Tours & Prices

The above schedule applies to non-scheduled visitors. Pre-registered groups of 20 or more may be able to tour on other days of the week. Please contact Group Services for more information.

Welcome to the Wilds!

Board a guided Safari Transport to view rare and endangered animals living in natural, open-range habitats, including a visit to the new Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center, and learn about the Wilds' conservation work. You can also visit the Wilds Gift Market, Overlook Cafe, Butterfly Habitat, and Birding Station.

2010 Visitor Season Schedule
Open Saturdays and Sundays May, September and October.
Open 7 days a week June, July, and August.
Open Memorial Day and Labor Day
HOURS DURING OPEN DAYS: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
First tour departs at 10 a.m. Last tour departs at 4 p.m.

Pick Your P.A.C.E.

For your own P.A.C.E. -- Personal Adventure in Conservation Education -- you choose from several options to personalize your experience at the Wilds.

First, choose either the Safari Transport Pass or the Open-Air Safari (details below) for your daytime tour experience during the Wilds' regular visitor schedule.

The Safari Transport Pass includes stops at the following destinations during your tour: Lake Trail, the Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center, the Wetland (opened seasonally), and the Outpost.

The minimum tour time for a Safari Transport Pass is approximately two hours (for pasture tour only, without destinations). Plan for an additional one half hour for each destination stop that you choose on your tour (i.e., Carnivore Center, Lake Trail).

Open-Air Safari tours are approximately 2.5 hours long.

Before or after your safari tour, enjoy a visit to the Wilds Gift Market and Overlook Cafe, or a stroll through the Wilds' Butterfly Habitat.

Also, consider a Sunset Safari, available Friday and Saturday evenings June through September by reservation (details below).

Safari Transport Pass

Board a Safari Transport for the Wilds' signature experience. Knowledgeable guides will take you through the Wilds' open-range animal areas, where you'll see rhinos, giraffes and many other rare and endangered animals roaming in large, natural settings. Several destination stops along the way - including the new Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center - offer opportunities to explore, learn, and relax while you observe the wildlife around you. With transports running on a shuttle system, you choose how long to enjoy each destination before continuing the tour. Please see ADA information below.

Adults: $20.00
Seniors: $19.00
Children age 4-12: $15.00
Children age 3 and under: Free
Wilds Member: Free
Active Member of the Military: Free (must show current ID)

Safari Transports depart regularly from the Visitor Center approximately every 10 to 20 minutes on open days beginning at 10 a.m. The last Safari Transport departs at 4 p.m. Safari Transport vehicles feature large windows and are air conditioned. Reservations Not Required

COMMUNITY DAYS Mondays and Tuesdays in June, July and August
Visitors from Muskingum, Guernsey, Noble and Morgan Counties receive a $2 discount off a Safari Transport pass with proper ID on Mondays and Tuesdays in June, July and August. Discount does not apply to Open-Air Safari.

Open-Air Safari

Board an Open-Air Safari vehicle for a premium day-tour experience, providing outstanding opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. A knowledgeable guide will take you through the Wilds' open-range animal areas, where you'll see rhinos, giraffes and many other rare and endangered animals roaming in large, natural settings. This tour includes stops at selected destinations, including the new Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center. Please see ADA information below.

$27.00 per person (all ages)
Wilds Members: $22.00 per person (all ages)
Active Member of the Military: Free (must show current ID)

Open-Air Safari vehicles depart the Visitor Center hourly on the half-hour between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the spring and fall; and every half hour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the summer season.
Reservations Not Required

Sunset Safari Tour

Twilight is a magical time of day to experience the Wilds.

Your Sunset Safari tour begins with a buffet dinner, prepared by the Wilds' professional chef, on the deck of the Overlook Café. Enjoy sweeping views of the Wilds’ beautiful landscape bathed in the late evening sun.

Open Air Safari at the Wilds Then, board an Open-Air Safari transport for a guided tour through the Wilds’ open-range animal areas when the animals are most active at feeding time. View rhinos, giraffes, antelope and other rare and endangered animals roaming in large, natural habitats as you enjoy the evening sunset.

