{{Short description|Zoo-like tourist attraction}} {{For|an amusement park in Karachi, Pakistan|Safari Park (Karachi)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}} [[File:Giraffa camelopardalis -Safaripark Beekse Bergen-11July2009.jpg|thumb|[[Giraffe]]s at the [[Safaripark Beekse Bergen]], Netherlands]] [[File:Safa.JPG|thumb|right|[[White rhinoceros]] at [[Pombia Safari Park]], Italy]] [[File:Rhino san diego wild animal park.jpg|thumb|right|White Rhinoceros at [[San Diego Safari Park]], US]] [[File:Grants zebras zoo.jpg|thumb|right|[[Grant's zebra]]s at [[Africam Safari]], Mexico]] A '''safari park''', sometimes known as a '''wildlife park''', is a [[zoo]]-like commercial [[drive-in]] tourist attraction where visitors can drive their own vehicles or ride in vehicles provided by the facility to observe freely roaming animals.
A safari park is larger than a zoo and smaller than a [[game reserve]]. For example, [[African Lion Safari]] in [[Hamilton, Ontario]], [[Canada]] is {{convert|750|acre|km2}}. For comparison, [[Lake Nakuru]] in the [[Great Rift Valley, Kenya]], is {{Convert|168|km2}}, and a typical large game reserve is [[Tsavo East National Park|Tsavo East]], also in [[Kenya]], which encompasses {{Convert|11747|km2}}.
Many parks have conservation programmes with endangered animals like: [[elephant]]s, [[southern white rhinoceros|white rhinos]], [[giraffe]]s, [[lion]]s, [[tiger]]s, [[cheetah]]s and [[African wild dog|wild dogs]].
== General overview of a safari park == {{Unreferenced section|date=November 2020}} The main attractions are frequently large animals from [[Africa]] which people can see in wildlife reserves such as: [[giraffe]]s, [[lion]]s (including [[white lion]]s), [[southern white rhinoceros|white rhino]]s, [[African bush elephant]]s, [[hippopotamus]]es, [[zebra]]s, [[ostrich]]es, [[lesser flamingo|lesser]] and [[greater flamingo]]s, [[ground hornbill]]s, [[guineafowl]], [[African buffalo]]es, sometimes [[dromedary camel]]s, [[great white pelican|great white]] and [[pink-backed pelican]]s, [[African sacred ibis]]es, [[Ankole (cattle)|Ankole cattle]], [[cheetah]]s, [[leopard]]s, [[hyena]]s, [[chimpanzee]]s, [[baboon]]s, [[African wild dog]]s, [[Barbary sheep]], [[Balearica|crowned crane]]s, [[Egyptian geese]], [[saddle-billed stork|saddle-billed]], [[yellow-billed stork|yellow-billed]] and [[marabou stork]]s, [[Nile crocodile]]s (in a side paddock), [[Nubian ibex]]es, and many [[antelope]] species including- [[wildebeest]], [[hartebeest]], [[damaliscus lunatus|topi]], [[gazelle]]s, [[Taurotragus|eland]]s, [[lechwe]], [[addax]]es, [[oryx]]es, [[Bongo (antelope)|bongo]]s, [[kudu]]s, [[nyala]]s, [[impala]]s, [[springbok]], [[bontebok|blesbok]], [[sitatunga]], [[duiker]]s, [[waterbuck]]s, [[sable antelope]]s, and [[roan antelope]]s, just to name a few.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |first=Active Wild |date=2024-06-12 |title=Safari Animals List: Pictures & Facts On Over 50 Interesting Species |url=https://www.activewild.com/safari-animals/ |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=Active Wild |language=en-US}}</ref>
Also in the reserves there are animals that are not from Africa: [[Asia]]n species include: [[Asian elephant]]s, [[Indian rhinoceros|Indian]] and [[Sumatran rhinoceros]]es, [[gaur]], [[water buffalo]]es, [[nilgai]]s, [[blackbuck]]s, [[banteng]], [[markhor]], [[Malayan tapir]]s, [[Asinus|wild ass]]es, [[sambar deer]], [[Indian hog deer]], [[yak]]s, [[gibbon]]s, [[tiger]]s (including [[white tiger]]s), [[Asian black bear]]s, [[Eld's deer]], [[babirusa]]s, [[chital]], [[dhole]]s, [[barasingha]]s, [[painted stork]]s, [[peafowl]], and [[Bactrian camel]]s; [[North America]]n species include: [[American black bear]]s, [[brown bear]]s, [[wolf|wolves]] (including [[Arctic wolf|Arctic wolves]]), [[American bison]], [[elk]], and [[white-tailed deer]]; [[South America]]n species include: [[llama]]s, [[alpaca]]s, [[jaguar]]s, [[capybara]]s, [[anteater]]s, [[South American tapir]]s, [[rhea (bird)|rhea]]s, and [[black-necked swan]]s; [[Australia]]n species include [[kangaroo]]s, [[wallabies]], [[emu]]s, and [[black swan]]s; [[Europe]]an species include: [[European bison]]s, [[Eurasian Wolf|Eurasian wolves]], [[mute swan]]s, [[Dama (genus)|fallow deer]], [[red deer]], and [[moose]].
