drive through safari fayetteville ar

Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari in Gentry announces closure

by: Justin Trobaugh

Posted: Mar 9, 2022 / 06:57 PM CST

Updated: Mar 9, 2022 / 08:25 PM CST

GENTRY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Wild Wilderness Safari Drive-Through Safari in Gentry announced its closing on March 9.

The zoo says on its website several business factors affecting the operations of the safari resulted in the decision.

“We have greatly enjoyed providing a fun and educational experience and appreciate the support of our many friends and visitors since the 1970s,” the website says.

In March 2017, the zoo was shut down after the U.S. Department of Agriculture filed a citation. One of the allegations against the zoo was a lack of veterinary care for the animals.

Another violation from the USDA was the safety of the animals and visitors was at risk because of substandard fencing.

The zoo had added heated floors to the facility because it had received complaints that some animals were getting frostbite after being left out in the cold.

USDA filed the complaint at the beginning of 2017 for violations that happened between 2012 and 2016.

The zoo reopened in March 2019 after it was hit with a $75,000 fine.

In September 2019, the zoo was met with scrutiny when a video surfaced of a bear attacking a pony.

After bears, ponies, and goats were mixed up in a single cage, cell phone video captured a bear clutching a pony in an attacking manner.

In October 2019, PETA sent a letter asking the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the Arkansas State Police to investigate the zoo over the incident.

In the letter, PETA noted that the zoo’s practice of housing dangerous captive wildlife and domestic animals in the same enclosures places the vulnerable animals at serious risk of sustaining injuries, suffering, and dying.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Pig Trail Nation News

Stay safe from fires and mosquitoes with these solar ….

If you are new to electric solar-powered torches, we have you covered with the information you need to find the flame-free torches that will work best outdoors.

Maximize your tomato harvest with the best fertilizer

If you’re planning to grow tomatoes, you need to choose the right fertilizer for your soil or growing medium.

How to get rid of armyworms

It’s pretty easy to take care of an armyworm infestation. If you catch the problem early, you can even avoid the worst of the damage to your lawn.

Latest Video

Bentonville woman recounts last 30 days displaced …, decatur continues to rebuild one month after deadly …, rogers sees signs of recovery one month after deadly …, samaritan community center in rogers rebuilding thrift …, nonprofit provides clothes, hygiene products to tornado …, time is running out to apply for fema assistance, daily video forecast, tuesday june 25 evening forecast, monday june 24 evening forecast, friday june 21 evening forecast, friday, june 21 morning forecast, trending stories, report: two arkansas cities among best places to …, watch: dave van horn speaks to media to preview offseason, free or cheap family-friendly activities in nwa, popular youtuber ‘boogie2988’ booked into the washington …, swiss startup powers computers with mini human brains, your $1 bill could be worth up to $150k: how to check, nonprofit seeks volunteers to build veteran’s home, lottery numbers.

Weather App

Breaking News

Bestreviews.com - top picks to make everyone happy, amazon announces prime day will return july 16 and …, viral tiktok products on sale for prime day, best prime day home deals 2024, our diy expert weighs in on the best father’s day …, best prime day electronics deals 2024, best prime day kitchen and cookware deals 2024.

Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari

Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari is a drive-through animal park in Gentry, Arkansas. The drive through section is nicely done and has a wide variety of hoofed animals, including several species of antelope, zebra, camels, rhino and more. From the drive, you'll also see bears, tigers, some primates and a few emu. Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari even has a hippo and prairie dogs that you can see on the drive-through if you look closely enough. Some of the animals are in enclosures, but most roam freely inside the park.

The park also has a petting area which houses goat, pigs, a tortoise and some kangaroo.

Where Is It?

Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari is located in Gentry, in Northwest Arkansas, Google Map . Gentry is right outside of Fayetteville and almost a four hour drive from Little Rock.

Contact, Admission and Hours

The recommended hours to visit are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Check their website where you can see the animal species they currently display and find out more information about the park.

Close Encounters With Animals

Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari sometimes allows close encounters with exotic animals. Previously, they've had a baby Capuchin monkey, a snake and a lemur available for interaction. Others report different animal interactions on their visit, so they have a variety of animals available to meet the public.

Food is available for purchase and is supposed to be fed only to the petting zoo animals, and not to the wildlife on the drive-through. You are also supposed to keep your windows up through the drive-through.

Petting zoo animals, even kangaroos, will come right up to you, especially if you have food. So, even if a special encounter animal isn't available you can still get a close encounter with an animal.

