The Wilds Outpost Overnight Experience (Full Review + What to Know Before You Book) -

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If you’ve ever wanted to sleep in the middle of a safari—without leaving Ohio—the Outpost overnight experience at The Wilds might be exactly what you’re looking for.

This isn’t your typical hotel stay or even a traditional campground. It’s a guided, overnight experience set inside one of the largest conservation centers in North America, where you’ll fall asleep surrounded by open pastures and wake up just feet from roaming giraffes, rhinos, and zebras.

Before you book this unique overnight stay in Ohio, here are a few things you will want to know. From what’s actually included (and what’s not) to what the experience really feels like, this guide breaks down everything you need to know about staying overnight at The Wilds Outpost—including an honest review, tips, and whether it’s truly worth the cost.

What are the Wilds, and where in Ohio are they?

The Wilds is a one-of-a-kind, non-profit safari park and conservation center located in rural southeastern Ohio, just outside the small town of Cumberland. Spanning nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed land, it is one of the largest wildlife conservation centers in North America and is home to hundreds of rare and endangered animals that roam across open pastures.

The Wilds is located at 14000 International Road, Cumberland, OH 43732, about a 2-hour drive from Columbus and roughly 2.5–3 hours from Cincinnati.

Because of its remote setting, getting there requires a bit of planning—most routes will take you through scenic, winding back roads, and GPS can occasionally be unreliable.

If you’re driving from central Ohio, you’ll typically take I-70 toward New Concord, then follow State Route 83 south toward Cumberland before connecting to smaller local roads that lead directly to the entrance. There are limited services nearby, including gas stations and cell service, so plan accordingly.

The Wilds is associated with the Columbus Zoo

Known for their open-air safari tours, The Wilds also offers an array of overnight options, including the Hellbender RV Campground, The Lodge, Shraker Lake, Nomad Ridge Yurts, and the Outpost.

The Outpost at The Wilds

Wildnights at the Outpost is a seasonal camping option that takes guests into the heart of the savannah. You will spend the night in the middle of the pastures, surrounded by rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and many other animals that choose to come to say hello. Two tents are located on-site, with a cot inside per guest.

The Outpost is surrounded by a high-voltage fence, thus making this experience suitable for guests aged 5 and up.

Upon arriving at the Outpost at 5:30 pm, guests must stay until 9 am the following morning, when they will be shuttled back to the parking lot.

Note: A guide will be staying with you for the duration of your overnight experience. Don’t worry, they have a separate tent.

What is Included in a Stay at the Outpost

Guests will receive the following during a stay at the Outpost:

Dinner and breakfast -You will prepare your own food
An open-air safari per guest
A camping cot – you bring your linens/sleeping bag/pillow
Drinkable water cooler
Port-a-potty
Hand washing station
There is an electrical outlet, but it is under one of the covered decks
Gas-fire pit
Cooking Grill
Lawn Games
Outdoor Seating + table

Let’s walk you through an overnight experience at The Wilds.

What the Outpost at The Wilds looks like

Things To Do Before Your Outpost Stay

Prior to arriving at the Outpost, you will want to book your open-air safari tour and any additional tours. Guests of the Outpost get an extra discount on zip-lining and adventure tours.

We opted to book our open-air safari the following morning around 10:15 a.m., but guests can book the safari before arriving at the Outpost. Keep in mind that you will need to be at the Overlook Gift Market at 5:00 pm, and the open-air safari tours take roughly 2 hours.

Sign all the waivers for your party. You will need to sign for the Outpost and for the Open-Air Safari Tour.

Purchase any alcohol at the Overlook Cafe (right next to the Overlook Gift Market). You are not allowed to bring any outside alcohol. For reference, a bottle of Ohio wine was $30.

Where to Park

When you pull into The Wilds, you will see a big parking lot immediately to your right with a little hut. DO NOT GO THERE! You will want to park at the Overlook Cafe, which is further up the hill to the right. After checking in, your guide will bring a van near your cars so you can load your belongings.

