wild life safari six flags

Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure: An Interactive Zoo Experience You Won’t Want To Miss

If you ever thought of going on a safari, here’s your chance— in NJ. The wildly popular Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure in Jackson opens the weekend of April 1 and is teeming with over 1,200 exotic animals from six continents ready to greet you and the whole family. Drive your car down a winding path where African elephants, reticulated giraffes, and red rhinos pass by your window (and maybe even stop traffic) in areas that mimic their natural habitats. Ready to go? Scroll down for all the details for going on a wild adventure at Six Flags Wild Safari—no passport needed. ( Feature Photo Credit: Six Flags Safari )

The zebras show off their stripes during the Six Flags in New Jersey. Photo Credit: Six Flags Safari

All the animals at Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru

Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure is unique because you never have to leave your car. The drive-thru is separated into 12 sections to show how animals live in distinct natural habitats. You’ll have the opportunity to watch a Roosevelt Elk run in The Americas, see an ostrich peck at your window in Afrikka, or view an African Lion at rest in Kingsland. As you wind around the loop, slow down by Baboon Village. This fan-favorite is where you can watch this rowdy troop jump all over a large metal piece in their exhibit (this metal piece is actually from “Lightning Loops,” a Six Flags Great Adventure rollercoaster that was deconstructed years ago). And not to worry, the baboons are no longer allowed to jump on your car like they were years ago ( whew ).

See animals in their natural habitat from the safety of your vehicle. Photo Credit: Six Flags Safari

Here’s what to know about the Drive-Thru before you go

The Six Flags Wild Safari Park is a total of 4.5 miles of paved road, and the drive-thru timing depends on the animals’ behavior (if they are out and about) and the traffic since you drive through super slowly—but expect it to take at least an hour. To make the experience even better, you can download a guide for all the details on the animals and facts. During the tour, you will see gates with signs that say “checkpost” to guide you to where you are and what you will see. Safari team members are available at many of the gates to help you with anything you might need during your adventure. And the animals can be temperamental (especially in crummy weather), so be prepared that you might not always see specific species. Whether you’re planning to go for the day or even just a quick visit, you’ll want to purchase tickets online and reserve a time and date to go. Tickets start at $24.99 for adults and $19.99 for seniors and children under 48″. 

Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru is only part of the park

If your family is still up for an adventure, New Jersey’s largest and most popular theme park, Six Flags Great Adventure , is right next door with rides, restaurants, and hours of entertainment. Six Flags Great Adventure’s main park has plenty of thrilling and tame rides for all ages and lots of special events planned for 2023. This Spring Break, visit Six Flags in New Jersey for Scream Break from April 8-15 for a frighteningly good time that includes some of the features from Fright Fest, like haunted houses, a scare zone, ghouls, and nighttime rides. If you’re thinking about going this summer, you’ll want to head over to Six Flag’s water park, Hurricane Harbor, and spend the rest of the day sliding and splashing on the lazy river and in the pools—a perfect ending to a day “on safari.” New this year, there will be lots of tamer options for younger kids, including a treehouse splash park and 7 new colorful slides that spin and whirl smaller riders. And good to know if you want to add this to your day— Six Flags Great Adventure and Hurricane Harbor require separate ticket purchases from the Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure.

Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure 1 Six Flags Boulevard Jackson, NJ 08527 (732) 928-2000

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About Author

Melanie Bodner has always had a love for writing, but now she has a new love…being a mom. Before having her kids, Melanie was no stranger to writing or working with children. She wrote for a local newspaper as a reporter and taught English and Dance in a public school. Now Melanie enjoys spending time with her kids, doing yoga, writing and decorating her home. Check out her Instagram @burlapbythebeach.

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Six Flags Great Adventure welcomes 10 new animals to its Wild Safari adventure

Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure opens for the 2022 season on March 19, with new animals, new tours, and memorable guest enhancements.

Springtime means new life, and Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J. has 10 newcomers ready to go “on show,” with more babies on the way, including American bison, zebra, kangaroo, blackbuck, aoudad, dama gazelle, and more.

Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure is the place to see the park’s new additions:

Southern White Rhinoceros – Sawyer is a six-year-old White rhino who will make his debut in the Afrikka section of the safari, alongside three adult female rhinos. He weights in at a whopping 3,800 pounds, and will grow to between 4,000-6,000 pounds as an adult. Sawyer loves being scratched with a bristle brush, and caretakers have noticed he has a “youthful bounce in his step.”

