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Tennessee Safari Park: A Visitors Guide

Everything you need to know about visiting this hidden gem full of animals

If you're looking for a weekend activity for the whole family, you can take the kids to the Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, Tennessee. Its a place to see exotic animals up close and personal. You can even feed some of them. This drive-through park is a definite draw to the rural area. 

Although it is the county seat of Crockett County , Alamo would be relatively unknown if it weren't for its primary claim to fame: hosting the Tennessee Safari Park. Many West Tennessee residents don't even know this park exists, making it one of the area's hidden gems. The park is situated on a working farm that is used for growing cotton and raising cattle.

The Animals

Tennessee Safari Park boasts over 400 animals from 80 different species . Some of the animals you may see on your visit are llamas, zebras, emus, kangaroos, giraffes, monkeys, and warthogs. There are frequently new babies being born at the park so if you are lucky, you may even get a chance to see some little ones during your visit. The park has one of the largest collections of zoo animals in the United States.

The Experience

There are two parts to the park—a two-mile driving tour and a petting zoo. When you enter the park you can purchase a bucket of feed. As you drive through the park, animals will come up to your car looking for food. Many of them will eagerly stick their heads in your car, giving you the opportunity to pet and to feed them. This is a great photo opportunity and a lot of fun for kids and adults.At the petting zoo, you have the opportunity to feed and pet other animals, including a giraffe!

Tickets cost $16 for adults, $12 kids aged 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and under.

Buckets of feed cost $3. To save money buy $4 for $10. You'll be glad you have extra feed to attract the animals.

Before You Go

• Currently the Tennessee Safari Park does not accept credit cards or checks so be sure to bring some cash.
• The park is about an hour and a half drive from Memphis and about thirty minutes from Jackson.
• Plan to spend between one and two hours at the park depending upon how crowded it is and how fast or slow you go through the tour.
• Try to visit the park in the morning, if possible. The animals tend to be hungrier and more eager to interact then.
• Visitors are encouraged to purchase buckets of feed to feed the animals. Feeding them outside food is not permitted.
• Pets, including dogs, are not allowed in the park. They might upset the animals.

Hours of Operation

The park is open every day of the year except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Thanksgiving. If there is inclement weather check the park's Facebook Page. Snow and Ice can cause the park to close suddenly so it can protect the animals.

• Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am. - 4 p.m. (that's the time of last admittance although the park closes fully at 5 pm)
• Sunday, 12:00 noon - 4 p.m. (last admittance)

Tennessee Safari Park 637 Conley Road Alamo, TN 38001 www.tennesseesafaripark.com

Updated by Holly Whitfield, January 2018

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Visiting the Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, TN

I’ve always enjoyed visiting zoos, but I’ve never been to a drive-thru zoo before. This is a totally different experience than your typical zoo. The Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo lets you get up close to the animals, feed them, and even pet some of them, without ever having to get out of your own car. Here are some tips for visiting this super fun drive-thru zoo!

The zoo is about 30 minutes away from Jackson, TN. You can find directions here . This zoo was much bigger than I expected it to be. It took us about an hour and a half to drive through it for a few reasons:

• The speed limit is very slow so that you don’t hurt the animals.
• We came to a complete stop several times just to feed the animals.
• Probably hundreds of animals live here on these acres of land, so it takes time to see them all.

Even though it took a while to drive through, we weren’t bored at all. There are many kinds of animals here, including zebras, camels, ostriches, deer, llamas, and more!

The animals are used to people. They aren’t shy, and they will walk right up to your car window to get a snack from you. Sometimes they will even stick their head into the car if you let them!

You will definitely want to buy a food bucket for each person in the car. Make sure you hold on to your food buckets tightly, because the animals may try to snatch them from you! And don’t let the first few animals eat all your food. There are plenty of animals through the whole drive that will want some food from you!

I loved getting to see the animals up close. At most zoos, the animals are at a distance and aren’t interested in people at all. Here the animals want to walk right up to you (or at least the food you’re giving them), and getting to pet and feed them was such a cool experience! Also, some of them are really soft!

