We visited Fossil Rim on Thursday, June 18, for the Wildlife Safari Tour and an overnight stay at the Lodge. Overall, I would describe our experience as mixed. There were some wonderful employees and enjoyable moments, but there were also several disappointments that made it difficult to justify the $485 we spent for our family of three (including my 12- and 14-year-old sons). When we first arrived, the woman at the entrance was very friendly and helpful. We asked how to make the most of our day, and she suggested visiting the overlook, café, gift shop, and the Wildlife Experience before our 11:00 a.m. tour. She also explained that tour vehicles returned every 60 minutes and implied that we could either get off at the overlook or stay on the vehicle if we preferred. The Wildlife Experience was enjoyable, and we appreciated that recommendation. Our first tour guide was excellent--friendly, knowledgeable, and informative. However, he also told us we would stop at the overlook for about 45 minutes before another vehicle returned. It appears remaining on the vehicle was not an option. After eating lunch and browsing the gift shop, we returned outside around 12:05 p.m. A vehicle arrived, but it was for a private tour. We were told another one would arrive in about 15 minutes. Instead, we waited until approximately 1:05 p.m., with around 30 people waiting. This is where the experience became frustrating. The young female driver announced she was picking up the 10:00 a.m. tour group, but then allowed at least one couple from our 11:00 a.m. group to board. When I asked about our group, she said boarding was "first come, first served," which directly contradicted what she had just told everyone. After making a phone call, she rearranged passengers so our family could board, she knew I was upset. She was informative during the drive, although her microphone stopped working and she had to raise her voice. That part was understandable. What I did find unprofessional was her repeated use of slang such as "trust" throughout her presentation. It felt out of place for a guided educational tour. I also noticed several children who appeared to be three years old or younger sitting in seats without an adult directly beside them, which raised some safety concerns. After the tour, we arrived at the Lodge around 2:10 p.m., knowing check-in wasn't until 3:00 p.m. The front desk employee politely explained that our room wasn't ready unless we had purchased early check-in, which we completely understood. We spent some time shopping in town before returning. The staff member who checked us in later was very friendly, and gave us a tour of the lodge. Our room itself was nice, clean, and had an extremely comfortable bed. Unfortunately, the lodge itself was not what we expected based on the photos online. There is very little to do on the property. While it's understandable that guests cannot freely explore because of the wildlife, we expected more amenities. We discovered board games ourselves, only to find many were missing pieces or broken. We also learned there was no pool table, despite it still appearing in Google photos. We were later told it had been removed approximately two years ago. Updating the online photos would help set more accurate expectations for future guests. That evening, heavy rain moved through the area. The ceiling fan light in our room would not turn off, and the fan remote was not functioning properly. Since there is no room phone, we had to call through Fossil Rim's main system to reach someone at the lodge. A staff member came to our room around 12:14 a.m. and was extremely kind and apologetic. He attempted to fix the problem but did not have a replacement remote or battery. He offered us a portable fan and later a lantern, which we appreciated, although neither solved the issue. His customer service was excellent despite the situation being unresolved. Breakfast the following morning was acceptable, and we appreciated having access to the dining area throughout the evening. There were no spoons, so I had to go downstairs and ask for some. The lady came up and went into the blocked for "Staff Only" , kitchen and got them out of the dish washer, then proceeded to turn on the dishwasher, so we hope our spoons were clean. Overall, the Wildlife Experience was decent, especially for families with younger children, and several employees provided outstanding customer service. However, the confusion surrounding the shuttle system, inconsistent communication, outdated online photos, limited lodge activities, and maintenance issues made the overall experience fall short of expectations. For $485 for the lodge and tour, I don't feel the overnight lodge stay provided enough value, particularly for families with older children or teenagers. If you're visiting, I would recommend the Wildlife Experience and safari, but I would carefully consider whether staying overnight at the Lodge is worth the additional read more