Overall Review

This is a nicely done park. The hoofstock part of the drive-through encounter is excellent. It feels more like Fossil Rim, a similar, accredited zoo in Tyler, TX, than the older roadside drive-through parks that only had an old horse and a llama. This park really does feel like you're driving through the wilderness. It gets the drive through safari right.

The petting zoo is also nicely done. Most of the animals are friendly and will gladly take the food you offer them (or your map to the drive-park if you're not looking). It has got to be the only place in Arkansas to get a close-up interaction with a kangaroo. Kids will get their money's worth just playing with the petting zoo animals.

The other areas, especially primates and encounter animals, do need improvement. They are a family run operation and funds are limited. They have minimal staff. They do seem to want to do what is best for the animals, while providing a fun park for families. They really seemed proud to offer a one-of-a-kind experience at the park.

That being said, if I were to visit again, I would just do the drive through and petting zoo and skip walking around the rest of the park. They really don't need the primates or animal encounters to be a fun family experience.

Nearby Attractions

Northwest Arkansas has lots to do. Not too far from Wild Wilderness Safari is Fayetteville, Bentonville and Rogers. Fayetteville is the home of the Razorbacks, the Walton Arts Center and the Arkansas Air Museum. Also close is Rogers, the home of Crystal Bridges Museum, and Bentonville, the home of the Wal-Mart Museum .

The only accredited zoo in the state of Arkansas is the Little Rock Zoo , though Tulsa Zoo is closer to Gentry than Little Rock. Other animal attractions in the state of Arkansas include the Arkansas Alligator Farm in Hot Springs.

18 Best Things to Do in Toronto With Kids

The 10 Best Things to Do at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Tennessee Safari Park: A Visitors Guide

The 27 Best Things To Do in Miami

Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda: The Complete Guide

Action Wildlife: A Photo Tour

How to Choose an Ethical Wildlife Experience

Top 20 Things To Do in Miami Beach , Florida

What to do if You Encounter a Bear in the Wilderness

Akagera National Park, Rwanda: The Complete Guide

Top Southwest Family Vacation Destinations

The Best Staycation in Every State

The Top 10 Things to Do in Cancun With Kids

A Guide to the Houston Zoo

10 of the Best Private Game Reserves in South Africa

6 Adventurous Things To Do in Northwest Arkansas

Play With Pygmy Goats And Kangaroos At The Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari In Arkansas For An Adorable Adventure

Carol Ann Carson

Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.

More by this Author

Escape to the wild at the drive-through zoo in Gentry. It’s impossible to be stressed when you’re petting a loafing kangaroo or feeding the pygmy goats. Let’s take a break and see the animals at the Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari.

Related Stories

Travel Around The Little Rock Zoo In Arkansas Without Ever Leaving Your Couch

Fayetteville's Socially Distant, Digital Farmers Market Ensures Arkansans Can Still Have Their Local Spoils

The Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge In Arkansas Is Offering Free Livestreams Of Big Cats, Bears, And More

Have you been back to the Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari lately? Did you get to give a kangaroo a good head scratch? Share your recent experience with us in the comments below!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Want more Arkansas in your inbox?

Get the latest on things to see, do, and eat around Arkansas!

Thank you! You'll receive your first newsletter soon!

An error occured.

Related Articles

• You May Not Be Able To Pick-Your-Own This Year But Arkansas Farmers Have A Socially-Safe Solution
• Enjoy Mouthfuls Of Freshly Picked Blueberries At Neal Family Farm, An Arkansas Staple
• Enjoy A Fresh Farmers Market Any Day Of The Week At Roberson Orchards In Arkansas
• Sandy Beaches, Lakeside Camping, And Fascinating Aquariums Await At This Arkansas Park
• The Farmhouse Pie Shop In Arkansas Is All Of Your Sweetest Dreams Come True
• White River Creamery Is Unlike Any Other Dairy Farm In Arkansas
• This Zipline And Farm In Arkansas Is A Ridiculously Fun Experience
• The One-Of-A-Kind Campground In Arkansas That You Must Visit Before Summer Ends

Explore Arkansas

• Arts & Entertainment
• Farms & Wildlife
• Fun Adventures
• Shops & Boutiques
• Sights & Landmarks

Featured Addresses

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Wild wilderness drive-through safari tours.

• Things to do

I only need accommodations for part of my trip

Visit Wild Wilderness Drive-through Safari

Plan a trip to see wild wilderness drive-through safari.