Reticulated Giraffe calves – Three new calves born over the winter will join the safari’s “tower” (group) of 13 reticulated giraffes, the tallest land mammal on Earth. When fully grown, the calves will stand up to 17 feet tall and weigh up to 3,000 pounds. These calves are special; their species is considered “vulnerable to extinction” due to habitat loss, poaching, and other human-wildlife interferences.

Sable Antelope – Wild Safari welcomes two sable antelope calves to the Serengeti Grassland section, giving them a home along with other exotic hoof stock such as addax, white-tailed gnu (also known as black wildebeest), and goat-like aoudad. Horse-like sable antelope can be identified by their tufted tails and impressive horns that curve like a scimitar.

Red Lechwe – Also born this past winter are two Red Lechwe calves, with their reddish fur, white-ringed eyes, and, when they’re grown, horns that can reach up to three feet long. This species of antelope can be found in African countries Zambia and Botswana, but will reside in the safari’s Wilde Plains section along with other hoof stock.

Asian water buffalo – As adorable as these Afrikka section’s two new calves are, this is a species that likes to submerge up to their necks in water. Not to be confused with Africa’s Cape buffalo, Asian water buffalo have been domesticated, and are used as beasts of burden and providers of the milk that makes liquid butter in India.

Updated in-person and virtual tours:

Safari Off Road Education – New for 2022 is this updated educational tour in a giant off-road vehicle. The tour includes a personal guide and driver, and the chance to feed giraffes and meet small exotic animals up close.

Science on Safari – Also updated is this contactless Academic Adventure audio tour with grade-specific guidebook and an optional visit with an animal educator.

Audio Tour – Enjoy a 50-minute narration showcasing 11 natural habitats and more than 70 species of animals. The audio tour is fun, educational, and provides facts about the animals, animal sounds, and music from around the world. The tour is free and can be streamed from any mobile device.

Cyber Safari – For those who prefer their safari in virtual style, this educational program offers an animal meet and greet session.  The virtual program can be extended, if desired.

Six Flags Great Adventure’s YouTube channel also offers a free “ Online Classroom ” with conservation, adaptation, genetics, and evolution videos appropriate for kindergarten-12th grade.

Want to do your part toward conservation? Purchase the park’s Save an Icon Pin collectible animal pins, including the 2022 edition featuring the bongo and cheetah, which will be available this spring. Proceeds go to the Wildlife Conservation Network.

Also new for 2022, the park’s mobile app has been enhanced, and now allows guests to add their safari pass to their Google Play or Apple wallets.

Six Flags Great Adventure also debuts the newly renamed Medusa roller coaster this spring.

For more information on the safari and tours, visit SixFlags.com .

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Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure to reopen this month: Here’s what to expect for 2022 season

• Updated: Mar. 16, 2022, 10:38 a.m. |
• Published: Mar. 16, 2022, 10:38 a.m.

Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure in Jackson, N.J., is set to open Saturday for the 2022 season. (Courtesy/Six Flags)

• Priya Shahi | [email protected]

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure will open on Saturday, March 19, for the 2022 season, with new animals and guest enhancements to improve the tour experience. Explore a 350-acre wildlife preserve that has 1,200 animals from six continents.

Throughout the spring, guests can expect to see new baby animals, including American bison, zebra, kangaroo, giraffes and more. Here are some animals that were born on site or were placed in the safari that you can spot during your Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure.

• Sawyer, the Southern White Rhinoceros: Throughout the spring season, guests can expect to see Sawyer, the southern white rhinoceros, who will join three adult female rhinos in the Afrikka section of the safari. Six-year-old Sawyer is gray in color and weighs 3,800 pounds. As a “mega-herbivore,” he munches on mainly hay and grain, and continues to grow. He lives side-by-side with other animals native to Africa, such as elephants, ostriches and zebras.

Sawyer, a southern white rhinoceros, joins three adult female rhinos in the Afrikka section of the safari. Six Flags Great Adventure

• Three Reticulated Giraffe Calves: This winter, three reticulated giraffe calves were born in the safari and have joined the group of 13 giraffes. It will not be hard to spot these calves that have brown-orange patches separated by thick, bright white lines, creating a patten of polygon-shaped spots. As the tallest land mammal on Earth, these calves can grow up to 17 feet tall and weigh from 1,500 to 3,000 pounds.