Most safari parks have a "walk-around" area with animals too small or too dangerous to roam freely in the reserves, like: small birds, [[squirrel monkey]]s, [[penguin]]s, [[marmoset]]s, [[tamarin]]s, [[mongoose]]s, [[meerkat]]s, [[lemur]]s, [[gorilla]]s, [[reptile]]s, [[hornbill]]s, [[red panda]]s, [[snow leopard]]s, [[otter]]s and [[warthog]]s. Some also have: [[Petting zoo|children's zoos]], [[aquarium]]s, [[butterfly house]]s and reptile and [[insect]] houses. Besides animals, in the walk-round area, there are public facilities like toilets, snack bars and cafés, play areas and sometimes amusement rides. There can be walk-through exhibits with animals like [[kangaroo]]s, lemurs and wallabies. The [[Knowsley Safari Park|Knowsley Safari]] in England keeps [[Siberian tiger]]s and giraffes in their walking area.
Safari parks often have other associated tourist attractions: [[golf course]]s, [[List of amusement rides|carnival rides]], [[Coffeehouse|cafés]]/[[restaurant]]s, [[Ridable miniature railway|ridable miniature railways]], boat trips to see aquatic animals like [[sea lion]]s, life-sized recreations of [[dinosaur]]s and other [[Lists of prehistoric animals|prehistoric animals]], plant [[maze]]s, [[playground]]s, [[monorail]]s, [[gondola lift|cable cars]] and [[gift shop]]s.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} These are commonly found in the walk-around area. On river safari areas, there may be islands with primates; Longleat keeps gorillas and [[black-and-white colobus]] on their islands, which are used to house chimpanzees and [[Siamang|siamangs]]; [[African Lion Safari]] in Canada has [[black-and-white ruffed lemur]]s, [[ring-tailed lemur]]s, [[Lar gibbon|lar gibbons]], siamangs, [[Colombian spider monkey]]s, [[Geoffroy's spider monkey]]s, [[pink-backed pelican]]s and [[black swan]]s in the waters.
==History and list of parks== [[File:Giraffes at west midlands safari park.jpg|thumb|right|Giraffes being fed by visitors in the [[West Midlands Safari Park]], England]] The predecessor of safari parks is Africa U.S.A. Park (1953–1961) in Florida.<ref>Life, Vol.49, No.5, August 1, 1960, pp.1,30.</ref>
The first lion drive-through opened in 1963 in [[Tama Zoological Park]] in [[Tokyo]]. In double-glazed buses, visitors made a tour through a one-hectare enclosure with twelve African lions.
