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Of all the places I’ve found in Florida, this one is definitely one of the most unexpected!
Giraffes, zebras, camels and pygmy hippos, all on a 47 acre ranch in Florida!
Giraffe Ranch is out in Dade City, and it’s a licensed working ranch, home to more than 450 animals across over 50 species.
But as the name suggests, the highlight here is the giraffes!
They offer a variety of tours but the main one is the Drive-Thru Safari. You stay in your own car, a guide leads the way in the vehicle in front, and they talk you through everything over the FM radio. 🚗
One thing to be clear about though. On the drive-thru you stay in your vehicle the whole time, so if hand-feeding a giraffe is the bit you’re after, that’s a separate encounter you add on when you book. 🦒
And it’s about 50 minutes from Tampa, so it’s very doable as a day out.
Please note that while I try to be as accurate as possible, I always recommend checking the official website and socials. Things can change quickly and as much as I try to stay on top of things, it’s not always the case.
🦒 Quick Information About Giraffe Ranch
📍 Where: 38650 Mickler Road, Dade City, FL 33523
🦒 What is it?
A 47 acre private preserve and licensed working ranch, home to exotic species alongside domestic cattle.
They have giraffes, zebras, camels, llamas, tapirs, pygmy hippos, cheetahs, monkeys, ring-tailed lemurs, otters, sloths, giant tortoises and deer. 🦓
Everything runs as a guided tour by reservation, and there are five different ways to do it depending on how close you want to get and how much of an adventure you’re after.
🚗 The Drive-Thru Safari
This is the relaxed one, and the one most people start with.
You drive your own car, an expert guide leads in the vehicle in front, and the commentary comes through your FM radio as you go. It takes about an hour. ⏱️
Up to 7 people per vehicle, and it’s priced per vehicle rather than per person, so it works out well for a family or a group.
All ages are welcome, and your vehicle needs to be a full-sized SUV or smaller. No motorcycles and no commercial vehicles.
👉 See prices and availability here
🎟️ The other four tours
Custom Safari Vehicle Tour: 1.5 hours in one of their own 4×4 safari vehicles, fully guided. All ages, 11am and 2pm daily. 👉 See prices and availability here
Camel Safari Tour: 1.5 hours led by two experienced camel handlers. Ages 3 and up, 11am and 2pm daily. 🐪 👉 See prices and availability here
Segway Safari Tour: 1.5 hours. Ages 14 and up, 11am and 2pm daily. 👉 See prices and availability here
Cybertruck Safari: 2 hours. You help tend to the animals instead of watching from a distance. Ages 16 and up, 11am and 2pm daily. 👉 See prices and availability here
🐆 Animal encounters: These are add-ons you choose at checkout, on top of whichever tour you book.
🚗 From Tampa: About 50 minutes
🚗 From Orlando: About 1 hour and 15 minutes
👨👩👧 Ages: The drive-thru and the safari vehicle tour are all ages. Camel is 3 and up, Segway is 14 and up, Cybertruck is 16 and up.
⚠️ Worth knowing: Every tour is reservation only and you need your own vehicle for the drive-thru safari. No personal pets on the premises, and gratuity for your guide isn’t included.
📞 Contact: (813) 482-3400 or info@girafferanch.com
🎫 How To Book: 👉 See prices and availability here
🌐 Website: girafferanch.com
📘 Facebook: Giraffe Ranch
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