The safari is home to 13 giraffes in total. Six Flags Great Adventure

• Two Sable Antelope Calves: Get ready to see two sable antelope calves born in the safari and residing in the Serengeti Grasslands section. They resemble a horse, gloating a tufted tail, mane and impressive, ringed horns that curve like a scimitar. They live along with exotic hoof stock like addax, white-tailed gnu (black wildebeest) and aoudad.
• Two Red Lechwe Calves: You can identify two red lechwe calves, born onsite this winter, by their reddish fur, white-ringed eyes and tall horns reaching up to three feet long. This type of antelope is usually found near aquatic areas in Zambia and Botswana, and are considered a “near threatened species” in the wild. In the safari, they reside in the Wilde Plains section with a vast array of African species such as giraffe, greater kudu, ankole cattle, dama gazelle, white bearded gnu, bongo and more.
• Two Asian Water Buffalo Calves: While they bear some similarities to their African cousins, the Cape buffalo, Asian water buffalos are domesticated animals. Two Asian water buffalo calves just joined the Afrikka section in the safari -- and, staying true to their name, as they are often found submerged in ponds with only their heads visible above water.

NEW FEATURES

With Six Flags’ expansive modernization and beautification efforts, there will be a new roadway entrance and upgraded safari plaza to welcome guests.

Guests can also enjoy a smoother ride across the Safari Drive-Thru Adventure in a two-lane roadway with five newly paved miles of blacktop.

There is an option for an immersive experience with a new audio tour. Energetic narrators will showcase 11 simulated natural habitats featuring more than 70 different species of animals. Guests will learn fun and educational facts about the animals, hear fascinating animal sounds and music from around the world. The audio tour is free, and can be streamed from any mobile device.

To accommodate those who drive electric cars, there will be Volta Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, which are compatible with all electric vehicles, with available units in the safari parking lot later this season.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Six Flags Academic Adventures programs were developed by the park’s New Jersey state-certified teacher and tailored to the appropriate age groups while following state learning standards. Six Flags offers five programs that have been updated for 2022 including a new, off-road experience:

• Safari Off Road Education – This new program introduced in 2022 includes a fun and educational tour on a giant, off-road vehicle. It features a personal tour guide and driver, and an opportunity to feed giraffes and meet small exotic animals up close.
• Science on Safari – This contactless safari experience features a special Academic Adventure audio tour, grade-specific guidebook and optional visit with an animal educator.
• Wild Encounters – This outreach program brings exotic animals to schools for a 45-minute presentation.
• Cyber Safari – The safari’s virtual education program offers an animal meet and greet session, and the option for a longer virtual outreach program.
• Free Online Classroom – Six Flags Great Adventure’s YouTube channel offers free videos for students in kindergarten through 12th grade that cover conservation, adaptation, genetics and evolution.

ADMISSION, PRICING AND HOURS

A one-day ticket to Six Flags Great Adventure costs as low as $39.99. Six Flags announced a three-tiered Pass Program to maximize the value and experience for guests in 2022. Among the three, the Thrill Seeker Pass is the most affordable, and serves those who are frequent home park visitors. The Extreme Pass is ideal for live-on-the-edge thrills all year, without blockout dates. The Ultimate Pass provides the best value for everything offered; it includes all of the advantages of an Extreme Pass, plus more.

Thrill Seeker Pass ($79.99)

• Access to Six Flags Great Adventure, Hurricane Harbor New Jersey & Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure on Select Dates
• General Parking
• 1 Single-Use Skip the Line Pass (Weekday Visit; Theme Park Only)
• 2 Specialty Rate Tickets for Friends & Family
• Six Flags Rewards

Extreme Pass ($169.99)

• Unlimited Access to All Six Flags Outdoor Parks
• Includes two Junior Passes (guests under 42″, good all season!)
• Merchandise Discount - 25% off Most Items
• Food Discount - 15% off Most Items
• 2 Single-Use Skip the Line Passes (Weekday Visit; Theme Park Only)
• 1 One-Day Dining Deal
• 5 Specialty Rate Tickets for Friends & Family
• Flexible Pay Option

