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!