safari park drive in alamo tn

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Tennessee Safari Drive-In Theater

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Tennessee Safari Park

Review Highlights

“ ! Small primates, goats (you can go in and pet and feed them), birds, giraffe s and again the facilities are immaculate ” in 21 reviews

“ Definitely get three bucket ls or more of feed for the car because once you get to the end you will run out. ” in 18 reviews

“ I lost count of how many I fed and everything you've read is true: the emus and ostriches are jerks. ” in 13 reviews

Location & Hours

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618 Conley Rd

Alamo, TN 38001

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Overall rating

109 reviews

So much fun, but don't expect to leave with a clean car. Kids loved it, ostrich are always out for food. The animals have learned to grab the buckets from your hands and take them. The camels are the best at it. There's a deal for 4 buckets for $10 I'd personally get 2 of those deals I only got one and the giraffes are last and I didn't have enough food. Lamas are so funny, they will stand in front of the vehicle until you roll down your window to feed them. The walk through zoo was super cute and you don't really need a stroller because it's kinda small and the kids are out playing and feeding the animals. Buffalo are super cool.

This place is great! We made a stop on our way home from Memphis and it really made for a fun afternoon. The place is so clean and well cared for, these animals are safe and clearly very happy in their new environment. At first my husband and I thought the cost was a little high, but by the time we finished up for the day we both agreed that we definitely got our money's worth and would pay to return again in the future. Even my teen/preteen boys were cracking up. So many laughs, and even though my car was totally covered in safari food afterwards it was a really good time . Highly recommend!

See all photos from Jill S. for Tennessee Safari Park

So so so much fun! Highly recommend this place. We had a blast feeding the animals. Plus the walk thru petting zoo was cool. Love this place.

The Safari Park is a fascinating place to discover and interact with some of the most desirable animals in the world. We came on a misty, rainy day and we could not have enjoyed the park more. There is a section that you can walk around in and see the animals and exotic birds. There is also a drive through part. We did both and enjoyed every minute! The only thing that I would add is signs on the fences stating exactly what the animals were that we were seeing. The paper given when you pay the $20 park fee per adult only gives you a list of the animals; some we could not figure out what they were.

See all photos from Christie B. for Tennessee Safari Park

Nice park. Limited kinds of animals but many, many animals to see during drive part. Careful though, these animals are very aggressive and have learned to block your path and try to upset your food cup to spill it on the floor. Our food cups lasted about 300 feet before camels yanked it out of my hand.

See all photos from Dave S. for Tennessee Safari Park

Had a really nice time here some animals can be aggressive but they are cute and HARMLESS just want the food . lol

We decided to give this place a try on our trip even with some of the negative reviews. We had a blast! It's up to you what you make of the experience. Yes the staff is not very friendly, yes the ostrich are aggressive, so are the Llama and camels. Not mean, but they know you have food buckets and they are use to being fed and the are competing against all the other animals. We made a game out of it! We would feed the deer and when the ostrich and Llama ran over we rolled up the windows. The Buffalo was well mannered and so were the deer and the easiest to feed. The walking zoo was ok and feeding the giraffe was fun but they only want you to feed carrot sticks and they are little pricey in my opinion. Overall it was an enjoyable experience and we would go back again!

Great place to visit. Love going there plus they also have a drive-in movie on weekends, weather permitting.

See all photos from Melodee T. for Tennessee Safari Park

I thought this experience was going to be dull, but I was wrong. 20 dollars to drive in and 3 dollars for a bucket of feed. The hooved animals were so fun! (Especially the llamas) They had no fear of the car, and ran along side us trying to get a glimpse of whether or not we had feed. They were relentless! But not as crazy as the ostriches pecking our windows and peeking down in the sun roof! Keep on the lookout! Cuz if you start feeding one, a whole bunch come to bicker over who gets the most. Then theres a walk thru part that is also fantastic! My favorites here were the monkeys and the giraffes. Worth every dime...!

See all photos from Heather B. for Tennessee Safari Park

Highly recommend this, such a unique experience! Expect at least an hour to drive through the entire park. The lamas, ostriches, and camels can be a little aggressive

16 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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Tennessee Safari Park: A Visitors Guide

Everything you need to know about visiting this hidden gem full of animals

If you're looking for a weekend activity for the whole family, you can take the kids to the Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, Tennessee. Its a place to see exotic animals up close and personal. You can even feed some of them. This drive-through park is a definite draw to the rural area. 

