Virginia Safari Park is a drive-through safari adventure with a Village Walk-Thru option. This wildlife safari park is a great attraction to add to your bucket list.

What sets this safari park apart from zoos and other parks is its mission. Virginia Safari Park emphasizes the importance of conservation, and the animals in their care are not there solely for entertainment purposes but for conservation and education purposes as well.

Of course, the wide array of animals is also an appeal. With over 80 different species, Virginia Safari Park cares for a wide variety of animals, including birds, cats, turtles, monkeys, rhinos, and kangaroos. This article includes a list of ten amazing animals you will see when visiting Virginia Safari Park.

  • Address: 229 Safari Ln, Natural Bridge, VA 24578
  • Hours: Monday-Sunday 9 am-5 pm
  • Cost: Adult (13-64)- $26.95, Senior (65+)- $24.95, Children (2-12)- $18.95, Under 1-free
  • Nearby hotel: Natural Bridge Historic Hotel and Conference Center, 15 Appledore Ln, Natural Bridge, VA 24578

Related: The Best U.S. Zoos Offer More Than Self-Guided Tours

10 Giraffe

One of Virginia Safari Park’s featured animals is the giraffe, more specifically, the reticulated giraffe. This type of giraffe is known for being the smallest of the nine giraffe subspecies.

When visiting the safari park, visitors are able to feed the giraffes while embarking on the Village Walk-Thru. Romaine lettuce leaves are available for purchase, and many visitors enjoy feeding these leafy greens to the animals. When feeding these gentle giants, simply place the lettuce in your hand, and the giraffes will scoop it up with their long tongues!

9 African Penguin

Another must-see animal at Virginia Safari Park is the African penguin. This park is home to a whole group of penguins. Something special about this safari park is visitors have the option to meet the penguins up close! For $40, an animal care specialist will take you inside the penguin enclosure. While interacting with the penguins, the animal care specialist will share information on how the birds are cared for. This special meet-and-greet option is titled Penguin Encounter.

  • Times: 11:15 am and 3 pm daily
  • Cost: $40 per person
  • Important: check in 30 minutes before the scheduled Penguin Encounter

8 Rhino

Virginia Safari Park is also home to the Southern White Rhino. The Southern White Rhino is native to Africa and has a typical lifespan of 40-50 years. This magnificent creature is also the second largest land mammal on Earth!

Similar to the African penguins, visitors can also meet the Southern White Rhino up close. The park’s Rhino Encounter package retails for $50, including a close-up encounter with the stunning animal and an information session with an animal care specialist. While some people opt for overnight zoos, these animal encounters offered at Virginia Safari Park are a great, beginner-friendly way to interact with wildlife.

  • Time: 1 pm daily
  • Cost: $50 per person
  • Important: check in 30 minutes before the scheduled Rhino Encounter

7 Kangaroo

The safari park also boasts adorable marsupials, such as the kangaroo. Part of the park’s Village Walk-Thru trail is the Kangaroo Walk-About, an area where you can observe these cute creatures. The Walk-About features a viewing area where you can watch the kangaroos jump and prance around.

Both mother kangaroos and joeys (their babies) can be spotted at the safari park. A joey typically sits inside its mother’s pouch, so keep an eye out for babies poking out of the mother kangaroos’ pouches.

6 Giant Anteater

Virginia Safari Park also cares for many giant anteaters, also known as ant bears. Native to Central and South America, this mammal can survive in various habitats. Giant anteaters also have quite an appetite, eating around 35,000 ants and termites each day!

Giant anteaters are currently considered a vulnerable species due to their native habitat declining in size. Virginia Safari Park, among other parks and organizations, works to protect this species and give them access to a safe space to live.

Related: These Are The World's Best Zoos To Visit In 2022

5 King Vulture

This Central and South American bird, scientifically known as sarcoramphus papa, can also be found at Virginia Safari Park. King vultures can grow to 2.5 feet tall and weigh 8 pounds, making them one of the largest New World vultures.

With unique physical features and coloring, these king vultures are a must-see. These birds don black, white, and gray feathers, but the most striking feature is their colorful faces. Their faces and beaks include hues of purple, red, orange, blue, and yellow.

4 Dromedary Camel

Virginia Safari Park is also home to the dromedary camel, the tallest species of camel. These mammals are over 7 feet tall and can weigh up to 1,600 pounds. One of the park's resident camels is Jasper, a charming animal and fan favorite on the park's Instagram account.

Having adapted to the desert landscape, dromedary camels have two rows of eyelashes to keep sand out of their eyes. Their footpads are also designed to walk over the desert sands. Virginia Safari Park works hard to ensure their dromedary camels are comfortable in their park environment.

3 Sloth

Related to the anteater, the sloth is another animal found at Virginia Safari Park. Two sloths, Flash and Priscilla, currently reside at the park. These two sloths engage in typical sloth behavior, including moving at a slow pace, hanging onto tree branches upside down, and sleeping.

Sloths are also part of the Animal Encounter program. Visitors who sign up for the Sloth Encounter can meet and feed Flash and Priscilla, as well as learn more about these creatures from an animal care specialist.

  • Time: 2 pm daily
  • Cost: $40 per person
  • Important: check-in 30 minutes before the scheduled Sloth Encounter

2 Bengal tiger

Arguably one of the coolest animals at the safari park is the Bengal tiger. Virginia Safari Park’s mission is to help conserve wildlife and protect species. The Bengal tiger is a prime example of one such species that is currently endangered and needs protection. In India, where these tigers live in the wild, tiger reserves are created. At Virginia Safari Park, the tigers live in carefully crafted habitats that are kept up by care specialists. The two tigers currently residing at the park are named Nikita and Indira.

1 King Cheetah

The number one must-see animal at Virginia Safari Park is the king cheetah. In fact, Virginia Safari Park is the only zoo in America with a king cheetah. It is also estimated that there are as few as ten king cheetahs left in the wild. King cheetahs are endangered and the rarest African cat.

Virginia Safari Park actually cares for two king cheetahs, siblings Sully and Shani. Instead of sporting typical cheetah spots, these king cheetahs’ coats display splotchy patterns.