When you dream of safari, chances are you picture golden savannahs dotted with acacias, elephants on the move, or a lion yawning under the African sun.
You don’t need to board a long-haul flight to find yourself immersed in a safari-style adventure. Across Australia, wildlife parks, open-range zoos and luxury lodges are recreating the spirit of Africa - bringing you up close to giraffes, rhinos and zebras against wide, open skies.
Just 30 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, Werribee Open Range Zoo is Australia’s most iconic safari experience. Set across expansive grasslands, the zoo offers guided safari bus tours where you’ll spot giraffes, rhinoceroses, antelope and zebras roaming as they would in the wild.
For those wanting more than a day trip, the ‘Slumber Safari’ allows guests to stay overnight in luxury tents overlooking the savannah, complete with African-inspired dining and dawn wildlife encounters. It’s the closest you’ll get to the Maasai Mara without leaving the country.
In the heart of regional NSW, Dubbo’s Taronga Western Plains Zoo stretches across 300 hectares of open woodland and is home to more than 4000 animals. Here, you can cycle or drive your own safari circuit past giraffes, elephants, lions and cheetahs.
The zoo’s lodges and glamping options add an authentic safari touch, where the calls of exotic wildlife replace your morning alarm clock. Taronga’s conservation focus also means your safari adventure directly supports global efforts to protect endangered species.
A short drive from Adelaide, Monarto Safari Park is one of the world’s largest open-range zoos covering more than 1500 hectares. The park is a conservation success story, housing more than 50 species including white rhinos, African lions, cheetahs and giraffes.
Visitors can join hop-on-hop-off buses, take behind-the-scenes experiences, or even hand-feed giraffes. For a true adrenaline rush, the ‘Lions 360’ encounter puts you inside a protective cage as a pride of lions roams around you. It’s Africa, reimagined in the South Australian bush.
For those seeking indulgence with their adventure, Canberra’s Jamala Wildlife Lodge at the National Zoo and Aquarium combines luxury accommodation with thrilling animal encounters.
Imagine soaking in a bathtub while a tiger lounges just beyond the glass, or sharing breakfast on your terrace as giraffes stroll past. With themed suites and bungalows set right alongside animal enclosures, Jamala blends five-star hospitality with the raw energy of the wild - making it one of Australia’s most unique safari stays.
If you’d like a taste of safari in the style of Africa’s luxury tented camps, Zoofari Lodge in Dubbo delivers. With African-inspired décor, views across the savannah and private animal encounters, guests can experience the atmosphere of a Kenyan lodge right in New South Wales. Evening campfires, fine dining and the sounds of wildlife at night create an unforgettable experience.
Bringing the Wild Home
While Australia boasts its own extraordinary native species - from kangaroos to cassowaries - these safari-style experiences transport you to another world without the passport stamp.
Whether it’s watching giraffes graze against the backdrop of a eucalyptus forest or waking up to the roar of lions, Australia proves that the thrill of safari can be found closer than you think.
