What to Know Before Visiting THE Ohio Safari Park

Updated

Plan around two things first: today's hours and the weather. THE Ohio Safari Park (African Safari Wildlife Park) is a drive-thru and walk-thru wildlife park near Cedar Point in Ohio, and the animals come to you — which means your visit depends on when you arrive and what the temperature is doing. Check "Today's Hours" before you leave, and expect certain warm-weather animals, such as giraffes and antelope, to be unavailable on cooler or rainy days. One more date to note: the Walk-Thru Safari is closed for the 2026 season and returns in May 2027, so a 2026 visit is drive-thru only.

What the park actually is

It's the Midwest's original drive-thru safari, with hundreds of animals from around the world. There are two parts:

  • Drive-Thru Safari — you drive your own car through the route and animals approach your vehicle. The park's own framing: "Your car just became the best seat in the safari." Expect everything from alpacas to zebras, with opportunities to feed animals like bison and get nose-to-nose with a giraffe.
  • Walk-Thru Safari — a walking section with gibbons, capybaras, kangaroos, porcupines, tortoises, and more. Animal Encounters (for example, meeting Cayenne the sloth or the capybaras) are booked separately. This section is closed for the 2026 season.

Before you go: the checklist

The park's "Tips for Safari Success" section makes the point directly — adventure favors the prepared. What that means in practice:

  1. Check today's hours on the site the day of your visit. Hours are listed as "Today's Hours," so they aren't a fixed all-season schedule.
  2. Check the forecast. Cooler or rainy weather can keep giraffes and antelope out of view. If seeing specific warm-weather animals is the point of your trip, pick a warm day.
  3. Bring the right things. Plan for feeding and photo moments — the park notes a giraffe may be more interested in your feed cup than your camera. Feed is part of the drive-thru experience, so expect to handle it from inside the car.
  4. Know the safety rules before you roll up to an animal. Animal health and safety is the park's stated top priority, and rules exist for both your protection and the animals'. Read them before the drive, not while a bison is at your window.
  5. If you want an Animal Encounter, book it. Encounters are a separate, hands-on option beyond the standard drive- and walk-through.

Drive-Thru vs. Walk-Thru: which fits your trip

Drive-Thru Safari Walk-Thru Safari
How it works You drive your own car through the route You walk through and visit animals on foot
Animals highlighted Alpacas to zebras, bison, giraffes Gibbons, capybaras, kangaroos, porcupines, tortoises
Feeding Yes — animals come to your window Not described as a feeding experience
Hands-on option No Animal Encounters (sloth, capybaras, more)
2026 status Open Closed for the 2026 season; returns May 2027

If you're visiting in 2026, the drive-thru is your visit. If an Animal Encounter or the walk-through animals are your priority, plan for May 2027 or later.

Making the most of the drive

The park's advice boils down to: prepare first so you spend your time watching for what wanders up next, not figuring things out mid-route. A few practical implications:

  • Your first safari or your fifth, the prep is the same — know what you're bringing, know the safety rules, then enjoy the drive.
  • Feeding animals from your car is the core interaction, so decide in advance who's driving and who's handling feed and camera.
  • Because animal visibility shifts with weather, treat any single species as a hope rather than a guarantee, and build in time to simply watch.

Why your visit matters to the animals

The park frames admission as conservation support: "By visiting the Park, you're helping to protect animals in our backyard and around the world." Its featured animal, Conrad, is a young male Eastern bongo calf — a critically endangered species known for its chestnut coat, white stripes, and large ears. If conservation is part of why you're going, the park has a dedicated Conservation & Science section worth reading before your trip.

Quick answers

Do I need to book ahead? The park promotes online booking for Animal Encounters and lists job openings for 50+ seasonal positions online. For general admission specifics, check the site directly — the available material doesn't state ticket prices or whether advance tickets are required.

What if it rains? Some animals, including giraffes, may not be visible. Your visit still happens, but adjust expectations.

Can I do both safaris in one trip? Not in 2026 — the Walk-Thru Safari is closed that season and returns in May 2027.