Wingate by Wyndham Bentonville AR

Reviewed on Jun 19, 2024

• Element Bentonville

Reviewed on May 12, 2024

Graduate Fayetteville

Reviewed on Jun 26, 2024

Popular places to visit

• Natural Falls State Park

Explore the great outdoors at Natural Falls State Park, a lovely green space in West Siloam Springs. Visit the area's casinos, or simply enjoy its restaurants.

Museum of Native American History

Discover 14,000 years of indigenous history as you explore one of North America’s most important museums dedicated to the peoples of the Americas.

Siloam Springs Regional Hospital

Though Siloam Springs Regional Hospital might be what brings you to town, perhaps you'll have a chance to explore more of Siloam Springs while you are here.

Ozarks Community Hospital

Though Ozarks Community Hospital might be what brings you to town, perhaps you'll have a chance to explore more of Gravette while you are here.

Siloam Springs Museum

You can spend an afternoon studying the exhibits at Siloam Springs Museum in Siloam Springs. Take some time to visit the casinos in this family-friendly area.

Explore the great outdoors at City Park, a lovely green space in Siloam Springs. Take some time to visit the casinos in this family-friendly area.

Best Lodging Options Near Wild Wilderness Drive-through Safari

Check availability on hotels close to wild wilderness drive-through safari.

• Vacations and getaways similar to Wild Wilderness Drive-through Safari
• Other Hotels near Wild Wilderness Drive-through Safari, Gentry
• Hotels near popular Gentry Attractions
• Expedia's Latest Trends
• Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
• Walmart Headquarters
• Beaver Lake
• Grand Lake O' the Cherokees
• University of Arkansas
• Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion
• Fayetteville Downtown Square
• Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
• Pinnacle Hills Promenade
• Bud Walton Arena
• Northwest Arkansas Mall
• Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas
• Baum Stadium
• Tyson Foods Headquarters
• 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville
• Quality Inn Bentonville - Rogers
• Best Western Plus Castlerock Inn & Suites
• Hyatt Place Rogers/Bentonville
• Comfort Suites Bentonville - Rogers
• Aloft Rogers - Bentonville
• Super 8 by Wyndham Bentonville
• Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Bentonville South - Rogers, AR
• Avid Hotels Bentonville - Rogers, an IHG Hotel
• Holiday Inn Springdale/Fayetteville Area, an IHG Hotel
• SpringHill Suites Bentonville
• Hotels near Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
• Hotels near Walmart Headquarters
• Hotels near Beaver Lake
• Hotels near Grand Lake O' the Cherokees
• Hotels near University of Arkansas
• Hotels near Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion
• Hotels near Fayetteville Downtown Square
• Hotels near Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
• Hotels near White River
• Hotels near Pinnacle Hills Promenade
• Hotels near Bud Walton Arena
• Hotels near Natural Falls State Park
• Hotels near Northwest Arkansas Mall
• Hotels near Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas
• Hotels near Baum Stadium
• Hotels near Tyson Foods Headquarters
• Hotels near The Momentary
• Hotels near War Eagle Mill
• Hotels near The Walmart Museum
• Hotels near Botanical Garden of the Ozarks

Popular Travel Stories

• Arkansas SkyDome Planetarium
• Enjoy a Day of Wellness in Little Rock

Popular Northwest Stories

Blu DTR in Downtown Rogers

Arkansas Razorbacks Hire John Calipari

Explore regions.

Explore Topics

Stay Connected

Explore arkansas, central arkansas.

Little Rock, Conway, Searcy, Benton, Heber Springs

Northwest Arkansas

Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, Fort Smith

Northeast Arkansas

Jonesboro, West Memphis, Batesville, Mountain View

South Arkansas

Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, Arkadelphia

Featured Region

See what's happening in central arkansas..

Our Arkansas barbecue expedition now winds its way through the central...

On September 16, 1920, Little Rock awakened to sports news that would...

Explore by Topic

Connect with oia, featured topic, explore the unique food of arkansas..

Preparing breakfast just got easier with this Ham and Cheese Croissant...

Despite being landlocked and nowhere near the ocean, Blu DTR in downtown...

Explore by Region

It appears that you're using a severely outdated version of Safari on Windows. Many features won't work correctly, and functionality can't be guaranteed. Please try viewing this website in Edge, Mozilla, Chrome, or another modern browser. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused!

Go on a Safari in Gentry

July 2, 2014

Have you ever encountered a free-roaming herd of zebra? Or ever been close enough to smell a camel’s breath? You can at Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari.

