Wildlife Safari is a 615-acre drive-through animal park in Winston, Oregon, founded by Frank Hart in 1972 after he was inspired by his travels to Africa. Visitors drive their own vehicles along a roughly 4.5-mile route through open pastures where animals from around the world roam in expansive, naturalistic enclosures, making it the only drive-through wildlife park in the state.
Now a nonprofit and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Wildlife Safari is home to more than 600 animals representing over 100 species. It has become internationally recognized for its cheetah breeding program, one of the most successful outside of Africa, and it holds the distinction of housing the only African elephants and maned wolves in Oregon.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Winston, Oregon
- Opened: 1972
- Size: 615 acres
- Species/Animal Count: Over 600 animals, 100+ species
- Annual Visitors: Around 200,000
- Famous For: One of the world’s leading cheetah breeding centers
The Drive-Through Experience
Unlike traditional zoos, Wildlife Safari lets guests explore in the privacy of their own car (or a park-provided vehicle), passing through pastures and habitats zoned by continent. The self-guided drive typically takes 90 minutes to two hours, giving animals like rhinos, bears, lions, and giraffes room to roam while visitors get close, unscripted encounters along the way.
The park also offers walking areas, a village section with smaller exhibits, and keeper talks, blending the drive-through safari format with more conventional zoo experiences for a well-rounded visit.
A Cheetah Conservation Powerhouse
Wildlife Safari’s cheetah breeding program is considered one of the top facilities of its kind outside Africa. Since the park opened, well over 200 cheetah cubs have been born there, with many placed at other accredited zoos through the AZA’s Species Survival Plan to help bolster the species’ genetic diversity.
That conservation focus extends beyond cheetahs, with the park participating in breeding and research efforts for other vulnerable species, reinforcing its role as both a visitor attraction and a working conservation institution.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Wildlife Safari FAQs
Where is Wildlife Safari located?
Wildlife Safari is located at 1790 Safari Road in Winston, Oregon, near Roseburg.
How long does the drive-through tour take?
The self-guided drive covers about 4.5 miles through the park’s pastures and typically takes 90 minutes to two hours, depending on traffic and animal activity.
What is Wildlife Safari known for?
It’s known for being Oregon’s only drive-through wildlife park and for running one of the most successful cheetah breeding programs outside of Africa.
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Photo: Justin Brockie from Wolcott, Connecticut, USA / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.