Get Wild

Story By Bradley Robertson

Who needs a day full of fun and laughter? I think we can all raise our hands on that one.

There is no better place to turn to than the Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, Georgia. This adventure lies just 40 minutes down the road from Lee County and is guaranteed to bring the joy we all need day-to-day.

Now, this joy may also bring wet and slobbery animal grins from a zebra or a camel, but it is a memory you’re sure to never forget.

Wild Animal Safari is a 300-acre park where families can meet unique animal species up close and personal from their own vehicle or from a van rented through the park. The park also hosts a walkabout zoo where you can meet beautiful animals by foot including peacocks, an African lion and the resident Bengal tigers.

Have you ever heard of a New Guinea singing dog? It is actually a dingo and is a true wild dog. However, it does not bark but has a unique high-pitched howl that sounds like singing. They are native to New Guinea and eat small rodents and fruit.

What about a common genet? It is native to Africa and looks like a cross between a sweet, wide-eyed cat and a leopard. It has a mane down its spine and spends a lot of its time climbing trees.

With over 150 species of animals in the zoo, the wonder and fun of seeing amazing creatures in our neighboring Georgia is worth soaking up.

The best part of our Robertson family excursion to Wild Animal Safari was the van rental allowing us to drive through the safari park. Rentals are available for smaller families up to seven and larger families up to 15. You can drive your own vehicle, but I do not recommend this unless you are not concerned about a

possible ding from a close encounter with an Emu.

Now comes the true adventure and test of skill, can you and your family successfully feed a bison as he quickly runs towards your van, sticking his tongue inside the window, aiming for a morsel of food resting in your hands? The answer is yes. And you will do it while laughing like hyenas, so hard, that you may pee your pants.

It gets better, while the bison is becoming your best friend, he will notify his 12 other wild friends that you are generous. They, too, will meet you and greet you and together a zebra, an ostrich, a giraffe and quite a few elk will be hovering over your van in the hopes of a little something to eat.

The best part is, it’s neverending. The fun continues for 3.5 miles, so be sure to purchase plenty of animal feed in the shop before you leave. It is all the fun of Africa but in our own backyard. It is safe and it is worth every penny.

We live in such an incredible community, we can enjoy football games on the weekends, visits to lakes and forests or even take a trip to Africa. We are in our own little paradise.

What are you and your family planning for this fall? I hope it includes the Wild Animal Safari Park. We all have little bit of wild in us, so we might as well spend it with some amazing creatures that can love us right back in their own, hilarious way.

For details and tickets, visit www.animalsafari.com.