How great is Lion Country Safari? Zoo made this USA top 10 list for the seventh time!
The results are in and once again Palm Beach County's Lion Country Safari has been named one of the top 10 Safari Parks in the country.
Taking seventh place on the list (which was released March 13), this is the seventh year in a row that the park has been named to the USA Today's "10Best" Readers' Choice list.
Opened in 1967 and situated on 600 acres, Lion Country Safari is Florida's largest drive-through safari and is home to hundreds of animals roaming wide open, natural habitats in large herds, prides and troops.
The four-mile-long, drive-through safari is divided into seven different habitats.
More: Say hello to Kandoro and Kianga! Lion Country Safari welcomes first baby giraffes in 5 years
What animals are in Lion Country Safari?
Those areas include Las Pampas, Ruaha National Park, Kalahari Bushveldt, Gir Forest, Gorongosa Reserve, Serengeti Plains and Hwange National Park.
Some of the animals that guests see during their trek through the seven zones include aldabra tortoises, alpacas, Brazilian tapirs, greater kudus, impalas, ostriches, gemsbok, wildebeest, Asiatic water buffaloes, blackbucks, African lions, common elands, impalas, giraffes, zebras, southern white rhinoceros and many more.
The park features the largest herd of zebra on record in the western hemisphere, one of the largest herds of giraffe in the United States and a large herd of rhinos with a long history of breeding success.
More: A banner year for wild-animal babies: Lion Country Safari says 31 births show its formula is working
Lion Country Safari not just a drive-thru zoo — best things to do on foot at this Palm Beach County park
Though the drive-through safari is the star of the park, there are many other fun things to do. Some of these include:
Kids can hop on some rides: Who could resist a Flying Elephant Ride? Also check out the Carousel and the Rio Grande Train.
On a hot day, get wet: A waterpark with fun features for cooling off including the Safari Splash Sprayground, Safari Water Slides and Safari Falls.
Feed the giraffe: At the Giraffe Feeding encounter, guests can stand on a platform (the better to get on giraffe level) to hand feed these majestic animals and maybe even get some great pictures.
Feed the birds: Check out the Lorikeet Feeding where participants can give these beautiful, charismatic birds a couple treats.
Get on a boat: A trip on the Safari Queen Pontoon Boat tour on Lake Shannalee and closer view of some of the park's birds and primates.
Get lost? : The park has a Safari Maze.
Play a round: This safari park has a 16-hole miniature golf course.
The nation's other top safari parks:
Taking seventh place on the list, the park was bested by The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio; Safari West in Santa Rosa, Calif.; San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, Calif.; Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas; Turpentine Creek Wildlife Center in Eureka Springs, Ark.; and, coming in at number one, Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park, in Ashland, Neb.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Lion Country Safari continuously strives to be a leader in animal care, conservation, and education to inspire people through connections with wildlife in a family-friendly environment.
Lion Country Safari
Where: 2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 365 days a year
Information: lioncountrysafari.com
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lion Country Safari: Best drive-thru zoo in USA plus offers waterpark
