Come experience Safari Tent Camping at it's best ... at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium!
Families can stay in real canvas tents with cots, nightstands, and director chairs, with electrical outlets and oscillating fans overlooking the lion’s exhibit. This is a 24/7 outside campsite with a campfire pit where guests can roast marshmallows and enjoy an outdoor movie. Your overnight will include educational programming, overnight stay, Zoo admission, evening snack, grab-n-go breakfast, morning hike and a visit from one of our Animal Ambassadors.
Tents are reserved per family. Children attending the Family Safaris must be 4 years of age and accompanied by an adult. One adult is required per tent. Program runs 7 pm to 9 am.
Cost: $110 per person
2023 Dates:
- Saturday, May 13
- Saturday, June 3
- Saturday, July 8
- Saturday, August 19
- Saturday, September 16
- Friday, October 6
Make a Reservation
Family Sleeping Bag Safaris are overnight programs where guests spend the night at the Zoo to experience exhibits after-hours. Program include educational programs, paid admission, overnight stay, evening hike, conservation games, evening snack, movie, grab-n-go breakfast, morning hike, and free day at the Zoo.
Family Safaris are inside facility overnights limited to family groups and have a minimum ages of four years to participate. Both programs run from 7 p.m. - 9 a.m. and cost are $40.00 - $55.00 per person depending on what facility is being used. Family Safaris includes educational programming, paid admission, overnight stay, an evening snack and an "Grab-n-Go" breakfast.
*Please note these overnights are not open to scout groups, youth groups, or groups in general. See Small Group Campouts for these overnights.
2023 Dates:
- Friday, February 3 - Penguins and Pajamas (Scott Aquarium - Ocean Birds)
- Saturday, February 11 - Boxes, Bags, Ribbons, and Bows (Hubbard Gorilla Valley)
- Friday, March 11 - Boxes, Bags, Ribbons, and Bows (Scott Aquarium - Ocean Birds)
- Friday, March 31 - Cold Weather Camping (Sea Lions)*
- Saturday, April 15 - Sleeping Bags and Sharks (Scott Aquarium - Shark Reef)
- Saturday, April 22 - Sleeping in a Sea Cave (Owen Sea Lions)
- Friday, May 19 - Sleeping Bags and Sharks (Scott Aquarium - Shark Reef)
- Friday, May 26 - Science and Stingrays (Harper Event Center / Stingray Beach)
- Friday, June 2 - Penguins and Pajamas (Scott Aquarium - Ocean Birds)
- Friday, June 23 - Science and Stingrays (Harper Event Center / Stingray Beach)
- Saturday, July 1 - Snoozing Under the Sea (Scott Aquarium)
- Friday, July 14 - Dreams in the Desert (Desert Dome)*
- Saturday, July 29 - Science and Stingrays (Harper Event Center / Stingray Beach)
- Saturday, August 5 - Getting some Zzzz's with Gorillas (Hubbard Gorilla Valley)
- Friday, August 25 - Snoozing Under the Sea (Scott Aquarium)
*Facility requires tents and guests must provide own tents for use. (2-4 person tents suggested - Pop-up only)
♦Additional Cost due to Special program.
Safari Tent Camp
Join us for an overnight program where adult guests spend the night at the Zoo's Safari Tent Camp site and experience the exhibits after-hours. Program includes picnic dinner and drinks, an evening hike, movie, snacks, "grab-n-go" breakfast, morning hike, and free day at the Zoo.
Tents include one double cot or two single cots. Each tent is 10' x 12' spacious interior equipped with an electrical outlet, nightstand with lantern, area rug, dining table, two director chairs and oscillating fan. Guests must bring their own bedding and comfortable shoes for walking.
Cost per person is $135.00 ($270.00 per couple). This overnight is for guests 21years old and over only. Single campers pay a minimum two-person tent price. There is a maximum two-person occupancy per tent.
