Zoos
Big Joel's Safari Petting Zoo & Educational Park
📍 13187 State Hwy M, Wright City, MO 63390🕐 Hours
| Monday | 9 AM–4 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 9 AM–4 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM–4 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM–5 PM |
About Big Joel's Safari Petting Zoo & Educational Park
Walk-through safari with various animals. Walk-through safari park & petting zoo featuring bison, camels, zebras, parrots, ostriches & more. Big Joel's Safari features over 65 different animal species including exotic animals like bison, camels, zebras, ostriches, alligators, lemurs, and kangaroos in a walk-through safari format. Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by 1,547 visitors.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Petting Zoo & Educational Park
- Best For
- All ages
- Highlights
- 65+ animal species, up-close animal interactions, touching and feeding experiences
- Special Offerings
- Educational field trips, private events, corporate events
💡 Did You Know?
- Big Joel's Safari features over 65 different animal species including exotic animals like bison, camels, zebras, ostriches, alligators, lemurs, and kangaroos in a walk-through safari format
- The attraction offers a unique walk-through experience where visitors can get within feet of alligators and feed animals directly by hand or using spoons and tubes provided at the fences
- The venue maintains a high visitor satisfaction rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 1,547 reviews, with 'friendly staff' and 'feeding animals' each mentioned as positive topics in 120 reviews
- Big Joel's offers camel rides as a featured interactive experience, with camel rides mentioned positively in 42 visitor reviews, and provides a walk-through bird cage exhibit that visitors can enter
💬 What Visitors Say
- Buy two cups of animal feed per person at $5 each (with $3 refills available) - visitors consistently report needing more feed than expected since animals eagerly eat from your hand, spoons on fence lines, and feeding tubes throughout the park
- Don't miss the interactive bird cage exhibit where you can walk inside - reviewers specifically highlight this as a cool experience separate from the main petting areas
- Plan for a full day visit - with over 65 animal species and diverse interactive experiences (hand feeding, camel rides, pony rides), visitors note there's always something new to discover and the experience varies each visit
- The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about animal interactions - take advantage by asking questions about proper feeding techniques and animal behavior to enhance the educational value of your visit
- Bring groups of 20 or more to access field trip programs, which offer a structured educational experience ideal for schools and large family gatherings at a reasonable entrance price
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