African Safari Wildlife Park in Ohio vs the 3 Best National Parks in Africa

Published on 25 September 2023, Last updated on 19 April 2024.

By Molebatsi Manzi in Places in Africa.

“There’s nothing else like it,” is how the African Safari Wildlife Park in Ohio, USA describes their safari experience. This popular park attracts visitors with a host of exotic wildlife from all around the world, promising up-close encounters with wildlife from nose-to-nose meetings with a giraffe, and walks on the wild side with the Walk-Thru safari.

But how does the African Safari Wildlife Park stack up against three of the best national parks in Africa? We decided to find out and put together the differences (and similarities) between African Safari Wildlife Park and Kenya’s most famous Big 5 safari destination, the Masai Mara National Reserve; South Africa’s top national park, Kruger National Park; and Tanzania’s premier national park, Serengeti National Park.

Size: African Wildlife Safari Park vs Best African Parks

If you believe that “the bigger, the better,” then African Safari Wildlife Park doesn’t have a hat in the race compared to Africa’s finest parks. Masai Mara is the smallest of the 3 African parks, yet it can fit 5,800 African Safari Wildlife Parks inside its borders. South Africa's Kruger National Park is the biggest at 19 485 km² / 7523 mi², but it is the 7th largest park in Africa (the Serengeti National Park is 9th).

African Wildlife Safari Park, USA	The Masai Mara National Park, Kenya	The Serengeti National Park, Tanzania	The Kruger National Park, South Africa
0.26 km² / 0.10 mi²	1510 km² / 583 mi²	14 763 km² / 5700 mi²	19 485 km² / 7523 mi²
No Big 5: Exotic animals from all over the world	Big 5 Safari Destination	Big 5 Safari Destination	Big 5 Safari Destination
Fenced enclosures. Bare ground. Shipping containers.	Pristine savannah grassland	Pristine savannah grassland	Pristine African bushveld
Feels like a giant petting zoo where you can feed the animals lettuce and pellets from paper cups.	Real wilderness experience from a 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional guide.	Real wilderness experience from a 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional guide.	Real wilderness experience from a 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional guide.

Nature & Wildlife: Ohio vs Africa

Africa's Big 5 reserves are renowned for their safari wildlife and epic scenery. All three boast healthy Big 5 populations of elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, and rhino as well as cheetahs, hyenas, wildebeest, kudu, impala, bushbuck, springbok, nyala, zebra, giraffe, and many many more. The Masai Mara has over 470 bird species, while both the Serengeti National Park and Kruger National Park boast an impressive 500 plus bird species.

Ohio’s African Wildlife Safari Park does not have any of the Big 5. They do have an assortment of domesticated 'wild' animals including two giraffes, alpacas, llamas, bongos, kudu, eland, various deer species, and a few bison to mention a few. The state of Ohio at 116,096 km² / 44,825 mi² has around 448 bird species.

Ohio vs Africa: Landscape Differences

The African Safari Wildlife Park is not a pristine environment. While the animals do have a fair amount of space, the park is made up of wire-fenced enclosures, some with shipping container hides, and a few man-made dams for water. The overall feel is of a large petting zoo. A feeling compounded by the friendly (hungry) animals that cluster around vehicles as they drive through.

The Kruger, Serengeti, and Masai’s pristine wilderness are much the same as they have been for centuries. They represent a true African wilderness, and illicit a raw, primordial wonder. There are no fences within the parks, and safari game drives are unpredictable. Kruger National Park has an excellent road network that makes self-drive safaris easy, though purest believe this detracts from the wilderness feel. In the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, 4x4 game vehicles are necessary. In peak season, during the Great Wildebeest Migration, these parks can get congested.

Conservation Value

When it comes to protecting wildlife, all four parks make an admirable contribution. The African Safari Wildlife Park is involved in initiatives including protecting wild places and supporting the Cheetah Conservation Fund. It is also part of the Zoological Association of America. Back in Africa, Kenya’s Masai Mara reserve was created to conserve wildlife; the Kruger in South Africa is a sanctuary for endangered species, while TAPANA (Tanzania National Parks) protects the Serengeti National Park. The main difference is scale. African Safari Wildlife Park is small and does not really have the scope to protect megafauna and so concentrates on education and exposure. Kruger National Park, the Serengeti National Park, and the Masai Mara National Park conserve massive ecosystems that are under threat from human encroachment, poaching, and habitat loss. These parks pull all sorts of specialist conservationists, researchers, and wildlife organizations that work together to preserve these national treasures.

Cultural Experiences & Activities

When visiting East or Southern Africa, cultural visits are a must. Bordering all of these conservation areas are communities, villages, and towns that are, by proximity, a part of the conservation mechanism. Some of these people, like the Masai in Kenya, have been living the same way for hundreds of years, and visiting their villages is an opportunity to see how modern Masai are adapting to the fast pace of change in the world.

The African Safari Wildlife Park does not do 'cultural' activities. The value here is entertainment and their top activities include an impressive dinosaur takeover that takes visitors back in time to experience more than 20 prehistoric creatures. Like the 3 top African destinations, the park has walk-thru and self-drive options.

