wild safari new jersey

Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure: An Interactive Zoo Experience You Won’t Want To Miss

If you ever thought of going on a safari, here’s your chance— in NJ. The wildly popular Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure in Jackson opens the weekend of April 1 and is teeming with over 1,200 exotic animals from six continents ready to greet you and the whole family. Drive your car down a winding path where African elephants, reticulated giraffes, and red rhinos pass by your window (and maybe even stop traffic) in areas that mimic their natural habitats. Ready to go? Scroll down for all the details for going on a wild adventure at Six Flags Wild Safari—no passport needed. ( Feature Photo Credit: Six Flags Safari )

The zebras show off their stripes during the Six Flags in New Jersey. Photo Credit: Six Flags Safari

All the animals at Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru

Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure is unique because you never have to leave your car. The drive-thru is separated into 12 sections to show how animals live in distinct natural habitats. You’ll have the opportunity to watch a Roosevelt Elk run in The Americas, see an ostrich peck at your window in Afrikka, or view an African Lion at rest in Kingsland. As you wind around the loop, slow down by Baboon Village. This fan-favorite is where you can watch this rowdy troop jump all over a large metal piece in their exhibit (this metal piece is actually from “Lightning Loops,” a Six Flags Great Adventure rollercoaster that was deconstructed years ago). And not to worry, the baboons are no longer allowed to jump on your car like they were years ago ( whew ).

See animals in their natural habitat from the safety of your vehicle. Photo Credit: Six Flags Safari

Here’s what to know about the Drive-Thru before you go

The Six Flags Wild Safari Park is a total of 4.5 miles of paved road, and the drive-thru timing depends on the animals’ behavior (if they are out and about) and the traffic since you drive through super slowly—but expect it to take at least an hour. To make the experience even better, you can download a guide for all the details on the animals and facts. During the tour, you will see gates with signs that say “checkpost” to guide you to where you are and what you will see. Safari team members are available at many of the gates to help you with anything you might need during your adventure. And the animals can be temperamental (especially in crummy weather), so be prepared that you might not always see specific species. Whether you’re planning to go for the day or even just a quick visit, you’ll want to purchase tickets online and reserve a time and date to go. Tickets start at $24.99 for adults and $19.99 for seniors and children under 48″. 

Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru is only part of the park

If your family is still up for an adventure, New Jersey’s largest and most popular theme park, Six Flags Great Adventure , is right next door with rides, restaurants, and hours of entertainment. Six Flags Great Adventure’s main park has plenty of thrilling and tame rides for all ages and lots of special events planned for 2023. This Spring Break, visit Six Flags in New Jersey for Scream Break from April 8-15 for a frighteningly good time that includes some of the features from Fright Fest, like haunted houses, a scare zone, ghouls, and nighttime rides. If you’re thinking about going this summer, you’ll want to head over to Six Flag’s water park, Hurricane Harbor, and spend the rest of the day sliding and splashing on the lazy river and in the pools—a perfect ending to a day “on safari.” New this year, there will be lots of tamer options for younger kids, including a treehouse splash park and 7 new colorful slides that spin and whirl smaller riders. And good to know if you want to add this to your day— Six Flags Great Adventure and Hurricane Harbor require separate ticket purchases from the Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure.

Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure 1 Six Flags Boulevard Jackson, NJ 08527 (732) 928-2000

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Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari Returns!

By: Author Jennifer Auer

Posted on Published: April 3, 2023  - Last updated: August 10, 2023

Growing up the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari was pretty epic. It was something every family wanted to try at least once. We all had our stories of what it was like.

Years later the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari would close and visitors enjoyed it as a perk with their Great Adventure admission ticket.

These last few weeks you may have been wondering what fun things you can do this spring in New Jersey. You may be thinking about what your summer may look like. Perhaps you’ve even reflected on the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari in New Jersey. Did you make it there last year?

Did you want more time to experience it?

Were you worried that maybe the safari would go back to normal and driving through it would no longer be an option?