After the drive-thru section of the zoo, we visited the walk-thru section. This part of the zoo houses the smaller animals, such as several kinds of monkeys and lemurs. There are plenty of exotic birds here too, including the peacocks that roam free.

I enjoyed being able to walk into the aviary, where dozens of parakeets live.

If you don’t like birds, I wouldn’t advise going inside the aviary.  Though it is a neat experience to see the flock of birds flying right over your head and walking around your feet. You can buy food outside the aviary for the birds, and the parakeets will be much more friendly to you. They aren’t mean, but they won’t find you very interesting unless you bring food.

One giraffe lives in the walk-thru zoo. You can get pretty close and feed it, but you have to give it carrots instead of the animal food that the other animals eat. The giraffe was one of my favorite parts of the zoo!

If you’re a zoo fan, this is definitely a place you’ll want to check out. It exceeded my expectations and provided us with a great weekend activity!

Know of any other fun drive-thru zoos? Tell me in the comments so I can check them out!

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Tennessee Safari Park

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Zebras at the Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, Tennessee.

Jeff Adkins/Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

A major tourist attraction, Tennessee Safari Park sits on a former cotton and cattle farm in rural Crockett County. Open year-round, the drive-through animal park boasts more than 80 species of exotic animals, ranging from zebras, giraffes, and monkeys to emus, kangaroos, and llamas. The Safari Roads section of the park features 5.5 miles of driving trails, where you can purchase buckets of food to interact with the animals. After making the loop, head to the Petting Zoo for a chance to befriend slightly tamer animals, like pygmy goats and other farm favorites. Do keep in mind that credit cards are not accepted here, so bring cash for admission and other activities.

Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at [email protected].

Tennessee Safari Park – Jackson, TN

If you ever find yourself near Jackson, TN and have a few hours to kill, you have got to check out the Tennessee Safari Park.  We have seen signs for it on the side of the road for years and never had time to stop.  However, this time, we made time…and boy, are we glad we did!  We had the best time ever!  I don’t think we have laughed that hard in years.

The Tennessee Safari Park is basically a drive through zoo.  You stay in your car and drive through acres and acres of animal habitats.  When you enter the park, you have the option to purchase a bucket of animal feed.  You should get at least 2 buckets!  One for each side of the car.  There will be times when you are completely surrounded by animals, and you don’t want anyone getting left out!

The park is home to dozens of different species of animals including zebras, camels, alpacas, goats, pigs, donkeys, and ostriches.  You can’t forget the ostriches!  I’m pretty sure these huge birds are really dinosaurs.  When you see them up close trying to eat grain from inside your car window, you’ll know what I’m talking about!  Make sure you hold on to your bucket tight.  They are super strong and can easily knock the bucket out of your hands.  So, unless you want to spend an hour cleaning animal feed out from between your car seats, hold on tight!

Our favorite part of the tour was seeing the giraffe.  He is the very last stop on the tour.  He is absolutely HUGE and gorgeous!  I’m pretty sure all women would be jealous of his eyelashes.  If you pull up close enough, he can reach over the fence to stick his head in your car.  Make sure you’ve got the grain (and your camera) ready!

Once you finish the drive through portion of the park (which took us about an hour and a half), there is an area where you can pull in for picnics, restrooms, and a petting zoo.  We were running a little late that day, so we didn’t explore all of those areas.  Just another reason for us to come back again!  Here is their website address if you want to check it out:  http://www.tennesseesafaripark.com

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Destinations Travel

Tennessee safari park provides unforgettable experiences.

Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

Claude M. Conley was only 15 years old when he started raising exotic animals on his family’s Crockett County farm in 1963. He began his unusual animal collection with buffalo, peacocks, elk and fallow deer on the same land where his family had been raising cotton and cattle since 1850.

“My father grew up reading about animals and visiting zoos, and he dedicated his life to raising exotic animals,” Claude H. Conley II says. “Today, our family has more than 1,300 exotic animals representing over 100 species.”