If there is no parking at the Overlook Cafe, you can park in the large parking lot at the bottom of the hill. Don’t unload your belongings; instead, take the complimentary shuttle to the Overlook Cafe to check in, and the guide will bring the van to your vehicle.

Getting To The Outpost

A guide will take your group in a van to the Outpost. Guests will load their gear into the van for the evening, then take a 10-minute ride to the camping area. If you are lucky, you will get to see many of the animals in the pastures on your way.

Once at the site, guests will remain in the van as the guide secures the site and explains the rules. You are in an enclosure that is surrounded by a high-voltage fence. There are covered decks that give you great views of all the pastures.

Note: If traveling with kids, they must be supervised by an adult in one particular viewing area. It has a locked gate and appears to have been an old giraffe feeding area.

After unloading the van, settle into your tents (they are already set up) and soak up the views and wildlife. Don’t forget your binoculars! Guests are reminded that we are not to touch or provoke the animals, but to observe them.

Getting Comfortable at the Outpost

Inside your tent at the Outpost at the Wilds

Your guide will help you get acclimated to the space. Here are some important things you will need to know:

There is a storage shed that has a fridge. It is where they keep items for dinner and breakfast. If you have medication or allergy-specific foods that need to be refrigerated, they will allow it. Everything else will need to be stored in a cooler.
The storage shed also contains games, extra supplies, and the coffee maker. Guests are not permitted inside the storage shed without a guide’s approval.
There is a water cooler that has cold and hot water.
There is a port-o-potty with a hand-washing station.
One outlet is located on one of the covered decks near the water cooler.
There is an outdoor patio set with a table, perfect for sunset dinners.
THERE IS NO SHOWER.

Water Cooler at the Outpost at the Wilds

Dinner at the Outpost

Upon arriving at the Outpost, the guide will help gather supplies as dinner approaches. There is a flat-top grill with very minimal grilling utensils. Bring your own, because I had to flip hamburgers with tongs.

Enjoy dinner while overlooking the beautiful savannah

The guide does not cook your food. After determining each guest’s preference for a hot dog or a hamburger, they will bring out the raw meat. PACK SEASONING! Don’t expect salt or pepper, nothing. You are on your own! Each guest will also receive a bag of chips. During our stay, we got to choose between a wide selection of local Ohio brand Conn’s, and those chips will change your life.

Guests can also upgrade to a higher-end option, such as a strip steak dinner.

What about S’mores?

S’more packages are available for purchase, and you will need to use their S’more Maker, as there isn’t an option for a wood-burning fire or for roasting them over the gas fire pit. We brought our own S’mores supplies, and they let us use the S’mores Maker.

Your Guide Can Make or Break Your Experience

At nearly $700 per night, you would expect a warm and welcoming guide—unfortunately, that was not our experience. Our guide immediately made it known that she did not enjoy doing the overnights, as she didn’t sleep and didn’t want to be there. We had three children with us, ages 5, 8, and 9, and it became quite apparent that she despised our bringing them on this overnight.

They were consistent targets for her all evening, including yelling at them for using their flashlights at night to get to the tent. She claimed flashlights might spook and upset the animals. Keep in mind that flashlights are on the packing list that The Wilds sends you.

After walking on eggshells all evening, the guide was quick to have us pack up and leave in the morning, with sharp reminders starting at 7 am that we needed to leave by 9 am. Someone spilled cereal at the picnic table and was instantly reprimanded by the guide for being messy. Remember, these are young kids who, surprise, act like young kids.

While we still tipped our guide, she really dampened our whole experience. I would request a guide who is good with children.

Evenings at the Outpost

One of the highlights of the evening is gathering around the fire pit as the sun sinks below the horizon. We watched as the herds moved from one side of the pasture to the next, and observed the giraffes coming to take a closer look at us. The tables are turned in this experience, and you are the ones in an enclosure on display.

The guide may ask if you want a brief animal lesson and to bring out skulls and bones of the animals that inhabit The Wilds. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the animals and very passionate about them. You will take away fascinating tidbits and even get to hold a bone or two.

