The 15 Best Safaris in the USA

Miami: Everglades Safari Park Airboat Tour - Choosing your seat on a shared boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,267 reviews · 1 day · from $41Our pick

Take a guided 40-minute airboat ride through the Everglades, then watch an interactive wildlife show and walk the Jungle Trail. Guides such as Captain Joe bring humor and useful facts, while alligator sightings, weather, and boat seating can vary.

“Very organized. We saw a lot of wildlife and totally enjoyed the airboat ride. The small alligator presentation was cute. Staff was very friendly. The place is well maintained.”

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Grand Teton Wildlife Safari in a Enclosed or Open-Air Vehicle (season dependent)

2.Grand Teton Wildlife Safari in a Enclosed or Open-Air Vehicle (season dependent)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,212 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $159Top rated

Set out from Jackson Hole with a naturalist guide such as Kyle, Kelsey, or Anthony for a four-hour Grand Teton wildlife search. Ride open-air in warm months or in a heated vehicle during colder seasons. Binoculars, snacks, drinks, and frequent photo stops are included, with sightings never guaranteed.

“This was an incredible day that we thoroughly enjoyed! We were so fortunate see all kinds of wildlife on our tour that was just breathtaking.”

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Everglades Airboat Safari Adventure with Transportation

3.Everglades Airboat Safari Adventure with Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 956 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $35Best value

Ride an open-air airboat for about 40 minutes through the Everglades area, watch for alligators, turtles, birds, and deer, then explore exhibits if time allows. Round-trip transport leaves from 305 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. Captain Nick has earned special praise for his lively, useful commentary.

“While the boat tour was excellent and the highlight of the trip, the overall experience was disappointing due to the staff’s lack of professionalism. Despite booking our tickets three days in advance and arriving 30 minutes early as instructed, we encountered issues. The staff promised us a bus, but passengers who pushed ahead in the queue were taken to the departure point first, even though they had booked their tickets at the last minute. Those of us who waited as instructed were delayed by 45–50 minutes because the company had apparently run out of minibuses. The guide then left us standing by the side of the road. We were only…”

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3 Hour Off-Road Sunset Safari to Grand Canyon with Entrance Gate Detour

4.3 Hour Off-Road Sunset Safari to Grand Canyon with Entrance Gate Detour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 904 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $133

Ride from Tusayan in a 4WD safari vehicle, bypass the busy South Rim entrance, and follow Kaibab Forest back roads to Yavapai Point, Pipe Creek Vista, and Grandview Point. Guides such as Mark, Tyler, Werner, and Sheila share canyon geology, Native history, wildlife facts, and local stories.

“I can be a rough ride for the first hour. Tyler was very knowledgeable and had interesting stories on the history of the area.”

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Off the Beaten Path Ketchikan Photo Safari – 3 hr.

5.Off the Beaten Path Ketchikan Photo Safari – 3 hr.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 901 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $134

Spend three hours touring Ketchikan with a photography-minded guide such as Angela, Tori, Gatlin, or Brock. You’ll visit Creek Street, salmon-viewing spots, totem parks, working docks, and scenic overlooks while learning useful techniques for an iPhone, point-and-shoot, or DSLR.

“Not for professional photographers. I am a professional photographer and have done lots of tours. This was really disorganized and was not at the level that I had expected, where the guide knew photography, could make recommendations to take great shots. Was a nice sight seeing tour, but should not be claiming for photography.”

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Kauai Deluxe Waterfall Safari: Helicopter Tour

6.Kauai Deluxe Waterfall Safari: Helicopter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 900 reviews · 55 minutes (approx.) · from $309

Fly over Kauai for about 55 minutes with Safari Helicopters, seeing the Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, waterfalls, beaches, and movie-famous scenery. Pilots such as Dali add commentary and humor, while the small cabin and all-window views give you a strong chance at clear photos.

“Great experience! Beautiful views of a unique island. Friendly and professional. Pilot did not do crazy stuff which is ok!”

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Wild Florida Drive-Thru Safari and Gator Park Admission

7.Wild Florida Drive-Thru Safari and Gator Park Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 892 reviews · 1 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $35

Take a self-guided drive through Wild Florida’s safari park near Orlando, spotting zebras, bison, deer, wildebeest, oryx, and more from your own car. Your ticket also covers Gator Park, with more animals and shows. Giraffe feeding on the raised platform costs extra.

“It was a fun way to see the animals in a more natural setting. I would have liked more information about the animals (like pictures and descriptions about each animal so I know what I’m looking at). I would have also liked more info about the park’s conservation efforts. Having something like that in an app would be awesome. It was also nice to be able to get a quick bite to eat at the Chomp House though the service was a little slow.”

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Wild Dolphin Watching and Snorkel Safari Off West Coast of Oahu

8.Wild Dolphin Watching and Snorkel Safari Off West Coast of Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 795 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $193

Cruise west Oahu with a lifeguard-certified marine crew on a 32-foot boat limited to 15 people. Look for spinner dolphins, winter humpback whales, turtles, and reef fish, then snorkel with included gear. Lunch, soft drinks, and pickup from most Waikiki and Ko Olina hotels are included.

“Well organised, especially the pick up/drop off service offered, very convenient. Great staff with a wealth of knowledge which worked well as we were able to see a green sea turtle whilst snorkeling 🤿 and get some video👍 along with spinner dolphins, humpback whales, flying fish Vs etc. I would highly recommend this trip. We Included in the package was a packed lunch which was delicious with plenty of ice cold soft drinks.”

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Dana Point Dolphin and Whale Watching with Underwater Viewing

9.Dana Point Dolphin and Whale Watching with Underwater Viewing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 788 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99

Join Captain Dave’s crew for a 2.5-hour catamaran trip from Dana Point Harbor. Watch for dolphins, whales, sea lions, and birds while a naturalist explains the animals and their habitat. Only Manute’a has underwater viewing pods, so boat assignments matter.

“It was amazing! The girls, Marie, Hannah ane Daelyn, who took us out were very knowledgeable and just all-around nice and fun to talk to! Would highly recommend to anybody and would taste six stars if I could. ++++++”

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Orlando: Drive-Thru Safari Park at Wild Florida

10.Orlando: Drive-Thru Safari Park at Wild Florida

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 560 reviews · 1 day · from $35

At Wild Florida, you drive your own vehicle along gravel paths while more than 100 native and exotic animals roam open areas. Take your time with zebras, bison, watusi, ostriches, and alligators, then visit the Gator Park and hand-feed a giraffe such as Leroy. Admission is $35 per person.

“Great experience!! Like how you keep the animals moving around us by use of the feeding stations.”

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Big Island, Hawaii: Volcanoes National Park Safari

11.Big Island, Hawaii: Volcanoes National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 545 reviews · 55 minutes (approx.) · from $379

Fly from Hilo Airport with Safari Helicopters for a 55-minute aerial tour over Volcanoes National Park. Pilots such as Andrew and Jim explain Hawaii’s geology, culture, and eruptive past while you look for lava flows, calderas, waterfalls, orchid farms, and native forest. Weather can change the route.

“The pilot was very informative and the ride was smooth. Staff was very hospitable. However we were forced to rebook twice which was very inconvenient since we came from the other side of the island (2 hr drive each way). We were told that the operator needed 5 to 6 people to go which was NOT advertised when booking.”

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Everglades Day Safari from Ft Lauderdale

12.Everglades Day Safari from Ft Lauderdale

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 488 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $250

Spend about 10 hours exploring three Everglades habitats with a guide such as Julio, Reza, or Marc. Ride an airboat through sawgrass, walk beneath cypress trees, and cruise the Ten Thousand Islands for dolphins, manatees, birds, and alligators. Lunch and transport are included.

“Julio was our guide and driver, he was fantastic. Very informative. The pontoon boat excursion was our favorite, we saw dolphins and our boat operator had them playing in the wake of our boat, it was amazing to see. He was also very informative about the ten-thousand islands area and the wildlife and history. The air boat ride was slot of fun, we saw alligators, turtles, and birds. I would suggest this excursion, it was a long day but it allowed us to see everything related to the Everglades that we wanted to see in just one day.”

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All-Inclusive Sandbar Safari with Dolphin Playground Encounter

13.All-Inclusive Sandbar Safari with Dolphin Playground Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 451 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $149

Leave Key West’s Historic Seaport for a five-hour cruise through the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. You’ll search for wild dolphins, stop at Jewfish Basin, swim or relax on a sandbar, and enjoy lunch, water toys, lily pads, beer, wine, mimosas, and soda. Captains Madison and John are among the crew praised for their friendly, informative service.

“Captain Madison and her crew were outstanding and went above and beyond to make our outing safe and enjoyable!”

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3 Hour Back-Road Safari to Grand Canyon with Entrance Gate By-Pass at 9:30 am

14.3 Hour Back-Road Safari to Grand Canyon with Entrance Gate By-Pass at 9:30 am

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 430 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $130

This three-hour South Rim tour leaves at 9:30 am, using a permitted forest road to bypass the main entrance line. You will walk the rim with a guide, visit Yavapai Point, Bright Angel Trail, Hopi House, El Tovar, and Bright Angel Lodge, and may see elk, deer, turkey, or hawks.

“Great experience for first time seeing the canyon. Worth the money and saved time by seeing more than what you would than no tour. Friendly and informative tour guide.”

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Lihue: Deluxe Waterfall Safari Helicopter Tour

15.Lihue: Deluxe Waterfall Safari Helicopter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 422 reviews · 1 hour · from $309

Fly from Lihue with a pilot-guide and up to five other passengers on a one-hour Safari Helicopters tour. You’ll see Waimea Canyon, the Na Pali Coast, Waialeale Crater, and Jurassic Falls, with narration, music, and broad views from every seat.

“Best experience ever! we spent 1 hour flying up around the island and I saw the most astonishing wild nature I've ever seen. I almost cried for the beauty of it!! the pilot was an excellent guide as well and explained us so much interesting stuff! amazing”

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