March 25, 2011: Lion Country Safari

[Werner Weiss]

According to the brochure, “Go Wild! Drive thru Lion Country Safari African Wildlife Preserve.”

You don’t have to go to Africa for this African Safari. It’s only a 20-minute drive from Yesterland.

Link to Lion Country Safari.

This is a major update to a Yesterland article originally posted more than four years ago.

Please discuss it here.

[disneyfn]

There is still one thing left from Lion County. The road leading into Wild Rivers is still called Lion County and has a sign hanging over Irvine Center dr. with that on it.

[hadesthecat]

Why no mention of Bubbles the Hippo Houdini, that was a major story before her passing?

[Disneykin Kid]

Thanks Werner for bringing these tidbits of memories back to us.

[JesterMn]

It's not Lion Country Safari, but there is still a large drive-thru safari as part of Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, so that's another option if you're looking to re-live the experience. Although I didn't know about the one in Florida!

[Werner Weiss]

There is still one thing left from Lion County. The road leading into Wild Rivers is still called Lion County and has a sign hanging over Irvine Center dr. with that on it.

Thanks! I didn't know that.

[Werner Weiss]

Why no mention of Bubbles the Hippo Houdini, that was a major story before her passing?

I considered mentioning the escape of Bubbles the Hippo and how her story was in the news day after day. Unfortunately the story had a sad ending.

[Werner Weiss]

It's not Lion Country Safari, but there is still a large drive-thru safari as part of Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, so that's another option if you're looking to re-live the experience. Although I didn't know about the one in Florida!

Wikipedia has an entry called "Safari park" which lists a number of animal drive-through or ride-through attractions. (As with with Wikipedia entry, I would recommend double-checking anything in the article before relying on it.)

Click on: Safari park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The cool thing about Lion Country Safari is Florida is that it still has the same name as the defunct California park, and even has a logo that's based on the same logo.

[wec]

Werner, I have fond memories of Lion Country Safari in Southern California. My Mom has a bunch of photos of our visit. My visit was in 1974 though I remember the year not for visiting the park but for sitting in our hotel room and watching President Nixon resign LOL.

[Bryce05]

There used to be a lion drive-through here in New Zealand at Orana Wildlife Park. It is one of my most vivid childhood memories. My Dad would wind down the window and entice lions onto the car; I can remember them being on the hood, on the roof, pulling at the window-wipers!

[Werner Weiss]

My Dad would wind down the window and entice lions onto the car; I can remember them being on the hood, on the roof, pulling at the window-wipers!

Yikes! That seems dangerous.

[stephanieboyd]

My family has pictures at Lion Country Safari. Including one of me and my brother in a zebra stripped jeep holding a lion cub. Totally forgot about those pictures until this column. I need to go find them.

[Bryce05]

Yikes! That seems dangerous.

Probably, haha.

I remember a rabbit entering the enclosure once too, and the whole pride chased it down. It was like being in a live documentary.

[Timekeeper]

You updated! Good Article!


Timekeeper

[WonderingAlice]

I still have my "Frasier the Senuous Lion" wristwatch! Got it there in about 1972.