The first drive-through safari park outside of Africa opened in 1966 at [[Longleat Safari Park|Longleat]] in [[Wiltshire]], England.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110629121155/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article737168.ece The lions and loins of Longleat] ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' Retrieved February 18, 2011</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=trZX7dbuW54C&pg=PA554 |journal=New Scientist|date=2 Dec 1982|access-date= 18 February 2011|title=Safari parks, after the honeymoon|author=Gail Vines|pages=554–557}}</ref> Longleat, Windsor, Woburn and arguably the whole concept of safari parks were the brainchild of Jimmy Chipperfield (1912–1990), former co-director of [[Chipperfield's Circus]], although a similar concept is explored as a plot device in [[Angus Wilson]]'s "[[The Old Men at the Zoo]]" which was published five years before [[Chipperfield]] set up [[Longleat]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/may/15/chipperfields-circus-family-dynasties |title=Great dynasties of the world: The Chipperfields |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=21 August 2012 |location=London |first=Ian |last=Sansom |date=15 May 2010 }}</ref> Longleat's [[Marquess of Bath]] agreed to Chipperfield's proposition to fence off {{Convert|40|ha|-1}} of his vast Wiltshire estate to house 50 lions. Knowsley, the [[Earl of Derby]]'s estate outside [[Liverpool]], and the [[Duke of Bedford]]'s Woburn estate in [[Bedfordshire]] both established their own safari parks with Chipperfield's partnership. Another circus family, the Smart Brothers, joined the safari park business by opening a park at [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] for visitors from London. The former [[Windsor Safari Park]] was in [[Berkshire, England]], but closed in 1992 and has since been made into a [[Legoland Windsor Resort|Legoland theme park]]. There is also Chipperfield's "Scotland Safari Park" established on [[Baronet]] Sir John Muir's estate at [[Blair Drummond]] near [[Stirling]], and the American-run "West Midland Safari and Leisure Park" near [[Birmingham]]. One park, along with Jimmy Chipperfield at [[Lambton Castle]] in [[North East England]], has closed.
Between 1967 and 1974, [[Lion Country Safari]], Inc. opened 6 animal parks, one near each of the following American cities: [[West Palm Beach, Florida]]; [[Los Angeles, California]]; [[Grand Prairie, Texas]]; [[Atlanta, Georgia]]; [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], and [[Richmond, Virginia]]. The first park, in South Florida, is the only [[Lion Country Safari]] still in operation.
[[Royal Burgers' Zoo]] at [[Arnhem]], opened a "safari park" in 1968 within a traditional [[zoo]]. In 1995, Burgers' Safari modified this to a walking safari with a {{Convert|250|m|adj=on}} [[boardwalk]]. Another safari park in the Netherlands is [[Safaripark Beekse Bergen]].
Most safari parks were established in a short period of ten years, between 1966 and 1975.