The Conley family knew they had something special on their quirky 800-acre farm in Alamo. So in 2007, Claude H. Conley II and his brother, Jon Wesley Conley, opened the farm to the public as a drive-through zoo experience called Tennessee Safari Park .

“We always knew we were going to open a zoo, but we were too busy farming,” Claude H. Conley II says. “We made the decision to open it in 2003, but it took us until 2007 to make it happen. A lot of people told us we couldn’t do it – they said it would never happen.”

But those naysayers were wrong. In its first year, Tennessee Safari Park welcomed 2,500 visitors.

“All the money we made from admission we put back into the park, adding new animals each year,” Conley says. “The number of visitors grows each year. In 2018, we had more than 85,000 visitors.”

A Wild Ride

What draws people to pull off Interstate 40 and spend a few hours touring a drive-through zoo, you ask? Curiosity, for one. Where else do ostriches, buffalo, camels and emus walk right up to your car window looking for a snack?

“Everybody can feed our animals through their car window, and people love interacting with the animals,” Conley says. “At our walk-through area, you can even feed a giraffe.”

Feeding the exotic animals can be a hilarious experience, since they are often eager to eat and have been known to put their entire head inside your car in search of food. They’ve also been known to snatch not only the food, but your entire food bucket. (Consider yourself warned.)

Photo by Jeff Adkins

Committed to Conservation

Environmentalists especially appreciate the opportunity to get up close and personal with rare and endangered animals, getting to stroke their velvety soft skin or fur. The reality is Tennessee Safari Park is more than a tourist attraction – it’s a dedicated conservational breeding center for rare and endangered creatures.

“We’ve always been committed to conservation, and it’s been really fun to watch our animal collection grow,” Conley says. “Because we breed animals, there are lots of babies everywhere. We also have about 300 animals that are not in the park and remain off exhibit.”

See more:  Nashville Zoo Exhibit Showcases Heritage Breed Farm Animals

If the past is any indication of the future, Tennessee Safari Park will continue to thrive under the Conley family’s leadership in years to come. Conley’s two young sons, Claude III (age 7) and Caleb (age 3), are the sixth generation to grow up on the farm and are already learning the ropes.

If You Go ...

Tennessee Safari Park

Location: 618 Conley Rd., Alamo

Phone: (731) 696-4423

Website: tennesseesafaripark.com

Hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 12 to 5 p.m. (Last car in at 4 p.m.)

Admission: $20 for adults and $12 for children ages 2 to 12. Animal feed costs $3 per cup, or 4 cups for $10. Tennessee Farm Bureau members can download a mobile or printed coupon for $2 off admission (maximum of six per party) at tnfarmbureau.org/membersavings or through the app.

Know Before You Go: You’ll know you’ve arrived at Tennessee Safari Park when you see the Conley family’s historic large white house, a fixture on the property since 1862. You can purchase buckets of food before navigating the 5.5-mile drive-through in your car. Then visitors can park and tour the walk-through zoo on foot, where you’ll see several types of monkeys, colorful birds and other creatures. Make time to visit the gift shop and eat at the Tennessee Safari Park Grill, which offers burgers, hot dogs, nachos and other snacks.

Travel Tip: Allow about three hours to tour the park. Cash only is accepted at the ticket booth; credit cards are accepted in the gift shop. The grill is open seasonally on weekends.

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Have visited Safari Park se stall times. Always fun.

Wonderful visit on May the 2nd 2021. Wonderful! I appreciate the lovely place who have provided for these animals to live. You park is a jewel. I do have a question . Where do the animals go in the winter? Like the ostrich and giraffe? Thank y’all for you’re dedication. My family had a blast.

Your pricing information is not current. As of today, 2/25/2022 their prices are as follows as per their website. –

Admission to the Park $20 ADULTS $12 KIDS AGES 2-12 YEARS Children 1 and under FREE

Feed Cups $3 each or four cups for $10

OPEN EVERYDAY EXCEPT CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY AND THANKSGIVING *CASH ONLY AT THE GATE *NO DOGS OR OUTSIDE ANIMALS ARE ALLOWED IN THE PARK AT ANYTIME-ANYWHERE

Hi Wendy, thanks for the update! The pricing information in the article has been updated.

