safari zoo lake geneva

Safari Lake Geneva

Hours updated 1 month ago

Review Highlights

“ You drive very slowly in your own car, have your windows rolled down, and the animals come to the windows to eat the feed . ” in 12 reviews

“ Inside the park, they have emu, ostriches, giraffes , zebras, bison, cows, donkeys, horses, antelope, and llamas! ” in 8 reviews

“ The Bison were rather aloof, but the Zebra and many other animals were right there for us to see. ” in 8 reviews

Location & Hours

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W1612 Litchfield Rd

Lake Geneva, WI 53147

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About the Business

Business owner information

Jungle Jay C.

Business Owner

Safari Lake Geneva provides a drive-through safari adventure from the Lake Geneva, WI area. …

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Overall rating

Your visit supports conservation. It's a wonderful experience. It's so much fun to feed the animals. They stick their heads right in your car and try to take the whole food bucket! It's a good time.

Fun, interactive drive through safari. Prepare yourself for your car to get quite messy though. The animals are pretty aggressive. Get multiple bowls of feed as well since some of the larger animals can eat the entire bowl in 3 bites. Pretty neat place, especially if you have kids.

Drove a little over an hour to get here and it was definitely worth it! You have to make an online reservation, but they give you a 1 hour arrival window. You simply show up somewhere in that hour and head right in. It was a perfect date excursion for me and my boyfriend.

I was hesitant and thought it might be a bust. Our grandkids loved it! We drove thru twice, it took about a total of an hour and a half. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. Not quite, but lots of other inquisitive animals. It was fun and really up close and personal with the animals. The staff is diligent and caring. The only downside is the car wash and interior cleaning necessary from animal spit and spilled food. Small price to pay!

Everyone should experience this once and bring your kids when you do it! The location was very easy to find only about 1.45 hours away from the Chicagoland area. The staff was very helpful and the experience was one of a kind. The facility was very clean and the animals were attractive. The feeding bowls were only $5 each and the fun of it all was that you pay once and you get to enter as many times as you want for the drive through experience. I highly recommend this place for families. There are nearby restaurants in town with all sorts of food options! Get to this place before they close you won't regret this.

Very interesting experience!!! Every fan of Lake Geneva should do this safari trip once, for sure. You can make it as long as you want and you can do the loop many times. We did it only once for about 45 minutes. We also spent around 10 minutes in the baby animal pen where you, and the animals, roam around ready for petting. We purchased two containers of feed. One would have been gone for my son. There were bison, alpaca, ostriches, antelopes and more ready to eat. Most animals that day weee very slow moving. It was very hard for me to keep the car moving with the animals swarming the car. This is a great activity for all kids unless they are very timid. A couple of the animals can get aggressive while eating. That said, if you didn't buy the feed and kept the windows up, everyone would be fine. We may not go again, but we are glad we checked it out.

See all photos from Lindsay J. for Safari Lake Geneva

This place was SO much fun! We had two bowls of feed and it went fast so buy more if you can! The animals WILL take it upon themselves to eat it all! The car got dirty but nothing that can't be cleaned. You drive through slowly and the animals just come right up to your car, it's really cool. You do have to sit for a while if a car in front of you is stopped for a long period of time, but there's lots to look at so you just gotta wait. I don't believe in zoos, but this was a conservation area and the animals had decent space to move around, and they had areas catered to animals like shelters, water holes, etc. Very cool to see. We drove 1.5 hrs one way and it was so worth it. If you're near this area, definitely definitely go!

See all photos from Karyssa O. for Safari Lake Geneva

My husband and I visited the zoo during our anniversary trip to Lake Geneva. It was awesome to get to feed the animals and see them up close. We laughed a lot and had so much fun. Would definitely recommend.

See all photos from Caitlin R. for Safari Lake Geneva

Had a blast taking my 4-yr old here on a Sunday in summer. Bought 5 bowls of feed in advance which we used entirely. Beware that your car interior will be riddled with animal feed after this trip. Plan for a wash & vacuum afterwards. We had a blast though and shared lots of laughs. Only reason for not giving 5 stars was the signage. When we parked, we were very confused on where the animal petting section was. There was a lot of themed signage around the park, but I felt that they sort of got lost in all other the visual stimulation that your taking in. There was no signage in the petting section and we didn't even realize that there was a cost to visit the giraffe until we saw a few people standing at the little gate in front of his deck. The portable bathrooms very extremely clean & air conditioned. Overall, this is a great park, and if your kids like animals, it will blow their minds. Definitely worth checking out at least once if you are visiting the Lake Geneva area. It only took us about six minutes to get from this location to the downtown strip.