Although it is the county seat of Crockett County , Alamo would be relatively unknown if it weren't for its primary claim to fame: hosting the Tennessee Safari Park. Many West Tennessee residents don't even know this park exists, making it one of the area's hidden gems. The park is situated on a working farm that is used for growing cotton and raising cattle.

The Animals

Tennessee Safari Park boasts over 400 animals from 80 different species . Some of the animals you may see on your visit are llamas, zebras, emus, kangaroos, giraffes, monkeys, and warthogs. There are frequently new babies being born at the park so if you are lucky, you may even get a chance to see some little ones during your visit. The park has one of the largest collections of zoo animals in the United States.

The Experience

There are two parts to the park—a two-mile driving tour and a petting zoo. When you enter the park you can purchase a bucket of feed. As you drive through the park, animals will come up to your car looking for food. Many of them will eagerly stick their heads in your car, giving you the opportunity to pet and to feed them. This is a great photo opportunity and a lot of fun for kids and adults.At the petting zoo, you have the opportunity to feed and pet other animals, including a giraffe!

Tickets cost $16 for adults, $12 kids aged 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and under.

Buckets of feed cost $3. To save money buy $4 for $10. You'll be glad you have extra feed to attract the animals.

Before You Go

• Currently the Tennessee Safari Park does not accept credit cards or checks so be sure to bring some cash.
• The park is about an hour and a half drive from Memphis and about thirty minutes from Jackson.
• Plan to spend between one and two hours at the park depending upon how crowded it is and how fast or slow you go through the tour.
• Try to visit the park in the morning, if possible. The animals tend to be hungrier and more eager to interact then.
• Visitors are encouraged to purchase buckets of feed to feed the animals. Feeding them outside food is not permitted.
• Pets, including dogs, are not allowed in the park. They might upset the animals.

Hours of Operation

The park is open every day of the year except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Thanksgiving. If there is inclement weather check the park's Facebook Page. Snow and Ice can cause the park to close suddenly so it can protect the animals.

• Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am. - 4 p.m. (that's the time of last admittance although the park closes fully at 5 pm)
• Sunday, 12:00 noon - 4 p.m. (last admittance)

Tennessee Safari Park 637 Conley Road Alamo, TN 38001 www.tennesseesafaripark.com

Updated by Holly Whitfield, January 2018

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Visiting the Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, TN

I’ve always enjoyed visiting zoos, but I’ve never been to a drive-thru zoo before. This is a totally different experience than your typical zoo. The Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo lets you get up close to the animals, feed them, and even pet some of them, without ever having to get out of your own car. Here are some tips for visiting this super fun drive-thru zoo!

The zoo is about 30 minutes away from Jackson, TN. You can find directions here . This zoo was much bigger than I expected it to be. It took us about an hour and a half to drive through it for a few reasons:

• The speed limit is very slow so that you don’t hurt the animals.
• We came to a complete stop several times just to feed the animals.
• Probably hundreds of animals live here on these acres of land, so it takes time to see them all.

Even though it took a while to drive through, we weren’t bored at all. There are many kinds of animals here, including zebras, camels, ostriches, deer, llamas, and more!

The animals are used to people. They aren’t shy, and they will walk right up to your car window to get a snack from you. Sometimes they will even stick their head into the car if you let them!

You will definitely want to buy a food bucket for each person in the car. Make sure you hold on to your food buckets tightly, because the animals may try to snatch them from you! And don’t let the first few animals eat all your food. There are plenty of animals through the whole drive that will want some food from you!

I loved getting to see the animals up close. At most zoos, the animals are at a distance and aren’t interested in people at all. Here the animals want to walk right up to you (or at least the food you’re giving them), and getting to pet and feed them was such a cool experience! Also, some of them are really soft!

After the drive-thru section of the zoo, we visited the walk-thru section. This part of the zoo houses the smaller animals, such as several kinds of monkeys and lemurs. There are plenty of exotic birds here too, including the peacocks that roam free.

I enjoyed being able to walk into the aviary, where dozens of parakeets live.

If you don’t like birds, I wouldn’t advise going inside the aviary.  Though it is a neat experience to see the flock of birds flying right over your head and walking around your feet. You can buy food outside the aviary for the birds, and the parakeets will be much more friendly to you. They aren’t mean, but they won’t find you very interesting unless you bring food.

One giraffe lives in the walk-thru zoo. You can get pretty close and feed it, but you have to give it carrots instead of the animal food that the other animals eat. The giraffe was one of my favorite parts of the zoo!