My family recently took a trip to the 400-acre safari, tucked away just north of Gentry, and loved every minute. We encountered free-roaming herds of many animals including antelope, wildebeest, buffalo, yak, zebra, sheep, llamas, camels, zebu, ostriches, emus, and ankole-watusi.

There is just something about seeing herds of wild animals in a natural setting. Observing them in the wild is a thing of beauty.

At five minutes before noon a herd of 14 zebra began running. When we rounded the corner just minutes later we spotted them in a grassy field eating lunch with at least 30 deer. It was as if someone rang the dinner bell! Moments later we saw a pot-bellied pig with his piglets trailing behind.

Being close enough to be nose to nose with wild animals filled my little ones with excitement. An ostrich came right up to our car and looked Hunter in the eye – making us all laugh hysterically. Good thing we had the windows up (which by the way is a safety requirement).

Soon after, a camel was parked on the path blocking traffic flow. When he finally decided it was time for us to pass, he gracefully stood to the side and peered through our sunroof – as if to tell us, “This is my turf.”

We passed by many exotic cats and mammals in enclosures. There were African lions, Bengal tigers, leopards, cougars, bears, wolves, and even a Nile River hippo taking a dip in his own pond. Hunter and Emily Claire were bouncing back and forth from chair to chair to get a better view of each animal.

Before leaving, we hopped out of the mini-van for a stroll in the walk-thru petting zoo. To our surprise, this wasn’t the standard run-of-the-mill petting zoo. They had llamas, macaws, porcupines, deer, warthogs, miniature donkeys, miniature horses, capybaras (the largest rodent in the world), and even kangaroos.

The up-close visits continued in the safari barns that house giraffes, spider monkeys, gibbons, chimpanzees, and baboons. It was worth the stroll over to see these animals.

On our visit, they also had pony rides and camel rides. Others report additional animal encounters with a baby Capuchin monkey, a snake, and a lemur. So they have a variety of animals available to meet the public.

The safari is open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. There is a $10 admission fee for ages 13 & up, $8 for ages 3-12. For this fee, you can drive through as many times as you want. They do not accept debit or credit cards so be sure to bring cash. Check out their  website for more information.

Meet the author.

Learn more about Annette King .

A little about Annette King .

Annette is the momma of sassy Emily Claire (2) and athletic Hunter (6). When not playing princess or basketball, she can often be found working at First Security.

Like this story? Read more from Annette King

All aboard! With one short blow of the whistle and a chugga-chug-chug...

Join the Conversation

Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We do the work. You check your email.

Sign up for our weekly e-news.

Get stories sent straight to your inbox!

Sign up for weekly e-news!

Submit a photo

We select one featured photo per week, but we show many more in our gallery. Be sure to fill out all the fields in order to have yours selected.

• First Name *
• Last Name *
• Email Address *
• Photo Title *
• Photo Description
• Select a Photo * Accepted file types: jpg, png, Max. file size: 5 MB.
• I am the owner or copyright holder for this photograph.

What are you looking for?

Little Rock Family

5 wild animal destinations to explore in arkansas.

We know that your kids have a wild side, so let them live it out and see their favorite creatures at these cool destinations. From fishy to furry to ferocious, you can find all different kinds of animals across the state.

National Park Aquarium (Hot Springs)

Perfect for a rainy day, this shelled, and swimming indoor aquarium has 60 exhibits with more than 300 animals. From fresh and saltwater fish to salamanders, frogs and tortoises, there are plenty of slimy, shelled and swimming creatures to see.

Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari (Gentry)

This 400-acre safari with a four-mile drive through features exotic animals such as Asiatic Water Buffalo, ligers and ostriches in a natural habitat. There are also walk-through and petting areas with kangaroos, miniature ponies, sheep and more. Plus, enjoy camel and pony rides on a seasonal basis.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (Eureka Springs)

You can stay the night in a treehouse or safari lodge or pitch a tent at this exotic cat rescue facility. Spend your afternoon taking a guided walking tour through some of the 459 acres as you watch the big cats running and playing just like they would in the wild.

Memphis Zoo (Memphis)

Just a couple hours from Little Rock, the Memphis Zoo is a whole new zoo experience. Ride a camel for only $5 or spend the same to help feed the giraffes. There’s also a temporary display of 15 huge Lego brick sculptures and an educational exhibit about the life cycle of chickens.