You can!! Because the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari is back for 2023!

Six Flags Great Adventure has its Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure as open for 2023 on April 1, 2023, and operating daily beginning May 19, 2023 weather permitting. It’s also open daily for spring break from April 5, to April 16, 2023.

Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari is OPEN Again!!

Six Flags Great Adventure has reopened its Safari adventure as a drive-through experience. This year there’s, even MORE, to see as the Animal Care Team looks forward to welcoming an array of adorable babies, and new animals.

About the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari

Six Flags Great Adventure’s Safari operated as a self-drive-through experience from 1974 through 2012. Since 2013, Great Adventure has offered guided truck tours of the Safari. Returning to a standalone, drive-through format enables guests to enjoy the Safari’s 1,200 exotic animals from the privacy and safety of their own vehicles while allowing for proper social distancing.

How do I get tickets to the Drive Thru Safari at Great Adventure?

Advance reservations are recommended, but not required at this time for the 2023 season.

Active Members, Season Pass Holders, and single-day ticket holders can make reservations NOW at www.sixflags.com.

How do I make a reservation to visit the safari?

Tickets are required. If you are an active Member or Season Pass holder, you do not require a separate ticket.

For those that need to buy a ticket, visit this Six Flags Great Adventure page on their site . Choose a date from the calendar that is available for your ticket type. Choose the ticket quantity. You will need 1 ticket for each person in the car. Then, enter your payment information and proceed.

When you have completed the registration, you will receive a confirmation. Please print this confirmation sheet if possible. A printed sheet is easier to scan through the car window than a phone screen. We want this experience to be as contact-free as possible.

Ticket sales are for individuals. No group sales are available.

When will it open? When will it be open?

The Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure will open March 19, 2022, and operate daily beginning May 5, 2022 weather permitting.

How much will it cost?

Each guest will need a ticket. The admission price for the Great Adventure drive thru safari is as follows:

• General Admission weekends, holidays, & spring break — $19.99 to $24.99
• General Admission weekdays — starts at $14.99
• Admission is free to Six Flags Members, Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor New Jersey Season Pass holders.

How long is the drive thru safari?

It’s a 350 acre safari with a 5 mile roadway. It will takes about 1.5 hours to 2 hours to drive through to see all the animals.

Can I stop to take pictures?

Stopping is not allowed. For the safety of all guests and animals the traffic flow needs to keep moving.

How can I take great photos and videos safely?

If you are driving through buy this dashboard cam with our Amazon affiliate link. With this dashboard camera and a memory card you can record video and take pictures throughout the drive thru safari and dinosaur experience SAFELY. You’ll never miss a moment or an animal as the Rove R2- 4K Dash Cam Built in WiFi GPS Car Dashboard Camera Recorder dashboard camera can catch everything.

This dashboard cam even allows you to livestream safely while recording. Take the grandparents with you on your drive thru adventures without them ever leaving home or show off to all your Instagram followers. You can also rotate the camera and do a little family caroake video.

Bonus… since we fully expect spring and summer and even Christmas drive thru events to continue, you’ll get so much use from your dashboard camera.

What kinds of animals are in the safari?

The Great Adventure safari has 1,200 animals from six continents including elephants, rhinos, tigers, giraffes and lions. They are separated into 10 areas. While most animals roam freely in the safari, predators are kept safely behind fences. All animals are clearly visible from car windows.

Guests can learn all about the animals and their habitats on the park’s website at www.sixflags.com/safari. During your drive through the safari, you can follow along the virtual tour on at www.sixflags.com/greatadventure to learn more about 11 sections of the safari, and the animals that reside in each section.

