Giraffe Ranch Florida – Why You Should Visit!

While there are many reasons to visit Giraffe Ranch Florida, the show’s stars are the giraffe! If you have a longing to feed these gentle giants, or if you want to smell their grassy breath up close and personal, look no further! At Giraffe Ranch in Florida, you can feed the giraffes and meet them face to face. Face to face. They get so close to you that you might experience the dribbling or snorting of grassy saliva from one of them! Just think, you don’t have to travel to Africa or spend thousands of dollars at Giraffe Manor for the same experience. You can do it right here in Florida!

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About Giraffe Ranch

This is an animal lover’s haven, home to exotic animals and a working ranch. It’s the first of two safari wildlife experiences Lex Salisbury has created. Giraffe Ranch is designed to give you both a safari experience and up-close personal encounters with exotic animals.

About Lex

Lex Salisbury has over 35 years of experience with exotic animals. Having worked in zoos worldwide, I am the former President and CEO of Tampa‘s Lowry Park Zoo. Lex has traveled the world and taken many trips to Africa. He’s no stranger to safaris or exotic animals.

Lex and his wife Elena have created two magical safari parks in the heart of Florida. Giraffe Ranch was the first one that they launched over twenty years ago. Then in 2011, they started Safari Wilderness. And you can stay onsite in a glamping tent at Safari Wilderness!

The Location

Located 45 minutes north of Tampa and 90 minutes east of Orlando in Dade City, you’ll find Giraffe Ranch. Believe it or not, it’s in an actual neighborhood. Now, for context and visualization, it’s rural. But plenty of homes (or ranches) are on the way in. It is located in beautiful East Pasco County on 47 acres of rolling countryside adjoining Florida’s second-largest wilderness area, the Green Swamp.

Address: 38650 Mickler Road, Dade City, FL 33523

The Animals of Giraffe Ranch, Florida

Despite the name, Giraffe Ranch is home to more than just giraffes. While on safari here, you’ll encounter hundreds of animals representing 70+ species. Examples are the giraffes, zebras, bongo antelopes, otters, lemurs, hippos, pygmy hippos, emus, cheetahs, warthogs, monkeys, and more!

Safari Types

There are five unique safaris available at Giraffe Ranch, Florida. Experienced driver-guides lead all safaris. All safaris are close-up, hands-on, interactive experiences. All safari types include giraffe feeding, except for the drive-thru safari. 

Drive-thru Safari

This is a new offering for both Giraffe Ranch and Safari Wilderness. Now, you can stay in your vehicle and follow a guide in a lead vehicle that provides real-time commentary via an FM transmitter you can hear on your FM car radio.

Customized Vehicle Safari

This safari takes place on a custom converted 4x bus.  You will be safe and comfortable, and you will get a terrific view, as each vehicle has shade canopies and stadium seating.

Camel Safari

Opt for the camel safari if you want to try something wild. Giraffe Ranch and Safari Wilderness developed the only full-on camel-backed game-viewing safari outside Africa.

Llama Walk Safari

Maybe you want your tour guide to be the fluffy type? If so, tour the ranch on foot with a human and llama guide. *Currently, this tour is not available due to COVID.

Segway X2s Safari

This was how I chose to go on safari. I’ve ridden Segways before, and they are fun. Given that Segways are no longer manufactured, this is a reason to choose this safari. Plus, these safaris are in smaller groups.

Almost all visitors come back and experience a different type of safari! Each safari is unique and dynamic, with no two alike.

My Experience at Giraffe Ranch, Florida

As mentioned above, I chose to do the Segway Safari. I can’t say enough good things about it. It was fantastic! I was fortunate, too, to go out with Lex’s wife, Elena, and another couple, so it was intimate. There’s nothing like getting out on the vista where the animals run past you wild. It’s exhilarating.

The Giraffe’s

Once you’ve completed the safari through the ranch, you’ll leave the Segways behind and hop on the custom safari vehicle to feed the giraffes.

Before I got up close and personal with the giraffes, I imagined kissing them on the nose. A ridiculous thought indeed. As beautiful and sweet as they are, they smell funky and ooze globs of slob. One of the giraffes has no table manners, hence the green mess!

Regardless, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to interact with them so closely—something I’ll treasure forever.

Interesting Facts About Giraffes

• Giraffes are the tallest land animals in the world. They can grow up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall, with their legs alone taller than many humans.
• They have very long necks but have the same number of neck vertebrae as humans – seven. Each vertebra can be over 10 inches (25 centimeters) long!
• Giraffes have long, black tongues up to 18 inches (45 centimeters) long. This helps them reach leaves and twigs that are high up in trees.
• They are social animals and often live in groups called towers. These groups can have up to 15 giraffes, with both males and females.
• Giraffes have perfect eyesight and can see up to 2 miles (3.2 kilometers). Their eyes are also large, which helps them see predators from afar.
• They have a unique walking style called “pacing,” in which they move both legs on one side of their body at the same time. This helps them keep their balance and conserve energy while walking.
• Giraffes are herbivores and primarily eat leaves, flowers, and fruits. They can consume up to 75 pounds (34 kilograms) of food a day.
• Their spots are like fingerprints – no two giraffes have the same pattern of dots.
• Giraffes have mighty kicks and can defend themselves against predators like lions.
• Despite their large size, giraffes are very graceful and can run up to speeds of 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour).