Rachel Graf Associate editor, TN Home & Farm

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Zebras, camels and llamas, oh my! Tennessee Safari Park is a fun family adventure

When is the last time you had a giant zebra stick its head into your car in search of a snack?

Or have you invited a herd of hungry ostriches to dart their long necks through your rolled down window pecking around for munchies?

These up-close animal experiences and many others — including car visits from big shaggy camels, friendly llamas, behemoth bison, cute little deer, antelopes and emu — can be yours at the  Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, Tenn., just north of Jackson .

Two hours from Nashville or an hour and a half from Memphis, this unique drive-thru zoo is a perfect day trip for animal-loving families who are up for a little adventure.

Animal adventure

Our group, which consisted of me, my daughter and my 5-year-old and 2 ½-year-old granddaughters, made our trip on a beautiful fall morning.

Despite some initial skepticism, our two hour stay turned out to be a delightful day to remember.

The animals are free-roaming, so you slowly drive your car with windows open along the route and stop wherever you like. If you hold out the buckets, the various safari animals will dig into "exotic pet food" you can buy at the park entrance.

It was super interactive and funny to the point we had to pull the car over and roll up the windows to laugh several times, especially when an overeager ostrich, who we expected would peck a few pellets of food out of the proffered bucket, surprised us by deftly plucking the pretty pink bow out of our toddler's hair.

It caused quite a stir, as did the clever camel that managed to skillfully grab a whole bucket of the feed from my daughter's grip.       

This is an "enter at your own risk" kind of place. You don't have to sign a waiver, but they make it clear that they are not liable.

Admission is $16 for adults, $12 for children 2-12 and free for children 1 and under. It is cash only at the gate. There is a coupon in your Nashville City Saver bookl that will save you $12.   

Buy enough food to keep the animals coming your way along the 5 ½-mile route. We bought eight buckets ($20) of "exotic animal food," which looks like dry dog food. That was plenty of food for our trek, and we brought along a couple of extra empty buckets, as advised by seasoned Safari Park goers, so we could hold some food back from the greedier animals.

Safari Park tips

The drive-thru part of the zoo is 5 ½ miles long and can take about an hour or two to traverse with all of the feeding stops. You can stop anywhere you see the animals coming up.

Park staff gives visitors a quick safety talk where they go over rules and a bit of advice before the cars head out on the safari.

They advise you to brace your feed cup by gripping it from the bottom, but if an animal takes your bucket, (like that camel did) to continue along the route. 

Park rules include: 5 mph maximum speed is, do not honk, and do not get out of the car. No outside food is allowed. Do not litter, smoke or try to pet the animals.

► NASHVILLE ATTRACTIONS: 6 local memberships that save you money if you use them

The best advice is to arrive as close to the 10 a.m. opening time as possible. Pick a day when it is warm enough to comfortably have your car windows rolled down. 

Free-roaming animals include zebra, ostrich, buffalo, giraffe, monkeys, kangaroos, deer, llamas, emu, alpacas, ostriches and camels. 

There is also a walk-through zoo, which includes a petting area with goats, giraffe, pygmy goats, farm animals. exotic birds, and reptiles.

► FUN IN NASHVILLE: 11 tips to make the most of your Nashville Zoo visit

Park history

The exotic animal collection was started in 1963 by Claude Conley Sr. when he was 15 years old and brought in buffalo to the farm, which has been in the Conley family since the 1850s. The collection grew over the years, and the family opened it as a safari park in 2007.

It is now owned by Claude Conley Jr. and Jon Conley and features about 1,000 animals, 100 species and takes up 300 acres of the family's 750-acre working cattle and cotton farm.

Annual attendance is about 80,000 people.

