TIME Just Named a Georgia Safari Park One of Earth’s Best – It’s Been Open Less Than a Year

African Wildlife One Hour From Atlanta

A safari park in rural Georgia is now on the same list as destinations in Kenya and Tanzania.

TIME Magazine named Georgia Safari Conservation Park one of the World’s Greatest Places for 2025, and the park had only been open since June 2024.

The 530-acre property in Madison looks and feels like the African plains, but it’s about 60 miles east of Atlanta.

What earned the recognition goes beyond the animals roaming the grasslands.

Ten Years of Planning Finally Paid Off

Landscape architect Bill Killmer spent more than a decade developing the concept.

He wanted to create an authentic safari experience where animals roamed freely instead of approaching trucks for food.

The park was built with one goal in mind: to conserve threatened and endangered species through programming, guided tours, and interactive experiences.

Construction delays, a pandemic pause, and mountains of red tape pushed the opening back several times. The original name was Georgia Zoo and Safari Park before shifting to emphasize conservation.

A Family’s Farmland Became Savanna

Developer Michael Conrads made the project possible by offering land his family had owned for generations.

The wild animal preserve is a legacy project that builds on the memory of his father, who lived on the land. Conrads now serves as president of the park.

His team worked with safari parks in Texas and Ohio to determine which African species would thrive in the Georgia Piedmont’s climate and how to sustain breeding programs for endangered animals.

Over 40 Species Roam 530 Acres

More than 40 wild and exotic species, including rhinos, addax, bison, eland, and impala, roam freely on 530 expansive acres of grasslands.

Visitors ride through the property in open-air safari vehicles while guides share information about each animal.

Zebras, ostriches, Asian water buffalo, and antelope graze across the rolling terrain.

The animals don’t approach the trucks begging for food, which makes the experience feel closer to an actual African game drive.

The Addax Fights for Survival Here

The park houses addax, a desert antelope so rare that fewer than 100 remain in the wild.

The species is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, threatened by unregulated hunting and now restricted to Chad, Mauritania, and Niger.

Safari parks like this one play a critical role in maintaining genetic diversity and breeding populations that could someday be reintroduced to Africa.

Providing safe haven for endangered animals is part of the mission.

Displaced Animals Find Shelter Here

Working alongside Zoological Disaster Response, Rescue and Recovery, the park offers alternative housing for animals that are unable to stay at other facilities.

ZDR3 is the only response organization dedicated to zoological species in the United States. When hurricanes or wildfires force zoos and sanctuaries to evacuate, the Georgia park can take in animals that need temporary or permanent homes.

This partnership helped the park earn its spot on TIME’s list.

Giraffes Paint and Solve Puzzles

In a 10,000-square-foot, custom-built barn, reticulated giraffes play puzzles and paint for intellectual stimulation, while guests and researchers observe their activities.

Phoenix, a young giraffe brought from Texas, has become a favorite among visitors who can hand-feed him lettuce during encounters.

The barn features enrichment toys made from fire hoses donated by nearby counties, along with treat puzzles and mirrors.

The enrichment program keeps the animals mentally engaged.

You Can Sleep Next to Giraffes

Visitors can stay in one- and two-bedroom luxury tents and a giraffe suite while also helping protect wildlife.

The safari tents were imported from South Africa and feature private decks overlooking the savanna. Luxury tent lodges start at $500 per night while the luxury giraffe barn suites run about $1,000.

The Giraffe Suite sits directly above the barn, with floor-to-ceiling windows so guests can watch the animals throughout the night.

Every Tour is Wheelchair Accessible

The park’s safari vehicles and lodging are all wheelchair-friendly, making certain everyone feels welcome at this unique wildlife getaway.

TIME specifically highlighted this inclusive design as one reason the park made the list. Accessibility extends to the animal encounters and overnight accommodations.

For families with members who use wheelchairs, most African safaris are simply not an option. This park removes that barrier entirely.

Madison’s Downtown is Booming Again

The park has been as beneficial for the local community as it is for the animals.

In the past year, several restaurants and the New South Motor Inn have opened, creating new business opportunities in a town with 5,000 residents.

Betty Gene’s serves Southern-style breakfast. The Dining Room offers prix-fixe dinners. Patisserie on Main bakes French pastries.

Preston Snyder’s MAD Hospitality now operates five food and beverage spots around the town square.

Conservation Meets Southern Charm

The Georgia Safari Conservation Park earned American Humane Certification in September 2025 for its animal care standards.

Local schoolchildren take field trips here to learn about the animals’ ecosystems and the impact of human activities on that environment.

What started as one man’s decade-long vision is now a globally recognized destination.

The park proves you don’t need a passport to experience a safari, and you don’t need to leave the South to help save endangered species.

Visiting Georgia Safari Conservation Park, Georgia

The park sits at 1761 Monticello Road in Madison, about an hour’s drive east of Atlanta. Guided safari tours start at $39 per person, and children two and younger are free.

The Safari Encounter Tour, which includes giraffe and rhino feeding, costs $125 per person. Private VIP tours run $2,500 for groups up to eight.

The park is open daily from 9 a. m.to 5 p. m. Overnight stays include safari tours and animal encounters. Book ahead, especially for the Giraffe Suite.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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