Safari Adventure Lands

• The Americas – Explore the inhabitants of the Americas featuring Rhea, Fallow Deer, Bison, Roosevelt Elk, Llama and Wild Turkey.
• Afrikka – A mix of exotic and endangered animals indigenous to Africa like Ostrich, African Elephant, White Rhinoceros, Asian Water Buffalo, Marabou Stork and Grant’s Zebra.
• Wild Plains – Wild Plains are home to a large variety of animals including the Common Eland, Ellipsis Waterbuck, Southern Ground Hornbill, Beisa Oryx, Peacock, Dama Gazella, Red Ankole Cattle, Scimitar Horned Oryx, Reticulated Giraffe and much, much, more.
• Serengeti Grassland – Take a trip through the Serengeti Grasslands and encounter Blackbuck, Addax, White Tailed Gnu and Aoudad.
• Kingsland – In the animal kingdom there is one mammal that reigns the title of king, and in Kingsland you will find your pride with plenty of Lions.
• Black Bear Ridge – Bear dens are plentiful in Black Bear Ridge, where you will find plenty of mamma bears and their cubs playing in the grass or relaxing in the water.
• Terra Urus – European Brown Bear cousins to the Grizzly Bears.
• Conservation Area – Travel through an untouched part of the safari left for NJ native species like birds, foxes, turtles and even the great bald eagle.
• Didgeradoo Pass – Drive through the outback where you can come face to face with Red Kangaroo, Emu and Black Swan.
• Tigris Asiana – There are plenty of tigers to be found in Tigris Asian and other animals to meet such as Nilgai, Yak, Bengal Tiger and Siberian Tiger
• Baboon Village – Guests will be able to visit the Baboon Jungle prior to exiting the safari.

What’s new at the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari?

Similar to 2022, there are new animals to see and new enhancements to the Six Flags Safari.

New animals at the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari

Here’s what guests visiting the drive thru safari this spring can expect to see.

Five Stunning Siberian Tiger Cubs  

• Five Siberian tiger cubs turn one-year old in May and will be introduced to an exhibit in a new area of the safari.

Young Animal Additions 

• Adorable European brown bear cubs under specialized care, a rare newborn bongo calf and a sable antelope calf all join the safari in 2023.

In 2022, these were the new Six Flags Safari animals.

Sawyer, the Southern White Rhinoceros  

• Six-year-old (now 7 years old) Sawyer joins three adult female rhinos in the Afrikka section of the safari. Although grey in color, the southern white rhinoceros is the largest living species of the five species of rhino, averaging 4,000 to 6,000 pounds. At 3,800 pounds and growing, Sawyer has a youthful bounce in his step and enjoys human touch like scratches from a bristle brush. With a diet of hay and grain, Sawyer and his fellow rhinos are one the world’s last remaining “mega-herbivores” – a large animal that eats mainly plants. He lives side-by-side with other animals native to Africa such as elephants, ostriches and zebras.

Three Reticulated Giraffe Calves  (now toddlers)

• Three adorable and graceful calves were born in the safari this winter and join the safari’s “tower” (group) of 13 giraffes. Native to Africa, giraffes are the tallest land mammal on Earth. They can stand up to 17 feet tall and weigh from 1,500 to 3,000 pounds. A giraffe’s long neck measures up to seven feet long, and despite its length, contains seven vertebrae just like humans. Due to habitat loss, poaching, and other human-wildlife interferences, giraffes are considered “vulnerable to extinction.”

Two sable antelope calves (now toddlers)

• This striking, horse-like antelope from Africa boasts a tufted tail, mane, and impressive, ringed horns that curve like a scimitar. Typically settling near water, the sable is an herbivore. In the wild, their beautiful horns are a highly prized trophy for hunters. Born in the safari, the pair of sable calves now reside in the Serengeti Grasslands section along with exotic hoof stock like addax, white-tailed gnu (black wildebeest), and aoudad.

Two red lechwe calves (now toddlers)

• Identifiable by their reddish fur, white-ringed eyes, and tall horns reaching up to three feet long, this type of antelope is usually found near aquatic areas in Zambia and Botswana and are considered a “near threatened species” in the wild. The safari’s red lechwe calves, born onsite this winter, reside in the Wilde Plains section with a vast array of African species such as giraffe, greater kudu, ankole cattle, dama gazelle, white-bearded gnu (blue/brindled wildebeest), bongo and more.