Central Arkansas Nature Center , Museum of Discovery & Heifer Urban Farm (Little Rock)

Stay in town and visit these smaller, local wildlife homes. Heifer Urban Farm’s mini barnyard at its downtown headquarters is perfect for young ones; the Museum of Discovery houses many little reptiles and creepy crawly creatures; and the Central Arkansas Nature Center teaches visitors about Arkansas wildlife.

(See more at So Your Kid’s Obsessed With ... )

Get little rock family in your inbox, thank you for subscribing.

The Ozark Traveler

Your Online Tourism Guide to the Ozarks

Where to Go, What to Do, & Places to Stay in the Ozark Mountains

Zoos and wildlife parks in nw arkansas.

The wildlife in the woods of Northwest Arkansas can sometimes be pretty reclusive. Head to a zoo or animal park instead, and see some exotic creatures, or be around animals you can pet--especially if you're traveling with kids. Here are several places in Northwest Arkansas that fit the bill.

Wild Wilderness Safari

Only half an hour west of Lowell. 400-acres are home to exotic and domestic animals --big cats and rhinos, farm animals and birds. The drive-through section is 4 miles long, and you can visit the petting parks and walk-through areas as well. 20923 Safari Rd, Gentry. 479-736-8383.

Farmland Adventures

The Parsons family farm in Springdale turned part of its land into a fun place for kids to learn about domesticated animals. Pony rides, petting zoo and friendly farmers who tell you about each animal and let you feed them in the petting zoo. Only open to the general public on Fridays and Saturdays from September to November, but worth the trip if you're in the area in the fall. 5350 Parsons Rd., Springdale. 479-799-5033.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

More wildlife adventures await seven miles south of Eureka Springs on Hwy. 23. The refuges offers lifetime care for abandoned, abused or neglected big cats--tigers, lions, leopards, cougars--as well as some other big mammals and smaller wild cats.

Take the self-guided tour, or join a guided tour of the natural habitats. Don't miss feeding time, when more than 1,000 lbs. of meat turns into supper for these big, wild creatures. Call ahead to be sure of feeding time; it's usually around 4 pm in the winter and 5 pm in the summer, but can vary.

Promised Land Zoo

Another drive-through wildlife adventure, 10 miles north of Eureka Springs. A four-mile track takes you past roughly 500 animals in the comfort of your own vehicle. When it's feeding time at the petting zoo you and the kids may be able to help bottle feed the baby animals. Open daily 9-6. 32297 Hwy 86, Eagle Rock, MO. 417-271-3324.

Where To Go

• NW Arkansas
• SW Missouri
• North Central Arkansas
• Especially for Kids
• Haunted Ozarks

Places to Stay

• Bed and Breakfasts
• Pet Friendly Lodgings in the Ozarks

Things To Do

• Springs and Gardens
• Zoos and Animal Parks
• Forests and State Parks

WILDLIFE IN SOUTH AMERICA

Iguazu falls and patagonia.

This tour introduces you to Argentina’s natural diversity and splendor: the glaciers and lakes of rugged Patagonia, the unbridled green of the rain forest near the Iguazu Falls, the penguins at the edge of the world

The Magic of Machu Picchu

You will visit the main attractions of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, learn how the Incas worked the blocks of stone to build the grand Sacsayhuaman, walk the streets of Lima and Cusco, and, of course, see the pearl of South America – the amazing Machu Picchu!

"AN UNDISCOVERED PLANET" - GOING TO BOLIVIA

Along the way, you will enjoy panoramic views of the majestic chain of volcanic formations and the rainforests that surround them. You will pass through forests with countless plants and animals in their natural habitat. .

Main attractions

Extraordinary beauty of nature

RAINBOW MOUNTAINS IN PERU

The road of death in bolivia, uyuni solonchak, lake titicaca, iquitos city in the amazon jungle, sacred valley of the incas.

Every weekend I try to get out to a new country, learn a new culture, meet new people. For my immature green youth I have already had the chance to experience firsthand all the pleasures and difficulties of crazy travel.

South America's Most Beautiful Places

Discover the beauty of wildlife

THE ATACAMA IS THE DRIEST DESERT IN THE WORLD

Scientists discovered the oldest human mummies in the Atacama Desert: they are four millennia older than their Egyptian counterparts. 

AMAZON RIVER

Conquistador Francisco de Orellana discovered the Amazon as early as the 16th century, but the debate about the length of the river continues even today. The most widely accepted theory is that the origins of the Amazon 

MARBLE CAVES IN CHILE

Galapagos islands, torres del paine national park, partnerships proud to be a part of.

Brands We Work With

Let's be social!

Follow me to get updateS

Contact the author now!