Petting area

This was a fantastic experience!! words cannot to it justice my friends and i loved it had to write a good review

9 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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Safari Lake Geneva

ONLINE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

Just a short drive from Lake Geneva is an unforgettable animal adventure that the whole family will enjoy! Safari Lake Geneva is a family-owned conservation park where you can experience herds of exotic animals from the comfort of your own vehicle -- just like a real African safari! When you purchase our specialized animal food to feed some of our friendly mammals and birds, you support wildlife conservation around the world. 

Come discover why Safari Lake Geneva was voted Best Family Fun and Best Outdoor Activity by the readers of Lake Geneva Regional News!

Be sure to reserve online HERE today!

• TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60022-d12583464-Reviews-Safari_Lake_Geneva-Lake_Geneva_Wisconsin.html

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Safari Lake Geneva

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Safari Lake Geneva - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Safari Lake Geneva Review

Safari Lake Geneva reshaped its business in 2020. Beginning May 1, visitors can now drive through the park, rather than walk through it or pay for a tour. This new endeavor of theirs has received plenty of attention! Their Facebook page has links to several short segments from news channels informing the public on this new attraction. So we went online to schedule a visit. Like any new attraction, the shine most likely won’t last long, but this is definitely a place worth supporting, and a great way to get the kids out of the house (adults too!). We had a chance to talk to owner “Jungle Jay” – Jay Christy – and he’s a very nice guy. If you’ve visited previously, check out the new drive through! And if you haven’t visited, check out our Safari Lake Geneva review below.

• Social Distancing – We never thought we’d start out a review this way, but it’s true. Safari Lake Geneva can be open when many zoos can’t. That alone made the 3-hour round trip worth it for us on a Sunday afternoon! You stay in your car for the entire ride. Their walk-through section is currently close. There is a small parking lot, and they have portable bathrooms if needed – they’re actually very nice like you’d see at a concert, not just a port-a-potty.
• Animal Feedings – We bought five buckets at $5 each. We had five of us in our car, but our three girls did most of the feeding. At the end of our 1.5 hour visit, we had only a tiny amount of one of the buckets remaining. We fed alpacas, bison, camels, donkeys, emu, nilgai, ostrich, water buffalo, watusi, and zebu. They do have a zebra, but you cannot feed it (different diet than the other animals).
• Unlimited loops – We drove through three times, and had a different experience each time. Sometimes the animals were resting in the middle, while at other times they would be grouped together.
• Friendly Staff – Sometimes at zoos you run into difficulties getting the attention of staff members, or them being rude. This place has limited staff, but they were all super friendly. Once you’re in the drive-through area, it’s pretty much self serve, so you aren’t dependent on staff. At other parks, the exiting gate kept malfunctioning on us – we didn’t have that problem here.
• A bit small for the price – A quick cost analysis shows that among a sample size of six or seven Midwest drive-through safari parks, Safari Lake Geneva is pretty much right in the middle for price. For adults, these range from $11-$24, and Safari Lake Geneva is at $18.95. However, this drive-through loop is considerably smaller than the ones we’ve visited (African Safari in Port Clinton, Ohio; Lee G Simmons Conservation Park, Ashland, Nebraska). I think $12-14 is probably more reasonable. However, I will say that the animal feed buckets were much cheaper here.
• Scenery – When I read about this place online, and how they turned it into a drive-through park, I assumed it had some pretty nice Wisconsin scenery around it. I was a bit disappointed to see no ponds or creeks running through it.
• Pathways – I need to be careful on this last criticism, because we visited in their first month operating as a drive-through. However, the paths were a bit uneven and rocky. At one point you’re going straight downhill, so if you’re in a smaller car, bottoming out seems inevitable on the rocky path. But as mentioned in the first sentence, I would imagine they continue to adapt, and potentially pave the pathway in the future.

Thank you for reading our Safari Lake Geneva Review! Check out more about this zoo here ! You can also watch a brief news segment highlighting Safari Lake Geneva here .

© 2020, Zoo With Us . All rights reserved.

Head To Lake Geneva Safari, A 1.5 Hour Drive From Chicago

Just imagine wandering through the plains with a Giraffe bending its neck toward you or gazing at black-and-white-coated zebras frolicking through the grasslands.

Lake Geneva is notably one of Chicagoans’ favored small-town getaway destinations— a scintillating lake, charming shops downtown, and sumptuous eateries. However, even with all those alluring attractions , the city has something even more enticing—the exhilarating Lake Geneva Safari.

Just imagine wandering through the plains with a Giraffe bending its neck toward you or gazing at black-and-white-coated zebras frolicking through the grasslands. Lake Geneva Safari is truly like nothing else.