Once everyone is ready to retire to their tents, I recommend using the port-a-potty one more time so you don’t have to stumble out at night. However, before you allow your head to hit the cot, take a minute to stargaze. The sky comes alive across the pastures as millions of twinkling stars shine down, creating a midnight tapestry filling you with awe and wonder.

Throughout the night, you will hear all sorts of sounds and animal calls. Rhinos have even been known to come to scrape their horns along the fence of the Outpost, scaring everyone half to death! If you are a light sleeper, bring earplugs.

Mornings at The Outpost

I couldn’t wait to wake up and see what animals would greet me in the morning. Sure enough, a herd of Eland had made their way right up to the enclosure and were leisurely grazing as I sipped my coffee.

Note: The coffee is not good, but it will do in a pinch. I am a coffee snob, so I bring my portable espresso maker with me. It will save your life.

Guests will have to leave the Outpost at 9 am. Therefore, you will need to allocate enough time to eat breakfast, pack your belongings, and load the van.

Breakfast at the Outpost

Breakfast is available upon waking with continental options such as cereal and milk, bagels and cream cheese, and Pop-Tarts. Coffee and teas were available as well. There is a toaster for the bagels. It is a perfect morning camp breakfast to enjoy while viewing the animals.

Open-Air Safari

Guests staying overnight at the Outpost have an open-air safari included in their stay. We booked our safari for the morning after our stay, but guests can book it prior to the overnight as well.

The open-air safari is a great way to see all the animals with a helpful guide pointing out facts and behaviors. Our guide, Rosie, was phenomenal and brought great energy to our experience. She got the kids involved and was energetic and light-hearted. Here are a few tips for your safari:

The Safari lasts roughly two hours with a 30-minute stop to see Cheetahs and other carnivores. There is a bathroom and snack bar here.
Wear sunscreen. You may end up in the shade or in the full sun depending on the time of your tour.
Bring a portable fan if you are visiting during the summer months. It can get hot.
Don’t forget your binoculars; you will need them to see animals that are further away.
Consider bringing a fidget toy or another activity for young kids; there is a good chance they will get bored if animals are not coming around.
Each tour is different as the animals roam at their own discretion. If seeing animals up close is a must, then consider booking a Wildside Safari, which can go off-road to see animals.

Each tour is completely different depending on the animals

Other Perks of Staying at the Outpost

Guests can receive a 20% discount on all other specialty tours that The Wilds offers when you stay overnight at the Outpost. This includes zip-lining tours, horseback riding, fishing, and more!

Alternative Lodging at The Wilds

If the Outpost experience isn’t the right fit, there are several other unique ways to stay overnight at The Wilds that cater to different comfort levels and travel styles. Guests looking for a more traditional (but still immersive) stay can book one of the Straker Lake cabins, which offer full kitchens, multiple bedrooms, and access to activities like fishing, kayaking, and private hiking trails—making them ideal for families who want space to spread out after a day of сафaris.

For larger groups or a more elevated experience, The Lodge provides a private, upscale retreat with room for up to 12 guests, complete with a full kitchen, lake access, and expansive indoor and outdoor gathering spaces.

On the other end of the spectrum, visitors can opt for Nomad Ridge yurts, a 21+ glamping experience with sweeping views, meals included, and a more luxurious take on staying close to nature.

And for those who prefer a more budget-friendly or traditional outdoor experience, the Hellbender RV Campground offers tent and RV camping with easy access to the park and discounted safari tours.

No matter your travel style, The Wilds offers a range of accommodations that let you stay immersed in the landscape long after the tours end.

Packing List

Coming prepared will help make the most of your stay at the Outpost. Here is our packing list:

After a certain age, cot mattresses have become a necessity. This memory foam one is great!
Bring a pillow and sleeping bag or sheets/blankets.
Ponchos and waterproof jackets. This happens rain or shine, so come prepared.
A portable fan that is charged
A portable charger
Medications/ tooth brush, toothpaste
Games/ activities for kids
Binoculars
A cooler with drinks, snacks, and any specialty food items.
Seasoning, grill utensils
Portable espresso maker and pods
Bug spray and sunscreen
Camera
S’mores supplies
Flashlight and lanterns
Earplugs- believe it or not, it can get loud out there!