Ultimate Pass Benefits

• Unlimited Visits to All Six Flags Outdoor Parks
• Preferred Parking (Reservations Required)
• Merchandise Discount - 35% off Most Items
• Food Discount - 20% off Most Items
• 50% Off Discount on All Season THE FLASH Pass
• 10 Meal Dining Plan
• $25 in Merchandise credit
• 5 Single-Use Skip the Line Passes (Any Visit; Theme Park Only)
• 10 Specialty Rate Tickets for Friends & Family
• 1 Single-Use Games Play Pass (Theme Park Only)

The operating hours for the Park are typically from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.. The wild safari opens earlier at 9 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m.. Be sure to check their website for scheduled hours on the morning of the day you are going to visit because park hours are subject to change.

The Six Flags Great Adventure parks are currently hiring for the 2022 season, here is more information on how to apply.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Bottled water
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
• All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

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Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure to debut new animals and guest enhancements in 2022

By News Release | March 15, 2022

JACKSON, N.J. ─  Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure, one of the largest drive-through safaris outside of Africa, will open for the 2022 season March 19. The 350-acre wildlife preserve will debut new animals, memorable guest enhancements, increased capacity and streamlined park operations.

Spring animal additions include:

• Sawyer, the Southern White Rhinoceros  – Six-year-old Sawyer joins three adult female rhinos in the Afrikka section of the safari. Although grey in color, the southern white rhinoceros is the largest living species of the five species of rhino, averaging 4,000 to 6,000 pounds. At 3,800 pounds and growing, Sawyer has a youthful bounce in his step and enjoys human touch like scratches from a bristle brush. With a diet of hay and grain, Sawyer and his fellow rhinos are one the world’s last remaining “mega-herbivores” – a large animal that eats mainly plants. He lives side-by-side with other animals native to Africa such as elephants, ostriches and zebras;
• Three Reticulated Giraffe Calves  – Three adorable and graceful calves were born in the safari this winter and join the safari’s “tower” (group) of 13 giraffes. Native to Africa, giraffes are the tallest land mammal on Earth. They can stand up to 17 feet tall and weigh from 1,500 to 3,000 pounds. A giraffe’s long neck measures up to seven feet long, and despite its length, contains seven vertebrae just like humans. Due to habitat loss, poaching and other human-wildlife interferences, giraffes are considered “vulnerable to extinction;”
• Two sable antelope calves  – This striking, horse-like antelope from Africa boasts a tufted tail, mane and impressive, ringed horns that curve like a scimitar. Typically settling near water, the sable is an herbivore. In the wild, their beautiful horns are a highly prized trophy for hunters. Born in the safari, the pair of sable calves now reside in the Serengeti Grasslands section along with exotic hoof stock like addax, white-tailed gnu (black wildebeest) and aoudad;
• Two red lechwe calves  – Identifiable by their reddish fur, white-ringed eyes and tall horns reaching up to three feet long, this type of antelope is usually found near aquatic areas in Zambia and Botswana and are considered a “near threatened species” in the wild. The safari’s red lechwe calves, born onsite this winter, reside in the Wilde Plains section with vast array of African species such as giraffe, greater kudu, ankole cattle, dama gazelle, white bearded gnu (blue/brindled wildebeest), bongo and more; and
• Two Asian water buffalo calves  – Two adorable Asian water buffalo calves join the Afrikka section. While they bear some similarities to their African cousins, the Cape buffalo, these are domesticated animals. In the wild, they are commonly found on farms as beasts of burden. Their milk, which has more fat than that of domestic cattle, is used for making a liquid butter in India. In the safari, they are true to their name and are often found submerged in ponds with only their heads visible above water. 