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Reach Ms. Cheap at 615-259-8282 or [email protected]. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/mscheap, and at Tennessean.com/mscheap, and on Twitter @Ms_Cheap, and catch her every Thursday at 11 a.m. on WTVF-Channel 5’s “Talk of the Town.”

What : Tennessee Safari Park

Where : 618 Conley Road, Alamo, Tenn., 16 miles off Interstate 40 exit 79

When : The park is open year round. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The last cars are allowed in at 4 p.m. daily.

Parking : Free

Details :  http://www.tennesseesafaripark.com  or 731-696-4423 

• Things to do in Jackson & West TN

Exploring the Wild at TN Safari Park

For those who love animals and adventure, Safari Park in Alamo, TN is the perfect destination. This 200-acre park is home to over 80 different species of animals from all over the world! From the majestic giraffes, and wandering zebras, to the bactrian camel, you can see them all here up close and personal. Here, you will have a unique experience of being surrounded by animals as you journey through the safari-style park. So pack your bags, grab your camera, and let's go on a wild adventure at Safari Park in Alamo, TN!

Get Up Close with the Animals Safari Park is not your everyday zoo. The animals roam free in a natural habitat, giving you the chance to see these magnificent creatures up close and personal. The best part is that you can tour the park in your own vehicle without the need for a tour guide. As you journey through the park, you can witness zebras, buffalo, camels, ostriches, and much more just inches away from your car.

Walk thru Zoo The walk-thru zoo expands over 20 acres of additional animal exhibits and encounters. There is a petting zoo area of friendly pygmy goats and giraffes. You can buy feed for the goats and carrots to feed the giraffes. Then make your way over to Parakeet Landing where you will see free flight parakeets, doves, and cranes. Their newest exhibit is the Sloth Barn where you can get a panoramic view of animals from South America. They have two-toed sloths and prehensile-tailed porcupines. This exhibit is seasonal due to the temperature requirements of the animals.

Have a Picnic Safari Park is equipped with designated picnic areas where you can relax, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and have a picnic lunch. You can pack your own sandwiches, drinks, and snacks or buy food from the park's restaurant. The picnic areas are shaded, and tables and benches are available, making it the perfect spot for a family gathering or a cozy date.

Gift Shop No adventure is complete without a souvenir. The Safari Park gift shop has a range of animal-themed souvenirs, including plushies, t-shirts, keychains, and other small items that are sure to delight both kids and adults. You can take a piece of Safari Park home with you to remember your thrilling day.

Safari Park in Alamo, TN is the perfect destination for anyone who loves animals, adventure, and nature. The safari-style park allows you to see the animals up close up in their natural environment. The park's picnic areas, animal shows, and petting zoos also provide guests with a wholesome way to spend the day. Don't hesitate, make plans to visit Safari Park today, and you will experience a wild adventure that you will never forget.

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WELCOME TO SAFARI WILD ANIMAL PARK! (No Pets)

Admission prices:.

Safari Wild Animal Park is Mississippi’s premier Safari Park featuring a stunning 466 Acre authentic African Drive-Through and Walk Through Safari Park and Wild Animal Preserve . See our amazing Wild African Animals up close and personal, with a Giraffe Feeding Station, Camel Rides, Lorikeet Feeding and a Children’s Petting Safari.

Experience all the above and more at your Safari Wild Animal Park. Drive through the 6.5 miles of African Safari Roads in your own car and interact and feed animals as you make your way through the wilds of Africa. After your journey return to the Foot Safari. An experience you will never forget, Africa at your back door. Read our Customer Testimonials .

Safari Wild Animal Park is renowned for being better, larger and closer than our competition and quite less drive time, meaning less gas expense and more time for your family to spend a full day in the Animal Park versus driving time. Just a short drive south of Memphis on interstate 55. View our Safari Park Tickets here »

Self Drive Safari Tour

You drive your own car on a designated road

Lorikeet Landing

Camel Rides

Childrens Petting Safari

Safari Wild 1549 Rooks Rd, Como, MS 38619

NO outside animals allowed NO exceptions.