We have been going to the Virginia Safari Park ever since we were in college at James Madison University. Every time we go, it is a unique experience and we never know if there will be anything new! Our family has gotten season passes for about 15 years now because it a great trip if you are an adult or are bringing some kids along. Everyone has a great time and you never know what will happen at the Safari!
Virginia Safari Park Tickets
Admission to the park is as follows:
Ages 13-64: $26.95
Aged 65+: $24.95
Aged 2-12: $18.95
Under 1: Free
There are also discounts for First Responders, Active Duty and Retired Military if you have valid ID. Tickets last the entire day so guests can leave and come back and be readmitted later.
We have been getting the Membership Duo passes for the last couple of years. What this does is my daughter and I have passes and we can bring a guest every time we go. That means we can go with my husband and other daughter, or if grandparents visit while my husband and kid are at school, they can be our free guest. It works very well for our family.
Guests also get a free bucket of grain with each initial membership purchase. I highly recommend this if you live in the area. We go down there during the week and have the place to ourselves.
Feed for the Animals
Usually, my daughter wants to feed the animals and it is half the fun. Many times, we end up getting the Feed Bundle which includes goat food, giraffe food, budgie sticks and pheasant food.
I don’t usually like getting the giraffe food because they tend to be the hardest ones to feed. They tend to stay away from the feeding area most of the time and then you are stuck with expensive romaine lettuce.
The budgie sticks are great because they can be saved and the goat and pheasant feed gets eaten without an issue.
Virginia Safari Park Food
There are a couple of food options when you get to the park. The Gift Shop has ice cream bars and some special treats, but the main dining is the Watering Hole Café in the Safari Village. This café has standard park fare and we love getting a soft pretzel or Icee to tide us over. Check the hours here because they may not be open. The park allows you to bring outside food so many times we bring our own snacks and eat in the seating area here or the picnic pavilion.
Virginia Safari Park Tip:
Bring your own water! I asked for a tap water before and they were going to charge me for it. There are no water fountains.
Virginia Safari Park Safari Village
The park is divided into two parts: The Safari Village which is a walkthrough and the Drive in Portion. We find ourselves enjoying the Safari Village more because we live close by and this is usually enough for us. It has many feeding, petting and observing opportunities.
UPDATE: New Playground Being added to Walkabout
I was just at the Safari last week and we noticed a play structure being placed in the walkabout, near the wagon ride entrance. Workers told me they think it will be open after Memorial Day!
Goats
The goats are the first animals to greet you and they will be enthusiastic if you have food! Just watch out as they can get aggressive with each other fighting for the food. The best time to visit the goats is in the early Spring, or Summer when the baby goats are born and hopping around.
Reptiles
The reptiles are located directly behind the goats. This area has snakes, turtles, bearded dragons, armadillos and more. These animals are behind glass and sometimes will hide. It’s a great spot for some shade on those hot summer days.
Monkeys
There are several different types of monkeys in the Safari Village. We have found small ones and large ones to watch. There is a bench near the larger ones where you can watch them play and groom.
Kangaroos
The kangaroos have to be one of my favorites because you never know what you’ll get. Sometimes they will be all sleeping in the grass and other times they will be on the path and allow you to pet them. As you can see, this one allowed us to pet her and when she was done, she got up and left.
Many times, you will see babies hanging out of pouches and the parents hopping all over the exhibit, but watch out for poop!
Penguins
The penguins are a favorite of our whole family. If you get there at the right time, you can witness feeding of the whole group or a massive swim party in their dual level pool. These penguins also appear to be very chatty and curious as they will walk up to the fence to look at you and will talk to you. It’s a perfect place to hang out for a while.
Giraffes
The giraffes are so neat to watch but you have to catch them at the right time. Zookeepers will not allow giraffes out of their shelter if the temperature is under 40 degrees. If they do come out, there is a good chance they will hang out in their large roaming area and not visit the feeding area for the guests.
But, if they do come up, they expect some adoration and snacks. They love the romaine and some don’t seem to mind a little nose rub. We especially love when the babies come over for a closer look, but make sure you watch out for those long giraffe tongues!
Cheetahs and Tigers
The Safari Park has some amazing cats such as the cheetahs and tigers. We love walking up the hill to check out the cheetahs in their territory and the tiger cubs were adorable (they’ve grown up). These cats have toys to play with and plenty of sunshine. Watching them is fun if they are awake, but we all know cats love to sleep. But, they are still amazing to observe.
Butterfly Bush
Behind the cheetah enclosure, there are several butterfly bushes. These are one of my favorite parts because when it blooms, many large butterflies will visit and rest on the flowers for a snack. This is just an added perk in the back of the park.
Budgees
Kids love the Budgee area so much due to the hands on nature of the exhibit. Budgee sticks cost $2 and they are well worth the expense. Many times when we walk in the area, the birds will swarm if we have sticks. I have had both my arms covered in birds but sometimes they are more shy and will stay off to the side. If the birds are less hungry, the sticks can be saved for another visit.
Different Birds
There are many different varieties of birds at Virginia Safari Park. We have seen free roaming peacocks, chickens, ducks, pheasants, emus and more.
Virginia Safari Park Drive Through
The drive through portion of the park is so much fun and never the same. When you first drive in, you will be bombarded by llamas and all sorts of other animals. While you do the drive through, you will encounter llamas, emus, ostrich, camels, zebras, deer, watusi cattle and so much more. Be aware your vehicle will get dirty and slobbery. This takes around thirty minutes or so depending on how slowly you drive and how many people are in there with you.
Virginia Safari Park Tip:
When feeding the animals, make sure to have two hands on the bucket and keep it low. There are several large, smart animals that will steal your bucket!
Wagon Rides
If you don’t want to take your car in the drive through, you have the option of taking a wagon ride for an extra fee.
Photo Ops
Several photo opportunities can be found throughout the park!
Picnics
Enjoy a picnic at home in the picnic pavilion or the seating in the Watering Hole Café. The picnic pavilion has great views of animals on the hills and sometimes they come over to get a look at you.
Virginia Safari Park Gift Shop
Lastly, the gift shop has all the merchandise you could ever need that is animal themed. They have toys, clothing, books, drinks and ice cream bars. This is also where you would purchase your feed for the animals.
Other Helpful Links
Massanutten Water Park Review and Tips