Most animals are restricted to small enclosures at zoos and theme parks with only small glimpses through a clouded window. However, during the Geneva Safari, visitors can see the animals roaming freely. The wildlife sanctuary allows herds of animals to wander and interact with one another on a vast acreage as you slowly drive through the exploration.

Founded by “Jungle” Jay Christie, a renowned exotic animal expert in the state, the park is a family-owned business. Visitors can see the world’s diminishing animal breeds in their natural habitats and promote conservation efforts to protect these endangered species.

Some animals at Lake Geneva Safari you’ll see include an Addax , Alpaca, Arabian Camel, Emu , Plains Bison, Plains Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Yak, and more. It’s essential to note that this is a drive-through safar i; nevertheless, you can purchase a bowl of grain and feed animals from your window.

The safari officially reopens on May 1st; online reservations are required. The soundest part? You can drive through as many times as you like. Learn more about it at Lake Geneva Safari .

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Guided Safari Tours for Groups

Quick Details

• Users Ages: All Ages
• Calendar Available: Group Adventures are only available on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays at 9:00 AM
• Info Notice: Please be advised that these tours require a 2-week advance notice to book.

Safari Lake Geneva Group Tours & School Rates

Leave the driving to us and embark on a guided Safari Lake Geneva adventure! Our one-hour Safari Lake Geneva tours feature an escorted wagon ride and one bowl of animal feed per person. Climb aboard one of our customized safari wagons for a guided tour of rolling savanna featuring animals from around the world. Many of them will approach the vehicles where you may feed them for an up-close experience you won’t forget. Each tour lasts about an hour and you are free to walk amongst some of our smaller animal inhabitants beforehand and afterward.

Up to 20 adventurers can enjAMoy this memorable wildlife safari experience for $595.00. Up to 20 additional participants may be added for $29.95 per person. Click on the “Book Now” button to view available Guided Safari Adventure dates.

GUIDED SAFARI ADVENTURE IS ONLY AVAILABLE ON TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND SUNDAYS AT 9:00 AM. Please be advised that these Safari Lake Geneva tours require a two-week advance notice to book.

Related Activities

• Online Reservations Required

Drive-Through Animal Park General Admission

Experience Safari Lake Geneva from the comfort of your vehicle. Purchase a bowl of grain and feed animals from your window. Drive-through as many times as you’d like. The animals roam free, so each time is a unique adventure. Get your ticket today and enjoy a safari from your car !

Educational Field Trips for Safari Kids

Visiting with a registered school, camp or scout group? Climb aboard one of our customized safari wagons for a one-hour unforgettable educational adventure!

Insider’s Guide to Taking Kids to the Drive-Thru Safari in Lake Geneva

When our family dreams of where we’ll go after social distancing has ended, we all agree our first stop will be the zoo. The Chicago area is filled with incredible zoos, nature centers, aquariums, and farms. I recently came across information about Safari Lake Geneva in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and it seemed too good to be true: a drive-thru safari within driving distance from our home!

After careful planning to ensure we felt comfortable and prepared to travel with three little kids, we headed north. Our family loved our time at Safari Lake Geneva. Read all about it below, get an inside look from our video, and find out how to make it a safe day trip for your family.

Safari Lake Geneva

Safari Lake Geneva is a conservation park located in Genoa City, Wisconsin, a short 15-minute drive to Lake Geneva. While they usually offer guided tours, social distancing mandates require they suspend the use of their own vehicles. The owners have modified their guest experiences by offering a drive-thru safari adventure, where guests can drive their own cars through the conservation area. Along the way, you’ll spot yak, camels, llamas, zebra, and various other animals. Families can purchase animal feed bowls for an additional fee. As vehicles move through the conservation area, these animals will slowly approach your vehicle for food.

A few extra notes to consider about driving through:

• The gravel road through the conservation area is very uneven and bumpy. Lower sedans could bottom out if you’re driving fast or not watching the road carefully.
• If you or your children get nervous about approaching animals, the staff encouraged us to simply roll up the windows. We did this once, and the animal just moved right along.
• Safari Lake Geneva is not responsible for any damage to your automobile. They will also encourage you to drive past if you are worried about any scratches, especially with their longhorns.
• DO NOT bring food for the animals, as they can only eat what is provided in order to monitor their diets.
• During your time slot, you’re welcome to drive around for as many loops as you’d like.

