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Location
Visitor tip
Bring wipes or hand sanitizer - animals are very interactive and will eat directly from your hands (though hand-feeding is against rules). They are extremely drooly and stick their heads into vehicles, so prepare accordingly.
Visitor tip
Camels and zebras are the most assertive animals at the park. While camels may grab food from your lap, they're generally not dangerous - just drive slowly, stay alert, and enjoy the interactive nature of the experience.
About Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari
Drive-thru animal sightseeing. 300-acre reserve with dozens of endangered & exotic species seen on self-guided drives.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Zoo
- Location
- 12 miles east of Jacksonville, TX
- Size
- 300-acre preserve
- Experience
- Self-guided drive-through safari with 20+ exotic and endangered species
- Operating Days
- Open 361 days a year
What visitors say
We had the best time. There are SO many animals on the property. We were surprised when we got to the 1/4 way marker. We thought the experience would be much shorter but were pleasantly surprised. At the 1/4 marker, you have a chance to…
Very fun park. It was pretty extensive, the amount of species wasn't all that much, compared to others I guess but there were a lot. The attendants warned us about the camels, but they weren't actually an issue. We got stopped by the…
This was such a coo experience. The animals are precious but can be naughty. The camels reached in and stole two bags of food right out of my lap 🤣 Worth every penny for the laughs! Just drive slow and enjoy the views. We drove…
From 1,483 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- The safari has grown dramatically over time - what took 30 minutes to drive through 19 years ago now takes 2-2.5 hours, indicating significant expansion and addition of animals to the 300-acre reserve
- Visitors can hand-feed animals directly from their vehicles, with animals getting close enough to stick their heads inside cars, creating an unusually interactive experience compared to traditional drive-thru safaris
- The safari features a midpoint Welcome Center at the quarter-way marker where visitors can purchase additional animal feed, with typical guests using 4-7 bags of feed per person throughout the 2+ hour experience
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