We booked a trip during Spring Break and this is most definitely worth it! We stayed in Waco and drove about 1.5 hrs to arrive at the 9AM tour. They say early is when animals are most active. Animals are more I likely to approach us. We chose the guided tour vs self tour. It was windy and chilly at the time we went. Check weather and dress appropriately to enjoy the open air tour! It was an incredible experience. I can't believe it's just outside of Waco! The first tour guide was interactive, talkative, and informative. He gave us quizzes. Our tour guide leaving was more pleasant. We enjoyed the ride back. She spoke less, however, we were able to enjoy the ride taking it all in. She gave us tidbits of information as we moved along... There's a really nice gift shop during the tour break, petting zoo, and cafe. The cart with less people is best. A crowded cart is not that comfortable. Curiosity is key when riding with others. read more

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We celebrated our anniversary at Fossil Rim, and we truly couldn't be happier with the experience. Our guide, Caitlyn, was absolutely phenomenal! I love her admiration of giraffes. She was so informative and shared fascinating insights about the animals and the history of the land. I was genuinely surprised to learn they've discovered dinosaur footprints and fossils right in the ridge--it added such a cool layer to the tour. From the giraffes to the cheetahs and everything in between, we loved getting up close. Being able to feed animals I never thought I'd encounter was a highlight. It felt like such a personal, high-quality experience rather than just a drive-through. We are already planning our return trip to try the "Behind the Scenes" package! read more

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center - Up close and personal! - Zoos Near Me - Glen Rose, Texas

We checked this place out recently and had a fantastic time. We had our 4-year old daughter with us and decided to do the safari tour to learn more about the animals. Our tour guide Kenzie was amazing. She was funny and knowledgeable. We had so many opportunities to feed the animals from the covered tour bus. Feeding the giraffes was my daughter's favorite part. The excitement on her face was priceless. The petting zoo, gift shop, and restaurant at the overlook were fun things to check out. Our daughter liked brushing the goats. It takes a couple hours to see everything on the tour. You can get through it faster driving your own car if the animals aren't blocking the path, but plan for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Definitely worth checking out. read more

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What an awesome place to enjoy wildlife and enjoy the great outdoors and explore and learn about nature and the animals and live in our big and beautiful world! This place is first class and offers many opportunities to interact and enjoy nature, wildfire and more in ways that are sustainable and intentionally caring. read more

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center - Zoos Near Me - Glen Rose, Texas

Much better experience than any zoo. Giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, zebras, and so much more! Hands on experience without fences in the safety and comfort of your vehicle. Amazing views you can't find anywhere else. Well worth the time and money. Added: This is a wonderful educational opportunity for children and adults alike! read more

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As an update to my previous review since the owner commented: I do understand that the health and safety of the animals is the highest priority. I admit my comment about a food bag per person was a bit snarky, my point was that with the one food bag per car rule, it should be a charge PER car rather than PER PERSON. You could even do a charge per car up to 5 people with an additional cost for any additional people (as the standard car size typically fits 5 people unless you have a larger vehicle with multiple rows that fit more). Original review: It's always a cool time to visit here. This was the first time we stopped at the petting zoo area, too. It was pleasant. They've changed some policies, though, and now only give 1 food bag per car. If we have to pay per person in the car, we should get food bags per person. Or only have to pay per car. read more

My wife and I were in Glen Rose, TX for the weekend and the Safari at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center was on the top of our list based on a lot of the videos and highlights we were seeing on social media. We had a wonderful time! We went on a Friday afternoon, around 3 PM. It wasn't packed or there weren't crowds to worry about going in. The details given when you purchase the tickets are clear and thorough. Additionally, the setup is great, two lanes--one for viewing, another for passing if you wish. We never felt pressure to move or speed up because someone was waiting behind us. The animals were mostly out, even in the peak heat of the day (currently springtime, so not so hot). I love that the Center gives you a bag of feed for the car, comes with the ticket purchases. I highly recommend making a stop at the gift shop and observatory at the halfway point. There are additional animals found there for petting and good photo ops! Cool to see cheetahs and rhinos in their enclosures too!! The group of giraffes are cool too, one went car-to-car for feed!! Overall an amazing experience, and worth going to if you're in the area. It'll take you about 2 hours to complete everything and make the stops. read more

