"Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!" Not in Oz, mind you, but less than an hour up the road in the Town of Cameron, animal adventures await. Featuring everyone’s favorite wild beasts, farm critters, woodland creatures, prairie pals, reptiles and more, Harnett County’s Aloha Safari Park is a year-round attraction for all ages.
Founded in January 2010 by Lee Crutchfield as an animal sanctuary for unwanted, mistreated and injured animals, Aloha Safari Park was purchased by Scottie and Kim Brown in July 2021. The animal enthusiasts also own Zootastic Park in Troutman, North Carolina. While Aloha is still in the business of providing a caring home to its animal inhabitants, sharing animal encounters and education with the public and creating fun for all ages, it is not solely an animal sanctuary any longer. Animals come to Aloha Safari in many different ways.
Zookeeper Chloe Saylor explained more. “Most of our animals come from other zoos, whereas previously we brought in only rescue animals,” she said. “We still have some of those animals that somebody got as a pet and realized, oh, maybe I cannot keep a tiger in my backyard. Our bear actually came from a truck stop. He was like a truck stop attraction. We also have animals from zoos that shut down. People also donate animals to us. Just the other day, someone donated three rabbits. Sometimes, we unfortunately have to say we cannot take the donated animals right now, but we still rescue if there is a need.”
The 60-acre park houses 600 animals—300 unique species. While the lion in the trilogy is not in this multitude, a tiger, bear, and many others are. Guests experience pot-bellied pigs, friendly giraffes, donkeys and llamas, alpacas and alligators, iguanas and geckos, capybaras and hyenas. There are Jacob sheep and Burmese pythons, bison and zebra. If you like monkeys, swing in to see Aloha’s squirrel, spider, Colobus and Capuchins, plus lemurs of the ring-tailed, black and white ruffed and the red ruffed varieties. Wild cat lovers go wild over the exotic serval, caracal, cat-meets-mongoose cross, the genet. The roll call of animals is nearly endless. And the memories zoo visitors make? Priceless.
Facebook reviews of the park reveal how much. Jodylynn Jordan, visiting from Myrtle Beach. S.C. wrote, “Absolutely amazing time, lots of animals both walking and on the safari drive. That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done: feeding all the animals from my Jeep. I’ve been to many zoos, but this is by far a great experience! We hope to return soon!”
Madison Taylor of Sanford said, “Such an amazing fun zoo. Love the drive-thru part of the experience.” Hannah Young has great things to say about her September visit: “What an awesome day spent at Aloha! My husband is in law enforcement, and they offered free admission today. How awesome that an establishment appreciates our first responders and military?! The drive-thru safari was easy and fun. Walking through the park and getting to feed animals was great too! Plenty of shady spots and food truck options.”
Kate Smith from Charleston is a repeat guest. She wrote: “I visit Aloha every time I travel from Charleston, SC, to NC. The kids and adults have a blast interacting with the animals, especially the giraffes! Each visit, the animals look healthier and happier than the time before, and the staff is super friendly. I highly recommend supporting Aloha Zoo! It's a great time every time!”
The comments reveal some of the most popular aspects of a visit to Aloha. Park admission includes the chance to walk around and also drive through the park. Drive-through participants can either have their windows all the way up to view the animals or down to have more up-close encounters. More exotic animals are featured in the walking portion, while larger animals and hoofstock are the drive-through stars. Both options are recommended. Barnyard grain and carrots for the giraffes—gentle giants you won’t want to miss feeding and get selfies with—are sold in the gift shop, along with toys, stuffed animals and various souvenirs.
Concessions are also available à la carte.
“Right now, we have a concession trailer with ice cream, popcorn and shaped ice, and then a food truck with chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, hamburgers, pretzels and other small foods,” Saylor shared.
Many recall the safari tram rides that were formerly a park staple. The fun transport is still available for group tours, field trips and birthday parties, for a minimum of 20 guests. Schools, churches, scout groups, camps, daycares and senior citizen groups come to Aloha often and on repeat, and birthday parties are a roaring success. Group tours include the ride, an animal talk with a zookeeper and close encounters with the zoo’s friendliest creatures. Picnic grounds and playgrounds sweeten the deal.
If seeing, petting and experiencing cute and interesting animals isn’t enough, special events at Aloha are another reason to make the trek to Cameron. From the zoo’s Easter Egg Hunts, held on four dates this year with the added highlights of face painting, bounce houses, arts and crafts and more, to its Fall Festival, Christmas Lights with Santa visits, Teacher Appreciation Days providing free admission for educators and their families and more, Aloha Safari events are just “purr-fect.”
Now is a great time to visit the zoo to see the spring babies born to many animals. Check out Nigel, Aloha’s new little Watusi bull calf, which graces the zoo’s page cover at https://www.facebook.com/alohasafaripark. This spring, the zoo has welcomed a baby joey, kid goats and newborn antelopes are expected soon. Stay tuned for more fun with the soon-to-be-offered Animal Encounters.
Come to Aloha to experience all these exciting animal adventures and more. Open six days a week (closed on Tuesdays) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and located at 159 Mini Lane in Cameron, Aloha Safari Zoo is “where memories begin.” Learn more at https://www.alohasafaripark.com/.

(Photo: A giraffe looks down at the camera during a photoshoot at Aloha Safari Park. Photo courtesy of Aloha Safari Park)