*'''Africa''' **'''Egypt''': [[Alexandria]] (''Africa Safari Park'', 2004) *'''Americas''' **'''Brazil''': [[São Paulo]] (''Zoo Safári'', 2001 - this park was formerly known as Simba Safari from 1972 to 2001) **'''Canada''': ***Ontario: [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] (''[[African Lion Safari]]'', 1969) ***Quebec: [[Hemmingford, Quebec (village)|Hemmingford]] (''[[Parc Safari]]'', 1972), [[Montebello, Quebec|Montebello]] (''[[Parc Omega]]'', 1985) **'''Chile''': [[Rancagua]] (''Safari Park Rancagua'', 2009) **'''Guatemala''': [[Escuintla]] (''[[Auto Safari Chapin]]'', 1980) **'''Mexico''': *** [[Amacuzac]] (''Zoofari'', 1984), [[Puebla (city)|Puebla]] (''[[Africam Safari]]'', 1972) **'''United States''': ***Alabama: [[Hope Hull, Alabama]] (''Alabama Safari Park'', 2018) ***Arizona: [[Camp Verde, Arizona|Camp Verde]] (''[[Out of Africa Wildlife Park]]'', 1988) ***Arkansas: [[Gentry, Arkansas|Gentry]] (''Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari'', 1970) ***California: [[Escondido, California|Escondido]] (''[[San Diego Zoo Safari Park]]'', formerly ''San Diego Wild Animal Park'', 1972) ***Florida: [[Loxahatchee, Florida|Loxahatchee]] (''[[Lion Country Safari]]'', 1967) ***Georgia: [[Pine Mountain, Harris County, Georgia|Pine Mountain]] (''Wild Animal Safari'', 1991), [[Cleveland, Georgia]] (''North Georgia Wildlife and Safari Park'', 2018), [[Metter, Georgia]] (''Wild Georgia Safari Park'', 2018), [[Hartwell, Georgia]] (''Lake Hartwell Wildlife Safari'', 2021), [[Atlanta]] (''Atlanta Safari Park'', 2023), [[Madison, Georgia]] (''Georgia Safari Conservation Park'', 2024) ***Louisiana: [[Delhi, Louisiana|Delhi]] (''[[High Delta Safari Park]],'' 2009) ***Nebraska: [[Ashland, Nebraska|Ashland]] (''[[Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari]]'', 1998) ***New Jersey: [[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson Township]] (''Great Adventure'', 1974, now ''[[Six Flags Great Adventure]]'') ***New York: [[Chittenango, New York|Chittenango]] (''[[Wild Animal Park (Chittenango)|Wild Animal Park]]'', 2010) ***Ohio: [[Port Clinton, Ohio|Port Clinton]] (''[[African Safari Wildlife Park]]'', 1973) ***Oregon: Winston (''[[Wildlife Safari]]'', 1973) ***Texas: [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] (''[[Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch]]'', 1984), [[Glen Rose, Texas|Glen Rose]] (''[[Fossil Rim Wildlife Center|Fossil Rim Wildlife Ranch]]'', 1984), near [[Dallas]] (''Texas Zoosafari Park'', 2023) ***Virginia: [[Natural Bridge, Virginia|Natural Bridge]] (''Virginia Safari Park'', 2000) *'''Asia''' **'''Bangladesh''': [[Gazipur]] (''[[Gazipur Safari Park]]'', 2013), [[Cox's Bazar]] (''[[Dulhazra Safari Park|Dulahazara Safari Park]]'', 1999) ** '''China''': [[Shenzhen]] (''Safari Park'', 1993), [[Shanghai]] (''Wild Animal Park'', 1995), [[Qinhuangdao]] (''[[Qinhuangdao Wildlife Park]]'', 1995), [[Guangzhou]] (''Xiangjiang Safari Park'', 1997), [[Jinan]] (''Safari Park'', 1999), [[Badaling]] (''Safari World'', 2001) ** '''India''': [[Etawah]] (''[[Etawah Safari Park]]'', formerly ''Lion Safari Etawah'', 2019), [[Rajgir]] (''[[Rajgir Zoo Safari]]'', 2022) ** '''Indonesia''': [[Cisarua]], [[Prigen]] and [[Bali]] (in Bali includes a Marine Park too) (''[[Taman Safari]]'', 1990) ** '''Israel''': [[Ramat Gan]] (''[[Ramat Gan Safari]]'', 1974) **'''Japan''': [[Miyazaki (city)|Miyazaki]] (''Phoenix Zoo'', 1975), [[Usa, Ōita|Usa]] (''[[Kyushu Natural Animal Park African Safari]]'', 1976), [[Mine, Yamaguchi|Mine]] (''Akiyoshidai Safari Land'', 1977), [[Tomioka, Gunma|Tomioka]] (''Gunma Safari Park'', 1979), [[Susono]] (''Fuji Safari Park'', 1980), [[Himeji]] (''[[Himeji Central Park|Central Park]]'', 