Two Asian water buffalo calves 

• Two adorable Asian water buffalo calves join the Afrikka section. While they bear some similarities to their African cousins, the Cape buffalo, these are domesticated animals. In the wild, they are commonly found on farms as beasts of burden. Their milk, which has more fat than that of domestic cattle, is used for making liquid butter in India. In the safari, they are true to their name and are often found submerged in ponds with only their heads visible above water.

Spring brings more baby animals to the Drive Thru Safari (now toddlers)

The Animal Care Team looks forward to welcoming an array of adorable babies including the exciting arrival of giraffe babies and scimitar calves.

Safety improvements at the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari Made in 2022

• Roadway Enhancements – Guests enjoy a smooth experience on an expanded, two-lane roadway with five newly paved miles of blacktop. The wider roadway helps to better accommodate guests who wish to enjoy the tour at their own pace and accommodates school buses for educational programs.

More Highlights for the 2023 Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari

• Georgia the Giraffe  celebrates thirty-one years of life, likely one of the oldest giraffes under human care and a grandmother to many giraffes on property.
• Save an Icon Pin Program  returns with proceeds benefitting the Wildlife Conservation Network. This 2023 collectible pin will feature both the Bald Eagle and Blue and Gold Macaw.
• Monthly Safari Overnights  Six Flags Wild Safari will host their popular monthly overnight camping adventures this summer, a unique experience for a lifetime of memories.

Other enhancements to the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari made in 2022

• Enhanced Safari Entrance –  Six Flags’ expansive modernization and beautification efforts included a new roadway entrance and upgraded safari plaza to welcome guests;
• Enhanced Mobile App  – A new mobile app feature allowed guests to add their safari pass to their Google Pay Wallet or Apple Wallet expediting the admission experience and reduce wait time.
• New Audio Tour –  Guests can immerse themselves in the animal world with a new audio tour. Energetic narrators will showcase 11 simulated natural habitats featuring more than 70 different species of animals. Guests will learn fun and educational facts about the animals, hear fascinating animal sounds and music from around the world. At the start of their adventure, guests will receive a handout with QR codes that take them to the audio tour and safari map. The audio tour is free and can be streamed from any mobile device.
• Volta Electric Vehicle Charging Stations  – Compatible with all electric vehicles, units are available in the safari parking lot.
• Safari Off Road Education –  This fun and educational tour on a giant, off-road vehicle features a personal tour guide and driver, and an opportunity to feed giraffes and meet small exotic animals up close.
• Science on Safari  – This contactless safari experience features a special Academic Adventure audio tour, grade-specific guidebook and optional visit with an animal educator.

Is it safe?

The safety of guests, team members, and animals is Six Flags’ top priority. The new safari journey will offer a contact-free experience.

A new list of safety requirements is available on the park’s website at www.sixflags.com/greatadventure and include

• SLOW – 5 mph speed limit.
• Maintain space between your car and others.
• Animals always have the right of way.
• Remain in your vehicle and on paved roadway at all times.
• Windows and sun roofs must remain completely closed.
• Convertible tops must be closed.
• No pets, including service animals, are permitted inside cars.
• Do not feed or touch the animals.
• No smoking or littering.
• No parking or stopping, other than yielding to animals.
• All vehicles will be screened by Six Flags Security prior to entering Wild Safari.
• No items are permitted in pickup truck beds or in vehicles with open storage.
• Cars, SUVs and consumer pickup trucks only permitted – no buses, RVs, box trucks, commercial vehicles, pickup trucks larger than a consumer pickup allowed.
• Plan ahead – no restrooms, food, or gasoline available (only portable toilets at entrance and exit).
• Enter at your own risk.
• Guests who violate the rules will be escorted from the park without a refund and may be prosecuted.

What happens if my car breaks down?

If your car can still move, please drive to the side of the road (but stay on the roadway) and place your flashers on. If you cannot move your car, just place your flashers on. One of our team members will come to assist you. Do not exit the vehicle for any reason.