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Great place to get to see some animals up close in a natural habitat. The giraffes are my favorite and they come right up to your vehicle. Check off your bucket list the feeling of a giraffes tongue! We rode in one of the open Fossil Rim 4x4's and I highly recommend doing this. It was a good amount of time and getting to ask the driver questions was awesome. She was very knowledgeable and a great driver! The gift shop will blow you away with the choices and stuffed animals. There is also a small deli. I also liked the area with the goats, pigs, turtles and getting to pet them. Lots of cool skeletons also! Overall, great experience and highly recommended! read more

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There isn't much to say other than this was a great experience!!! A little bit of a road trip from Dallas but made the most of it by getting early and also exploring the local dinosaur trails... Arrived an early October around 9am and with this being the first anticipated trip took my time. Bathrooms were accessible before the adventure which was nice. Did the self guided tour and thought it was odd we were only given 1 bag of pellets SMH Wish we could have received more as there was more than one person in the car... That said; the main attraction was the giraffes and they enjoyed eating the leaves off the care Wow - just being in their presence was worth every penny. Very humbling and good for the soul read more

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We did an on the bus tour of fossil rim, it was really great. Ashley was our tour guide and she was outstanding, informative and fun. Feeding lettuce to the giraffes was a highlight! The wildlife Center isn't just a tourist destination, they are working to conserve dozens of species and doing a great job of it. This place is well worth a visit. read more

Such a fun time at fossil rim this weekend!! I have never been to a drive through safari park so I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised how well taken care of and organized it was. My impression of drive throughs are that of just some janky off the road stop, but this was much more!! It was about $30 per person which did include 1 pack of pellets per 2 people to feed the animals. They have so many hooved animals to look at while driving, as well as even cheetahs and rhinos! The animals look so healthy and happy and have so much space. I was impressed!! The drive can take up to or over 2 hours depending on your pace. You get an animal guide to identify the animals along the trip. The most fun part was feeding the giraffes!! They walk right up to your car and are so pleasant and fun to interact with. Most of the animals are curious but some also stay far away. This was one of my favorite things I did this past weekend in Texas and I highly recommend!!! read more

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center - Zoos Near Me - Glen Rose, Texas

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5/31 Take the tour! You get more time with the animals and you get to see some you won't by driving through. Go in the AM. The animals try get out of the heat as the days goes on. First half they take you up to the petting zoo, restaurant and gift store. We spent and hour up there and caught the 2nd half if the tour guide down. Guides really loved their job and it showed. Special thanks to Piper! read more

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This is a wildlife center which you can do a drive through tour or for ten dollars more get the tour in a truck with a guide. I think this is the better offer for price. The entire tour is about 2 hours and you can actually stop up on the hill to get souveniers and a meal at the cafe. The downside is having to wait for the tram to go back down if you miss it or chose to eat up there. It was late for us but we were on a Friday with less trams. I did love getting to feed the giraffes by hand. There are lots of photos to be had here. Parking was out front. There is a center in the front for tickets though buying online is a better idea. There are clean bathrooms there and up the hill. read more

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Such a cool place for the WHOLE FAMILY! We did the regular drive through and it was still awesome. They give you a bag of food to feed the animals and it makes the whole experience awesome! All the animals already know that each car has something so they come REALLY close and even peak their heads in LOL. Great place! read more

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This is such a cool park that appears to do genuinely important conservation work. I'm almost always a little saddened when I go to zoos because of the small enclosures and questionable living conditions. Fossil Rim has 1,800 acres (I think) and plenty of room for large animals to roam. They're also one of the only places on earth that breeds the critically endangered Attwater Prairie Chicken. We were able to watch one courting, which is truly a scene out of Animal Planet. Very cool. Every staff member we interacted with was helpful and friendly. Also, we fed giraffes out of our car. I mean, that's awesome. Kids loved it, highly recommend. read more