If you’re a zoo fan, this is definitely a place you’ll want to check out. It exceeded my expectations and provided us with a great weekend activity!

Know of any other fun drive-thru zoos? Tell me in the comments so I can check them out!

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Adventure Awaits At This Drive-Thru Safari Park In Tennessee

Meghan Kraft

Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.

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Wait, a safari park in Tennessee?! We’re not kidding, folks. The Tennessee Safari Park is one of the most incredible experiences in the south, something that seems unbelievable but really just checks “safari” off of your bucket list for a whole lot less than a plane ticket. Bring the kids and your own car for the trek, and don’t forget to bring cash! You don’t want to miss out on feeding these incredible animals. Check out this neat opportunity!

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Tennessee Safari Park

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Zebras at the Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, Tennessee.

Jeff Adkins/Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

A major tourist attraction, Tennessee Safari Park sits on a former cotton and cattle farm in rural Crockett County. Open year-round, the drive-through animal park boasts more than 80 species of exotic animals, ranging from zebras, giraffes, and monkeys to emus, kangaroos, and llamas. The Safari Roads section of the park features 5.5 miles of driving trails, where you can purchase buckets of food to interact with the animals. After making the loop, head to the Petting Zoo for a chance to befriend slightly tamer animals, like pygmy goats and other farm favorites. Do keep in mind that credit cards are not accepted here, so bring cash for admission and other activities.

Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at [email protected].

Tennessee Safari Park

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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.

Tennessee Safari Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Safari Park offers drive-in movies on weekends

Since its opening in 2007, Claude Conley and his brothers who own the Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo have always discussed different ways to make it bigger and better for visitors.

One idea they’ve discussed for more than a decade has come to fruition in the past month since they began showing drive-in movies in their parking lot.

“We’d been talking about it for probably 10 years, and then last year we finally decided to do it,” Conley said. “We began bringing in the equipment in December to make it happen.”

The screen was constructed on the edge of the parking lot, and now movie fans have the option to watch a movie in their vehicles in Crockett County.

This weekend will be the fifth week for the theater. It opened with the classic “Jurassic Park” before showing the new depiction of a classic story – “Godzilla vs. Kong.” They’re now showing the movie version of “Tom & Jerry.”

“We’re all pretty big movie buffs in our family, and I always said if we did the theater, the first movie we should show should be ‘Jurassic Park,’” Conley said. “It just fits in with the Safari Park.”

Despite the weather not being ideal the first couple weekends, Conley said the crowds were still good and they’ve grown the last couple with better weather and more people planning on coming.

“We’ve got a lot of parents and grandparents coming in for the nostalgia remembering when they went to the drive-in when they were younger,” Conley said. “And they’re giving their kids and grandkids a new experience of coming here.”

Conley said they’re plan is to show nothing with a rating above PG-13.

“We want it to be family-friendly, so we’re going to keep the movies kid-friendly,” Conley said. “Even before we were showing ‘Tom & Jerry,’ we had a couple of visitors request we show cartoons, so we’ll make sure to put them on our schedule.”

For now, the showings are just Friday and Saturday, but Conley said it’s possible they’ll expand that schedule in the summer. They also plan to show new movies but throw in classic movies as well.

“If there’s a new movie people want to see that’s G or PG-13, then we’ll show it,” Conley said.

The sound from the movies doesn't bother the animals because that is broadcast through a small FM radio signal that cars can get so people can listen in their vehicle.

Conley said he’s proud of something they thought of to make sure visitors don’t miss out on the movie if they have to leave their car momentarily.

“If someone decides they want to come to the concession stand during the movie or they need to go to the restroom, we have speakers at both of those places making sure you can still hear the movie even if you can’t see it for a minute,” Conley said. “I know that’s one thing I hate about watching in a theater is possibly missing something if you have to get up, but we’ve cut that out.”

The concession stand offers hamburgers, nachos, popcorn and other similar items. Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for children.

“We’ve had a good time the past few weeks and looking forward to doing this every weekend,” Conley said.

Gates open at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with the movie set to start at 8 p.m.

Reach Brandon Shields at [email protected] or at 731-425-9751. Follow him on Twitter @JSEditorBrandon or on Instagram at editorbrandon.

Hello! I'm Krista.

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Tennessee · January 6, 2023

Our Wild Day at Tennessee Safari Park

Continuing our series of “Our Wild Day”, today we are sharing our day at Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, TN!