2023 Dates:
- Friday, May 12
- Saturday, May 20
- Friday, June 2
- Saturday, June 10
- Saturday, June 17
- Saturday, June 24
- Friday, June 30
- Saturday, July 15
- Saturday, July 22
- Saturday, July 29
- Saturday, August 5
- Saturday, August 12
- Friday, August 18
- Saturday, August 26
- Friday, September 15
- Saturday, September 23
- Saturday, September 30
- Saturday, October 7
Adult Only Safari Tent Camping Guidelines
Small Group Safaris
Small Group Safaris are overnight programs designed for schools, churches, scouts or summer camps who cannot meet our 20-person Large Group Safari minimum. The program includes educational programming, overnight stay, paid admission, and evening snack. Groups will go on a night hike, play conservation games, watch a movie and go on a morning hike. Guests must be 4 years old or older.
Safaris run from 7 p.m. - 9 a.m. and are costs $40.00 - $50.00 per person.
2023 Dates:
- Saturday, February 25 - Snoozing Under the Sea (Scott Aquarium)
- Saturday, March 4 - Dreams in the Desert (Desert Dome)*
- Saturday, March 25 - Cold Weather Camping (Asian Highlands)*
- Friday, May 12 - Getting Some Zzzz's with Gorillas (Hubbard Gorilla Valley)
- Friday, May 26 - Dreams in the Desert (Desert Dome)*
- Saturday, June 3 - Science and Stingrays (Harper Event Center/Stingray Beach)
- Saturday, June 17 - Snoozing Under the Sea (Scott Aquarium)
- Friday, July 7 - Penguins and Pajamas (Scott Aquarium - Ocean Birds)
- Friday, July 28 - Getting Some Zzzz's with Gorillas (Hubbard Gorilla Valley)
- Friday, August 4 - Science and Stingrays (Harper Event Center/Stingray Beach)
- Friday, August 25 - Dreams in the Desert (Desert Dome)*
*Denotes Facility requires tents. Please bring non stakeable tents to overnight.
♦Denotes Special Fee due to extra event.
Make a Reservation
Large Group Safari
Groups of at least 25 can call and arrange a private overnight stay. Schools, churches, scouts, summer camps, families and other groups are welcome to make a reservation year-round. Overnight includes educational programming, paid admission, overnight stay, evening snack, night hike, conservation games, movie and morning hike. Other packages are available with additional amenities for a unique and memorable experience. Cost are per person and by facility (see Packages and Pricing list below) with a minimum age of 4 year old.
Campouts
Campouts are overnight educational programs where guests spend the night in platform canvas tents and enjoy learning about what happens at the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari (Ashland, Nebraska) after dark.
Campouts at Wildlife Safari Park will start at 7:00 pm to accomodate drivers from Lincoln and Omaha. Please plan on joining us from 7:00 pm to 9:00 am and enjoying the country air.
The Campout includes educational programming, overnight stay, park admission, evening hike, and morning hike. Guests are allowed to bring food and drink (non-alcoholic) into the park to enjoy. We will be providing the evening snack but please feel free to bring your own breakfast.
We NOW have three locations where guests can spend the night: Base Camp, Darrald Harsh Wildlife Education Center and Car Camping at Wolf Woods. Campouts Base Camp has canvas tents on platforms and a firepit for traditional camping. Cots will be provided but guests will need to bring their own sleeping grear. The Darrald Harsh Wildlife Education Center Campout is an enclosed building and has running water and electricity and is close to bathroom for younger campers that are just starting out with staying overnight. Floor space is ample and blow up mattresses or sleeping bag pads are welcome. And lastley our Car Camping program allows guests to sleep in their cars or bring their tents and camp near their cars.
An added bonus is that Wildlife Safari Park allows food and non-alcoholic drinks to be brought into the Park especially during overnights. Groups are welcome to bring coolers and extra supplies. However, Wildlife Safari Park practices "Leave No Trace" so please be aware of what you bring in you must pack out.
Cost is $35 - $45 per person with reservations made a minimum of three weeks in advance. For more information please contact the Education Department at 402-739-2092 or at Camps@omahazoo.com.
Wildlife Safari Park is located off Nebraska’s I-80, Exit 426.
16406 292nd Street
Ashland, NE 68003
More dates coming in 2023!
