Aloha Safari Zoo
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Aloha Safari Zoo - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
- Tue - Wed 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- Thu - Thu 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Fri - Sun 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
- (6.55 km) Carolina Lakes Family Home w/ Pool, Kayaks & Dock!
- (12.83 km) The Inn at Anderson Creek Club
- (12.75 km) Anderson Creek Resort Condo on Golf Course w/ Pool
- (12.75 km) Resort-Style Condo on Golf Course w/ Private Pool!
- (12.75 km) Anderson Golf Club Condo w/ Community Amenities!
- (6.14 km) El Burrito Mexican Restaurant (New Facilities)
- (5.63 km) Copper Cricket
- (5.70 km) Jitter Bugz
- (11.22 km) The Twisted Grape
- (5.56 km) Biscuitville
Aloha Safari Zoo
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Aloha Safari Zoo - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Aloha Safari Zoo
Walk through our “rainforest” building and “upper” section. Visit our reptile room and then see monkeys, birds and our petting zoo. Enjoy the “Safari” tour, which takes you to the “bottom” where all of our big animals are - Watusi cattle, camels, zebras and even zorse. For a complete list of animals, please visit our website. Now offering drive thru tours. The animals that live at Aloha Safari Zoo come from a variety of backgrounds. Many are rescued from bad situations or people that thought they would make a good pet. We're here to provide a safe and caring home for them now. Group tours should call for reservations, please.
159 Mini Lane Cameron, NC 28326
(919) 770-7109 www.alohasafaripark.com [email protected]
Local Information
Pinehurst, southern pines, aberdeen area convention & visitors bureau.
Ends: 6/15/2024
2024 Outdoor NC Pledge Sweepstakes
Sweepstakes.
(919) 770-7109 - www.alohasafaripark.com
How to take safari-like natural wildlife photos at the zoo
I f you’re a fan of wildlife photography you can’t help but scroll through Instagram and be inspired by images of exotic beasts from far-flung destinations, whether it’s the lions, tigers and elephants of the African savannahs, or the apes and colorful bird life of the Amazon rainforest.
Of course, to visit these places on a photo safari you’ll need very deep pockets and a couple of free weeks, to say nothing of the time and effort spent researching and planning your trip, but there is another way to expand your wildlife portfolio, and support conservation efforts, without needing to dig out your passport or break the bank.
Wherever you live, chances are you won’t be too far from a zoo or wildlife park that not only offers photographers the opportunity to capture fantastic animal images, but which is doing its bit to support conservation projects around the globe.
Of course, simply taking your camera along and hoping for the best isn’t going to deliver the best results, so how can you maximize your chances of capturing great wildlife images? Well, it’s a mixture of three elements: equipment, technique, and a bit of field craft, and in this feature I’ll share some tips and advice to help you take great wildlife photos on a budget, and without straying too far from home.
Pack long and light
Possibly the biggest factor in successful wildlife photography is focal length, and this is true whether you’re at a zoo or in a safari truck in the Serengeti. Quite simply, the closer you can get the better, as even in a zoo most viewpoints will be a fair distance away from the subjects.
My camera of choice is the OM System OM-1, not only because it’s a light, portable and discreet camera, but also because its Micro Four Thirds sensor delivers a 2x crop factor that doubles the effective focal length. For example, if I use my 40-150mm lens I effectively get a 80-300mm optic. Add a 1.4x extender and the maximum focal length jumps to 420mm, with the camera and lens combo still remaining lightweight. To get the same focal length with a full-frame camera, you’d need a heavy telephoto optic that’s not only a pain to carry around, but would be a big financial investment. In comparison, the OM System 40-150mm f/4 PRO tips the scales at just 382g.
Embrace reflections
One of the most common pitfalls photographers fall foul of when visiting a zoo is to underestimate the problem of reflections from viewing windows. At best, there can be visible reflections on the glass, and at worst they can completely obscure the subject. The solution is to make these reflections work for you, not against you. In this image of a Scottish Wildcat, I set up a composition that uses the reflections to my benefit to not only disguise the background, but to give the image a fine-art feel. Obviously, this approach works better in flatter light, as if it's too sunny, this can cause overexposure.
Zoom in on details
Look at the work of professional wildlife photographers and you’ll see that many banish the wide angle lens in favor of a longer focal length, and tell the story of their subject by focusing on details. For example, the zebra can be easily identified by a close up of its beautiful markings, and there's no mistaking the striking stripes of a Sumatran Tiger in the image below, which I zoomed in on to fill the frame with. By focusing on details and therefore eliminating backgrounds, you give the viewer the impression that you could be in the animal’s natural environment, instead of in a zoo.
