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GOING WILD IN OHIO
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wilds
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wilds
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wilds
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wilds
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wilds
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wilds
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wilds
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Wilds
Former wasteland now shines with natural beauty
The 10,000-acre wildlife conservation facility is the largest in North America.
CUMBERLAND, Ohio — On the left side of the moving safari bus, three zebras graze atop a grassy knoll.
On the right side, rhinos wallow in the mud.
Just ahead, the pointed horns of a reclining antelope jut from the tall, brown grasses that sway in the breeze.
Up above, the sky is dazzling blue, and the sun beats down hot and bright.
As the safari bus slides to a stop, a cloud of dust filters through the open windows and settles on the shoulders of the seated passengers.
But we don’t mind.
We’re too in awe of the exotic animals surrounding us and too busy snapping photos and adjusting our binoculars to care about a little dust in our hair.
It’s not every day, after all, that you see zebras, rhinos and antelope roaming free — not if you live in Ohio anyway.
And this is Ohio, believe it or not. Cumberland, Ohio, to be exact — about three hours south of Youngstown in Guernsey County.
The bus we are traveling on is a safari bus at The Wilds, a 10,000-acre wildlife conservation facility that’s the largest in North America and one of the most respected in the world.
The Wilds got started in 1986 after the International Center for the Preservation of Wild Animals received a gift of nearly 10,000 acres from the Central Ohio Coal Company.
The acreage had been used to strip-mine coal and was a barren wasteland filled with gaping holes.
That all changed when work began transforming the land into a sprawling animal conservation area.
By 1989, a Visitor’s Center was completed, and in 1990 fences were installed on the open range.
In 1991, the first animals arrived including Hartmann’s Mountain zebras, Scimitar-horned Oryx and Przewalski’s horses — endangered species that continue to benefit from their placement at The Wilds.
In 1994, The Wilds opened to the public and 14 years later is still going strong.
The former wasteland now shines with natural beauty. The gaping holes are blue lakes that sparkle amid the rolling hills, and white ribbons of gravel road crisscross the grassy plains.
Safari buses travel these gravel roads, stopping now and then in a cloud of dust so passengers aboard can take photos of the exotic wildlife or take a closer look through a pair of binoculars.
How breathtaking it is to witness these wild animals roaming free!
It’s nothing like going to the zoo and observing animals in captivity.
There is a sense of majesty, freedom and adventure about The Wilds that you don’t experience at a zoo, and aside from a trip to Africa, The Wilds is the closest many Ohioans will ever get to a real safari.
Rhinos, zebras, bison, antelope, deer, oryx, cheetahs, African wild dogs, giraffes, cranes, sheep and camels are just some of the creatures living at The Wilds.
Seeing these animals up close is so exciting that it’s easy to forget The Wilds is about more than a good time.
But this is a highly respected organization on the leading edge of wildlife conservation with programs intended to enlighten and educate visitors as well as entertain them.
Scientifically-based management techniques and breeding programs promote health and diversity of wildlife populations, and research programs explore ways to conserve threatened animal species and habitats — both locally and around the world.
When you visit The Wilds, be sure to bring your binoculars and your camera. You can rent binoculars on site, but it’s easier (and cheaper) to have your own.
You may also want to pack a few snacks and a bottle of water for your safari tour.
Visitors can choose from three types of safari tours.
A Safari Transport tour shuttles visitors around the grounds in a closed safari bus. These tours last about two hours and cost $18 for adults, $17 for seniors and $13 for ages 4 to 12.
The Safari Transports depart regularly from the Visitor’s Center every 10 to 20 minutes beginning at 10 a.m. The last Safari Transport leaves at 4 p.m. The air-conditioned Safari Transport vehicles have large windows for viewing wildlife. Reservations are not required.
The Open-Air Safari Tour is The Wilds’ premium safari experience that offers fabulous opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.
The Open-Air tours last about 21‚Ñ2 hours and cost $25 per person (all ages).
Open-Air Safari vehicles depart from the Visitor’s Center every half-hour between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the spring and fall, and every half hour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the summer. Reservations are not required.
Visitors can also experience a Sunset Safari tour.
This magical tour begins with a buffet dinner on the deck of The Wilds’ Overlook Caf .
After dinner, guests board an Open-Air Safari bus for a ride through the Wilds’ open-range animal areas at dusk — the time when animals are most active.
Relish the golden splendor of the sunset while you observe rhinos, giraffes, antelope and rare and endangered animals roaming free.
Sunset Safari Tours are available every Saturday June through September, and tickets, which include dinner, cost $65 per person.
All safari tours include stops at The Wilds’ Mid-sized Carnivore Conservation Center.
This center is the only one of its kind in America and is dedicated to the breeding and scientific study of endangered midsized carnivores such as cheetahs and African wild dogs.
Visitors can view these animals from the center’s elevated walkways or its two-story observation area.
The safari tours also include a stop at The Wilds’ Spillman Lake.
Here, visitors can feed catfish and observe rare trumpeter swans. These large, beautiful birds were hunted to near extinction in the 1800s, but the Wilds has played a vital role in re-establishing the threatened species.
Speaking of things with wings — The Wilds is home to a variety of birds and has been recognized by Audubon as one of Ohio’s Important Bird Areas.
In addition, it’s known for superior fishing and visitors can enjoy guided fly-fishing excursions on some of its beautiful blue lakes.
The Wilds also offers a 10-acre butterfly trail that meanders through prairies, woodlands and wetlands.
The butterfly habitat is located across the road from The Wilds’ main parking lot.
When you arrive at The Wilds, you’ll park your car here and then take a shuttle bus up to the Visitor’s Center.
At the Visitor’s Center, you can purchase safari tour tickets and watch a brief film about The Wilds’ history and mission. You can also grab a bite to eat at the Overlook Caf or buy a souvenir at the nearby gift shop.
The Wilds is open seven days a week during June, July and August.
During May, September and October, The Wilds is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
XFor more information visit www.thewilds.org, call (740) 638-5030 or write: The Wilds, 14000 International Road, Cumberland, OH 43732.