Dinosaurs give African Safari park visitors a new thrill this summer

Jessica Denton
·2 min read
Life-sized dinosaurs have become a popular attraction at African Safari Wildlife Park this summer.
Life-sized dinosaurs have become a popular attraction at African Safari Wildlife Park this summer.

PORT CLINTON – A local, world-famous safari park is taking a step back in time and letting guests come face-to-face with 20 moving, roaring, life-sized prehistoric creatures throughout its Walk-Thru Safari.

This summer African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton has a "Dinosaur Takeover" in its Walk-Thru Safari, allowing guests to encounter familiar favorites like the ferocious T. rex and mighty Triceratops alongside lesser-known but equally fascinating dinosaurs such as the massive Lufengosaurus and cunning Australovenator.

Park Director Kelsey Keller said the dinosaurs' arrival and installation has been a roller coaster for everyone involved.

Safari staff installed the new dinosaurs

Staff installed them themselves — 20 hyper-realistic, breathing, blinking dinosaurs throughout the walk-thru.

The staff loved them so much they even named them — each dinosaur is named after a staff member.

Guests can pick up a scavenger hunt sheet and a pencil to answer questions as they walk through the area.

This Australovenator is one of 20 realistic dinosaurs which have joined the Dinosaur Takeover at African Safari Wildlife Park.
This Australovenator is one of 20 realistic dinosaurs which have joined the Dinosaur Takeover at African Safari Wildlife Park.

“It’s a cool scavenger hunt,” Keller said. “They have taken over the walk-thru from one end to the other.”

Signs at each dinosaur tell their name, where they lived and other interesting facts about each animal.

Guests can discover how these creatures hunted, survived and cared for their young in a prehistoric world and learn how they can help protect today’s wildlife from the threat of extinction.

Visitors can mine for dinosaur fossils

Guests can also mine for real dinosaur fossils to take home (at an additional cost) and pose for photos in larger-than-life eggs or the jaws of a 48-foot Tyrannosaurus rex.

Keller said they were excited to have new sights and sounds for guests of all ages, and she’s received plenty of positive feedback about the dinosaurs.

“Kids ask if they (dinosaurs) walked in themselves, that’s how cool and realistic they are.”

Visitors to the wildlife park in Port Clinton can also travel the Dinosaur Takeover.
Visitors to the wildlife park in Port Clinton can also travel the Dinosaur Takeover.

Want to visit?

African Safari Wildlife Park has been delighting families for over 50 years. The free-range Drive-Thru Safari features giraffe, bison, alpacas and deer. The Walk-Thru Safari, open seasonally, features kangaroos, porcupines, birds and educational animal programs.

African Safari Wildlife Park is at 267 S. Lightner Road in Port Clinton. Hours are daily from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., with the last car admitted at 6 p.m.

Dinosaur Takeover, which is included with General Park admission, will run through Monday, Sept. 4.

To view the park's calendar or to purchase tickets and memberships and learn more about African Safari, visit africansafariwildlifepark.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Dinosaur Takeover adds new dimension to African Safari Wildlife Park