Six Flags Wild Safari Babies Ready To Welcome 2022 Visitors

JACKSON, NJ — Spring is upon us, and that means new life all around. That's true at Six Flags Great Adventure's Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure, where the baby animals are out in force.

The 350-acre wildlife preserve, one of the largest drive-through safaris outside of Africa, opens for the season on Saturday and will have several new animals, including babies, making their debut.

One of the new additions isn't a baby, but Sawyer, a 6-year-old Southern white rhinoceros. He joins three adult female rhinos in the Afrikka section of the safari.

Although gray in color, the southern white rhinoceros is the largest living species of the five species of rhino, averaging 4,000 to 6,000 pounds. At 3,800 pounds and growing, Sawyer has a youthful bounce in his step and enjoys human touch like scratches from a bristle brush. With a diet of hay and grain, Sawyer and his fellow rhinos are one the world’s last remaining “mega-herbivores” – a large animal that eats mainly plants. He lives side-by-side with other animals native to Africa such as elephants, ostriches and zebras.

The biggest babies in the safari are three reticulated giraffe calves, that were born in the safari this winter. They join the safari’s “tower” (group) of 13 giraffes, park officials said. Native to Africa, giraffes are the tallest land mammal on Earth. They can stand up to 17 feet tall and weigh from 1,500 to 3,000 pounds. A giraffe’s neck measures up to 7 feet long, and despite its length, contains seven vertebrae just like humans. Due to habitat loss, poaching and other human-wildlife interferences, giraffes are considered “vulnerable to extinction.”

In addition, there are two sable antelope calves. The sable antelope, also from Africa, looks somewhat like a horse, with a tufted tail, mane and impressive, ringed horns that curve like a scimitar. They usually live near water and also are herbivores. In the wild, their beautiful horns are a highly prized trophy for hunters. The calves, which were born in the safari, now live in the Serengeti Grasslands section along with other exotic hoofed animals including the addax, white-tailed gnu (black wildebeest) and the aoudad.

In the Wilde Plains section, there are two red lechwe calves. These are another type of antelope and can be identified by their reddish fur, white-ringed eyes and horns that reach up to 3 feet long. It is usually found near water in Zambia and Botswana and considered a “near threatened species” in the wild. The safari’s red lechwe calves were born onsite this winter and live with the giraffe, greater kudu, ankole cattle, dama gazelle, white bearded gnu (blue/brindled wildebeest), bongo and more.

And the other big babies are two Asian water buffalo calves, which join the Afrikka section. They are similar to the African Cape buffalo, but Asian water buffalo are domesticated animals. In the wild, they are commonly found on farms as work animals. Their milk, which has more fat than that of domestic cattle, is used for making a liquid butter in India. In the safari, they are true to their name and are often found submerged in ponds with only their heads visible above water.

Park officials said the safari will have more babies in residence throughout the spring, including American bison, zebra, aoudad, kangaroos, dama gazelle, blackbuck and more.

For those coming to drive through the safari, Six Flags has expanded the road to two lanes, with five newly paved miles of blacktop.

"The wider road will help better accommodate guests who wish to enjoy the tour at their own pace and accommodate school buses for educational programs," officials said.

The park also has added safari education programs, Six Flags Academic Adventures, developed by the park’s New Jersey state-certified teacher and tailored to the appropriate age groups, including the Safari Off Road Education tour on a giant, off-road vehicle with a personal tour guide and driver, and an opportunity to feed giraffes and meet small exotic animals up close.

Drive-thru visitors can try the new audio tour. Narrators will showcase 11 simulated natural habitats featuring more than 70 different species of animals. Guests will learn fun and educational facts about the animals, hear fascinating animal sounds and music from around the world. At the start of their adventure, guests will receive a handout with QR codes that take them to the audio tour and safari map. The audio tour is free and can be streamed from any mobile device.

The Six Flags Great Adventure parks are currently hiring for the 2022 season. Applicants age 14 and older can text FUN to 732-307-6688 or complete an application at www.sixflagsjobs.com. The Wild Safari is currently hiring gatekeepers, tour guides and CDL truck drivers, and applicants must be at least 18 years old.

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