Video: Inside Look at Safari Lake Geneva

Additional Tips to Put Your Mind at Ease about Social Distancing

• Tickets must be purchased online ahead of time. This was a great way to provide a contactless payment. We simply gave our name at the gate and were let right into the property.
• If you have one, bring a toddler-sized potty for bathroom emergencies.
• Bring sanitizing wipes to clean the outside of the feed bucket, as it was the only thing we touched that others have as well.
• We chose to pack our own food from home and eat it in our car. There is empty grass near the front of parking area that you could ask to use if you’d prefer to picnic.
• To extend your time after a long drive, stop and enjoy a hike. McHenry County is full of beautiful trails and forest preserves. We got out and stretched our legs at Glacial Park before the long drive home. Lake County is further south, and home to Grant Woods , as well as other forest preserves. Here’s a map of state parks in the northeast region of Illinois if you’d like even more options.

Restaurants Nearby

There are a lot of options for curbside pickup at restaurants nearby. Safari Lake Geneva is a 15-minute drive to Lake Geneva, which boasts delicious restaurants. You could grab a to-go meal or ice cream and bring it down by the lake to enjoy. Here’s a guide of restaurants in Lake Geneva offering takeout or curbside pickup . Next time we go, we’ll be stopping at one of our favorite restaurants, Popeye’s on Lake Geneva . . . or maybe for a sweet treat from Kilwins .

If you’d prefer to head back south towards Illinois, there are many restaurants along US Route 12. Upper Crust Pizzeria and Brathaus are closer options.

Safari Lake Geneva has portable bathrooms on the premise. It’s a trailer with flushable toilets and sinks. They were very clean, with both soap and paper products!

Hours of operation are 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, every day from May 1st until November 1st. Last admission is at 4:00 pm. Check their website for holiday hours and schedule changes.

Adult tickets are $18.95, children ages 3-15 are $11.95, while those 2 and under are free. Feed buckets can be purchased for $5 each. Pricing is current as of May 2020 and is subject to change.

Recommended Ages

Due to the interactive nature of this experience, children of all ages can enjoy themselves. Knowing your children’s personalities will help you maximize the fun. Our 6-year-old was the most enthusiastic, but our 1-year-old was excitedly mooing at the animals whenever they came close. Our 4-year-old was excited but nervous, so we encouraged her to roll her window up whenever she felt uncomfortable.

Best Days/Times to Go

On a beautiful weekend day, things can get crowded. As you wait in line to enter the animal exhibit, you can get stuck behind other cars or an animal in the path. It’s better to go whenever you’d anticipate fewer cars to compete with for the animals’ attention.

Special Needs Accommodations

One of the bathrooms is wheelchair accessible.

Discounts for Safari Lake Geneva

Earlier this spring, there was a Groupon available. Check their profile on Groupon to see if it has reactivated before you purchase tickets.

Looking for more outdoor fun ? Check out our guide now that nice weather is finally on the way.

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2 Comments . Leave new

Thanks for sharing! Did you leave your 1 year old in the car seat or were you comfortable driving slow and holding them.

We took him out and he sat with me in the backseat. We were never driving more than 5 mph.

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"The perfect location:" Safari Lake Geneva, featuring more than six dozen animals, to open in August

Safari Lake Geneva, featuring more than six dozen animals, to open in August

WALWORTH COUNTY -- Wisconsin has never offered what is on its way to Walworth County. Within weeks, a safari park is set to open, and the man leading the effort is none other than 'Jungle Jay,' the former Racine Zoo CEO.

Safari Lake Geneva

It will be located in Bloomfield Township in Walworth County. "A reception area here where people can meet some of our smaller, friendlier animals," said 'Jungle Jay' Christie. Christie spent 16 years as CEO of the Racine Zoo, and now, he's the founder and owner of Safari Lake Geneva -- Wisconsin's first safari park.

Jungle Jay Christie

"It really is a dream come true," said Christie. Safari Lake Geneva involves 75-acres of land on Litchfield Road, soon to be inhabited by more than six dozen animals roaming fairly freely through fields. "In many respects, it's a conservation center for the survival of species that are imperiled for any number of reasons," said Christie.

It will also be an interactive opportunity for visitors to get up-close-and-personal exposure and education during hour-long wagon tours. "Various forms of pigs, and sheep and goats. Also ratites, which includes ostriches and emus, and their South American counterpart, the rhea," Christie said.

Christie says his extensive experience and expertise ensures a safe safari experience for both guests and animals alike. Safari Lake Geneva is scheduled to open August 1st -- with an admission price that is yet to be determined. "We were quite happy when we found not only the perfect property, but the perfect property in the perfect location," said Christie.

The park will not have air conditioning. But it will have some animals with whom folks can get up-close-and-personal, before they go out on safari. The Safari Lake Geneva website is set to go live Wednesday, July 6th.