Are there any differences between the new drive thru safari and the old one?

The safari was renovated in 2013 for the opening of Safari Off Road Adventure, and some of the sections were redefined. That pathway remains in place. Plus guests will be able to visit the Baboon Jungle prior to exiting the safari. Camp Aventura will remain closed.

You no longer have to worry about the baboons. No. In 2003, fencing was added along the roadway to separate the baboons from the cars.

How long will the drive thru safari be available?

To ensure the safety of guests and maximize on social distancing guidelines, the safari will remain a self-drive-thru experience after Six Flags Great Adventure opens for the regular season. They do plan to reopen the Safari Off Road Adventure in the near future. No date has been set.

Will there be restrooms available?

There will be indoor restrooms available at the exit of the safari.

Will there be any souvenirs to buy?

Yes! There will be concession stands for souvenirs or refreshments at the end of the safari tour.

Stay tuned. This is a developing story and we can’t wait to bring you more details.

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Saturday 26th of August 2023

Do I need to purchase a ticket for two years old baby?

Jennifer Auer

Sunday 27th of August 2023

You would need to check with Great Adventure. - Jenn

Friday 12th of May 2023

Do we need a ticket for Wild Safari for 6 months old babies?

Sunday 14th of May 2023

You do not need a ticket for 6 month old babies. - Jenn

Colleen Carman

Thursday 20th of April 2023

I am a social director for seniors, we have a 13 seat bus.. is this allowed ? And do we pay per bus our per passenger

You would need to reach out to Six Flags Great Adventure. You have left your comment with Jersey Family Fun. - Jenn

Darlene Bennett

Thursday 28th of July 2022

I am bringing a 4 year old for the first time. What us the best time for him to have the best experience possible, he is such an animal lover!!! Thank you!

I think at dusk might be best, we've only been a few times. Perhaps give their reservation department a call and see if they have any recommendations. - Jenn

Friday 8th of April 2022

Is the safari open in the rain and do the animals come out in the rain?

We believe the safari is open rain or shine unless weather conditions would make it dangerous to do so. - Jenn

New Jersey’s Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure To Debut New Animals In 2022

Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure will debut new animals, memorable guest enhancements, and much more for the 2022 season.

The 350-acre wildlife preserve located in Jackson, New Jersey will open on Saturday, March 19.

Spring animal additions include:

Sawyer [The Southern White Rhinoceros]

Six-year-old Sawyer joins three adult female rhinos in the Afrikka section of the safari. Although grey in color, the southern white rhinoceros is the largest living species of the five species of rhino, averaging 4,000 to 6,000 pounds.

Three Reticulated Giraffe Calves

Three adorable and graceful calves were born in the safari this winter and join the safari’s “tower” (group) of 13 giraffes.

Two sable antelope calves

This striking, horse-like antelope from Africa boasts a tufted tail, mane and impressive, ringed horns that curve like a scimitar. Typically settling near water, the sable is an herbivore.

Two red lechwe calves

The safari’s red lechwe calves, born onsite this winter, reside in the Wilde Plains section with vast array of African species such as giraffe, greater kudu, ankole cattle, dama gazelle, and more.

Two Asian water buffalo calves

Two adorable Asian water buffalo calves join the Afrikka section. While they bear some similarities to their African cousins, the Cape buffalo, these are domesticated animals.

Throughout the spring, guests can expect to see additional babies including:

American bison, zebra, aoudad, kangaroo, dama gazelle, blackbuck and more.

Sawyer-close-up-2

Six Flags Wild Safari to Debut New Animals & Enhancements Beginning March 19

SF-Safari-Bear-on-log

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Wild Safari Drive Thru - at Six Flags - Opening Weekend

1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson Township, NJ 08527

Mar 20, 2021. all day

Babies Toddlers (2-4 yrs) Schoolkids (5-7 yrs) Tweens (8-12 yrs) Teens (13-18 yrs) Adults

Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure opens March 20, 2021! Reservations are now available. 

