Lion Country Safari opened on August 29, 1967, in Loxahatchee near West Palm Beach, Florida, and is billed as the first cageless zoo and the nation’s first drive-through safari park. A group of South African and British entrepreneurs created the park so South Florida families could experience something resembling an African game reserve without leaving the state, and visitors have been driving their own vehicles past free-roaming animals ever since.
Today the park spans nearly 600 acres and is home to roughly 1,000 animals representing species from six continents, viewed along a multi-mile drive-through preserve followed by a walk-through area called Safari World with a petting zoo, giraffe feeding, mini golf, and paddle boats. The park is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and was sold in 2025 to a family foundation linked to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Loxahatchee, Florida (near West Palm Beach)
- Opened: August 29, 1967
- Size: About 600 acres, including a multi-mile drive-through preserve
- Animal count: About 1,000 animals
- Annual visitors: About 500,000
- Accreditation: Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
- Famous for: First drive-through, cageless safari park in the United States
The Drive-Through Experience
Guests tour Lion Country Safari in their own vehicles (or a rental) along a multi-mile route divided into sections representing different regions, encountering free-roaming animals such as lions, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, and antelope up close with only open air between car and creature. A narrated audio tour, available via streaming, guides visitors through each section and its resident species.
After the driving portion, visitors park and continue on foot through Safari World, a walk-through area featuring a petting zoo, giraffe-feeding platform, chimpanzee exhibits with an island system that lets animals rotate through naturalistic habitats, plus amusement-style attractions like paddle boats and mini golf.
History and Ownership
The park was founded by South African and British investors in 1967 on roughly 320 acres of rural Palm Beach County land, an area that has since grown to nearly 600 acres. A sister park under the same name once operated in Irvine, California, but that location closed decades ago, leaving the Florida park as the sole surviving Lion Country Safari.
In 2025, the park and its adjoining land were sold to a foundation associated with Larry Ellison, marking a new chapter in its ownership while the park continues normal operations in Loxahatchee.
Explore more: Explore more Zoos & Aquariums.
Lion Country Safari FAQs
Is Lion Country Safari the first drive-through safari park in the U.S.?
Yes, it opened on August 29, 1967, and is recognized as the first cageless, drive-through safari park in the United States.
Can visitors drive their own car through Lion Country Safari?
Yes, guests drive through the preserve in their personal vehicle (convertibles and soft-top vehicles are restricted); rental cars are also available on-site.
How big is Lion Country Safari and how many animals live there?
The park covers close to 600 acres and is home to roughly 1,000 animals representing species from six continents.
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Photo: DizzyNN / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.