is threatened with extinction. 

Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey.

Tiger Endangerment

The IUCN red list puts the Tiger status to endangered : 

Poachers are also a great danger. They hunt the tigers because they can sell the big cats’ body parts well. Because claws, teeth, brain, and other parts are processed into medicine in traditional Chinese medicine and are in great demand. Hunting tigers as trophies have cost many animals their lives, especially in the last century.

The World Wide Fund For Nature ( WWF ) assumes that less than ten percent of the original habitat is left. The reasons are manifold. For example, mineral resources such as coal or oil are extracted in some regions. Deforestation of the rainforest is also a significant problem, as is the development of inaccessible areas by roads.

The South Chinese tiger is considered extinct in the accessible wilderness. According to the WWF species lexicon, experts assume that there are only a few isolated individuals, if at all. Therefore, the last hope of preserving the species lies in the few animals in Chinese zoos. The remaining five species now live in only 13 countries in Asia. Most of them are native to India, where it is estimated that there are about 1700 tigers.

A little more than a hundred years ago, there were still about 100,000 tigers living in large parts of Asia . There are still about 3900 animals; the Bali, Caspian, and Java tigers are extinct. Amazing animals for a Tiger Safari or Tour.

How Dangerous are Tigers?

Do you like Big Animals?  We collected ideas on the Best Places to see Hippos , Elephants , Giraffes , or Rhinos .

That is why wild animals respect them. But if a trainer, for example, stumbles and loses his position of power, it can become dangerous even for him. Also, to strange tigers, he would not dare to enter the cage. By the way, in the wilderness, animals only rarely attack humans. If, for example, a shark hurts a surfer, it is only because he mistakes him for a seal. You can see this because, unlike its usual prey, it does not eat it. 

Nevertheless, some people can go into a tiger or lion cage without being attacked, for example, tamers in the circus. They know their animals well and are something like the leader. 

For Tiger, a human being is a big animal. And when an animal is in its enclosure, the tiger wants to hunt it because he has an innate hunting instinct. 

Approximately 100 people die every year due to attacks by tigers. Probably, humans are often to blame for this themselves because they provoke the animals.

#1 Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India

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You might also like to read about Lion Walking Tours.

How to get there: Kanha National Park is situated in the south-eastern foothills of the Satpura Mountains almost 165 km southeast of Jabalpur.

Apart from the waiting times, which can amount up to 2 hours, this arrangement is for really interested rather a farce animal protection can not function so! However the park is worthwhile also independently of its tigers. One should let oneself in simply on the species-rich fauna. A tiger sighting is not everything!

Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh is one of India’s most famous national parks due to its size. However, because of this size, one does oneself hard to get the tigers hoped by every traveler also to face.  Unless one has nothing against the extremely questionable tiger show, where tigers are driven out of the undergrowth with the help of elephants, so hordes of Indian families wait noisily with the car until the elephant is ready to carry the customers up to the tiger. 

India offers one of the best Tiger spotting opportunities in the world, with over 50 Tier resorts called the "Tiger State". 

India is home to seventy percent of the world’s tiger population, with the Bengal tiger population at 2226 during last census in 2014. The state of Madhya Pradesh is India’s Tiger State; it is located a few hours south of Deli. 

#2 Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India

• Bandhavgarh National Park Tours
• Driver Tours India
• Nature Safari India

How to get there: Durminskoye Reserve is about two hours’ drive from Khabarovsk, in the South-Eastern part of Russia in Khabarovsk Krai. 

To make a difference today, raise awareness for these beautiful animals and join a Tiger Safari or Tour.

A white tiger was caught in this area in 1957, whose offspring can be seen in zoos and circuses worldwide. Other predator species in the area include leopard, striped hyena, sloth bear, wild dog, reed cat, golden jackal, spotted musang and Indian mongoose.

The best-known animal species in the park is the Bengal tiger, of which almost 50 animals lived in the park in 1997. The big cats are not shy and can be observed particularly well here.

Some of these swamps still exist. Salt forests dominate the rest. 

The hilly landscape is dominated by a plateau on which once stood the fort of the Maharajas. Nearby are grasslands rich in game, originating from swamps that were once created to protect the fort. 

The park is considered one of the most reliable places to observe wild tigers.

The Bandhavgarh National Park is a national park in Madhya Pradesh, India. It covers an area of about 480 square kilometers and is located about 300 km south of Khajuraho in the Vindhya Mountains. 

#3 Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India

• Satpura National Park Tours
• Pugdun Safaris

How to get there: The Satpura Tiger Reserve, also known as Satpura National Park, is located in the Indian district of Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh. 

This is a different kind of tiger sanctuary with so many differences in altitude and gorgeous greenery, reminiscent of Robert Frost’s beautiful forests. There is a lot of wildlife here. It is undoubtedly an underestimated but wonderful place worth visiting. The drive to the place itself through the mountains is amazingly scenic.

Even though the chances of tiger sightings in Satpura Tiger Reserve are not the highest, the park offers walking safaris, a unique way to experience wildlife. 

Saptura Tiger Reserve is a wonderful place in Madhya Pradesh. However, it is doubtful to see Tiger, because there are only 50 tigers on 1200 sq kms National Park. 

#5 Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand, India

• Corbett Tiger National Park Tours
• Corbett Tiger Reserve Tours

How to get there: Durminskoye Reserve is about two hours drive from Khabarovsk, in the South-Eastern part of Russia in Khabarovsk Krai. 

The main form of vegetation is the saline forests, at higher altitudes there are also some pine stands. In the lowlands there are riverine forests, whose stands are interrupted by grasslands called “chaurs” by the locals. It is only open from November to June.

The largest river in the park is the Ramganga, which flows into a large lake at the western border of the reserve. The landscape is characterized by broad valleys and hills. A chain of hills runs east-west in the middle of the area. 

It was initially called Hailey National Park, but in 1957 it was renamed Corbett National Park after it was temporarily called Ramganga National Park from 1952. Corbett National Park covers almost 521 square kilometres. Together with the adjacent Sonanadi Conservation Area it forms the Corbett Tiger Reserve, established in 1973 as part of Project Tiger.

Corbett National Park is in the Indian state of Uttarakhand at the foot of the Himalayas. It is named after the British hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett, who was instrumental in establishing the first national park in India near Nainital in 1936. Interesting for Tiger Safari or Tour.

#6 Sundarbans-Nationalpark and Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, India

• Sunderbans National Park Tours
• Sunderbans-Park Tour

How to get there: The park is located in the Sundarbans in the Ganges Delta and borders the Sundarban Reserve Forest in Bangladesh.

Also, look at our India Big 5 Article to explore Indian Wildlife.

Among the mammals , the Bengal Tiger is also the absolute highlight in Sundarbans National Park. At present, there are estimated between 350 and 400 wild Bengal Tigers in the Sundarbans. This is the largest remaining tiger population worldwide!

The name comes from Bengali and means “beautiful forest”. The Sundarbans cover an area of 10,000 square kilometers in the delta of the largest rivers in South Asia, the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. The Indian state of West Bengal shares the mangrove area with Bangladesh.

The Sundarbans are the most extensive mangrove forests in the world and the only ones where Bengal tigers live at the same time, they have been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 1987. 

West Bengal is home to one of the world’s largest tiger populations, with over 350 tigers in a 140,000-hectare mangrove forest close to the Bangladesh border. It is a world heritage site, and visitors can take boat safaris. A very famous place for Tiger Safari or Tours.

#7 Chitwan National Park, Chitwan, Nepal

• Chitwan Jungle Tours
• Chitwan Jungle Safari 

How to get there: The Chitwan National Park is located southwest of Kathmandu in the Terai. 

The Chitwan National Park is the best known in the country. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the first national park in Nepal . Dusk jeep safari is very popular, mainly in the morning and evening. The more relaxed parts of the day offer the best chance to see a Tiger. 

Due to increased conservation efforts, Nepal's Bengal Tiger population doubled in the last decade, with more than 235 individuals in the five national parks. 

