Springtime in South Louisiana is magical, and nowhere does it arrive with greater flourish than at Folsom’s Global Wildlife Center, aka “Louisiana’s African Savanna. An exotic, 900-acre oasis home to animals from all over the world, Global Wildlife Center offers guests opportunities to get eye to eye with a tower of eleven giraffes (yes, “tower” is the collective noun for giraffes), count the stripes on a herd of zebra, and even be nuzzled by a llama as they explore the wildlife preserve with an experienced naturalist guide. What’s unique about Global Wildlife Center is its expansive acreage, offering its animal inhabitants free-roaming access to gentle rolling slopes, stands of pecan, oak and pine trees, and a necklace of glittering ponds scattered across the property. The ride through Global Wildlife itself is a pleasure, whether you choose to travel in a covered wagon or a Pinzgauer (a 4x4 jeep-like vehicle), but what really sets the experience apart is the opportunity it offers for personal interactions with so many species. Learning through personal contact is part of Global Wildlife’s mission, so touching and feeding the center’s denizens is not only allowed but actively encouraged. Reticulated giraffes (a species endangered in the wild), including three youngsters less than a year old, might poke their heads into a passing wagon or Pinz in search of a snack—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stroke the soft spot behind a giraffe’s ears or pose for the ultimate selfie. Springtime means baby season for many deer species and opportunities for visitors to witness nature’s greatest miracle first-hand.
Live Music & Food Trucks, Too
Saturdays and Sundays in March, April and May, Global Wildlife Center guests get an extra treat when local musicians Lake Ragan or Brittany Mannino play live in the center’s pavilion, and visiting food trucks from Repicci’s Italian Ice, Boss Hog’s Kitchen or Wich Craft Eats roll up to fuel a fun-filled, family festival atmosphere. Book tickets at globalwildlife.com/food-trucks-and-live-entertainment/
More to Taste, Stay, and Do in Folsom
After your safari, stick around! The charming community of Folsom offers more than enough attractions to fill a spring weekend. Nearby Bogue Chitto State Park offers horseback riding, camping, and kayaking opportunities. The Giddy Up Folsom is a thriving creative complex featuring a lovely coffee shop and gathering space that hosts live performances, a Thursday farmer’s market, and the Bee Sweet ice cream stand. Don’t miss the Far Horizons Art Collective gallery next door to Giddy Up; there’s overnight accommodation available at The Stables—a historic-meets-rustic refuge in the heart of the village. Or, treat yourself to a stay in a chalet at Little River Bluffs on the banks of the scenic Little Tchefuncte River, an opulent weekend at the Bienvenue Mon Ami bed and breakfast in Amite, or a lakefront family getaway in a multi-bedroom cabin at gorgeous Covey Rise farm and lodge in Husser.
Visit globalwildlife.com to learn more
