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I know that sounds like an experience you can only have in Africa but no, you don’t have to leave Florida to go on a safari.
Located in Loxahatchee, just west of West Palm Beach, Lion Country Safari is a 600 acre park with hundreds of animals roaming in open habitats.
You drive your own car through a 4 mile preserve with lions, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, ostriches and water buffalo wandering around you, and you can do the loop as many times as you like.
And the best part about it is that there’s a whole walk through park included as well, so it’s a full day rather than a quick drive.
It’s about 1 hour 30 minutes from Miami, just over an hour from Fort Lauderdale and less than half an hour from West Palm Beach.
🦁 Quick Information About Lion Country Safari
📍 Where: 2003 Lion Country Safari Rd, Loxahatchee, FL 33470
🦁 What is it?
Adrive through safari park with around 80 species, and it’s AZA accredited.
The drive is 4 miles long and your ticket covers unlimited trips around it, so you can go back for another loop if the lions were hiding the first time. 🚗
The other half is The Gardens, a walk through park with more animal habitats, encounters and keeper talks. They suggest allowing at least three and a half hours in there on top of the drive. 🦒
You can pay an extra fee to feed the giraffes and the lories while you’re in The Gardens. 🌿
There are four places to eat, but you’re also welcome to bring your own food for the picnic areas. 🧺
It’s recommended to allow 4 to 6 hours for the whole thing. ⏰
🚗 From Miami: About 1 hr 30 mins
🚗 From Fort Lauderdale: About 1 hr 5 mins
🚗 From West Palm Beach: About 25 mins
🕙 Hours: Open daily 10am to 5pm, but the last car is let into the preserve at 4pm. Closed on Thanksgiving, open every other holiday
⚠️ Worth knowing: Convertibles, motorcycles and soft top Jeeps are not allowed in the preserve at all, and neither are low riders, anything towing a trailer, or cars with broken windows or damage. There’s no rental vehicle option. Windows and sunroofs have to stay shut the whole way round.
💳 Cashless: They don’t take cash anywhere in the park
🐕 Pets: Not allowed, not even in your car, except for service animals
💡 Two tips from the park themselves: The lions are fed just before the gates open, so get there for 10am if you want to catch them moving about. And they say the best time to visit is when it’s raining, because the animals prefer the cooler weather and are much more active
🎫 How To Book: 👉 See prices and availability here
🌐 Website: lioncountrysafari.com
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