Dutch Country Safari Park

Let’s Monkey Around! This animal park has a new pal to hang with

Dutch Country Safari Park has been a favorite spot for fun since they opened two years ago, but this year – bring the bananas and your own barrel of monkeys to meet Tino, their new Capuchin Monkey.

Tino was kicked out of his troop by the older males recently, and will hopefully be building his own troop here in Kentucky soon. In this photo he had just arrived at Dutch Country Safari and was enjoying a boiled egg snack.  Their 2023 Season opens on Thursday, March 30th.  This Amish owned and operated park is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm and closed on Sundays.  Daily rates and season passes can be found at the bottom of their website, here.

Highlights of their park are the 3/4 mile wagon-ride-safari and several animal encounter areas.  Private vehicles can also be driven through the park, but the wagon ride is where the action is – so definitely grab a spot for the most up close encounters!  The safari section animals include a zebra, camels, water buffalos, yaks, watusi cattle, African antelopes, wildebeests, highland cattle and more. 

In their other animal encounter areas you’ll meet tiny pals, like hedgehogs, guinea pigs, bunnies, chicks, & ducks.  Plus larger friends like goats, sheep, alpacas, porcupines and calves.  There is also Trevor the tortoise, a coatimundi, porcupines, mini-donkeys, ponies and so many more.  Hike the trail to the pond and feed the black swans.  Watch the kangaroo family, play on the playground and enjoy a picnic lunch. 

This area of Kentucky actually has several attractions, anchored by Mammoth Cave National Park – just about 14 miles away.  Within just a few miles, you’ll find Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, Hidden River Cave, Dennison’s Roadside Market, Dinosaur World of Kentucky, Onyx Cave, Crystal Onyx Cave, Raven’s Cross Escape Rooms and so much more. 

We love the fun lodging at Horse Cave KOA, just a couple of miles from Dutch Country Safari.  They have treehouses, teepees, covered wagons, cabins and campsites. 

To gather more inspiration about this area, check out these local tourism commissions: Horse Cave/Hart County Tourism, Munfordville Tourism, Cave City Tourism, Glasgow/Barren County Tourism, Edmonson County Tourism

For food?  Just a few miles away, you’ll find this stuff:

Thanks for reading – find more inspiration to travel Kentucky here.