the wilds

鸾鸾

在保护区境内，崎岖小路蜿蜒陡转，路旁时不时会有野鹿野兔穿梭林中。我们入住的小木屋就坐落在保护研究中心旁边，两间全木搭建的小屋独享林中幽静。木屋不大，上下两层，3间卧室，厨房烹饪餐具一应俱全。因为建造在2年前，所以木香依然飘荡。这里曾经是荒废的矿区，经过规划和几年的保护，它变成了北美最大的生态恢复保护区，这个温带草原／落叶林生态系统已经发育的很完善了，很多引进的动物已经开始在这里繁衍。在观光车上，我们看到成群的骆驼，蹬羚，斑马，野牛，野马，牦牛和起他生物。在肉食动物区，我们看到圈养的狐狸，非洲猎狗，和美洲豹的一家。当然我们也有幸亲自喂养这里的犀牛。犀牛很温顺，但是他门的大个头让我有些畏惧。还没把食物送到他们嘴边，哈喇子就稀里哗啦的流一地，这架势，谁还敢喂呀。饲养员很爱他们，他们也和喂养的人建立了默契。用手挠他们的后腿，这些温柔的大怪物就会抬起后腿，告诉你他们先在有多么享受。下午回到住宿地才4点，我们徒步去不远的草原散布。天空和起伏的草原，再没有其他，这种旷野适合奔跑，骑马和听各种鸟鸣声。

StevieCatOhio

The husband and I went on the winter tour today. For us it was a little over 2 hr drive and it was well worth it for me! Only 4 people total were in our tour so it was very personable. Didn't get to probably see near as many animals as a normal tour (which we haven't done) but you got to see some "behind the scenes" things like the indoor barns where some of the animals are kept. The best experience was being able to get right up to the rhinos and a baby and pet them!!! Also to feed the giraffes and touch them. It's an experience I don't think I would have every gotten to do in my life or that most people get to do. They are just such amazing creatures. Most of the time you are in a warm suv and drive around and part right next to the animals that are out. Great tour and looking forward to going when it's warmer.

garh2015

Very personal and interesting tour. Well worth the trip to a remote location. You were so close to the animals you could even pet some of them.

picklette51

The Wilds reminded me of a Jurrassic Park experience! State of the art gates that open up to let the safari ride begin. It's hilly and open, 10,000 acres of land and animals that are endangered.The employees were very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.We had a lovely time at the Wilds. It was worth every dollar. My husband & I were able to ride in an open roofed bus, definitely a better experience with that type of vehicle.Where the Wilds are may not be the easiest place to get to but just follow directions and you'll eventually get there.

VDouglas

The tours are amazing, the view of the rolling hills of Ohio is incredible and I really wish my husband and I could afford to stay in the yurts.

Msepps

Love going to the Wilds. Open bus ride is great for close up animal encounters! Long enough tour that makes it worth the money but short enough for the kids. Next time I go I want to try the zip-lining. Looks amazing

666JaneS

The Wilds, spread out over 10,000 acres of rolling reclaimed strip-mining land in eastern OHIO, is breath-taking and you will feel like you are in Africa or some exotic wild life reserve. We took my husband's sister, her husband and their two girls, 9 and 11, from London, England and they were enchanted with the intimacy you have with the animals. We loved the Sunset Safari, which includes a good buffet supper o n the patio of the lodge on the top of the hill with a great view of the plantation. Afterwards, you board a school-bus kind of vehicle with the sides open. For about two-three hours towards the end of the day, at feeding time for the animals, you are driven through about 500 acres of the property. Animals you've never seen in any zoo, the chance to pet a Rhino (really) and to feed a giraffe created memories the adults and little nieces will never forget!The price was $75 per person, which is a bit steep, but you get dinner and a three hour guided tour and plenty of opportunities for meaningful interaction with the animals. In the end it was a reasonable price for a true slice of Africa.

arspence23

It is an amazing place, but it was costly. Be prepared to drop some cash if you want to spend the day. It is nice to ride in the bus into the animals, but if you want to stay here, it is pricey.