Throughout the spring, guests can expect to see additional babies including American bison, zebra, aoudad, kangaroo, dama gazelle, blackbuck and more. Safari improvements include:

• Roadway Enhancements –  All guests will enjoy a smooth experience on an expanded, two-lane roadway with five newly paved miles of blacktop. The wider roadway will help better accommodate guests who wish to enjoy the tour at their own pace and accommodate school buses for educational programs;
•   Safari Education Programs –  Six Flags Academic Adventures programs were developed by the park’s New Jersey state certified teacher and tailored to the appropriate age groups while following New Jersey state learning standards. Six Flags offers five programs that have been updated for 2022 including a new, off-road experience:
• Safari Off Road Education –  New in 2022, this fun and educational tour on a giant, off-road vehicle features a personal tour guide and driver, and an opportunity to feed giraffes and meet small exotic animals up close.Ø   Science on Safari  – This contactless safari experience features a special Academic Adventure audio tour, grade-specific guidebook and optional visit with an animal educator.
• Wild Encounters  – This outreach program brings exotic animals to schools for a 45-minute presentation.
• Cyber Safari  – The safari’s virtual education program offers an animal meet & greet session, and the option for a longer virtual outreach program.
• Free Online Classroom –  Six Flags Great Adventure’s YouTube channel offers free videos for kindergarten through 12 th  grade that cover conservation, adaptation, genetics and evolution.Education information can be found online at  www.sixflags.com/safari  and by emailing  [email protected] .
•   New Audio Tour –  Guest can immerse themselves in the animal world with a new audio tour. Energetic narrators will showcase 11 simulated natural habitats featuring more than 70 different species of animals. Guests will learn fun and educational facts about the animals, hear fascinating animal sounds and music from around the world. At the start of their adventure, guests will receive a handout with QR codes that take them to the audio tour and safari map. The audio tour is free and can be streamed from any mobile device;
• Enhanced Safari Entrance –  Six Flags’ expansive modernization and beautification efforts include a new roadway entrance and upgraded safari plaza to welcome guests;
• Volta Electric Vehicle Charging Stations  – Compatible with all electric vehicles, units will be available in safari parking lot later this season;
• Save an Icon Pin –  Each year, the park produces and sells collectible animal pins and donates 100% of the proceeds to the Wildlife Conservation Network, whose efforts directly benefit animals in the wild. The 2022 pin, available later this spring, will feature the bongo and cheetah. Since 2019, the park has raised more than $50,000; and
• Enhanced Mobile App  – A new mobile app feature that allows guests to add their safari pass to their Google Pay Wallet or Apple Wallet will expedite the admission experience and reduce wait time. 
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Wild Safari Drive-Thru to Open at Six Flags Great Adventure

While the theme park and waterpark remain closed, Six Flags Great Adventure is opening its Wild Safari Drive-Thru for guests to enjoy from the comfort of their own cars, complete with an advance reservation system.

The drive-thru safari is something I remember doing with my family when I was a kid, and it’s a great option for families looking for something to do, especially while we wait for things to return somewhat to normal.

Wild Safari Drive-Thru

From 1974 to 2012, the Safari experience at Six Flags Great Adventure was a self-guided tour that allowed guests to drive their own cars through exhibit after exhibit of animals. I can remember the thrill of seeing animals right through my window when I was a kid and even seeing baboons jump on top of cars!

In 2013, the safari was changed to the Safari Off Road Adventure. It became an attraction inside the theme park that guests rode through on an open-air truck with a tour guide, with a stop at Camp Aventura for up-close encounters and a zip line. Some of the animal exhibits, like the baboons, were fenced in for this experience.

Now, with the need for social-distancing, the drive-thru aspect is back, just using the same road and exhibits from the past 7 years. That means this new version of the Wild Safari Drive-Thru won’t have any baboons jumping on cars. That’s probably disappointing for kids and reassuring for the parents. Camp Aventura will not be open as part of the drive-thru safari., but should reopen when the attraction eventually goes back to being the Safari Off Road Adventure.

Wild Safari Drive-Thru Hours and Pricing

Starting May 30, 2020, the Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure will operate daily from 9am to 4pm (weather permitting). Reservations will need to be made in advance, and no guests will be allowed to enter without a reservation. The safari takes about an hour to experience and Six Flags says the safari will accommodate thousands of families per day.

Pricing for the Wild Safari Drive-Thru is $17.99 per person for single day tickets. Members and Season Pass Holders are free, plus one $9.99 Bring-A-Friend ticket. Kids aged 2 and under are also free. All guests, regardless of what type of ticket they have, need a reservation to enter.

The procedure will work like this: First, guests will purchase tickets for the Wild Safari Drive-Thru. Then, you’ll go to the reservation system to choose the date and time you want to attend. (You’ll need your ticket #, order #, or season pass/membership # to confirm you purchased tickets.) When your reservation is complete you’ll receive a confirmation. Print that, or show it on your device through your window when you arrive. Printed sheets will probably be easier to scan through the window.