We've been a few times, most recently about 4 years ago. We always do the self-guided tour. In 2024, 2 adults and a child cost $84. This time we arrived very early to beat the crowds and it was great. The weather was cool so the animals were active. We did not have to wait in long lines of cars. It's a great experience. The kid got to feed a giraffe which was both terrifying and exhilarating for her. It looks like they will devour her small hand but in fact they are very gentle. The best part was when one giraffe decided he wanted our whole bag of food and reached his head in the car to grab it. We had to act fast or it all would disappear in an instant. She will never forget. And that is exactly the point. read more

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I've been to similar centers before and the others had more diverse animals. However, this isn't really a safari but really a wildlife center focused on education and animals with different needs (endanger, rehomed, etc.). That said, our tour guide was fantastic and well informed. I was able to leave the tour with new knowledge. It's a great activity for all ages. The facilities are decent and I loved the children's animal center where my child was able to pet the goats. They were very mild mannered. There's excrement in a lot of places (for obvious reasons) keep that in mind with footwear. There's a cafe and gift shop, but they are uphill well past the entrance. read more

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center - Zoos Near Me - Glen Rose, Texas

We LOVED our trip to Fossil Rim! Definitely do the guided tour. So worth it! Our tour guide Leslie was awesome! The land and animals are beautiful. Such a wild experience!! read more

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My family went here this past weekend. We weren't sure what to expect as it was our first drive-thru safari. It was fantastic and better than anything we could have expected. We were there for just over 3 hours. We drove our own car (a bit of advice, I would not take a very nice car through the drive. I didn't mind but a few times, the animals with antlers/horns do make contact with the vehicle and could totally leave a scratch). We make many mini-stops along the route as there were herds alongside the roadways that we just had to stop and see from up close. We easily saw close to 10 types of herd mammals on route. We also saw some wild turkeys and vultures. In enclosures, we saw the cheetahs as well as one rhinoceros. While these were cool to see, it was no different than a typical zoo given they are behind cages/enclosures. At the midpoint, you reach the peak of the property which has a beautiful overlook where you can really appreciate how big, expansive and gorgeous the 2,000 acres are. The views are truly breathtaking. At the midpoint stop, they have a goat petting zoo as well as some enclosures which were supposed to house some types of wild cats. Those enclosures were mostly empty which was a bit of a disappointment. As soon as our tour was over, my daughter asked when we can come back next which is always a good sign. My wife even mentioned how pretty it must look in the springtime when all the flowers are in bloom. Maybe that'll be the next time we're back! Highly recommend. read more

We had a great adventure with our grandkids and great grandkids as a family. Came out here it was about 73°. It's a wide open. Space predators are locked up behind the fence so no need to worry about rhinoceros or cheetah attacking you. They say don't wear red because it can agitate the animals. We didn't know that before we came. I believe that it's not the color the agitates the animals, but the fact that the cups that have all the food in them are red is what they see when they're hungry. The giraffes were super beautiful and they can be aggressive that we had to keep away, but we got to see some smaller ones that were some lettuce which was awesome. That is the only animal that can feed by hand. All the other animals you have to feed away the vehicle, but the ostriches and you can put on the side of the tour bus. Be advised keep your fingers out of the way. We had a small child. The ostrich got a hold of his and he had to get some bandages. Tour guide did warn the parents of the child but they were not expecting the animal to be so fast I believe.there are a lot of animals that seem to be in the deer/antelope type family that are here. Zebras ran right past us. They did not care about our feed lol the petting zoo is not the best. There was animal feces all over the ground due to two nice size goats walking freely that you could brush. A lot of the signs at the petting zoo were unreadable and damaged. A few animals that were supposed to be in the cages weren't even there. And the petting zoo area is not big at all . So watch your sneakers if entering the petting zoo, but there is educational information around to read. The gift shop is where the restrooms are and is a nice size but expensive. They have tons of different animals aren't even in the safari. , But if it's your favorite, you will be able to buy a stuffed animal. Most items in the gift shop will be five dollars and up clothing items might start at 30+ dollars and a long neck giraffe stuffed animal can cost you almost $80. This place does not have a military discount, but it was definitely something to do and interesting listening about all the different animals that fossil rim have and the story of how it was created. If you have time and resources, you should definitely try it out. We saw the cutest white baby rhinoceros getting fed by its mommy, which I'm told is rare. read more

