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Family-Owned Seasonal Wildlife Park & Safari · Halifax, PA
A family-owned wildlife park out in Halifax where an open-air safari bus rolls you right into free-roaming herds — an easygoing day trip from the Hershey area.
Our take Lake Tobias is an easy, low-key day out for families staying near Hershey — the kids burn off energy, the animals do the entertaining, and you're back on the road by dinner. If you're driving in from out of town for the day, the route home runs right past us: we're a quick stop off I-81 Exit 80, about 12 minutes north of Hershey, if your vehicle needs a once-over before the longer haul.
Lake Tobias is one of those Central PA places that's been a family outing for generations, and it still runs the way you'd hope: family-owned, spread across about 150 acres, and home to more than a thousand animals from six continents. The headliner is the cruise-bus safari — an open-air ride that takes you out among free-roaming herds of bison, water buffalo, yak, eland, and watusi cattle that wander right up to the vehicle. Back near the entrance you'll find walk-through zoo exhibits with reticulated giraffes, big cats, zebras, and primates, a hands-on petting zoo for the little ones, and a Reptiles & Exotics building for anyone who likes things a little more scaly.
A few things to keep in mind before you load up the car. It's a seasonal park, so it isn't open all year — the full daily season generally runs from May through Labor Day, then narrows to weekends into late October, with a drive-thru-only safari on select spring and fall weekends. Hours shift between weekdays and weekends, and the safari and admissions close about an hour before the gates do, so it's worth a look at their site or a phone call before a special trip. There's a snack bar and a gift shop on site, parking is free, and they offer free admission to active-duty military and veterans with a valid ID — a nice touch.
Lake Tobias is a seasonal park — the gates aren't open year-round. As of our last check, the published 2026 season runs daily from May through Labor Day, then weekends only in September and October (plus the Columbus Day holiday) through a late-October close, with a drive-thru-only safari on select April and November weekends. Daily hours differ between weekdays and weekends, and admissions and the safari close about an hour before the park does, so check laketobias.com or call (717) 362-9126 before a special trip.
Lake Tobias Wildlife Park is in Halifax, PA. The map shows both pins — Lake Tobias Wildlife Park and our shop in Grantville — so you can see exactly where it sits relative to us.
No — it's a seasonal park. As of our last check, the published 2026 season runs daily from May through Labor Day, then weekends only in September and October (plus Columbus Day) until a late-October close, with a drive-thru-only safari on select April and November weekends. Confirm dates at laketobias.com before you go.
It's an open-air ride out among the park's free-roaming herds — bison, water buffalo, yak, eland, and watusi cattle that come right up to the vehicle. It's the park's signature experience and is offered as an add-on to general zoo admission. The safari closes about an hour before the park, so don't show up at the last minute.
For the 2026 season the park lists zoo exhibits plus the safari at about $21 per person, and zoo exhibits only at about $11, with children under 2 free and free admission for active-duty military and veterans with ID. Parking is free. Prices can change season to season, so verify current rates on their site.
It's roughly a 35–40 minute drive northwest of the Hershey area, out in Halifax off Route 225 in Dauphin County. It makes an easy day trip when you want a change of pace from the Hershey attractions — just remember it's seasonal, and weekend hours differ from weekdays.
Verified via: Lake Tobias Wildlife Park — official site · Lake Tobias — official 2026 park hours · Lake Tobias Wildlife Park — Tripadvisor (2026 reviews)
Lake Tobias Wildlife Park is an independent, family-owned business we're featuring in our guide — we're not affiliated with it. Details come from the park and public sources and were accurate at the time of writing; it's a seasonal park, so please confirm the current season, hours, and rates before visiting.