Grab your family and friends, load up the car, and take a scenic drive through the countryside for an adventure this October. Put the city in your rearview mirror as you head down the road less traveled, looking for the first signs of the leaves beginning to change to the vibrant hues that welcome in the fall season. Soak in the views over the lush meadows while rolling down all the windows to catch a crisp, autumn breeze, but be sure to watch out for the llama sneaking his head in for a snack. Wait—what? A llama poking his head through your car window?
At Eudora Wildlife Safari Park, that’s exactly the type of up close and personal encounter you can enjoy while driving through their expansive property that over 300 exotic animals call home. Located in Salley, South Carolina, the park opened its gates in the summer of 2020 and quickly became a must-do on everyone’s bucket list. From curious children just beginning to learn about animals to inquisitive adults who have always wanted to know more about a particular species, everyone can find something that makes this safari memorable.
The park was built to provide an educational drive-thru safari experience that would also address preservation, conservation, and the protection of wildlife and their environment.
The three-mile drive-thru safari gives visitors a hands-on, interactive way to see bison, antelope, alpacas, llamas, ostriches, and more. To get the most out of your visit, you can also purchase a bucket of food that you can feed the animals with as you explore their habitat. This allows for up-close interactions with the wildlife, giving you an immersive way to appreciate the beauty and behavior of each animal you come across. Many animals will happily walk up to your car to grab a snack straight out of your feed bucket and say hello while some of the shyer animals amble along beside you, scooping up the animal food that you toss out your window.
You have the option to drive your car through the park, rolling down windows to interact with the animals, or you can purchase tickets for a wagon ride through the park. Wagon rides can hold up to 25-30 people and include both a bucket of feed and a safari guide to give you the inside scoop on all of the animals you come across. Perfect for school field trips and large groups, the open-air rides give you the extra educational benefit and additional space to interact as much, or as little, as you’d like with the sociable animals.
Whether you’ve been to Eudora Wildlife Safari Park or if it’s still on your list to do someday, now is a prime time to plan a visit.
“This year, we’ve increased the trail ride an additional mile up into another section of the park,” explained Mark Nisbet, founder of Eudora Wildlife Safari Park. “There are also quite a few babies still roaming around for you to meet. We are working right now to get our giraffe observation deck completed before the end of the year. It will be really nice once it is done. People will be able to go up on the deck, be eye-to-eye with the giraffes, and sit down at a picnic table to enjoy their snack or lunch while overlooking the giraffes.”
Need another reason to visit this fall? The park offers more than their drive-thru safari during October. Each year, they put on a Fall Festival for visitors to enjoy before or after their safari ride. The festival is open each weekend, Friday through Sunday, and is becoming an annual tradition for many families in our community.
“The main focus of our festival is that it is an activity that families can do together,” said Nisbet. “We have a pumpkin patch, a variety of fall-themed festival games to play, a petting zoo, face painting, pumpkin painting, visits from live animals, and delicious food and ice cream available for purchase.”
Admission to the fall festival is free, but a $5 wristband gets you a few of the extra activities like pony rides and the pumpkin catapult. Also included in the free admission are surprise visits with their black-and-white ruffed lemur.
“She will be coming out and doing some unannounced strolling around the festival,” said Nisbet. “She is really friendly and is an ambassador for us, giving us a chance to provide even more educational opportunities for visitors.”
Nisbet started the Fall Festival during the park’s first year of operation, when people were looking for outdoor activities, and they have continued it as a tradition. Each year, they try to add a few different activities to keep the festival fun and entertaining for visitors who come back each October. It’s a great way to get outside in the beautiful South Carolina fall weather and have some fun with your kids while making memories along the way.
The biggest adventure at Eudora Wildlife Safari Park is yet to come though as they have big plans for 2025 and beyond.
“We’re building treehouses,” shared Nisbet. “They’ll be at the top of the park where you can overlook everything, and people will be able to rent them out like an Airbnb. They will be very nice on the inside with windows all around so you can view the entire park and see the sunset. We will offer after-hours activities like behind-the-scenes experiences with the giraffes, private chef-catered meals, and things like campfires in the evenings. The most important part is overnight guests will have the chance to truly feel like they’re out on a safari.”
Eudora Wildlife Safari Park is currently planning to build out a model treehouse first before adding another 2-3 to round out their overnight accommodations. Nisbet and his staff are hoping to bring a one-of-a-kind adventure to their park that will attract visitors from across South Carolina and beyond. Overnight guests will be able to fully immerse themselves in the park in a way that typical daytime visitors aren’t able to do.
“It’s what people are looking for when they stay at an Airbnb—an incredible experience,” said Nisbet. “Our future accommodations will offer an unforgettable getaway for everyone that comes to stay with us, which is what travelers want.”
Plan your epic adventure today!