1984) **'''Malaysia''': [[Alor Gajah]] (''[[A' Famosa Resort|A'Famosa Resort]]'', 2001), [[Gambang, Pahang|Gambang]] (''Bukit Gambang Safari Park'') ** '''Pakistan''': [[Lahore]] (''[[Lahore Zoo Safari]]'', 2009, formerly ''Lahore Wildlife Park'', 1982) ** '''Philippines''': [[Busuanga, Palawan|Busuanga]] (''[[Calauit Safari Park]]'', 1975), [[Morong, Bataan|Morong]] (''Zoobic Safari'', 2003), [[Carmen, Cebu|Carmen]] (''[[Cebu Safari and Adventure Park]]'', 2018) ** '''Singapore''': (''[[Night Safari, Singapore|Night Safari]]'', 1994) ** '''Taiwan''': [[Guanxi, Hsinchu|Guanxi]] (''[[Leofoo Village Theme Park]],'' 1979) ** '''Thailand''': [[Bangkok]] (''[[Safari World]]'', 1988) **'''United Arab Emirates''': [[Dubai]] (''[[Dubai Safari Park]]'', 2017) **'''Vietnam''': [[Phú Quốc]] (''Vinpearl Safari'', 2015) *'''Europe''' **'''Belgium''': [[Aywaille]] (''Le Monde Sauvage'', 1975) **'''Denmark''': [[Givskud]] (''[[Løveparken]]'', 1969), Knuthenborg ([[Knuthenborg Safaripark]], 1969), [[Ebeltoft]] ([[Ree Park – Ebeltoft Safari]], 1991) **'''France''': [[Château of Thoiry|Thoiry]] (''Wow Safari Thoiry'', 1968), [[Peaugres]] (''[[Safari de Peaugres]]'', 1974), [[Sigean]] (''[[Réserve Africaine de Sigean|Réserve africaine de Sigean]]'', 1974), [[Obterre]] (''[[Haute Touche Zoological Park]]'', 1980) owned by the [[National Museum of Natural History, France|National Museum of Natural History]], [[Port-Saint-Père]] (''[[Planète Sauvage (zoological park)|Planète Sauvage]]'', 1992) **'''Germany''': [[Gelsenkirchen]] ([[ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen]], 1949), [[Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock|Stuckenbrock]] (''Safariland Stukenbrock'', 1969), [[Hodenhagen]] (''[[Serengeti Park]]'', 1974) **'''Great Britain''': [[Longleat Safari and Adventure Park|Longleat]] (1966), [[Woburn Safari Park|Woburn]] (1970), [[Knowsley Safari Park|Knowsley]] (1971), [[Bewdley]] (''[[West Midlands Safari Park]]'', 1973), [[Blair Drummond Safari Park|Blair Drummond]] (1970), [[Highland Wildlife Park]] (1972) **'''Italy''': [[Bussolengo]] (''[[Parco Natura Viva]]'', 1969), [[Fasano]] (''[[Zoosafari Fasanolandia]]'', 1973), [[Pombia]] (''[[Pombia Safari Park]]'', 1976), [[Murazzano]] (''[[Parco Safari delle Langhe]]'', 1976), [[Ravenna]] (''[[Safari Ravenna]]'', 2012) **'''Netherlands''': [[Hilvarenbeek]] (''[[Safaripark Beekse Bergen]]'', 1968) **'''Portugal''': [[Santo André (Santiago do Cacém)|Santo André]] ([[:pt:Badoca Safari Park|''Badoca Safari Park'']], 1999) **'''Russia''': near Kamenka (Kudykina Gora, 2009) **'''Spain''': [[Penagos]] (''[[Cabarceno Natural Park]]'', 1990) **'''Sweden''': Smålandet (''Markaryds Älg & Bison Safari'') *'''Oceania''' **'''Australia''' *** South Australia: [[Monarto, South Australia|Monarto]] (''[[Monarto Safari Park]]'', 1983) *** Victoria: [[Werribee]] (''[[Werribee Open Range Zoo]]'', 1983)
==See also== {{Portal|Animals}} *''[[SimSafari]]'': a computer game simulating the management of a safari park * [[Effects of the car on societies]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== *Copperfield, Jimmy (1975). ''My Wild Life''. Macmillan. London. 219 p. {{ISBN|0-333-18044-5}}.
==External links== *{{commons category-inline|Safari parks}}
{{Amusement Parks}}
{{Zoos}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Safari Park}} [[Category:Safari parks| ]] [[Category:Zoos]]