This tour includes a stop at the new Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center and other destinations for up-close learning experiences of the important conservation work taking place at the Wilds. Be sure to bring your camera for incredible photographic opportunities. Please see ADA information below.

Available every Friday and Saturday June through September.

Non Member: $65.00 per person (all ages)
Wilds Members: $60.00 per person (all ages)

Advance reservations and payment are required and must be made by phone. Please call 740-638-5030 x2286. These popular tours fill up quickly. We recommend you consider booking your 2009 Sunset Safari tour early in the season!

For additional information or to check on availability, you may also contact reservations@thewilds.org .

Sunset Safari tours begin at 5 p.m. June through August; 4:30 p.m. in September (dinner takes place following the safari tour in September).

Sunset Safaris take place rain or shine. If weather is inclement, dinner will be served inside the Overlook dining room, and the safari tour will be provided in a windowed Safari Transport vehicle.

Private Sunset Safari tours are available Sundays through Thursdays, June through September, for groups of 30 or more people. Please see our Group Tour page for more information.

Wildside Tour

This exclusive tour gives you the opportunity to interact with animal management specialists to see the Wilds at work. Each experience will vary day-to-day, depending on what program work is taking place at the time of the Wildside Tour. One day you might observe Conservation Medicine staff conducting a medical procedure; or visit Restoration Ecology staff reseeding prairies; or feed the giraffes with our Animal Management staff. Tours are three hours long and include plenty of time in pasture to see rare and endangered species in open-range habitat, and learn directly about our programs from your Animal Management guide.

The Wildside Tour takes place 10:30 a.m. daily throughout the year. Other tour times may be available by request. Advance reservations are required. Maximum 6 guests per tour. Must be age 4 or older. For November through April, reservations must be made at least 7 days in advance.

Non Members: $125.00 per person
Wilds Members: $100.00 per person

Advance reservations and payment are required and must be made by phone. Please call 740-638-5030 x2286.

The Wildside Tour takes place rain or shine. Please dress appropriately. For the safety of our guests, close-toed shoes are required. Guests of the Wildside Tour will be transported Safari style on a padded bench in the back of a specially-designated Animal Management pick-up truck. We regret that this experience is not ADA accessible.

WINTER SAFARI TOURS take place November through March by reservation.

Prices and hours are effective as of January 1, 2009, and are subject to change.

No pets are allowed anywhere on Wilds property. Guests are not permitted to leave their pets in their vehicles in the visitor parking lot.

Visitor Parking Fee $3.00 per vehicle.

50% discount on Safari Transport tour offered to members of reciprocal AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) institutions with valid and current membership card. AZA membership discounts not offered on specialty tours (for example, Open Air Safari, Sunset Safari) or programs (for example, camps, Winter on the Wilds).

Visits to the Butterfly Habitat and the Birding Station at Jeffrey Point are free.

Strollers and coolers are not allowed on Safari Transport vehicles.

HANDICAP/ ADA ACCESSIBILITY:

Every other SAFARI TRANSPORT (windowed, air conditioned vehicle) that departs the Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible and can accommodate up to two wheelchairs. No reservations are necessary. (Length of time between departures may be increased if a handicap accessible vehicle is pulled out of rotation for maintenance.)

One wheelchair accessible OPEN-AIR SAFARI vehicle is available and can accommodate up to two wheelchairs. PLEASE CALL AHEAD FOR DEPARTURE SCHEDULE TO ENSURE AVAILABILITY FOR YOUR ARRIVAL TIME.

All visitor areas on the safari tours are ADA compliant. Some walking trail areas of the Lake Trail and Wetland areas have limited handicap access. The Carnivore Center and Outpost walkways and boardwalks are fully handicap accessible.

Visitors with service animals are welcome at the Wilds. However, for the health and safety concerns of the non-native species, we regret that some visitor areas cannot accommodate service animals. Please contact us to make arrangements for your tour.

Handicap is parking available.