The Unique Park Everyone In Virginia Should Visit At Least Once

From the coastline to the mountains, Virginia has no shortage of beautiful parks. These preserved areas give us a chance to explore the natural landscape in a way that is so important for our appreciation of this state. While many are familiar with the State Park system, fewer realize there's actually a Safari Park located right in Lexington. And it's every bit as exotic as it sounds. For a chance to gaze at some truly extraordinary animals in a beautiful setting, you'll want to make the trip to this magical safari park soon.

Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains lies an unparalleled natural area where you can see giraffes, camels, elk, and zebras up close. This beautiful place is known as the Virginia Safari Park, and it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.

The Virginia Safari Park opened in 2000 with the goal of allowing locals and visitors the chance to see some fascinating animals in a habitat more natural than the cages of a zoo.

The park is located just outside of Lexington, on a gorgeous 180-acre farm where the animals can roam free.

One of the most unique experiences the Safari Park offers is the chance to turn your own car into a safari vehicle!

In other words, you’ll enter the park, pay minimally for a bucket of feed, and then continue to drive among some spectacular animals. This 3-mile drive is intended to be taken leisurely, as the animals are definitely on their own agenda. Don’t be surprised to find them lounging in the sun or helping a newborn take its first steps.

The animals are certainly accustomed to visitors, though, and will gladly pop their heads into your car for a snack.

This can be done abruptly, so always be alert, especially with little ones in the vehicle.

From unique species of birds to kangaroos, this safari park in Virginia features some truly fantastic animals.

It’s a spot that’s especially popular with children but also fascinating to adults who may never have seen these animals in a semi-natural environment before.

One of the newest additions to the park is the King Cheetah. These brilliant creatures are among the rarest in the world.

It's estimated that only ten King Cheetahs live in the wild, with 50 living in protection or captivity. The Virginia Safari Park is in partnership with the Cheetah Conservation Fund to ensure the protection of the species. You can read more about these conservation efforts here.

If the drive-through approach doesn’t appeal to you, there are many other ways to interact with these animals. There’s a 10-acre walk-through known as the Safari Village that’s included in the price of the admission ticket.

If you’d like to visit with a bigger group, you can call ahead and reserve a private wagon. These are typically booked between 4-6 weeks in advance and cost a bit more than standard admission fee.

No matter how you choose to experience the Virginia Safari Park, you'll leave feeling as though you've traveled to a distant part of the world.

Have you visited this magical animal encounter in Virginia before? If so, be sure to tell us about your experience there -- we'd love to hear from you! For more information, you can visit the official Safari Park website.