Spotlight: San Antonio - Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

Spotlight: Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is dedicated to taking care of animals from all over the world. The Ranch covers over 450 acres of land where over 500 animals from 40 exotic, native and endangered species peacefully graze and interact with visitors as they drive through. All species at the Ranch are herbivores including: white rhinos, ostriches, zebras, bison, longhorns, wildebeests, donkeys, impalas, bongos, lemurs, camels, and much, much more.

Location: The Wildlife Ranch is located at 26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd., San Antonio. Although it has a San Antonio address, it is several miles north-east of the city, in between I-35 and HWY 281.

Cost: $22/adult (12+); $20/senior (65+); $13.50/child (3-11); annual passes are $80/adult

Time: The ranch is open from 9 am - 4 pm daily with extended hours (9-5 or 9-6) from March - October. Plan on spending 2-5 hours at the ranch.

Description: The Safari Trek takes visitors through a loop covering miles of Texas hill country. Cars go one way and the loop takes about an hour-and-a-half to complete. Imagine staring at a longhorn eyeball to eyeball from less than a foot away. Or getting a dentist's view of a zebra as he dares you to feed him hand to mouth. Or having an ostrich peck at your windowsill, begging you to place some food pellets within reach. We experienced each one of those scenarios while snapping photos and filming our daughters' reactions as they squealed with joy mixed with trepidation. We had so much fun the first time through, we drove it again; and we were glad we did because different animals approached on each drive through.

 

     You have the option to take the Tower Ranch Drive out to see the giraffes. Giraffe preservation is one of the Ranch's main goals and it is worth the extra time to see these magnificent creatures as well as the beautiful scenic views of the surrounding area.

     In addition to the vehicle safari, visitors can take a Walk-a-bout and see other animals in a separate section of the Ranch, including Lemur Island, a Koi Fish Pond and the Petting Barnyard.

     The Safari Camp Grill and Safari Sweet Spot sell burgers, fries, nachos chicken strips, vegetable salads, ice cream and other tasty treats.

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - For the safety of the animals, pets and service animals are prohibited.
- You drive through the ranch from the comfort of your own car. There are no trams or rental vehicles. For safety reasons, motorcycles and jeeps without doors or tops are prohibited.
- Feeding the animals is not only allowed, it is encouraged - as long as it is the food they provide you upon entry. I recommend that you purchase and additional bag of food. You'll be glad you did.

- The animals are not vicious, but they are wild and may act unpredictably. Some are aggressive since they know each car receives a free container of food, and aren't shy about approaching when hungry. We had an ostrich pecking the window frame of our car "asking" for food.

- On the other hand, there are no refunds if the animals don't interact with you.
- Military personnel and First Responders get $4 off general admission price with current ID.
- The Ranch is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- Coupons are available at visitsanantonio.com but are not valid during Spring Break or weekends.
- The best time to visit is during the morning hours. During peak visiting periods, the closer to 9 am you arrive, the better to beat crowds. Also, light rainy days are a great day to visit.
- Tickets expire once you leave the main gates.
- Animals cross the road constantly. Please adhere to the 5 mph speed limit for your safety and theirs.

Nearby: Natural Bridge Caverns, Canyon Lake, Guadalupe River State Park, Schlitterbahn Waterpark