899kurtd

The Wilds is a very beautiful location to visit. If you are going to the Zipline to view the Wilds you may be disappointed. Not a negative but The Zipline is intense and you speed along without a lot of time to gaze at the view, which is spectacular. Some of the longest rides 760 ft. are still only about 25 secs. long and you have to watch the guide at the other end to know when to break so you are a bit occupied for some of the trip. We went on the 2 1/2 hour trip / 10 different zips ranging in length. Great time. I went with my 11 year old who had no problems with the height or the physicality of the trip. ...and as the waiver says you have to rappel (mayb 25 ft.) to get down from the last zip...but it is the very least of the rush of the rest of the trip so don't let that stop you.Storm and Toni were exceptionally personable and knowledgeable and made the trip memorable. Safety was stressed...there is literally no way to fall. All in all a great day!

aceswildtru

Forget a zoo, this place IS IT. Take a bus on an African-style safari. They have all manner of animals from the world over on their nearly 10,000 acres, making it the largest preserve of its kind in North America. Oh, and DONT FORGET YOUR CAMERA. Animals may come right up to your bus. I saw a rhino from less than 10 feet. Kids will love it, and adults should, too. Tour takes just over 2 hours with stops for snacks and restroom breaks. What a great time!

Mikeshy

We spent the final weekend of the 2014 Summer Season with my family of 10 at the Lodge. It is a very remote 6 bedroom lodge set idyllically on Lodge Lake. The 6 bedrooms all have there own bathrooms and twin beds. The dining room table sat 10 people comfortably. The kitchen is extremely well equipped. There is a charcoal grill and an outdoor fire pit. The dock has 3 paddle boats, three electric trawling boats and a canoe for fun on the lake. We really enjoyed the facilities.On Saturday morning, we took the standard tour and was very impressed with the quality of the breeding program and the beautiful animals on exhibit. In the afternoon, we took a "Wildside" tour with Chris. It was spectacular. Chris is a very passionate, dedicated, knowledgable, customer focussed employee. He took us "up close and personal" to camels, ostrich, giraffes and rhinos. Seeing my 4 year old granddaughter feed a rhino an apple was a wonderful experience. All in all, this was an outstanding family weekend. We will return mid summer when the daylight is longer and we can take advantage of all of the activities.

541jamim

We wanted to do something special for my sister-in-law's 50th birthday. We decided to go to The Wilds and spent the night in the Yurts. I will never forget my luxury yurt, with heat and a bathroom and the skylight at the top. I woke up in the morning and from the deck was able to view camels, bison and rhinos strolling through the grasslands. We did the Open-Air Safari the first day and did the Wildside Tour the next. We got unclose and personal on the Wildside tour and hand fed a rhino and a giraffe. It is an Ohio hidden gem. We all want to go back. The staff was great. My only wish is that they would go ahead and make the glamour camping experience a little more upscale. It wouldn't take much. I little more care in presentation is all it would take. There are beautiful views from the patio by the gift shop and restaurant.

200PaulineC

This was, without a doubt, the most amazing three hour tour we have ever taken. The conservation that is taking place here is wonderful, and the chance to see UP CLOSE, animals that we would never have the opportunity to see was wonderful. We were so close to the animals that I could have patted the giraffe on his not-so-tiny bum! But these are wild animals, so don't touch! The open-air bus tour was super, and our guide knew the animals well. He gave a lot of information, and was quick to stop if an animal was seen. Make sure to allow time after (or before) your tour to simply sit on the patio and take in the beauty of the area. We are already talking about our next trip to The Wilds!

kthulhu

We got lost coming from Blue Rock State park and were late for our trip, but they were super nice and fit us in on the very next trip. We only had to wait 5 minutes! Dress warmer then you think you need if you are taking the open air bus as the breeze gets pretty chilly on those wide open hilltops. The guide was knowledeable but just kind of rambled through like someone who has said the same things a million times over the season. The animals were amazing! We got to stop for pictures quite often and saw most of the species listed on the brocher. We saw the baby Rhino - too cute!I guess my only complaint would be the ladies bathrooms - not nearly enough of them, and we were there on a slow day being the end of the season. The porto- pot I used near the aviary was gross too.There was a shuttle to and from the parking lot which was nice. We had our own food, so I can't comment on that, but it mostly looked like overpriced junk food.

Michaelbrouse

What a fantastic place to see these animals in such a beautiful place the habitats for the animals are acres not cages. You can see the animals in a environment that is very similar to their home. Will definitely go back in the summer next year