You don’t need a plane ticket to Africa to go on a safari, just head to Neshkoro, Wisconsin.
I recently visited Shamba Safari, a drive-through animal park that’s home to everything from zebras and giraffes to lions, rhinos, and even camels. It’s one of those hidden Midwest gems that’s perfect for a summer day trip, especially if you’re traveling with kids.
I went with my sister-in-law, niece, and nephew, and we were all grinning ear to ear by the end. Here’s everything to know before you go, including the best parts, what it costs, and a few tips I wish I had known before visiting.
The Animals at Shamba Safari
This drive-through safari in Wisconsin is home to a ton of different animals. These are some you can expect to see:
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R27e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R47e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeGiraffes
Zebras
Rhinos
Lions
Camels
Ostriches
Fallow deer
Elands
Prairie dogs…and more.
It’s a surprisingly diverse mix, and the animals seem well cared for and have plenty of space to roam.
One of the coolest parts about this safari is that you can purchase a bucket of feed for the animals. It currently costs $10 to buy a food bucket. This lets you feed animals such as the camels during your drive through the property. Which, these guys can be a little sassy, though, so be prepared for this!
This was the sassiest camel! Haha.Feeding the little fallow deer was also a hit with everyone, including my niece, who was 3 at the time.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2ge4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4ge4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe The Elands were my personal favorite. These guys are HUGE! But they were so gentle and fun to interact with.
An ElandThe star attractions at Shamba Safari are the majestic giraffes. Who doesn’t love giraffes?!? You can get out and feed them, either before or after your drive-through safari. This is the only time you will get out of your vehicle to interact with the animals.
Where is Shamaba Safari located?
Shamba Safari is located in Neshkoro, which is in Marquette County, Wisconsin. It took me a little over an hour to get there from Appleton, Wisconsin, and it’s only an hour's drive from Wisconsin Dells.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2pe4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4pe4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeHow long does it take to visit?
It’s a 3-mile route, and you’ll be driving at about 3 mph. You’ll stop along the way to feed the animals and take photos of them. Once you are inside the gates, you can take the route as many times as you would like.
However, I would say plan to spend between 1 - 2 hours here. We spent just under 2 hours total here, and it felt like the perfect amount of time.
Shamba Safari Hours
Shamba Safari is currently open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer. Final vehicles are let in at 4:30 pm. The park is currently open from May through Labor Day.
I highly recommend checking their website before you go, just to confirm they are open on the date you want to visit.
A feed bucket you can purchase at Shamba Safari.How Much Does it Cost?
Shamba Safari admission is currently $10 + tax per person ages 2 and up. Again, feed buckets cost an additional $10 but are absolutely worth it.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R33e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R53e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeThey accept Visa, American Express, Discover, and MasterCard payments, and, of course, cash.
Admission to Shamba is also only available the day of your visit at the ticket booth. No pre-purchases or reservations are accepted at this time!
Other amenities at Shamba
They also have a pavilion area with picnic tables, so you can bring your family a packed lunch.
They also have snacks and soda available for purchase at the gift store. And Porta-potties are also available.
I am a terrible selfie taker, haha.Other things to note…
If you opt to purchase feed buckets and feed the animals, plan for your clothes and your car to get pretty dirty. My sister-in-law was kind enough to drive us, and her car was covered in feed by the time we were done! Our clothes also had a pretty good amount of slobber and feed on them. So be sure to wear something you don’t mind getting dirty and that you can easily wash after your visit. It’s also a good idea to pack plenty of wet wipes and hand sanitizer!
Another thing to note is that all visitors must remain inside their vehicles while doing this drive-through safari. Vehicles must also have a roof and all doors. So, no convertibles and no riding in the back of pickup trucks.
Bottom Line: We LOVED it and can’t recommend Shamba Safari enough!
Shamba safari was a hit for both kids and us adults! And the animals all appeared to be very well taken care of, with plenty of room to roam freely.
We are so happy we visited and hope to make it back before the end of this summer, as it was such a good time!
Want to learn even more about Shamba Safari? Watch my video below!
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Yahoo CreatorLindsey PulsCreator of Have Clothes, Will TravelLindsey is a nationally syndicated freelance travel and fashion writer and regular contributor to the Associated Press Wire, MSN.com, and Yahoo. Follow
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