In late March, Atlanta Safari Park opened its doors to Georgia nature enthusiasts with a unique wildlife experience — a drive-thru safari. Located in Northeast Georgia’s Commerce, the park’s 156 acres are filled with free-roaming animals. The roughly hour long drive-thru safari experience allows visitors to drive through a two-mile adventure and see species from across the planet.
Once the driving is done, another adventure awaits: Atlanta Safari Park offers a walk-thru park experience. Guests can explore a free-flight aviary, petting zoo and a giraffe exhibit before hitting the gift shop.
While the park’s goal is to provide an “adventure so close you can touch it,” there is another mission on the mind of Atlanta Safari Park’s leaders — conservation.
“Conservation is a priority for our mission as many threatened and endangered species call the Park home,” the park’s website said. “Dedicated to protecting wildlife the Park donates a portion of admission sales to saving animals in the wild. Providing funding to the Zoological Association of America’s conservation programs helps makes a difference globally.”
The Zoological Association of America is a non-profit accrediting organization dedicated to “responsible wildlife management, conservation, and education.” To become accredited, a zoo must complete a “rigorous process” of extensive applications and site inspections. Those inspections must then be revisited every five years. The funds earned from application fees and other sources allow the association an opportunity to educate, as well as regulate.
“We are dedicated to promoting wildlife conservation to society at large whether in the classroom, in the community, or internationally,” according to the association’s website. “In large part, our public education programs are premised on helping the general public reconnect with wildlife and nature. We believe strongly in the health benefits of nature as well as the connection that people can build with wildlife through animal ambassador programs. It is also well documented that people will work hardest to conserve those species that they most closely relate.”
Atlanta Safari Park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last car admitted no later than 4 p.m, seven days a week for 363 days out of the year. It is only closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Otherwise, rain or shine, visitors can drive on by Georgia’s latest wildlife experience for roughly $15 per person.
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