The vast landscapes of the Kruger, Serengeti, and Masai provide an awe-inspiring backdrop and are as much a part of the experience as the game and wildlife. Other activities include hot-air balloon rides, bush breakfasts, and night-time game drives.

Accommodation: African Wildlife Safari Park vs National Parks in Africa

The African Safari Wildlife Park is a day trip excursion to get up close with animals. Considering the distance you will travel to get to East Africa or South Africa, it makes sense that you will spend more than a few nights. The Serengeti, Kruger, and Masai Mara parks all offer an exceptional range of safari accommodation options, from budget camping and tented safari to luxury lodges and hotel accommodations, and bed and breakfasts

African Wildlife Safari Park, USA	The Masai Mara National Park, Kenya	The Serengeti National Park, Tanzania	The Kruger National Park, South Africa
Accredited by the Zoological Association of America	Nationally protected area and world leader in conservation management. Together with the Serengeti National Park protects a natural migration route that is millenniums old. The Masai Mara is also famous for community conservation efforts within the Masai Mara Conservancies.	Nationally protected area and world leader in conservation management. Together with the Masai Mara National Park protects a natural migration route that is millenniums old.	One of the largest Nationally protected areas in Africa. Kruger protects no less than 13 distinct biomes and is a world leader in conservation management.
Drive-thru safari No accommodation	self-drive safaris guided safari tours Budget camping Luxury and family-friendly lodges Mobile safaris	Self-drive safaris guided safari tours Budget camping Luxury and family-friendly lodges Mobile safaris Hotels	Self -safaris guided 4x4 safari walking safari Budget camping Luxury and family-friendly lodges
From African warthog to Australian Black Swan and American alligator, the park has wildlife from all around the world.	The Great Migration Big 5 safari destination	The Great Migration Big 5 safari destination	White lions Big 5 safari destination
Age 7 yr+ : $25.95 Senior (62yr+), first responders, military: $22.95 Child 3-6 yr: $19.95 Extended weekends/Summer Age 7 yr+ : $32.95 Senior (62yr+), first responders, military: $29.95 Child 3-6 yr: $26.95	Plane ticket US$ 1200 + from Austin, TX (AUS-Austin-Bergstrom Intl.) US$ 70 per adult per day US$ 40 per child 3-11 years of age per day	Plane ticket US$ 1200 + from Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, Texas US$ 60 per adult per day US$ 30 per child 5-16 years of age per day	Plane ticket US$ 1200 + from Austin, TX (AUS-Austin-Bergstrom Intl.) US$ 25 per adult per day US$ 13 per child 2- 11 years old per day

Accolades & Claims to Fame

The African Wildlife Safari Park's walk-thru safari has been certified as a wildlife habitat by the Wildlife Federation of America. Awards for this experience include The African Safari Wildlife Park walk-thru experience includes EdZOOcation animal programs, the HogWILD experience, and an Aviary Adventure. Animals from porcupines to crowned cranes, Madagascan lemurs, wallabies, and tarantulas are all on display.

The Kruger National Park is world-famous for Big 5 safaris and is one of the best places to spot elusive leopards. The Serengeti has one of the oldest ecosystems in the world and protects a large portion of the Great Wildebeest Migration that takes place throughout the year. Both Kruger National Park and the Serengeti are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Masai Mara also protects a part of the Great Wildebeest Migration and is most famous for the Mara River crossing, where thousands of wildebeest cross the crocodile-infested river in search of fresh grazing. The BBC Television show titled "Big Cat Diary" was filmed in the Maasai Mara.

Best Wildlife Phenomena?

Visiting the African Wildlife Safari Park is great in that it gets people up close to animals, not just from Africa, but from around the world. It is delightful to feed giraffes, llamas, and other animals, but these animals are not wild and depend entirely on their human guardians. It is nevertheless an exciting outing for families and young children.

Visiting Africa on safari is about immersion, and meeting nature on her own terms. While you are guaranteed an experience of a lifetime, you cannot guarantee a lion kill, wildebeest crossing, or elephant encounter. Undoubtedly, one of the finest African safari experiences is witnessing thousands of wildebeest as they traverse the expansive African savannah. Those who favour an untamed experience will not be disappointed. An African safari may not be the best option for people travelling with small children, but it is certainly worth the cost if authenticity is what you are after.

Ready to Book a Budget African Safari?

Now that you know how Africa’s top safari destinations (Masai Mara, Serengeti, and Kruger) fare against Ohio’s top attraction (African Safari Wildlife Park), it's time to book your dream African safari and experience the real thing yourself! Get in touch with our team of travel experts at African Budget Safaris to find out more.

Molebatsi Manzi Wordsmith & Caffeine Fiend

I like to think of myself as a storyteller and fan of words, living in the busy, traffic-capital that is Johannesburg. Trained as a journalist and obsessed with Doritos and a good cup of coffee, I enjoy being out in nature and getting stuck between the pages of a good autobiography.