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Beautiful, the animals seems to be doing well and kids enjoyed their time! Halfway the path you have options to go to the outlook, cafe or store.. make sure to save enough food for the giraffes read more

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What a great day we had hear! The Guided Tour Van was worth the extra money, as we learned insider knowledge about the park, the animals, and has access to restricted roads. We met friends from out of town hear & all three kids had a blast! read more

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I love this place!!! We come here yearly. Unfortunately due to Covid and everything you are not suppose to hand feed the animals anymore but still an awesome experience. The animals still come close to you. Great pics and all... Bison cheetah and rhino are caged and you are not allowed to feed them at all. Get some great pictures though. They have a small petting zoo and the middle of it where h can also have a picnic or buy food at there small cafe. They have great things at the gift shop. read more

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The place was so Fun and enjoyable, we got to see many cool animals and got to experience many cool things! the tour guide will. j is the best he was so fun and entertaining and just a great guy in general! will for prez yall! read more

We had such an amazing experience at fossil rim! There are a few ways that you can enjoy the experience what we chose to do drive-through so we got to stay in our vehicle. You still pay per person and you're given one cone of food that you can feed the wildlife. You're only allowed to hand feed the giraffes. The staff puts up plenty of food so the wildlife comes out and interact. It was just a beautiful experience and a beautiful drive through the compound. The animals were all very well cared for and looked healthy. read more

We took a guided tour when the weather was beautiful a couple weeks ago. It was so much fun! We got to hand feed the giraffes (they provide food for then so you don't need to!) and get up close to many of the other animals you don't get to see on the drive through tour. We got good information from our guide about the different types of animals we were seeing, where they are from and how they behave in the wild. This is a great place for anyone-families, couples, children-everyone had a wonderful time. read more

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Not a shabby way to spend a birthday. Loved this unique experience! My absolute favorite part was getting up and close with the giraffes. We were lucky enough to find the gorgeous and curious animal approach our car not once but twice! I was absolutely terrified and ecstatic to feed it. Emotions quickly flew up and down the entire drive. Lol. It was about a 2 hour excursion from start to finish, maybe even a little bit longer. We saw a range of animals from emus to rhinos, cheetahs, and of course giraffes. I felt like a little kid again, highly recommend. read more

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The giraffes were the highlight of the whole reserve!! It was a little pricey, but we did get to see the all the animals showcased

We did a private safari tour for 11 people (on a Saturday at 10 AM) and it was awesome, worth every penny. And the money goes to the animals so it's a good cause. They do a lot of important research and breeding of endangered species. Our tour guide and driver were both so cool and knowledgeable and answered every one of our guests questions very thoughtfully. Highly recommended the private tour for the best experience. read more

Drove all the way out here for it being 30$ for adult 25$ for kids it's not car price read more

The most important advice, get there at the earliest time. It's hot and the animals will be hidden in the trees and shade. We made it there at 9-ish and the porta potty was not clean. There were a handful of cars there waiting to get in. If you have a truck, ride in the back of it for the best view. Oh, you can drive around cars that are waiting to see animals. I know my thoughts are all over the place. I do like this place better than the zoo. The animals seemed happy and that makes me happy. read more

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center - Zoos Near Me - Glen Rose, Texas

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If you're looking for a fun day trip for the kids this summer, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center should be on the top of your list. Only about 2 hours from the DFW area, this Texas safari park lets you get up close and personal with a variety of animals like America Bison, Cheetahs, Emu, Zebras, and Giraffes. Due to Covid, they are currently doing self-drive tours, but be aware, cost is still per person, not per car. Eat car is given 1 bag of animal feed, for the health of the animals and allowed to drive through the park at their own pace. The self tour typically takes anywhere between 1-2 hours on average, but there is no time restraint on how quickly you must drive through the tour other than closing times. There is also a halfway point where you can stop for lunch (packed or from the on-site cafe), visit the gift shop, and use the facilities ( only portable toilets were available during our visit). This is also a great place to take pictures! Overall this was a great time had by the kids and adults and I definitely will be visiting again this summer! TIPS for Visiting during COVID-19 Pandemic: Stop at one of the fast food restaurants near by for a bathroom break before you head to the park Bring car snacks for yourself & the little ones especially if you are coming from the city Split your feed bag in half so you won't use too much and run out before the end of the tour read more

