Cart
Kaufman, TX 75142
vgaroutte@texaszoofaripark.com
(469) 966-4608
www.texaszoofaripark.com/
What to Expect at Texas Zoofari Park: Drive-Thru Rhinos, Walkabouts, and Hungry Giraffes
If your city has a zoo, there’s a good chance you’ve taken the kids there about—oh, let’s see, carry the four—three billion times. You follow the paths, you lean on the fences, the kids press their noses against the glass, then rinse and repeat. It’s time for something different.
Texas Zoofari Park, just 30 miles east of Dallas, redefines what a zoo can be. At 900 acres, it’s bigger than the Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio zoos combined…three times over. All this room gives you plenty of space for its three distinct experiences: the drive-thru, the walk-thru, and the animal feeding.
Each experience feels like an entirely different trip. Together, they make up one of the biggest hits with families in the North Texas area. And because admission is valid all day, you can spend the entire visit moving between them at your own pace. Want to settle the family debate for where to go this weekend? We’ll write your closing argument for you:
Take Your Own Car Through the Safari Drive-Thru
The Safari Drive-Thru is the centerpiece of the park, and how the majority of visitors spend their time. You enter the gates and cruise the six-mile loop—all in the comfort of your own vehicle, at your own pace, and listening to the Spotify playlist you so painstakingly made for the occasion.
The road winds through 900 acres of open habitat and you never know just what might wander over to your car for an up-close look at the strange four-wheeled creature. Zebras, ostriches, antelope, and bison are just some of the animals you might see. There are even Watusi cattle, which are among only 1,500 of the species living outside of Africa. Rhinos also call the safari home, though they live in a large habitat within the route and can’t approach vehicles. Designated areas let you pull over and watch them grazing instead.
As with a regular zoo, the pace is yours to set, only now you’re in a nice, air-conditioned vehicle and not desperately looking for the nearest overpriced snow cone stand. It’s ice! How can it be $15! Ahem, we digress. One of the best parts about the drive-thru is that there’s no time limit, no one hurrying you up from behind. In fact, since admission is good for the whole day, plenty of guests drive it more than once.
If you’d rather not drive your own car, the park does provide Weekend Wagon Rides as an alternative. These one-hour experiences allow you to climb aboard a wagon with other visitors and get a guided tour of the park, complete with fun facts and interesting info.
Walk With the Smaller Residents in the Village
When you’re ready to trade observing the big animals at a respectful distance to interacting with smaller ones at arm’s length, it’s time for the Village Walk-Thru. With so many adorable little guys, where does one begin?
Let’s begin with the budgies. These are miniature parrots that land on a feeding stick, on a shoulder, on a head, or essentially anywhere else they please. Then there’s the hugely popular Kangaroo Walk-About, where you can walk or hop (when in Rome) among the kangaroos as they lounge in the Texas sun. Other friendly residents of the Village include lemurs, goats, Mini Highland cattle, and Aldabra tortoises (one of the largest tortoise species in the world).
Not only do these smaller residents of the park enjoy the attention, but this is sure to be the most popular experience for the smaller residents of your family. Instead of being belted into a car seat, kids are free to move around and pet the animals. Have that camera finger at the ready.
Feed the Giraffes and Become Their New Best Friend
We all love animals and we want them to love us. The quickest way to an animal’s heart is through their stomach, so we’re happy to inform you that feeding the animals is a major part of each of Texas Zoofari Park’s experiences. These are the photos that inevitably end up on the fridge: a giraffe unfurling its purple tongue to gently take a piece of lettuce from your hand.
But the feeding doesn’t stop there. In both of the aforementioned experiences, the drive-thru and walk-thru, you can purchase feed buckets for all the animals you encounter. The zebras, Watusi, and antelope alike will be thrilled to see you when you’ve got that bucket of food in your hands. A practical note: buy more feed than you think you need. Some of the bigger animals will gladly help themselves. If you do run out, don’t fret. A feed kiosk at the one-mile marker of the safari lets you restock for the remaining five miles of the drive.
Make a Day of It at Safari Village
As we’ve alluded to, Texas Zoofari Park is more than just a place to stop at for a couple of hours to kill time. It’s truly an all-day experience. Admission is valid all day long, the safari can be driven as many times as you'd like, and Safari Village is built for the time between drives. The Anteatery—Texas Zoofari's on-site food truck—provides lunch and the Picnic Pavilion gives you covered seating to enjoy it. Between the drives, the walks, and the meals, the park is fully equipped for a full day of family time.
After all, the giraffes aren’t going to come visit you with a bucket of fried chicken. You’ll just have to go visit them at Texas Zoofari Park with a bucket of feed. Hours vary seasonally, but if you’re planning on going during the summer, the park opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m., with the last car accepted at 4 p.m. Visit the Texas Zoofari Park website for the most up-to-date information.
The Safari Drive-Thru and the Village Walk-Thru both come with a single ticket, so you don’t even have to worry about choosing the right one for your family. When most weekend trips force you to choose between something the kids want and something the adults want, Texas Zoofari Park is the exception.
Plan the trip, whip up that wildlife-themed playlist, bring the camera, and win the heart of a llama with a bucket of grains.