Tennessee Safari Park is best known as a 7.5 mile drive-through safari. There is also a 20-acre walk-through zoo, a petting zoo, and several other animal encounters.

We came on a weekday, late morning in June with some of our friends. There weren’t many other people there, which was perfect!

As you drive up to the entrance, you pay at the gate and are asked how many feed buckets you would like. Since we’d never been, we had no idea. We decided to each get 4 buckets, which felt like a lot at the time. We had only 2 kids old enough to hold the buckets plus 2 adults and 2 toddlers.

As you drive through the park, you will keep your windows down (except in specific areas where signs direct you to roll up your windows). The animals, including camels, ostrich, emu, zebras, llamas, deer, and more, will come up and eat out of the buckets.

Be careful, because some (like the zebra) will try to steal your entire bucket! If they do take a bucket, stay in your car and leave it! Don’t get out and try to get it back!

We had the best time doing this drive-through! I’m not kidding, we were laughing the entire time! (Well, the adults were anyway. The little ones were sometimes scared!)

It’s so fun for the animals to come up with no concept of personal space, and try to get in your car with you!

Make sure you also take a selfie (or 5!) with some of the animals!

If you’re wondering about how young kids handled it, well, they were frequently scared! The ostriches were especially scary because they seem so aggressive, but really, they just know you have food and they want it!

Feel free to roll up your windows when you come up to any animals that might really scare the kids! One tip would be to put the more nervous kids in a middle seat, or keep their window rolled up.

At the end of the drive-through, we did run out of food, mostly because of animals spilling it out (they’re messy!) and the zebra stealing a whole bucket. So it turns out, our 8 buckets weren’t as much as we thought they were!

After we did the drive-through, we parked and explored the walk-through area of the zoo.

We chose not to do the giraffe feeding or parakeet feeding. The petting zoo wasn’t open at the time for some reason.

When we come back (which we definitely will ), we will probably feed the giraffe, and we will hopefully get to do the petting zoo as well!

Overall, we truly had an amazing time! I think it will be even better next time, since the younger kids are a little bit older, and the bigger kids probably a little less nervous!

How long does it take to go through Tennessee Safari Park?

It takes around an hour to do the drive-through section of the safari park.

If you plan to do the walk-through portion afterwards, add another hour to hour-and-a-half. So plan accordingly if you are going to arrive closer to closing time.

How much does it cost to go to Tennessee Safari Park?

Adults: $24

Children (age 2-12): $16

1 year and younger: FREE

* Group rates available (minimum 15 people)

Feed Buckets

$3/each OR 4 buckets for $10

*pricing includes tax and parking

*pricing accurate as of January 2023

*no online ticket sales

*accepts cash & major credit cards

Know before you go.

• Dogs are not allowed at the park, even inside your car. This includes service animals.
• Motorcycles are allowed at the park, but NOT in the drive-through area.
• Animals are still out and active if it is raining or chilly outside. If it drops below 50 degrees and is raining very hard, some animals will be locked indoors.

Hours of Operation

Open every day, all year, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.

*winter weather or flash flooding may cause closures

Monday-Saturday: 10am – 5pm (last car is admitted at 4pm)

Sunday: 12pm – 5pm (last car is admitted at 4pm)

618 Conley Road

Alamo, TN 38001

What else is there to do near Alamo, TN?

If you are planning to do the Tennessee Safari Park as more than just a day trip, you might be looking for other things to do in the area.

Tennessee Safari Park is an hour and 20 minutes from Memphis, TN , where there are all kinds of things to do.

A little less than an hour from the safari park is Discovery Playhouse of America . I would suggest an entire day dedicated just to this!

Cypress Grove Nature Park is in Jackson, TN, 26 minutes southeast of Tennessee Safari Park. Cypress Grove is a nature preserve for wildlife and features a boardwalk through a cypress forest, over a mile long.

Also in Jackson, TN is the Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum . Aside from the museum, it features a restaurant.

Have you been to a drive-through zoo? Let us know!

What to read next:

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About Krista

Krista is a travel blogger, Click Pro Elite published photographer, as well as a UGC Creator for brands and destinations. Her passions include photographing childhood, being out in nature, and traveling the US with her family.

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Tennessee safari park provides unforgettable experiences.

Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

Claude M. Conley was only 15 years old when he started raising exotic animals on his family’s Crockett County farm in 1963. He began his unusual animal collection with buffalo, peacocks, elk and fallow deer on the same land where his family had been raising cotton and cattle since 1850.