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center - Zoos Near Me - Glen Rose, Texas

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Great place to be with your family. My wife booked a 10:30am admission time on a Saturday, and we arrived a bit early. First thing, the porta potties that they have set up before you drive into the park were very clean. We took our time driving through the park and saw quite a bit of animals. After the halfway point (we didn't stop to use the restrooms) the giraffes are out, and one was by the road and as the lead car would stop, and the occupants could feed the giraffe. We waited patiently for 40 minutes in line and when it was our turn to feed the giraffe, an addax walked close to the giraffe, and scared it away. We of course disappointed, but it wasn't the giraffes fault. My only recommendation is please be courteous when it's your time to feed the giraffes. We observed some individuals backing up to feed, and some that were taking a long time. We enjoyed our afternoon at the park, the landscape, and the views. We will be back. read more

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What a great adventure! We took a road trip from Austin just to go on safari and had so much fun. We took the public tour and Alexis was an awesome tour guide. She kept it light and fun while still providing all of the important info about the animals and their care. The best part (for me) was getting to feed the giraffes and meet their babies! I am already planning another trip to do it all again. read more

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This place is absolutely amazing. You have the option to drive around the safari or take advantage of a guided tour which is at we did and it was excellent to learn about the animals and what fossil rim does for them. The highlight for us was the feeding of the giraffes. Worth going 100%. And, while you are out there don't forget to check out the Dinosaur Valley State park which is 3 miles away. read more

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While visiting Texas, my dad suggested we would visit Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. I really had no expectations since when I'm visiting family, I just go with the flow. Arriving was pretty easy and paying is a breeze. You have the option of buying food for the animals or not. Honestly, you should buy the food... it's inexpensive and you are more likely to see up close, pet and develop epic memories once you are able to feed the animals. You drive slowly through the reserve with your own car and make stops to feed animals. You just take your time and enjoy the scenery. Don't gove out all of your food to some animals and save for the whole drive. Driving through it, while making stops, took us about an hour. Worth it!! We didn't even feel the hour go by. Great family activity. read more

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center - Zoos Near Me - Glen Rose, Texas

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Safari Tour $40 - The tour lasted about 2 hours and you get a cup of animal feed to dispense to the animals during the tour. I thought the tour could have been condense to about an hour and still be as entertaining. The best part about this tour is the giraffes. There are 7 giraffes at this park and we saw most of them. They came up to the truck and even stick their head instead to get some food. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Other animals sighting includes red deer, other deer, zebra, cheetah, wildebeest, and antelope. The park size is about 1800 acres with around 1200 animals. There is a petting zoo with goats roaming free located next to the main building. The sink outside pumps warm water. ....| \ _ , , , - - , , _ , .../ , ` . - ' ` ' . _ \ - ; ; ; , _ ..| , a - ) ) _ . ; . ( ` - ` - ' - ' ' - - - ' ' ( _ / . _ ) - ' ( _ \ _ ) 2020 read more

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This place is an experience for sure. Never done anything like it. I believe this is something everyone needs to do at least once in their life. The only downside this place has is that the first part of the ride was a bit slow. Too much traffic. The drive took so long, however, the giraffes made everything better. The Giraffes are so friendly and fun. We had a blast! read more

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Great drive through safari experience that we visited during the pandemic. Loved the ability to get out of the house. The animals wee friendly and you feed them from your car. The area is beautiful, scenic and hilly- you almost forget that you are in Texas. There is a cafe and a nice gift shop on the premises as well as rest and picnic areas. Definitely a must visit for young kids. read more

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