Safari / Nature Tours in Houston

Houston isn’t just about skyscrapers and traffic jams. If you want to get outside and breathe some fresh air, there are some surprisingly good safari and nature tours around that let you see the city’s green side without leaving town.

One spot I always recommend is the Houston Zoo, which isn’t a ‘safari’ in the wild sense but packs in a solid range of animals and some behind-the-scenes tours that feel pretty close. For something more off the beaten path, you can hit places like the Armand Bayou Nature Center in Pasadena. It’s a massive preserve with boardwalks over wetlands and you might catch a glimpse of some wild birds, turtles, even the occasional deer if you’re lucky.

And if you’re up for driving a bit, the Houston Safari Ranch is an actual safari experience, where you can walk around or take a guided tour to see exotic species like zebras and giraffes roaming in a pretty natural setting. It’s not a huge safari like those in Africa, obviously, but for Houston, it’s a nice change of pace.

Tip: Weekday mornings are the best time to visit these spots if you want to avoid crowds and catch animals being most active. Also, bring sunscreen and bug spray, especially if you’re heading out in the summer or near the bayous. Dallas might get cowboy hats, but here in Houston, comfy shoes and a good hat do wonders when you’re in nature.