![]() Try that at a Disney park.More than 1,300 animals on this 500-acre preserve (the nation's first cageless drive-through safari) are divided into their indigenous regions, from the East African preserve of the Serengeti to the American West. It is not up to the standards of, say, Disney World, but we got out of there with some food and souvenirs for a little over $100.00. This is a charming old-Florida attraction, which we thoroughly enjoyed. There is even a picnic area if you want to eat your own food. The souvenirs and food were relatively cheap for such a park, there was even a gift shop with everything under $5.00. You can drive back through the animal reserve as much as you want for free. We allowed 4 hours, but could not see it all. The second part is an amusement part with a petting zoo, rides, animal feeding (including feeding giraffes, which was a blast), a wet play zone, small animal shows (where trainers came out and answered questions from the audience), paddle boats and a pontoon boat ride. It looked like, from all the precautions, that lions roaming wild had been a problem in the past, so we weren't heartbroken about missing the lions. The lions were in an enclosure and seemed to be sleeping. Our children delighted in taking pictures, although it was hard to see the lions. They provide a CD to play over the car stereo, which was informative. The first part is a drive-through zoo, which we could go through in about 90 minutes. Lion Country Safari is two attractions in one. For a family of 4, it costs about $80, which was a bargain, as we explain below. With a coupon from one of the brochures, or a AAA card, you can save about $2 per person. We took our two children (9 and 12) to the park and had a great time. We had a great time and it's definitely worth the trip for anyone visiting the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. Since they study the animals there, I think they could provide a bit more educational content on endangered species, animal habitats, breeding etc. The only thing I might have liked is additional informational material in the gift shop or on the tour. The place is also refreshingly free of corporate sponsorship. And all of this is included in the admission price. You can really spend the whole day there. It costs about $20 per person to get in, but the parking is free, and once you've done driving through to see the animals, there's quite an extensive amusement park with a water play area, paddle boats, a ferris wheel, a petting zoo, and all kinds of other stuff. Unlike a lot of South Florida attractions, where they squeeze every dime out of you, Lion Country Safari really gives you your money's worth. According to the material provided, Lion Country Safari plays an important role in breeding and preserving several endangered species. From what I could tell, the animals were well cared for - certainly they must be happier than in zoos, where they are caged. Our kids (three and six) were thrilled to see the animals, and I must say, they have an impressive collection: rhinos, huge African elephants, water buffalo,ostriches, zebra, many different types of gazelle and antelope -plus, of course, lions. We had a great day at Lion Country Safari. We definately recommend this place for couples and families. The place is clean, the animals look very well cared for, and it was so much fun. It was very informative and easy to follow along. They also give you a cd to use as you drive through, which we loved. Here's a great tip for people only interested in the drive through safari: after 4pm, tickets are 50% off! If you are only interested in the driving portion, which takes about an hour, this is perfect! They figure that you'd only be able to spend time in one part of the park, so they don't charge full price. The gates close at 4:30 and the park closes at 5:30. We arrived later in the day (about 4:15). We are so glad that we did! As previous people have said, there are actually 2 parts to this park - a drive through portion and a petting zoo/picnic/ride area. My husband and I had visited the drive through safari at Six Flags in NJ a few years ago and loved it, so we added Lion Country Safari to our itinerary. While talking about my upcoming vacation in Florida with coworkers, I was told about Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |