Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park

Before settlement, the Great Plains teemed with animals. Enormous herds of bison moved across the grass, elk and deer browsed the river valleys, wolves and bears hunted them, and in spring the skies filled with cranes and waterfowl along the Platte. Much of that abundance was lost as the plains were farmed and fenced, and the safari park exists in part to keep these animals before the public eye.

Driving through the park, you pass among these species in spacious enclosures that mimic their natural range, so the experience feels less like a zoo and more like a slow safari across the country the settlers first saw. For many visitors it is a first close look at a wild bison or a wolf, and a vivid reminder of what this landscape held not so very long ago.

The safari park is operated by Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, an institution repeatedly ranked among the finest zoos anywhere. That partnership means the park benefits from serious expertise in animal care, breeding, and conservation, and it plays a role in efforts to protect species and educate the public.

The park is named for Lee G. Simmons, a longtime director of the Omaha zoo whose leadership helped build it into the world-class institution it is today. His name on the safari park reflects a career devoted to wildlife and to giving Nebraskans a genuine connection to the animals of their own continent.

The park sits in the broad, wooded valley of the Platte River, a shallow, braided river that has been called a mile wide and an inch deep. This corridor is one of the great flyways of North America, most famous each spring when hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes gather on the Platte farther west, and the valley's mix of woodland, wetland, and grassland makes fitting habitat for the park's native animals.

That setting also places the park within an easy cluster of things to do. The surrounding area, between Omaha and Lincoln just off the interstate, holds a large state recreation area and an aerospace museum, so the safari park can anchor a full day of family exploration in the heart of eastern Nebraska.

Because the park is designed around the rhythms of wild animals, timing matters. Cooler parts of the day and cooler seasons tend to bring more activity, and animals are often most visible in the morning. The park operates seasonally, generally through the warmer months, so it is worth confirming that it is open before planning a spring or fall trip.

For safety, visitors stay in their vehicles through the drive-through habitats, moving slowly and quietly to avoid disturbing the animals. Walk-through areas let you get out and stretch among certain exhibits. The combination makes for a relaxed, self-paced outing that suits families and anyone who wants to see native wildlife without a long trek into the backcountry.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.