“My father grew up reading about animals and visiting zoos, and he dedicated his life to raising exotic animals,” Claude H. Conley II says. “Today, our family has more than 1,300 exotic animals representing over 100 species.”

The Conley family knew they had something special on their quirky 800-acre farm in Alamo. So in 2007, Claude H. Conley II and his brother, Jon Wesley Conley, opened the farm to the public as a drive-through zoo experience called Tennessee Safari Park .

“We always knew we were going to open a zoo, but we were too busy farming,” Claude H. Conley II says. “We made the decision to open it in 2003, but it took us until 2007 to make it happen. A lot of people told us we couldn’t do it – they said it would never happen.”

But those naysayers were wrong. In its first year, Tennessee Safari Park welcomed 2,500 visitors.

“All the money we made from admission we put back into the park, adding new animals each year,” Conley says. “The number of visitors grows each year. In 2018, we had more than 85,000 visitors.”

A Wild Ride

What draws people to pull off Interstate 40 and spend a few hours touring a drive-through zoo, you ask? Curiosity, for one. Where else do ostriches, buffalo, camels and emus walk right up to your car window looking for a snack?

“Everybody can feed our animals through their car window, and people love interacting with the animals,” Conley says. “At our walk-through area, you can even feed a giraffe.”

Feeding the exotic animals can be a hilarious experience, since they are often eager to eat and have been known to put their entire head inside your car in search of food. They’ve also been known to snatch not only the food, but your entire food bucket. (Consider yourself warned.)

Photo by Jeff Adkins

Committed to Conservation

Environmentalists especially appreciate the opportunity to get up close and personal with rare and endangered animals, getting to stroke their velvety soft skin or fur. The reality is Tennessee Safari Park is more than a tourist attraction – it’s a dedicated conservational breeding center for rare and endangered creatures.

“We’ve always been committed to conservation, and it’s been really fun to watch our animal collection grow,” Conley says. “Because we breed animals, there are lots of babies everywhere. We also have about 300 animals that are not in the park and remain off exhibit.”

See more:  Nashville Zoo Exhibit Showcases Heritage Breed Farm Animals

If the past is any indication of the future, Tennessee Safari Park will continue to thrive under the Conley family’s leadership in years to come. Conley’s two young sons, Claude III (age 7) and Caleb (age 3), are the sixth generation to grow up on the farm and are already learning the ropes.

If You Go ...

Tennessee Safari Park

Location: 618 Conley Rd., Alamo

Phone: (731) 696-4423

Website: tennesseesafaripark.com

Hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 12 to 5 p.m. (Last car in at 4 p.m.)

Admission: $20 for adults and $12 for children ages 2 to 12. Animal feed costs $3 per cup, or 4 cups for $10. Tennessee Farm Bureau members can download a mobile or printed coupon for $2 off admission (maximum of six per party) at tnfarmbureau.org/membersavings or through the app.

Know Before You Go: You’ll know you’ve arrived at Tennessee Safari Park when you see the Conley family’s historic large white house, a fixture on the property since 1862. You can purchase buckets of food before navigating the 5.5-mile drive-through in your car. Then visitors can park and tour the walk-through zoo on foot, where you’ll see several types of monkeys, colorful birds and other creatures. Make time to visit the gift shop and eat at the Tennessee Safari Park Grill, which offers burgers, hot dogs, nachos and other snacks.

Travel Tip: Allow about three hours to tour the park. Cash only is accepted at the ticket booth; credit cards are accepted in the gift shop. The grill is open seasonally on weekends.

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Have visited Safari Park se stall times. Always fun.

Wonderful visit on May the 2nd 2021. Wonderful! I appreciate the lovely place who have provided for these animals to live. You park is a jewel. I do have a question . Where do the animals go in the winter? Like the ostrich and giraffe? Thank y’all for you’re dedication. My family had a blast.

Your pricing information is not current. As of today, 2/25/2022 their prices are as follows as per their website. –

Admission to the Park $20 ADULTS $12 KIDS AGES 2-12 YEARS Children 1 and under FREE

Feed Cups $3 each or four cups for $10

OPEN EVERYDAY EXCEPT CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY AND THANKSGIVING *CASH ONLY AT THE GATE *NO DOGS OR OUTSIDE ANIMALS ARE ALLOWED IN THE PARK AT ANYTIME-ANYWHERE

Hi Wendy, thanks for the update! The pricing information in the article has been updated.

Rachel Graf Associate editor, TN Home & Farm

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