Boasting 1,200 animals from six continents including elephants, rhinos, tigers, giraffes and lions, Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure takes explorers on an exhilarating, interactive animal adventure.

Our Safari Park is 4.5 miles of paved road. How long the safari lasts depends on how long you take to observe the animals. We suggest allowing at least 1 hour for the drive through experience. This guide is designed to help you learn about and identify animals in each of the different sections. Some gates will have signs saying Checkpost with a number and the name of the section. Those will correspond with the sections outlined in this guide. Most gates will be manned by a safari team member. It may be necessary for them to close gates if the animals are too close. They will open it as soon as it is safe to drive through again. The zebra-striped vehicles are the safari wardens and supervisors. They are the ones caring for the animals and making sure everyone is following the rules. If you need assistance please flag one of them down. Please note: due to traffic or the individual species, not all animals may be seen. 

With COVID-19, safety is a shared responsibility. Our guests must follow a strict set of rules to keep our animals safe, which will be monitored by our Security, Safety, and Animal Care teams along the path.  They include:

SLOW – 5 mph speed limit

All vehicles and passengers in vehicles are required to follow New Jersey state driving laws, including wearing a seat belt at all times while driving through the safari.

• Maintain space between your car and others
• Animals always have the right of way
• Remain in your vehicle and on paved roadway at all times
• Windows and sun roofs must remain completely closed
• Convertible tops must be closed
• No pets, including service animals, are permitted inside cars
• Do not feed or touch the animals
• No smoking or littering
• No parking or stopping, other than yielding to animals
• All vehicles will be screened by Six Flags Security prior to entering Wild Safari
• No items are permitted in pickup truck beds or in vehicles with open storage
• Only cars, SUVs and consumer pickup trucks are permitted – RVs, box trucks, commercial vehicles or pick-up trucks larger than a consumer pick-up are not allowed.
• Group sales with pre-approved buses must not exceed 45 ft. in length, 9 ft. in width, and 12 ft. in height.  All other buses are not permitted.
• Enter at your own risk

Guests who violate the rules will be escorted from the park without a refund and may be prosecuted

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May 28, 2020

Six Flags Great Adventure Wild Safari to reopen Saturday

Guests will be permitted to experience the safari via drive-thru, the amusement park said.

Six Flags Great Adventure's Safari will reopen Saturday.

Six Flags Great Adventure’s Wild Safari will reopen as a drive-thru experience on Saturday, the amusement park announced. 

The Jackson, Ocean County-based Safari will operate daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

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To prevent overcrowding, guests will be required to make reservations and register in advance using Six Flags’ new online system. Tickets must be purchased online and in advance as gate sales will be unavailable. Guests without reservations will not be allowed to enter. 

Six Flags members, Season Pass holders, and single-day ticket holders could begin making reservations at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Members, Season Pass holders, and employees can watch a sneak preview of the drive-thru experience on Friday.

With the safety of its guests, employees, and animals as its top priority, Six Flags has implemented a number of new safety procedures that must be followed. Guests must stay in their vehicles and keep windows, doors, and convertible tops closed. They also must maintain a safe distance between other cars and animals.

Cars can only travel 5 MPH and are prohibited from stopping, while SUVs and consumer pickup trucks must keep beds empty. Buses, campers, RVs, commercial vehicles, and trucks larger than a consumer pickup truck are banned. All vehicles will be inspected before entering the park.

Given that it is a contact-free experience, animals cannot be fed or touched. Littering and smoking are also banned. Park staff will enforce the rules, and any violators will be asked to leave the Safari without a refund and possibly prosecuted.

All Six Flags employees will be temperature and health screened on a daily basis, and must wear face masks and gloves. No additional services will be available at the amusement park, and Six Flags is encouraging guests to plan accordingly for restroom breaks, gasoline, and food. Only portable toilets will be available upon entering and exiting the theme park.

