Six Flags Wild Safari is a 350-acre drive-through animal park located adjacent to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. Opened on July 4, 1974, it has grown into one of the largest safari-style parks outside of Africa, home to roughly 1,200 animals representing species from six continents, including elephants, giraffes, lions, tigers, and rhinos.
Originally designed as a self-drive safari where guests toured the grounds in their own vehicles, the park shifted formats in 2013, closing to private cars and reopening as the Safari Off Road Adventure, a guided tour aboard remodeled open-air Army trucks. The park later added a Safari Base Camp entrance and a 20-suite resort ahead of its 2024 season, continuing its evolution as a year-round wildlife attraction paired with the neighboring thrill-ride park.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Opened: July 4, 1974
- Size: About 350 acres
- Animal count: About 1,200 animals
- Species origin: Species from six continents
- Themed zones: 11 themed animal areas
- Famous for: One of the largest drive-through/guided safari parks outside Africa
The Ride Experience
Guests board open-air, remodeled Army-style trucks for a guided tour lasting roughly 35 minutes across the park’s 4.5-mile main road. The route winds through themed zones such as Afrikka, Serengeti Grasslands, Wilde Plains, and Tigris Asiana, giving visitors close encounters with free-roaming animals while guides share conservation-focused commentary.
This guided format, known as Safari Off Road Adventure, replaced the original self-drive experience in 2013, when the park stopped allowing private vehicles onto the grounds. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the park temporarily reverted to a drive-through format before returning to guided tours.
History and Evolution
Wild Safari opened in 1974 as a classic drive-through safari, letting visitors tour the reserve in their own cars among free-roaming animals. Over the decades it became a signature companion attraction to Six Flags Great Adventure, and when combined, the two properties formed one of the largest theme park and safari combinations in the world.
The park has continued to evolve, briefly operating as a VIP Giraffe Encounter Tour experience in 2022 and 2023 before reopening more broadly for the 2024 season with a new entrance area, Safari Base Camp, and an on-site 20-suite resort for overnight guests.
Explore more: More Zoos & Aquariums to Explore.
Six Flags Wild Safari FAQs
Is Six Flags Wild Safari a drive-through park?
Not anymore. It began as a self-drive safari in 1974 but switched in 2013 to a guided tour aboard open-air trucks called the Safari Off Road Adventure.
How big is Six Flags Wild Safari?
The park covers about 350 acres and includes roughly 4.5 miles of road that guided vehicles travel during the tour.
How many animals live at Six Flags Wild Safari?
The park is home to approximately 1,200 animals representing species from six continents, including elephants, giraffes, lions, tigers, and rhinos.
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Photo: Chewitt99 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.