Wild Florida: Drive-Thru Safari and Gator Park

A “can’t miss” Florida activity for both locals and tourists? Gator-watching. These powerful animals live in just about every fresh body of water throughout the state (visitors beware). If you’d rather get a good look with a few safety precautions in place (highly recommended), however, you need to visit one of the many attractions featuring live alligator habitats and demonstrations. Wild Florida offers an assortment of experiences introducing families to a wide variety of native and exotic species – including, of course, massive American Alligators!

Located on Cypress Lake in Kenansville, about 45 minutes to an hour from Downtown Orlando, Wild Florida features a Drive-Thru Safari, Gator Park, airboat rides, animal shows/encounters, and even the (surprisingly delicious) Chomp House Grill! Recently, my family enjoyed a Groupon Deal for four admissions to the drive-thru safari/gator park, one photo with a gator, and four BBQ lunches. While the actual savings were actually minimal (The amount saved was approximately equal to the cost of the four lunches and a souvenir photo), this pass did grant us an afternoon full of fun adventure!

Drive-Thru Safari Park

We decided to start with the Drive-Thru Safari Park. After waiting in a line of cars, we received our animal guides and coupon for our BBQ lunches. The two-sided guide included a picture and short description of every animal we might encounter. On one side it featured Safari Drive-Thru animals and the other held the Gator Park animals. We also received a full map of the Gator Park with noted show times and airboat tours.

After receiving our loot, the attendant told us a few rules for the safari. While you are allowed to roll down your windows, this is only for photographs or personal preference. You’re not allowed to feed or touch the animals. Of course, you need to stay inside your car, and no one should drive more than 5mph.

After we were cleared to enter, we drove through the gates and started our journey! The drive took about 45 minutes to complete, but it certainly didn’t feel like it was that long. With about 100 native and exotic animals within the park, there was always something to watch. Animals on the Drive-Thru Safari include zebras, water buffalo, elk, giraffes, camels, and llamas.

I was particularly taken with the Alligator Swamp. Inside were tons of rescued nuisance alligators. For those that don’t live in the state, a nuisance alligator is one that has caused a threat to the safety of a community. Nuisance alligators are “removed” from the site. Because of ecological and security concerns, nuisance gators cannot be simply relocated. Many are killed for their meat and hide. Wild Florida has provided an alternative option for these animals to live out the rest of their natural lives.

Overall, the Safari Drive-Thru is a worthwhile way to spend part of your morning or afternoon. There was a combination of open grassland and patches of trees for a variety of environments and picturesque backdrops. The animals appeared well cared for, and the whole family enjoyed viewing them from the safety of our car.

Pro-tip: Your safari admission not only gets you into the Gator Park – you get to visit the Drive-Thru as many times as you’d like! Just be aware that the last car will be allowed through about an hour prior to park close. Double check these times before planning your day!

Here’s a short Drive-Thru Safari commercial, produced by Wild Florida:

Gator Park

After enjoying the Safari, my family and I entered the Gator Park. This is kind of like a zoo with a variety of animals like albino alligators, sloths, lemurs, and Florida panthers, in manmade exhibits. There are around 200 native and exotic animals within the park. There’s also a variety of shows available, such as gator feedings and educational presentations.

If you’d like to upgrade your visit and add even more fun to your day, you can purchase a special animal encounter. Available experiences include dining with gators, playing with lemurs, and meeting a real porcupine. Animal Encounters do require a reservation and an additional charge. There are age restrictions depending on the specific encounter. I’ve never purchased or experienced one of these myself, but they look pretty fascinating.

Alligator Pond

The centerpiece of the Gator Park is, of course, the Alligator Pond. Guests are invited to stroll down the boardwalk over the water. Full of humungous gators, this is a pretty intimidating place.

Hawk Swamp

What Florida visit is complete without a stroll through a literal swamp? While the name may be unappealing, this is actually a beautiful boardwalk through a piece of true Central Florida nature.

While Wild Florida’s Gator Park is not dissimilar from other local attractions featuring close encounters of the scaly kind, it is unique in the variety of animals housed within the complex. My whole family enjoyed the visit!

Chomp House Grill

As part of our Groupon Deal, we were given four BBQ lunches. Included options were a hot dog, cheeseburger (or veggie burger), chicken tenders, or a pulled pork sandwich. We had the opportunity to upgrade to a fried gator platter for $8, but we chose to stick with the provided options. All lunches were served with a choice of two sides, either baked beans, coleslaw, or chips.

We Did a Bioluminescent Kayaking Tour with BK Adventure!

I ordered the veggie burger with chips and coleslaw. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t expect much from this meal. Generally, veggie burgers at zoos, theme parks, museums, etc., are just not that great. However, I was pleasantly surprised by a moist, flavorful patty and soft, fresh tasting bun! I loved my burger, and the coleslaw was also delicious! I would definitely recommend a stop at the Chomp House Grill during your visit to Wild Florida!

Final Thoughts on Wild Florida

Whether you’re a tourist or local, Wild Florida is worth a visit. It’s clean. There’s a surprising amount of shade, and there are so many animals to see. When you combine the safari drive and gator park, this really is a full day’s worth of entertainment!

One Last Pro-Tip: If you decide to visit, be sure to check their “Deals” page for discounts pertaining to Florida residents, military, travel agents, etc.