Recently during a brief trip to Northwest Arkansas, my family and I had the pleasure of visiting a unique and exciting spot called the Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari (a.k.a. Gentry Safari). Located between Siloam Springs and Bentonville, Arkansas, Gentry Safari is a popular family destination situated just outside the town of Gentry.

With over 85 different species of exotic animals situated on 180 acres of beautiful and natural landscape, there is a lot to see. Whether you drive around the 3 mile animal safari, visit the five acre petting parks or relax at the shaded picnic tables, you definitely won’t have time to be bored! And if you’re looking for cheap entertainment for the entire family, you will be very pleased with the prices: ranging from $6-7 a person…what a steal!

We had heard that Gentry Safari was a neat location, especially for kids, but we were not sure what to expect. Once there, we were completely amazed by the multitude and varieties of animals living at Gentry Safari. What was even more surprising was the curiosity of these animals. They had no fear of our vehicle and were actually very curious about our van (obviously they have been fed out of windows before!). Many a time we had animals peering into our windows, licking at the glass or simply standing guard, not letting us pass (like the herd of camels that weren’t budging until help arrived!).

The safari also offers rare encounters with exotic animals that we had never seen before. Like the Hippo, Buffalo, Kangaroo, and Rhinoceros. Surprisingly, most of the animals were allowed to roam freely and carelessly. Being able to see them so close was truly an amazing site.

The petting zoo was definitely the highlight of our adventure. Although they have the typical goats, bunnies and exotic monkeys, they did have three special friends that were very unique: 2 Lion cubs and 1 Cougar cub. We were allowed in their cage to pet and mingle with the 8 week old cubs that were very calm and soft. It was a unique experience that we shall never forget.

When visiting the petting zoo, be sure to purchase a loaf or two of bread. The safari offers it for sale at various locations for a minimal price. The animals will be friendlier if you have it!

Although our time was limited, we could have spent hours at the safari. We definitely plan to re-visit this great family destination in the near future! If you are ever in Northwest Arkansas, be sure to visit the Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari.

Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari Inc.

20923 Safari Rd

Gentry, AR 72734

(479) 736-8383

http://www.WildWildernessDriveThroughSafari.com