Attraction The Safari

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GAcoaster

GAcoaster

Advisory Panel
Sep 14, 2010
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When Great Adventure opened in July 1974, the Safari was considered as big an attraction and the Enchanted Forest Theme Park. The Safari, like so many things about Great Adventure, was that it was the biggest-- "Largest Drive Through Safari outside of Africa" with thousands of animals roaming free while guests rode through in their cars (or if they had a vinyl top, taking the Tour Bus instead).

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Originally all the animals truly roamed freely, with the elephants, lions, tigers, and bears (oh, my!) walking up to an on people's cars, sometimes causing damage to their vehicles. The Baboons especially were known to pull parts off of cars, giving rise to the "Baboon By-Pass" which went around the Baboon area.

Click for a look at the Safari in 1974:
https://www.greatadventurehistory.com/1974SafariTour.htm
 
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I recently nade my first Safari visit here are a few if my favorite pictures from the visit.
 

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Born just in time to give safari visitors a look before the end of the 2025 season!

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Dr. William Rivers (Director of the Wild Safari) said:
These births are an exciting milestone for our zebra herd. The foals are healthy, curious, and already showing unique personalities. Fall is a beautiful time to visit the safari and see these little ones up close.
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MusicEnlightens said:
In trying to make the resort a true flagship destination I can see GAd keeping the safari, maybe even leasing out its operations, or just closing the safari down the road when the dry park reinvents itself as a draw that doesn’t need the safari.
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I have to hope the former would be the outcome, though I do agree that the Wild Safari may be on borrowed time as a property directly operated by SFEC. The public outrage over a full closure would make the outrage over Ka’s closure look like complaints over a Dippin Dots stand.
 
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GASM said:
I have to hope the former would be the outcome, though I do agree that the Wild Safari may be on borrowed time as a property directly operated by SFEC. The public outrage over a full closure would make the outrage over Ka’s closure look like complaints over a Dippin Dots stand.
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u think so? I feel like the general sentiment around the safari whenever I mention it is that nobody's been there since the drive-thrus stopped
 
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Right, but it’s still there. I think it’s a combination of somewhat taking it for granted, and “I’d rather have it there and not go through it than it not be there at all.”

I know I fall into the latter. I haven’t been through it since the previous incarnation of Off Road Adventure, but I’d be devastated if they closed it. Taking a look at it from the top of El Toro and Medusa was always a highlight of my visits (was too busy looking at Philly/NYC on Ka).
 
GASM said:
Right, but it’s still there. I think it’s a combination of somewhat taking it for granted, and “I’d rather have it there and not go through it than it not be there at all.”

I know I fall into the latter. I haven’t been through it since the previous incarnation of Off Road Adventure, but I’d be devastated if they closed it. Taking a look at it from the top of El Toro and Medusa was always a highlight of my visits (was too busy looking at Philly/NYC on Ka).
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Maybe this is just me - but without Off Road Adventure there I would completely forget about the Safari. It’s just not super well supported or really integrated in terms of being an attraction (caveat - I haven’t been there in about 17 years).
 
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While I was waiting in line for the Off Road Adventure from within the park last time I was there, one of the ride ops was talking about how they run 20 trucks from the base camp and only 4 from within the park. I would imagine if they are running that many trucks from the base camp it must be pretty popular.
 
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