Louisiana

explore like never before

Get Custom Travel guides packed with local tips
Nature|Wildlife & Farms

Take A Walk On The Wild Side At This Unique Safari Park In Louisiana

Wild Country Safari Park in Epps, Louisiana offers a unique family adventure with guided tours and a variety of exotic animals.

Published Mar 8, 2019

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin

Looking for a unique adventure that the entire family will enjoy? Well, we’ve got just the spot! This hidden gem located in northeastern Louisiana is the perfect place for a day trip that you’ll never forget. Are you ready to take a walk on the wild side?

Located about 45 minutes east of Monroe in the sleepy little town of Epps, Wild Country Safari Park is an epic escape that the whole family will love.

alt
Wild Country Safari Park/Facebook

You have the option to take a guided tour or drive your own vehicle through the 300-acre park.

advertisement
alt
Jarred A./Trip Advisor

We recommend the guided tour, as if offers tons of fascinating information about this special place and all the animals within it. You’ll learn all about the animals, how they came to live at Wild Country Safari Park, and so much more.

There are more than 30 different species of animals at Wild Country Safari Park.

alt
Wild Country Safari Park/Facebook

During your tour, you’ll encounter beautifully exotic breeds like giraffes, kangaroos, wild bison, and more.

Purchase some feed so you have the opportunity to get up close and personal to these beautiful beasts.

alt
Wild Country Safari Park/Facebook

They aren’t shy and are used to being fed by humans, so don't be shocked when they stick their head through the window looking for a snack!

There are also dozens of reptiles and birds.

advertisement
alt
Wild Country Safari Park/Facebook

You’ll find lizards, turtles, and snakes, as well as some beautiful parrots, cockatoos, and more. Kids will have an absolute blast seeing all these different animals up close.

The park is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but school field trips and tours for larger groups can be arranged on Tuesday through Friday as well. If you want to get wild on your birthday, you can even host a Safari Party at the park!

alt
Wild Country Safari Park/Facebook

Wild Country Safari Park also offers deals for larger groups. Call them up at (318) 878-3634 or click here for contact information and scheduling details.

If you plan to drive your own vehicle through the park, admission costs $12 for adults and $8 for kids. If you’d like to take a tour, admission costs $16 for adults and $10 for kids. Children under age three get in for free!

alt
Wild Country Safari Park/Facebook

Wild Country Safari Park’s hours vary by season:

May - September

Tuesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tours offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m.)

Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Tours offered at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.)

October - April

advertisement

Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tours offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m.)

Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Tours offered at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.)

Wild Country Safari Park is located at 8 Hobby Newton Rd., Epps, LA 71237. For more information, visit the park’s website here and follow along on its Facebook page here.

Have you ever been to Wild Country Safari Park? Let us know in the comments below!

If you find yourself in the southeastern part of the state, be sure to check out Global Wildlife, the largest free-roaming animal preserve in the country. Learn more about it here.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

Experiences|Activities

The Audubon Center in Louisiana Where You’ll See More Than 20 Penguins in a Single Afternoon

Published Sep 29, 2024

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin
alt
Louisiana Travel/Flickr

The Audubon Nature Institute is a fan favorite for locals and tourists alike. From sloths to scorpions and everything in between, Audubon is one of the top-ranked zoos in the country for a reason. 

advertisement

For aquatic enthusiasts, the Audubon Center in Louisiana offers a special treat where you can have an animal encounter with penguins! If your social media feed is anything like mine, you’ve likely seen that jumbo King penguin, Pesto, that was recently born at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia. I can’t get enough of this absolute unit of a bird, and since I can’t hop a flight to Australia, I’ve found the next best thing—a penguin party at the Audubon Aquarium. 

Let’s learn a little about the African Penguin and what the animal encounter experience is like:

alt
Betty’s Bay, South Africa -African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the jackass penguin and black-footed penguin at Stony Point penguin colony.

There are 18 species of penguins in the world. Most of them prefer a snowy climate surrounded by glaciers and icebergs, but not the African Penguin. This fella is a unique species of penguin that has acclimated to warmer climates. 

Fun fact: all penguins are naturally found in the southern hemisphere. There are no penguins living naturally in the northern hemisphere. 

alt
A pair of African penguins on Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town. | Location: Near Simon’s Town, South Africa.

African Penguins live in colonies on the coast of Southern Africa. They have distinctive pink patches above their eyes, but another signature calling card for these flightless birds is the sound they make. African Penguins tend to make a noise that sounds like a donkey, which is how they earned their nickname, the jackass penguin.

The Audubon Aquarium hosts a penguin party every week where visitors can get up close and personal with these endangered beauties. These animal encounters are kept to small numbers both for the safety of the animals and guests, so I’d recommend buying your tickets a few weeks in advance.

alt
Penguin swimming in water with bubbles. African penguin. Spheniscus demersus. Cape penguin or South African penguin. Copy space.

Groups of eight will be led to the encounter area where the experience will last about 45 minutes. Visitors will need closed-toe shoes to participate, so plan accordingly! 