Consider your background
Zoos do a great job of creating natural-looking environments for their residents, but this doesn’t always make for great photographs. Due to a limited choice of viewing positions, you may struggle to get a clean background, but you can massively level up the standard of your photos by exploring alternative compositions. The two Meerkat images (below) show the difference between a lazy attempt at framing (the fence lines give away the fact that the image was taken in a zoo rather than in the wild), versus what can be achieved by moving around to find a better composition and a more considered background – the grass provides a far more natural backdrop and adds a pro touch to the frame.
Adding depth to the frame is one of the best ways in which you can transform a good photo into a great photo, and it’s easier to do than you may imagine. Shoot in Aperture Priority mode (A or Av on the camera mode dial), and select the largest aperture (which is the l f-number your lens will allow (f/4, or even f/2.8 if you have a fast telephoto lens). Next, make sure the point of focus is on the subject’s eye, and then try to include some interest in the foreground of the frame - this could be a colorful bush or some other foliage. The shallow depth of field will throw both this foreground interest and the background out of focus while keeping your subject sharp.
Try black and white
When you’re shooting at a zoo, sometimes the odds will be well and truly stacked against you – maybe it’s too crowded for you to easily move around and look for an alternative composition, or maybe the background is unattractive. In these scenarios, a good option is often to shoot in mono. You can choose to do this using your camera’s black and white picture style / art filter mode, but the best option is to shoot in color, and in your camera’s raw file format, and convert to mono when you get back to the computer using software such as Adobe Lightroom.
Shoot in raw to make colors pop
Another way to distract viewers from unappealing backgrounds is to distract them with something else – color. Making color a key element of the frame also helps to bring energy to your image. Again, by shooting in raw and capturing images with the maximum amount of tonal data, you have more potential to ramp up the colors in software like Lightroom by increasing the Saturation and Vibrance values. Boosting these will help your subjects to ‘pop’, and there are always plenty of subjects in the zoo that sport colors you can make a feature of. Remember, one color that will always add to a frame is the bright blue of the sky, so if you can find a composition that allows you to include the sky it's well worth doing so.
Get eye contact
Another way to make your wildlife images stand out and give them a ‘pro’ feel is to establish eye contact with the animal you're shooting, which helps the viewer make a connection with the subject, and can produce images that tell a more engaging story. Of course, unlike when you’re photographing your pets, it probably won’t be easy to attract your subject’s attention; instead, you’ll need a huge amount of patience (or a little luck) to time the shot precisely. To increase your odds of capturing the perfect moment, switch to burst mode – by firing off a sequence of frames, you’re increasing the likelihood of bagging one in which the subject is looking right at you, rather than blinking or looking away.
Final Thoughts
By understanding the capabilities of your camera and lens and knowing how to use them, and by understanding the limitations of, and the opportunities presented by, the zoo environment, you can quickly improve the standard of images you take. While they might not be wildlife photos in the true sense of the term, photos of animals in zoos don’t have to be static and boring. By following our tips, you’ll be able to capture a memory card full of dynamic and engaging photos that you’ll be proud to hang on your walls.
Aloha Safari Zoo
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
ALOHA SAFARI ZOO: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
- Tue - Wed 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- Thu - Thu 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Fri - Sun 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- (6.55 km) Carolina Lakes Family Home w/ Pool, Kayaks & Dock!
- (12.83 km) The Inn at Anderson Creek Club
- (12.75 km) Anderson Creek Resort Condo on Golf Course w/ Pool
- (12.75 km) Resort-Style Condo on Golf Course w/ Private Pool!
- (12.75 km) Anderson Golf Club Condo w/ Community Amenities!
- (6.14 km) El Burrito Mexican Restaurant (New Facilities)
- (5.63 km) Copper Cricket
- (5.70 km) Jitter Bugz
- (11.22 km) The Twisted Grape
- (5.56 km) Biscuitville
Aloha Safari Zoo
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
ALOHA SAFARI ZOO: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
- Tue - Wed 12:00 - 16:00
- Thu - Thu 12:00 - 17:00
- Fri - Sun 10:00 - 17:00
- (6.55 km) Carolina Lakes Family Home w/ Pool, Kayaks & Dock!
- (12.83 km) The Inn at Anderson Creek Club
- (12.75 km) Anderson Creek Resort Condo on Golf Course w/ Pool
- (12.75 km) Resort-Style Condo on Golf Course w/ Private Pool!
- (12.75 km) Anderson Golf Club Condo w/ Community Amenities!