The Safari previously operated as a self-drive-thru from 1974 to 2012, but has since offered guided truck tours. The self-guided journey will feature 1,200 exotic animals from six continents across 350 acres of 11 simulated natural habitats. 

Most of the animals roam freely, but predators are kept safely behind fences. All animals are visible from car windows.

Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure opens May 30! Tickets & reservations begin May 27 @ 10 am EST. Visit https://t.co/ftisWAmmd6 for all the wild details! 🦁🚗 pic.twitter.com/9NpLR80pi2 — Great Adventure (@SFGrAdventure) May 20, 2020

The theme park and water park will remain closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Once the amusement park reopens, guests will be required to make reservations online.

Six Flags has been closed since mid-March. 

Season Pass holders will have their 2020 passes extended for the number of operating days that the theme park remains closed. Six Flags members will receive an additional month to their memberships for every month the park is closed. Their memberships also will be upgraded one level for the remainder of the season. 

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered all amusement parks to close indefinitely on March 17 . Four days later, he banned gatherings and instituted a stay-at-home order. 

Murphy has since given drive-thru events , including graduation celebrations, movies and religious services, the green light.

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Amusement Parks | Will baboons still jump on cars when drive-thru…

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Amusement parks | will baboons still jump on cars when drive-thru safari returns to six flags great adventure.

Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey will reopen the Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure on May 29 for passholders and members and May 30 for the general public following an executive order from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy permitting drive-thru events.

Six Flags parks closed in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEE ALSO: First U.S. theme parks set post-COVID-19 reopening dates

The Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure will boast 1,200 animals from six continents including elephants, rhinos and giraffes. The throwback drive-thru safari experience will let visitors once again view African lions, Bengal tigers and grizzly bears from the privacy and safety of their own vehicles during an hour-long journey.

Admission will be by advance reservation only. Reservations will be available online beginning May 27. General admission tickets will range from $13 to $20 with Six Flags passholders and members admitted for free.

SEE ALSO: Six Flags pauses membership payments during coronavirus closure

The Great Adventure drive-thru safari is the perfect if unexpected solution to the COVID-19 pandemic that places a premium on social distancing. Advance reservation tickets purchased online will be scanned through vehicle windows during the contact-free admission process.

The resurrection of the drive-thru zoo offers a nostalgic return to the park’s roots when visitors drove their own vehicles through the safari experience from 1974 to 2012. Since 2013, Great Adventure trucks have taken visitors on guided tours of the safari experience.

SEE ALSO: Which Six Flags parks will reopen first? These 6 are the top contenders

The 11 safari adventure lands will be filled with red kangaroos, black swans and white tailed gnus, but everybody on the drive-thru experience will want to know one thing: Will baboons still jump on my car like the old days?

Sadly, the answer is no. Fencing was added along the roadway in 2003 to separate the baboons from the cars.

The highly-social animals that can live in savanna, grasslands and rain forests will be found in the Baboon Jungle just prior to exiting the safari.

SEE ALSO: Why passholders and members are so important to Six Flags

Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure visitors will be required to remain in their vehicles throughout the 5-mile journey with their windows and sunroofs closed. Touching or feeding the animals is prohibited. Freely-roaming animals that can venture up to vehicles always have the right of way. All predators — kept safely behind fences — will be visible from car windows.

The limited-time flashback experience will end when Six Flags receives clearance from government health officials allowing the reopening of the Great Adventure amusement park. Six Flags drivers and guides aboard park trucks will return to lead the Safari Off Road Adventure once the Jackson, N.J. park fully reopens.

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Six Flags Great Adventure Accused of Horrific Elephant Harm, Fans Demand Immediate Animal Safe Release

in Entertainment , Six Flags

A new short documentary film narrated by a Harry Potter star has been released to expose the terrible conditions that elephants are exposed to at Six Flags Great Adventure, and theme park fans and animal activists are demanding the theme park take action.

