Lion Country Safari Dare to go wild By Paula Loehr
To fully experience Lion Country’s four-mile- long safari, be sure to travel slowly, no more than five miles per hour—with doors locked and windows closed. Allow one or two hours for a leisurely ride. Listen to the audio tour provided and scrutinize natural hiding places in each habitat. Animals are more easily spotted on overcast rainy days or early in the morning when they are motivated by cooler temps to venture out and about. The drive-through preserve is separated into seven self-contained areas. South American grasslands, Indian forests, and five famous African wildlife preserves inspired their names. As you ride on paved roads, watch for a woolly alpaca from the Andes Mountains resting under a palm tree or a lowland tapir, close relative of the rhinoceros, soaking contentedly in a pond. And don’t be alarmed if a hyper-curious ostrich trots over quickly to peck at your windshield. After all, an adult male ostrich is capable of running up to 43 miles per hour.
Is a wildlife watching safari in Africa, India or South America on your bucket list? There’s a USA-based shortcut for realizing such a dream. You can view free-roaming animals from all over the world at Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, Florida. No passports, airport shuttles, or overseas flights are required. It’s just a 20-mile drive from downtown West Palm Beach. Established more than five decades ago in 1967, Lion Country Safari was North America’s first cageless drive-through zoo. It was originally designed to teach and entertain visitors, and those goals have endured. The Safari’s present- day mission is to “be a leader in animal care, conservation, and education to inspire people through connections with wildlife in a fun, family-friendly environment.” During the half- century since Lion Country was founded, the open-concept zoo has survived and thrived. Much of Lion Country’s 600-acre preserve is maintained in a natural state to allow animals to wander freely, graze and nurture their young, just as they would in their native African, Indian, or South American homes. The conservation- oriented park is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and cares for more than 1,000 wild animals representing 90 species. Resident animals appear healthy and energetic in their open habitats and Lion Country reports a remarkable average of 80 babies born annually. Three recent births include Tonk, a male chimpanzee, and Josh and Aziza, male and female Southern white rhinos. While Tonk’s was the first Lion Country chimp birth in 16 years, a total of 38 white rhinoceros calves were born there since 1979.
Lion Country Safari boasts one of the biggest herds of rhinoceroses in America. Photo credit Lion Country Safari
Don’t be alarmed if a curious ostrich pecks at your windshield. Photo credit Lion Country Safari
LION COUNTRY SAFARI
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