Six Flags Great Adventure's Drive-Through Safari to Open May 30

Your family will be able to see exotic animals in person when Six Flags opens its safari for guests to drive through in their own vehicles.

By Katelin Walling June 2, 2021

Six Flags Great Adventure, located in Jackson, NJ, announced today that it will open its safari for a unique drive-through experience on Saturday, May 30. The initial announcement of the drive-through safari came after New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s executive order allowing drive-through events that follow social distancing guidelines. So, while the theme park and waterpark will remain closed until further notice, this means your family can plan a day trip to see exotic animals in real life (from the safety of your vehicle) rather than being limited to livestreams of zoos and aquariums. Six Flags Great Adventure's Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure will be open daily, 9am–4pm, weather permitting.

In 2013, after 38 years of the safari operating as a self-drive-through experience, Six Flags Great Adventure began offering guided truck tours of the safari. Returning to the original drive-through format, Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure will take guests on a self-guided journey through 350 acres and 11 simulated natural habitats to see 1,200 animals from six continents. Animals include giraffes, elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, bears, and baboons. And while most animals roam freely about the experience, predators are kept safely behind fences—though all animals are clearly visible from car windows.

In order to prevent overcrowding in the drive-through safari at Six Flags Great Adventure and allow for proper social distancing, advance registration is required. The theme park’s online reservation system will be activated Wednesday, May 27 at 10am to allow members, season pass holders, and single-day ticket holders to book a spot. (Note: All tickets must be purchased online; ticket sales will not be available at the gate, and guests without advanced registration will not be allowed to enter the safari.)

The best time to go to Six Flags Safari is as soon as the park opens. To get the most out of your visit, be sure to head to the Safari before going to other rides and attractions. Operation hours for the Safari are:

Monday-Friday: 10am-3pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9am-4pm

Throughout Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure, guests must follow a new list of safety requirements, including:

keeping all window, doors, and convertible tops closed
no feeding or touching the animals
no smoking or littering
no stopping cars (except to yield for animals)
only cars, SUVs, and consumer pickup trucks with empty beds are allowed
following the 5mph speed limit, with ample space between other cars and animals

And though the theme park will remain closed until it’s allowed to re-open per the health and safety guidelines set forth by the state, you can still catch some thrills of riding the roller coasters. When you get home from your drive-through safari experience, you can virtually ride some of Six Flags’ roller coasters, including El Toro, Bizarro, Kingda Ka, Nitro, Green Lantern, Batman the Ride, and Superman Ultimate Flight.

The drive-through safari is just way Six Flags has stepped up to serve families in the area in 2020. Earlier this year, all locations of Six Flags Great Adventure earned a Certified Autism Center™ designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. The theme park already hosts annual Autism Days, during which children on the spectrum and their families have free reign of the park, which is transformed into a sensory-friendly space with lowered light and noise levels, short lines, and decompression areas so everyone is comfortable. To earn the Certified Autism Center™ designation, at least 80 percent of guest-facing staff had to complete a training and certification program through IBCCES, and each location also provides:

Trained staff who can identify visual cues that will help accommodate all guests
A sensory guide for each ride and attraction, so guests can make informed choices about which rides they will enjoy
In-park sensory spaces where guests can relax if things get overwhelming
Expanded food options to meet everyone’s dietary needs
Accessibility Guides, which are available at each park and on the Six Flags website

For more information about the drive-through safari and to reserve tickets online, visit sixflags.com/greatadventure.