What if I told you that you could visit a little piece of Africa in the midst of the Costa Rican rainforest? You might not believe me at first, but it’s true. In Guanacaste, the northwestern region of Costa Rica, the climate is very hot and dry — not unlike that of the African savannah. 

For the last 10 years, visitors have been able to come to see and learn about African animals in Costa Rica on their vacation in paradise. 

I’ve never been on a real African safari, but I sure enjoyed my trip to Costa Rica’s little piece of Africa. And it was certainly a LOT less expensive than flying to Africa! 

Curious? Read on to learn more about this place and to see some fun pictures of animals in Costa Rica!

The Safari Tour at Ponderosa Adventure Park

The place is called Ponderosa Adventure Park — formerly known as Africa Mía. It covers 10 hectares of land and is home to 297 animals. When we went we saw two species of zebras, Watusi cattle, Oryx antelopes, ostriches, and giraffes. 

For the safari tour, you load up in a large, comfortable cart and a tractor pulls you around. The animals all live in wide-open spaces and they take you into the spacious enclosures to go see the animals up close. 

You can buy carrots to feed the animals and they are more than happy to come over and take them out of your hand. If you’re wondering whether that means you can pet a giraffe, the answer is yes! Wave a carrot around and they will stick their long necks right into the cart, encircle the carrot with their long, flexible tongues, and enjoy a little snack. 

If the animals don’t want you to touch them, they’re free to stay away. It’s a neat concept as a way for people to see animals and wildlife in Costa Rica without locking them up in cages. 

Other Adventures

The safari tour, while the main attraction, isn’t the only thing you can do at Ponderosa Adventure Park. They also offer adventure activities such as horseback riding, kayaking, ziplining, and a trek down to a large, beautiful waterfall. There is a big pool in front of the waterfall where you can enjoy a relaxing swim. 

The Future of Ponderosa Adventure Park

As a country, Costa Rica is very particular about holding animals in captivity. You won’t find traditional zoos in Costa Rica as the country has banned them. 

Unfortunately, the animals in Ponderosa Adventure Park are in danger for another reason. Strict laws in Costa Rica don’t allow for an authorized zoo to allow animals to reproduce. In September of this year, the government told the Park they must segregate their males from their females and stop allowing them to reproduce. 

The park’s owner, David Patey, says that politicians who didn’t listen to industry leaders made the law. The species of giraffe that lives in the park are already endangered in their native Africa. The birth of “Roxi” in 2009, the first giraffe born in Central America, has been followed by the births of several others. 

Patey says it would be a disservice not to allow the giraffes to breed and flourish to help preserve the species. The Park could recategorize as a rescue center, but they would have to stop exhibiting the animals. 

The matter is still being decided.

Visiting African Animals in Costa Rica

The future of these magnificent African animals in Costa Rica is still uncertain. But if the park is still open and offering Safari rides to visitors, I can definitely recommend the tour. Our two little girls were ecstatic feeding the animals and petting the giraffes.

And, as you can see in the photos, these guys are pretty cool to see up close! All of the photos in the post are available for sale in my store in both digital and print, plus there are a whole bunch more that I didn’t include here. Also, be sure to check out my photo jewelry page for incredible jewelry created from these and other photographs!

As always, if you have any questions about Costa Rica, drop me a line. I’m happy to help if I can! If you want to learn more about animals in Costa Rica, check out my post on La Paz Waterfall Park.