PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. - About 40 minutes north of Columbus, zebras, bison and camels walk up to car windows looking for a snack. Wild Animal Safari, at 1300 Oak Grove Road in Pine Mountain, lets visitors drive their own vehicles through pastures of free-roaming animals and then walk through a zoo-style section on foot. The drive-through has been open since 1991, and the whole visit is covered by one general admission ticket.

The park is owned by Parks! America Inc., a small public company that runs three regional safari parks. Its Georgia property was the company's first acquisition and is its largest by acreage, according to its annual filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The other two are in Strafford, Mo., and the Bryan-College Station area of Texas.

The Land and the Animals

The park sits on a 200-acre portion of a 500-acre property about 75 miles southwest of Atlanta, according to the company's fiscal 2025 annual report. The park's website describes more than 250 acres of trails, and local tourism listings often give the 500-acre total. Most of the animals roam in open habitat rather than behind fences.

The company counts about 600 animals, birds and reptiles representing about 55 species. The park's website lists more than 400 animals along the drive-through and more than 50 species in its walk-through zoo. Species named on the website include giraffes, plains zebras, blue wildebeest, dromedary camels, European fallow deer, common eland, North American bison, llamas, scimitar-horned oryx and pot-bellied pigs.

The Drive-Through Safari

The main attraction is a paved road that winds through the animal pastures. The park describes it as a 3.5-mile trail that takes 45 minutes or more, while the company's SEC filing calls it a three-mile drive. Visitors can watch, photograph and feed the animals from their vehicles along the way.

Feeding comes with rules. Guests may feed animals only in designated areas and only with food sold by the park, and the park recommends tossing feed on the ground. Its safety policy specifically says not to let zebras, camels, ostriches and emus eat directly from the palm of a hand.

Pets are not allowed in the drive-through under any circumstances, even service animals. The park offers a free kennel while owners make the drive, and it warns that it may call animal control if pets are left in cars. Only leashed service dogs or miniature horses are allowed on the walking paths outside the drive-through.

The Walkabout Zoo

The second half of a visit is on foot. The Walkabout Adventure Zoo is a walk-through section with fenced exhibits and a petting zoo, according to the park. The Pine Mountain Tourism Association lists lions, hyenas, sloths, capybaras, monkeys and reptiles among the animals there.

The park also sells add-on animal encounters for an up-close visit. Current options on its website include sloth, reptile, capybara and hedgehog encounters, with minimum ages from 3 to 10 depending on the animal. Encounters must be booked at least 24 hours ahead.

Vans and the Safari Bus

Visitors do not have to take their own car through the pastures. The Pine Mountain Tourism Association says guests can drive their own vehicle, rent a van at the park or ride a guided tour bus that runs seasonally. The park says the tour bus schedule varies by season and is posted on site on the day of a visit.

Groups have their own options. The park offers tour packages and discounts for groups of 15 or more people booked in advance, and it asks groups to call at least two weeks ahead. Current van rental prices were not listed on the park's website, so visitors should ask at the ticket office.

Recovering From the 2023 Tornado

The park had to rebuild in 2023. A tornado that struck the LaGrange area in spring 2023 caused extensive damage to the Georgia park, according to WTVM and the company's annual report. The 3.5-mile drive-through reopened in mid-April 2023 as the first phase of recovery.

The zoo director told WTVM at the time that a full return to operation would probably take about a year. The company reported in its fiscal 2024 results that it had received its final insurance proceeds for tornado recovery costs. The park has since returned to a regular daily schedule.

How to Visit

Wild Animal Safari is at 1300 Oak Grove Road, Pine Mountain, Ga. 31822, about 40 minutes north of Columbus and 65 minutes southwest of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to its website. The park opens at 10 a.m. daily, with closing times that vary by season on its hours calendar, and it is closed on Thanksgiving Day and one other day each year. The last car enters the drive-through one hour before closing, and the park suggests allowing two to four hours for a full visit.

General admission covers both the drive-through and the Walkabout Adventure Zoo. The park's pricing page lists general admission at $29.99 online and $30.99 at the gate, and VIP passes at $52 for one person or $200 for a family. The Walkabout, ticket building, restaurant, gift shop and restrooms are wheelchair accessible, and the park can be reached at (706) 663-8744.