If the wilds of Africa have always been on your travel bucket list but the price tag puts a kibosh on the getaway, the Georgia Safari Conservation Park in Madison, Georgia, delivers a wild experience, offering luxury accommodations along with animals you’d see on an African safari.
A dream that had been decades in the making, the park has been open to visitors since spring of 2024, offering tours as well as educational opportunities for up-close encounters. A wild animal preserve, spanning more than 530 acres, is a legacy project of Mike Conrad, president of the park, who builds on the memory of his father Jim Conrad, who lived on the land. And what you see today is only the beginning.
“The memory of [my] father enjoying the land helped bolster [my] resolve of moving from vision to plan to reality,” Conrad said. “This legacy project allows future generations to bump around on this beautiful land, enjoying and appreciating the area’s rolling hills and rural landscape while creating an economic engine for the region.”
Currently, the park has 63 animal species found worldwide, with the reticulated giraffe, Phoenix, being the current star of the park. Other animals include Mo-Joe and Akagera, the southern white rhinoceros who appear to be more red than white after tumbles in Georgia’s red dirt; Grant’s zebras; the two-toed sloth, Mochi; and the ever-nosey ostriches who are not shy about approaching fences or tour vehicles. Keep your hands inside the vehicle; safety is paramount as guides will share. All animals are monitored with 24/7 cameras, and to secure safety of guests and animals, a double containment fence surrounds continuous miles around the pastures.
Committed to Conservation
Along with providing African adventures for visitors, the park’s commitment to conservation is a priority. They work with the Georgia Zoological Society in a mission to save wildlife, protect natural habitats, and inspire the next generation of leaders.
As director of the Animal Ambassador program, Ashley Webb, along with other keepers, cares and conditions the animals for interaction with the public. Eventually, plans include animals traveling offsite for school programs or educational shows, but currently, the ambassadors can only be seen in their specific habitat on campus. “I do a lot of training with my keepers to make sure that they’re comfortable, and they know how to handle every animal. The biggest thing for these [animals] is feeling comfortable being handled.”
With two on-campus buildings housing the animal ambassadors, the park is “building the educational outreach program,” which is expected to expand vastly as phase two begins. “Education is so incredibly important, not only for kids but also for adults,” Webb said.
Plan Your Day or an Overnight Stay
The Georgia Safari Conservation Park provides experiences designed to educate visitors as well as introduce an escape to the African landscape, which includes extraordinary views and luxury accommodations.
For an overnight stay, there are lodging options, one featuring luxury safari tents overlooking your private savanna. One- and two-bedroom options are available, as well as one that is ADA accessible.
The park’s six luxury safari tents include private decks or balconies that provide the ideal location to enjoy your morning coffee. Survey the savanna and watch the staff drive through the fields, tossing out morning feed. Interiors feature rich woods, décor and designs imported from Africa, as well as local hand-crafted cabinetry from Madison’s own Saw Creek Cabinetry.
These climate-controlled tents, located in the park’s wooded area, feature a living room, canopied beds, full bathroom, and private outdoor spaces. The tent dubbed Honeymoon Hideaway, a one-bedroom intimate space, includes a private outdoor shower. Whether it’s your honeymoon or not, this one offers the pinnacle of indulgence.
With a tent booking, a guided drive-through tour is included. Private sessions can be added for an additional fee.
However, it’s the giraffe suite, located in the giraffe and rhino barn, that provides a one-of-a-kind experience, situated at an elevated vantage point on its second floor, with a bird’s eye view of Phoenix, the giraffe. Pull the drapes of the large picture windows, and you’re face-to-face with this 15-year-old creature. The suite accommodates up to four guests with a living room, dining room, kitchenette, queen-size sleeper sofa and a spacious main bedroom with king-size bed and full bathroom.
Guests who book the giraffe suite receive a private guided drive-through tour with a guide, a Keeper Chat, plus other opportunities to get behind-the-scenes with the animals.
If you’re traveling through Georgia’s Piedmont and only have a day, book a safari tour in the customized vehicle led by an animal ambassador. You’ll drive over the land, connecting and searching for zebras, ostrich, eastern bongos, elands and more. This experience is ideal for children who will be amazed at the animals, who often approach the vehicles at arms-length. There are extensive tours including a 90-minute driving tour; a 150-minute drive-through experience, which features the giraffe and rhino encounter; and a private 180-minute VIP tour available with a reservation.
The park’s unified mission is to provide a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Their commitment to wildlife conservation remains steadfast, as the expansion of the park continues.
Now in Madison, Africa’s faraway world is only a short drive.
For more information on the Georgia Safari Conservation Park as well as booking accommodations and tours, visit georgiasafari.com. Reservations for tours are suggested; tours operate rain or shine.