#9 The Sundarbans, Bangladesh

• Bengal Tours (three-day)
• Guide Tours (three-day)
• Responsible Travel (eight-day safari) 

Tiger Safari Operators:

How to get there: The sundarbans national park is located in the south west of bangladesh, around 6 hours drive from Dhaka. 

You can also see saltwater crocodiles, wild boar, languages and many birds.

However, Tiger sightings in Bangladesh are rare , compared to other countries.  Another interesting place for Tiger Safaris or Tiger Tours. Operators offer Boat tours from the city of Khulna in the southwest. Bed and Breakfast on the leading boat, track tigers on smaller boats or en foot (with armed security personal)

It’s the home of more than 1120 Bengal tigers. 

Welcome to the world’s largest mangrove forest, starting in India and going through Bangladesh. 

#10 Durminskoye Reserve, Chabarowsk Region Russia

• Russia Tiger Tracking
• Visit Russia

Tourist tiger safaris are organized like science tours, tracking pug marks on snowmobiles and on food, setting camera traps reviewing footage. What else is there? You can see wolves, lynxes, badgers, foxes, and raptors. In the summer even Asian black bears

However, with only around 540 individuals left in the wild, the chance to see one is slight. Most of the Tiger Safari tours are based in Durminskoye Reserve, it is a 50.000-acre wildlife sanctuary a three hours drive from Khabarovsk in southeast Russia. It is the last prime habitat for Siberian tigers.

In the 1940s, they were hunted to the brink of extinction and only saved due to the new protection grant of tigers in Russia in 1965. 

The majestic Siberian Tiger, mainly found in eastern Russia or northern China, is our planet’s largest tiger species and cat. It is sadly also the most endangered .  

#12 Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia

• Wild Sumatra
• Trijaya Travel

How to get there: The main entrance and the national park office are in Sungai Penuh. There you can get a visit permit and find hiking guides. Alternatively, accommodations in the Kerinci Seblat National Park’s surroundings often help their guests get a visit permit and reliable hiking guides. Look for a Tiger Safari or Tour.

There are also about 200 bird species. Among the more than 4000 plant species that grow in Kerinci Seblat National Park are the giant reflower, the titan’s root, various orchids and the edelweiss.

Numerous rare or even endangered species, such as the Sumatran tiger, the clouded leopard, the tree leopard, the Sumatran rhinoceros, the Malay bear, and the Malayan tapir, is at home in Kerinci Seblat National Park. 

Various species accordingly characterize the fauna and flora of the Kerinci Seblat National Park. 

However, the National Park offers another Sighting, the Sumatran Tiger . Around 200 Tigers roam in the wild, using Tourists as one factor to save their habitat and survival. 

The Kerinci Seblat National Park is twice the size of the famous Bali Island, which is well known for its tourists. 

Tigers in Zoos and National Parks

The consequences for the animals are fatal: Massive damage to their health, severe behavioral disorders, and increased mortality.  This Tiger Safari or Tour guide should highlight only sustainable places to go.

• Perform feats for which they are often trained by force,
• Have to change venues 50 times a year on average,
• Spend most of their time in small cages, inadequate enclosures, or in the transport wagon,
• That essential species-specific behavior such as social contacts or movement are considerably restricted or made completely impossible,
• that they have little variety or occupation,
• that they are often not fed and cared for appropriately,
• That veterinary control or care is often inadequate because there are only a few specialized veterinarians for wild animals nationwide or the circus cannot or will not afford the treatment financially,
• that in many cases the circus operators lack the necessary expertise,
• that there is no fixed winter quarters during the play-free period. Only about every tenth company can call a winter accommodation its own.

Nevertheless, animals of wild species can still be seen in many circus operations that travel around the world: Tigers, lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, sea lions or monkeys – the range of animal species carried along is extensive. Wild animals suffer in the circus. They suffer massively, because:

Wild animals make exceptionally high demands on their keeping and accommodation. In a circus enterprise, responsible keeping wild animals is generally impossible.

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