World Animal Protection US has released Trapped at Six Flags , a nine-minute documentary about Joyce, an African elephant currently held at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. The film was written, produced, and directed by World Animal Protection Programs Manager Miguel Endara and narrated by Irish actress and World Animal Protection Global Ambassador Evanna Lynch, best known for her role as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter film franchise.

Related: Six Flags Employees Shoving Match Ends up Taking Out Guest

The film focuses on Joyce, an elephant who was captured in Zimbabwe after her herd was killed by a sanctioned government slaughter. Since the 1980s, she has been in the United States (per World Animal Protection), “alongside 62 other orphaned elephants, including Mundi, Joyce has suffered a traumatic history of performances, isolation, and stress, regularly passed around between zoos, circuses, and other captive attractions around the US.”

Trapped at Six Flags follows World Animal Protection Head of Animal Welfare & Research Dr. Jan Schmidt-Burbach as he visited Six Flags Wild Safari Adventure, the 510-acre animal theme park outside of Great Adventure. According to Dr. Schmidt-Burbach:

“Six Flags allots a small, barren area for the elephants it holds in captivity, a space Joyce is not even able to access . Instead, she is held isolated in an even smaller paddock. The total area provided for the captive elephants by Six Flags is appallingly 700,000 times smaller than what they would enjoy in their natural environment . Additionally, Dr. Schmidt-Burbach raises concerns about how the elephants are likely further harmed by their proximity to the park’s massive rollercoasters. In the cold New Jersey winter months, all of the elephants are confined to a nearby barn.”

The Trapped at Six Flags film is designed to highlight the conditions in which Joyce and the other elephants at Wild Safari Adventure are being confined. Experts describe these conditions as incapable of “meeting the complex physical, social, and spatial needs of elephants” and as causing “shorter lifespans, behavioral problems, and chronic diseases” in the animals.

Related: Six Flags Entertainment Merger Continues To See Historic Changes, Warns Millions About New Age-Restricted Policy

Evanna Lynch says via statement:

“When World Animal Protection US first reached out to me about Joyce, my heart broke for her. Joyce’s tragic story captures the plight of so many elephants who are taken from the wild and forced to endure lives of exploitation and misery for human entertainment. Thankfully, the ending of Joyce’s story has not yet been written. It is my hope that through this remarkable and moving documentary, more people will learn about Joyce and come to her rescue while there’s still time. It is a privilege to be a part of this important project.”

Six Flags Great Adventure is the second-largest theme park in the world, after Disney’s Animal Kingdom  at the Walt Disney World Resor t in Orlando, Florida. Due to a 2012 merger with Wild Safari, it covers hundreds of acres of Jackson Township, which makes it all the more shocking that so little space is allocated for Joyce and the other elephants held there.

The accusations of insufficient care and space for Joyce and the elephants are also disturbing in that the Six Flags company is the single largest and one of the most popular theme park chains in North America, due in part to its recent acquisition of Cedar Fair and its numerous amusement and water parks.

Now that Six Flags is more visible than ever, it seems strange that it would want to run afoul of the raging debate about the ethics of holding elephants captive for entertainment purposes.

Six Flags describes its controversial attraction as “Boasting 1,200 animals from six continents including elephants, rhinos, tigers, giraffes and lions, Safari Off Road Adventure takes explorers on an exhilarating, animal adventure. Skilled drivers transport guests off-road to get up close with exotic animals as they venture over rugged terrain in the Wild Safari.

Throughout the excursion, informative guides will entertain you and answer questions, providing a wildly interactive experience.” It also includes the “glamping experience” at Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa.

World Animal Protection is asking Six Flags:

• Immediately work with one of the three US-based sanctuaries that care for elephants to release Joyce to their care.
• Identify sanctuary placements for the remaining elephants at the Wild Safari and set timelines for their relocation.
• Close down the elephant enclosure and commit to not purchasing or breeding any new elephants for the Wild Safari.

Inside the Magic reached out to World Animal Protection for comment, but had not heard back by the time of publishing.

More information and a petition to free Joyce can be found here .