Tickets are available for purchase now. Members and Pass Holders will be able to start making reservations on May 27, 2020.

A Self-Guided Tour

Your self-guided tour of the Wild Safari will slowly cruise along the 5-mile path as it winds through the 350-acre preserve. During the hour-long journey, you will have the opportunity to see 1,200 animals in simulated natural habitats. Some of these animals may cross the road, and at times you’ll have animals within a few feet of your vehicle. But rest assured that predators are fenced off from the road.

The one downside to the self-guided tour is that you won’t have a knowledgeable tour guide to point out the animals, give you facts about them, or answer any questions you may have. The tour guide was one of the highlights of my Safari Off Road Adventure experience at Six Flags Great Adventure last summer. You can brush up on the animals you’ll see and their habitats on the park’s website at  www.sixflags.com/safari . (a passenger could even have this open on a device to reference during your visit.)

Here is a list of some of the animals you can expect to see.

Wild Safari Drive-Thru Animal Guide

The americas.

• Fallow Deer
• Roosevelt Elk
• African Elephants
• White Rhino
• Grant’s Zebra
• Asian Water Buffalo
• Marabou Stork

Wild Plains

• Common Eland
• Ellipsis Waterbuck
• Dama Gazelle
• Scimitar Horned Oryx
• Reticulated Giraffe
• Red Ankole Cattle
• White Bearded Gnu
• Greater Kudu

Serengeti Grassland

• White Tailed Gnu
• African Lions

Black Bear Ridge

• American Black Bear
• European Brown Bear

Conservation Area

Set aside for native species to the NJ area such as birds, foxes, turtles and even the bald eagle.

Didgeradoo Pass

• Red Kangaroo

Tigris Asiana

• Bangal Tigers
• Siberian Tigers

Baboon Jungle

• Anubis Baboons

Safari Safety – Know Before You Go

To ensure the safety of guests, Six Flag team members, and animals, the Wild Safari Drive-Thru experience will be contact-free. All tickets will need to be purchased in advance via an online reservation system . Tickets will not be available at the gate, and guests without tickets will not be permitted to enter.

• SLOW – 5 mph speed limit
• Maintain space between your car and others
• Animals always have the right of way
• Remain in your vehicle and on paved roadway at all times
• Windows and sun roofs must remain completely closed
• Convertible tops must be closed
• No pets, including service animals, are permitted inside cars
• Do not feed or touch the animals
• No smoking or littering
• No parking or stopping, other than yielding to animals
• All vehicles will be screened by Six Flags Security prior to entering Wild Safari
• No items are permitted in pickup truck beds or in vehicles with open storage
• Cars, SUVs and consumer pickup trucks only permitted – no buses, RVs, box trucks, commercial vehicles, pickup trucks larger than a consumer pickup allowed
• Plan ahead – no restrooms, food, or gasoline available (only portable toilets at entrance and exit)
• Enter at your own risk

Personally, we’re looking forward to making the drive to the Wild Safari Drive-Thru. It will be great to take a little road trip. In addition to planning how to handle our food and restroom stops, we’re putting together some accessories to bring in the car to enhance the experience. Here are some of our ideas:

• printable animal guide (we’ll share ours once we finish it)
• scavenger hunt
• safari bingo
• booster seats to help little ones see
• camera to take photos
• safari coloring books

You can find more information on the Wild Safari Drive-Thru, including the answers to frequently asked questions, at https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/attractions/safari

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Key Information

The Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure is once again a self-drive attraction at an extra charge (although free to Six Flags Members and Six Flags Great Adventure and Hurricane Harbor New Jersey pass holders). Drivers go on safari through the 350acre park with its 1,200 animals from six continents including elephants, rhinos, tigers, giraffes and lions.  The drive takes between 1 and 3 hours depending on the pace of the driver.

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In the summer of 2020, I began working at Six Flags Great Adventure Wild Safari in Jackson, NJ, as a seasonal warden focusing specifically on the husbandry of various species in the safari park. The following summer, I participated in a pre-veterinary internship. Since entering vet school, I have continued to return home to the safari on holiday breaks. It felt only right that my last summer, prior to entering clinics, be spent at the place that has helped me discover my passion for zoological medicine and continues to challenge me to improve in the clinical skills, diagnostics techniques, and treatment methods involved in the field. 

