Most people visit Six Flags for the rides — they’re missing one of NJ’s best attractions

Six Flags Great Adventure has been known as New Jersey’s roller coaster capital since I was a kid. But before you even hear the screams from Kingda Ka’s replacement or hop on Nitro, there’s another attraction that is pretty extraordinary.

The Wild Safari is a drive-thru attraction that gets you up close and personal with some serious wildlife. Now you won’t see aggressive baboons pounding on your car and ripping your windshield wipers off like in the old days. These days you don’t drive your own car. You will, however, see tigers, elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalo and much more.

I took my older kids when they were little and I’ve taken my younger boys several times. To say they all loved it is an understatement.

Three zebra foals were recently born at Six Flags Wild Safari in Jackson (Six Flags)

Six Flags Wild Safari ranks among the best in the United States

The Wild Safari at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson has just been recognized as one of the top safari parks in the United States, earning a spot on Sixt.com’s ranking of the nation’s wild safaris. It came in at No. 11 in the United States, according to APP.com.

It’s another reminder that one of New Jersey’s most unique attractions often gets overshadowed by the park’s thrill rides.

The 350-acre preserve is home to roughly 1,200 animals representing six continents. Guests board open-air safari vehicles for a guided, approximately 35-minute tour that brings them remarkably close to many of the animals while learning about conservation efforts.

Giraffes at Six Flags Wild Safari - Mike Brant TSM

A New Jersey family tradition that spans generations

If you’ve lived in New Jersey long enough, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced the safari at least once. For many families, it’s become a tradition that spans generations, whether you remember driving your own car through decades ago or taking today’s guided off-road adventure.

Recognition like this is also a nice reminder that New Jersey offers experiences people don’t always expect. While visitors often think of beaches, boardwalks or amusement parks, a nationally recognized wildlife safari probably wasn’t the first thing on your New Jersey bingo card.

Yet here it is, right in Ocean County, ranked among the country’s best.