Ostrich Eggs

Ostriches can lay eggs until 40 years of age and lay the largest of all bird eggs, weighing 3-5 pounds each.  One ostrich egg weighs about 485 pounds vertically and 264 pounds horizontally. This means you can stand on ostrich eggs without breaking them. The eggshell is 2mm thick, and the ostrich egg is the most robust shell of any egg.

One of the highlights for me was standing on the ostrich egg!  And, before anyone gets upset, these are not fertile eggs; they are eggs that never hatched. Or, in layman’s terms, dead eggs.

Here I pose on one foot!

I’ll add that when I arrived, Lex said I was the most “fashionable” person to visit the park. A compliment I’ll gladly accept😊 And, in proper Nikki form, despite being way overdressed, which is the norm. I also busted my butt and flew off the Segway. Those who know me well know that I have little balance.

Technically, it wasn’t my fault (joke…). While driving, Elena pointed something out to us, and I looked away from the road. I crashed into the other lady on tour and wound up on the floor. Hey, ho, it’s not my first drop tuck and roll, and it won’t be my last.

This is not a typical guest experience. Segways are very safe to navigate and drive. I happen to be “that” one person.

The Lemurs

These guys are not the main attraction, but they are, hands down, my favorite. Feeding the lemurs is an optional add-on. Do not skip this! There is nothing more enjoyable than feeding these little cuties. These guys were all over me, and not just for food. They looked at themselves on my cell phone, which was funny. One cheeky chap was so fascinated with my phone that he attempted to snatch it. Fortunately, they have tiny soft little hands, so I could avert losing my cell phone to a lemur.

Add-On Experiences

• Otter Feeding – these little guys love being fed and coming out to greet you.
• Lemur Feeding – seriously, do not skip this!
• Mini-Camel Safari is an excellent option for a brief camel ride rather than a couple of hours.
• Rhino Encounter – Feed the rhinos and interact with them.
• Premium Giraffe Encounter – Spend more time with the giraffes and get to know them!

Important Information About Giraffe Ranch, Florida

Giraffe Ranch Florida is private property, and all tours require a reservation – no exceptions. Do not show up without one; do not enter the property unless you have a reservation.

All reservations are final and non-refundable.

This is a family-run business that operates on a supply-and-demand basis. They don’t have the luxury of accommodating the millions of things that change plans. That said, they will work with you to reschedule if possible.

• Tour times are subject to availability.
• Reservations can be made online and are held with a credit card.
• You must arrive 10 minutes before your tour. The gate is locked until tour time.
• No parking outside of the facility.
• Tours go out, rain or shine. If a trip is available and you book it, you’re going out no matter what. Well, except for a hurricane!
• No outside food or drink is permitted.
• It would be best if you used the restroom before starting a safari.
• If you choose the drive-through, the maximum is 7 people per vehicle. And commercial vehicles are not allowed.
• No animals in cars. Cars will be turned away if they contain an animal.
• Drive-thru safaris occur hourly from 9–4 pm, and you need a confirmed reservation before arrival.
• All other tour times are 11 am and 2 pm daily.
• Prices do not include sales tax.

The staff love and care for these animals; it’s apparent in how they treat them. No animals were coerced into interacting with visitors. Likewise, the animals are not relying on a tour for food.

FAQs About Giraffe Ranch, Florida

Closing Thoughts

This is not a zoo or theme park. It is a hands-on, real, working game farm. A trip to Giraffe Ranch is part eco-adventure and part educational. It’s one of the few places in America where you can experience an authentic safari and get close to exotic species without visiting a zoo.

The animals run freely. They are well cared for, loved, and healthy. And the animals are not “trained” to come to you. For example, only two of the giraffes ventured over for a snack. The other did not. And that’s how it should be.

Take your family to a place where they can learn about animals, interact with them, and have an absolute blast.

Safari Wilderness is a Florida Agri-tourism project accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) and licensed by the USDA.

Last and not least. Thank you to Lex and Elena for having me!

Looking for more posts on Florida? Start here:

• 7 Best Florida Springs Road Trips
• Cedar Lakes Woods & Gardens – Williston
• Five Best Airboat Rides Near Orlando
• Florida’s 11 National Parks 
• Glamping In Florida At Safari Wilderness
• Safari Wilderness – An African Safari in Florida!

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