What was a typical day like?

While participating in the veterinary internship, I was mainly responsible for the care of the animals that resided in the clinic and assisting the veterinary staff with procedures and treatments. A typical day began with bottle feeding and treating animals in the clinic followed by accompanying one of the vets on morning rounds of the park. After we rode through the safari, following up on patients and observing all the species within the park, each day was variable. This is the aspect of zoo medicine that has always been so appealing to me! Some days were booked with planned procedures and check-ins on species of all shapes and sizes. Others would start off calmly and the course of the day would change abruptly with reports of concerns out in the safari. Throughout the day, I would keep track of neonatal feeding schedules and monitoring critical cases that were in the clinic. I also played a role in teaching the pre-veterinary interns that were rotating through the clinic anatomic and physiologic concepts that will hopefully prepare them for their future goals of veterinary school. No matter which path the day took, each day would end with another drive through the safari and watching the elephants walk back to the barn.

What was your favorite memory from this experience? 

Each time I return to the safari, I love seeing animals that were hand-reared or patients in the clinic, doing well on exhibit. In the early winter of 2021, a young Roosevelt Elk was brought into the clinic with a severe infection in her hoof. While there for winter break, I had the opportunity to help hand-rear the elk and assist with chemical immobilizations, bandage changes, and radiographs of her distal limb. After a lengthy period of treatment, her condition began to improve. When returning this summer, I was excited to see how well she was doing as she began her reintroduction phase with other species in the American Section!

Nothing could top the giraffe calves born this summer! One in particular, Chich, was by far my favorite as I had the privilege of caring for the not–so-little-guy in the clinic. Being born at roughly 200lbs, Chich was having difficulty standing on his own, and needed additional care to help him get back on his feet! 

What were the outcomes of this experience?

Through interning in the safari, I have become more confident in all aspects of veterinary medicine. I developed essential clinical skills like venipuncture and injection administration, while also expanding upon skills, like darting, are more specific to zoo medicine. Improving upon evaluating diagnostics, specifically interpreting radiographs and blood work, was a goal I set for myself this summer, and through the guidance of my mentors I feel like I have made strides towards achieving that. The most valuable veterinary skill I feel I improved upon was my critical thinking, as my thoughts on every aspect of a case were always prompted before the next steps were pursued. This improved not only my thought process surrounding the pharmacology of chemical immobilization and treatment of disease immensely, but also allowed me to step back and consider factors like herd dynamics when it came to the methods that would be used for diagnostics and treatment. Overall, building the trust of my mentors to be more involved in the cases within safari, teaching the pre-veterinary interns, and beginning to write medical records, was a result of this internship that I was beyond grateful for. 

What are your goals in veterinary medicine? 

With ambitions to become a zoo veterinarian, this opportunity allowed me to experience what every day could look like within a zoo. After being exposed to field medicine in the safari setting, it has fine-tuned my goals to aspire to work in a safari setting. Intercommunication between a number of species over a vast landscape creates a whole different aspect of veterinary medicine that is scarcely found anywhere else. One must incorporat

e multi-herd dynamics, population medicine, and focus on the individual animal all under one umbrella, which excites me. With so many different paths open to pursue in veterinary medicine, being passionate about what you are doing and genuinely happy in a position is something that should never be compromised. After this internship, I have cemented that zoo medicine is where I am meant to be, and where I hope to find myself in the future.

What are your recommendations to students interested in the wildlife/zoo field?

I would advise those interested in the wildlife/zoo field to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way b ecause you never know what doors that experience may open for you. Enter every new experience with an open mind and this will allow you to take away the most you can from each. Once you find what makes you happy, work hard and find a strong support system that you can rely on to help you remember why you love doing what you are doing if times get tough.

Erica Jackson, Class of 2025, is originally from Toms River, NJ and obtained her BS in Pre-Veterinary Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While at Cornell, Erica was the President of the Zoo and Wildlife Society and a student technician in the Exotics Department of the CUHA. She also was a member of SAVMA, AABP, and enjoyed choreographing and dancing in the Dance Collective. Erica aspires to pursue zoological medicine in the future and is very appreciative of her mentors and advisor for helping her develop as a veterinary student and professional. 

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