What Visitors Can See in the Walk-Thru Safari at THE Ohio Safari Park

Updated

The Walk-Thru Safari at THE Ohio Safari Park is a separate, on-foot experience from the drive-thru route, where visitors can walk up to animals such as gibbons, capybaras, kangaroos, porcupines, and tortoises, and can book an Animal Encounter to meet animals like Cayenne the sloth up close. The critical planning detail: the Walk-Thru Safari is closed for the 2026 season and is scheduled to return in May 2027, so anyone visiting in 2026 will only have the Drive-Thru Safari available.

What the Walk-Thru Safari Includes

According to the park, the Walk-Thru Safari lets visitors "take a stroll on the WILD side" and see more animals on foot than the drive-thru route alone covers. The park specifically names:

  • Gibbons
  • Capybaras
  • Kangaroos
  • Porcupines
  • Tortoises
  • "and more"

This is a walk-through format, meaning you park and move through the area on foot rather than staying in your vehicle. It is a distinct experience from the Drive-Thru Safari, where you drive your own car through and animals such as bison and giraffes approach the vehicle.

Animal Encounters

For a hands-on option, the park offers a bookable Animal Encounter. The park names Cayenne the sloth and the capybaras as examples of animals you can meet up close through this add-on. Because encounters are booked separately, treat them as a distinct step from general Walk-Thru admission — check availability when you plan your visit.

Current Status: Closed for 2026

The park states plainly that the Walk-Thru Safari is closed for the 2026 season and will return in May 2027. If your trip falls in 2026, plan around the Drive-Thru Safari instead and do not expect walk-through access or the walk-through animal lineup.

Walk-Thru vs. Drive-Thru at a Glance

Drive-Thru Safari Walk-Thru Safari
Format Drive your own car through Walk on foot
Example animals Bison, giraffes, alpacas, zebras Gibbons, capybaras, kangaroos, porcupines, tortoises
Hands-on option Feeding animals from your vehicle Bookable Animal Encounter (e.g., Cayenne the sloth)
2026 status Described as an active experience Closed for 2026; returns May 2027

Practical Notes Before You Go

  • Weather affects animal visibility. The park notes that animal health and safety is its priority and that certain warm-weather animals, such as giraffes and antelope, may not be visible on cooler or rainy days. This applies to the park generally, so build flexibility into your expectations.
  • Check today's hours before traveling, since hours are listed separately on the park's site.
  • If the Walk-Thru is your main reason for visiting, wait for the May 2027 return rather than booking a 2026 trip around it.

For the drive-through experience and how it works, see the separate explainer on the Drive-Thru Safari.