- (6.14 km) El Burrito Mexican Restaurant (New Facilities)
- (5.63 km) Copper Cricket
- (5.70 km) Jitter Bugz
- (11.22 km) The Twisted Grape
- (5.56 km) Biscuitville
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Saturday: 10am-5pm. Admission Price. ~We accept Cash & Credit Cards~. Adults: $15. Children Ages 2-11: $13. Seniors Ages 65+: $13. Children under 2 are free. Our Animals. At Aloha Safari Park you will see a variety of different animals including, tigers, zebras, monkeys, lemurs and more!
Aloha Safari Park, Cameron, North Carolina. 21,285 likes · 396 talking about this · 1,019 were here. We are a non-government funded zoo that is home to hundreds of animals. Admission is $15 for...
158 reviews and 330 photos of Aloha Safari Zoo "Very well maintained facility. I was surprised to see so many animals. It was a delight to see some rare species like white tiger, black swans and white peacocks. All the animals looked in good condition. I found it really cheap when compared to other zoos in this area. $5 was entry fee and $3 for safari ride.
Aloha Safari Zoo NC, Cameron, North Carolina. 36,970 likes · 234 talking about this · 48,123 were here. Open to the Public EVERY Saturday & Sunday from 10- 5 NO Reservation Needed!!!School field...
The Aloha Safari Zoo's mission is to create a loving home for unwanted, mistreated, and injured animals. Meets animal welfare guidelines. Suggest edits to improve what we show. Improve this listing. All photos (265) Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
4.5 Stars - 138 reviews of Aloha Safari Zoo "Very well maintained facility. I was surprised to see so many animals. It was a delight to see some rare species like white tiger, black swans and white peacocks. All the animals looked in good condition. I found it really cheap when compared to other zoos in this area. $5 was entry fee and $3 for safari ride.
135 reviews of Aloha Safari Zoo "Very well maintained facility. I was surprised to see so many animals. It was a delight to see some rare species like white tiger, black swans and white peacocks. All the animals looked in good condition. I found it really cheap when compared to other zoos in this area. $5 was entry fee and $3 for safari ride.
At Aloha Safari Park you will see a variety of different animals including, tigers, zebras, monkeys, lemurs and more! ... Feel free to reach out to a member of the zoo crew with any questions you may have! Is It Your First Time Here? Plan Your Visit. We Offer Field Trips in the Spring & Fall! Book a Field Trip. Aloha Safari Park ~ 159 Mini Lane ...
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Mar 7, 2024 - The Aloha Safari Zoo's mission is to create a loving home for unwanted, mistreated, and injured animals.
Aloha Safari Zoo. Walk through our "rainforest" building and "upper" section. Visit our reptile room and then see monkeys, birds and our petting zoo. Enjoy the "Safari" tour, which takes you to the "bottom" where all of our big animals are - Watusi cattle, camels, zebras and even zorse. For a complete list of animals, please ...
The Aloha Safari Zoo's mission is to create a loving home for unwanted, mistreated, and injured animals. Meets animal welfare guidelines. Suggest edits to improve what we show. Improve this listing. All photos (273)
The Aloha Safari Zoo's mission is to create a loving home for unwanted, mistreated, and injured animals. Read more. ... The lemur enclosures were way too small. The pictures on their website do not accurately depict the actual condition of the zoo. This place reeks of "Joe Exotic" and needs to be shut down. The animals need to be rescued from ...
Of course, to visit these places on a photo safari you'll need very deep pockets and a couple of free weeks, to say nothing of the time and effort spent researching and planning your trip, but ...
The Aloha Safari Zoo's mission is to create a loving home for unwanted, mistreated, and injured animals. Meets animal welfare guidelines. Suggest edits to improve what we show. Improve this listing. All photos (273)
Two tiger cubs at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Photo: Courtesy of San Diego Wildlife Alliance. The Safari Park's Sumatran tiger cubs, Puteri and Hutan, stepped out of their den for the first time in October 2023. They were born last July — the first cubs of their species to arrive at the Tull Family Tiger Trail habitat in seven years.
Aloha Safari Zoo, Cameron: See 216 reviews, articles, and 265 photos of Aloha Safari Zoo, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 8 attractions in Cameron.
Aloha Safari Zoo: Great idea, but don't look too close…. - See 218 traveler reviews, 273 candid photos, and great deals for Cameron, NC, at Tripadvisor. ... but it wasn't "natural" looking. The lemur enclosures were way too small. The pictures on their website do not accurately depict the actual condition of the zoo. This place reeks of ...
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