The majority of an African Penguin’s diet consists of sardines, shellfish, and anchovies. If you have shellfish allergies, this may not be the animal encounter for you. 

advertisement

The Audubon Aquarium hosts penguin parties every Friday and Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. Participants are asked to arrive at the Information Booth at least 15 minutes beforehand. 

This is an awesome experience for families, as long as everyone is six years old or older. How often do you get the opportunity to pet a penguin?!

If you've ever been to one of the Audubon Aquarium's penguin parties, let us know! If you love this, then you absolutely need to check out Barn Hill Animal Preserve. They have even more animal encounters, including sloths and otters! It's about a two-hour drive from New Orleans, but I promise you it's worth a road trip.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

Nature|Wildlife & Farms

Here Are The 4 Absolute Best Pumpkin Patches In Louisiana To Enjoy In 2024

Discover the best pumpkin patches in Louisiana, each offering unique activities and photo opportunities for the fall season.

Updated Aug 6, 2024

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin

It might not feel like it, but fall in Louisiana is on its way to us. This is my favorite time of the year, and I couldn’t be more excited to share some of the best pumpkin patches in Louisiana with y’all. Even though we still may be experiencing some summer temperatures, these pumpkin patches will soon start opening their gates and letting you come through with your crew to pick up some pumpkins to decorate for the season. I know there are dozens and dozens of pumpkin patches around the state, but these pumpkin patches in Louisiana go the extra mile with endless activities and photo opportunities to enjoy.

advertisement

1. Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch

Two children walk among a field of pumpkins on a sunny day, with families enjoying the pumpkin patch in the background.
Travis Griggs/Google Reviews

Mrs. Heather’s is one of the best pumpkin patches near New Orleans, and it’s worth a road trip. The pumpkin patch is open from September 25 - November 8, 2024, and you’ll want to plan to spend the entire afternoon here. Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch offers a lengthy list of activities for the family to enjoy, including face painting, a corn maze, a hay maze, seesaws, a jumping pillow, and so much more. Special cartoon characters often make an appearance, so be sure to follow Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch on Facebook so you never miss out on any announcements.

2. Curry Farms

A large inflatable pumpkin character sits on hay bales surrounded by pumpkins and flowers at Curry Farms.
Curry Farms/Facebook

This pumpkin patch near Monroe is perfect for a fall afternoon. The pumpkin patch opens on September 28 and runs until November 3, 2024, and admission is $15 per person. Curry Farms boasts nearly 20 activities to enjoy including a tractor tire carousel, sluice mining, a corn maze, hay rides, and so much more. After the season is over Curry Farms transforms into a Christmas tree farm, so you can come back after pumpkin season and snag your perfect tree!

3. DixieMaze Farms

A vibrant sunset over a lush field, with silhouettes of trees and people in the distance among green foliage.
Samantha McGhee/Google Reviews

One of the best pumpkin patches near Shreveport, you’ll find yourself visiting DixieMaze Farms a lot this season. Opening September 28, 2024, Dixie Maze Farms will have a wide range of pumpkins to choose from, as well as all your favorite farm activities. The corn maze at DixieMaze Farms is one of the best in Louisiana, and every year it’s something different. The entire Fall Fest at DixieMaze Farms is memorable. They host movie nights on the weekends, and closer to Halloween the corn maze gets a haunted upgrade on select nights.

advertisement

4. Poche’s Patch & Maze

A woman in a hat sits on hay next to pumpkins and a vintage truck, surrounded by decorative pillows and straw hats.
Daniel Veloza/Google Reviews

Folks living in Cajun Country will have a blast picking the perfect pumpkin at Poche’s Patch & Maze. As one of the best pumpkin patches near Lafayette, the whole family will love an autumn day spent here. The pumpkin patch opens at the end of September, and runs until Halloween. They haven't announced a specific opening date for 2024 yet, but it's coming! Poche’s has awesome events planned for each weekend, so be sure to check the schedule beforehand!

Did your favorite Louisiana pumpkin patch make the list? Let us know in the comments below! Of course, fall is so much more than just pumpkins. Check out our guide to fall in Louisiana where we highlight some of our favorite hiking trails, festivals, and upcoming events.

After you've plucked the perfect pumpkin and decorated your house, you may be inspired to do a little leaf-peeping! Here's everything you need to know about when the leaves will change in Louisiana.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

All Stories

Stays
Vacation Rentals

The Secluded Airbnb Cabin in New Hampshire Is the Perfect Place for a Digital Detox

by Kim Falchek
on Nov 9
alt
Nature
National & State Parks

The Breathtaking Small Town State Park in North Carolina That We Can’t Stop Thinking About

by Beth Copenhaver
on Nov 8
alt
Stays

This Secluded Airbnb Cabin in Oregon Is the Perfect Place for a Digital Detox

by Courtnie Erickson
on Nov 8
alt
Nature
Hiking

Skip the Crowds: Explore Hawaii’s 5 Quietest Trails and Parks This Month

by Megan McDonald
on Nov 8
alt
Nature

The Remote Destination in California Where the Drive Is Worth the Final View

by Megan McDonald
on Nov 8
alt