Fredericksburg is known for peaches, German heritage and wineries, but one of its most talked-about experiences involves a giraffe. The safari tour runs at Grapetown Vineyard, at 8142 Old San Antonio Road, and is operated by Fredericksburg Game Farm. It starts with a walk among the animals, where you can feed some of them, and continues with a safari ride on a trailer pulled by a tractor. Visitors report giraffes, monkeys, llamas, goats, cows and an ostrich, though which animals you meet and which you may feed varies. The admission is listed at about an hour and a half, and the wine tastings that follow can stretch the visit beyond that. The wine element is generous: four tastings and other drinks are included, with access to the winery, vineyard and tasting room. The tour is private, which means it is just your own group rather than a busload of strangers, a feature that makes it popular for birthdays, bridal parties, family reunions and couples. You can also buy food and lettuce to feed the animals, and children usually adore it. Infants may sit on laps, and the experience is stroller accessible but not wheelchair accessible.
Making it work
You pick a start time when booking, and slots can be booked well in advance in busy periods, so reserve early for weekends and holidays. Some travellers arrive thirty minutes ahead, which is sensible because the meeting point can be confusing. Several visitors say the tour starts farther down the road than expected, so check the directions in your confirmation before you drive out. Cell service can be patchy in the countryside, so screenshot the route.
What to bring
This is an outdoor, rural experience, so wear sun protection and closed shoes. Reviewers mention tall grass and heat during the walk, which is worth knowing in the summer months. Spring and autumn are more comfortable for the walking section, though the tractor ride and tasting room make the tour work in most seasons.
Bring small bills for animal food and expect to get a little muddy or dusty. If someone in your group does not drink, they can still enjoy the animals, and drivers should plan accordingly because the tastings add up.
Fitting it into a Hill Country day: Fredericksburg is roughly an hour and a half to the north-west of San Antonio, and the vineyard sits on the road between the two, so it combines easily with a stop in town for Main Street shopping and German food, a visit to Wildseed Farms, or a stop at the National Museum of the Pacific War. Because tastings are included, designate a driver or use a tour or ride service for the return trip. Treat this as a playful half-day rather than a serious wine experience: the draw is the animals, the setting and the private format.
What to expect
The experience
A private walk among exotic animals with feeding, a tractor-drawn safari ride, and four wine tastings at the vineyard.
Best time
Spring and autumn for comfortable walking; book early for weekends.
How long
About an hour and a half for the tour, longer with the tastings.
Tips
Check the meeting point in advance, arrive early, wear sun protection and closed shoes, and plan a designated driver.
Quick picks
- Best for
- A playful Hill Country outing with animals and wine.
- Families
- Children love the feeding and the tractor ride; infants can sit on laps.
- Couples
- A memorable private tasting with an unexpected twist.
- Pair with
- Wildseed Farms, Main Street in Fredericksburg or the Pacific War museum.
- Time needed
- A half day from Fredericksburg, a full day from San Antonio.
Good questions
Where does the tour take place?+
At Grapetown Vineyard on Old San Antonio Road near Fredericksburg; the meeting point can be confusing, so check the directions first.
Which animals will I see?+
Visitors report giraffes, monkeys, llamas, goats, cows and an ostrich, and some can be fed while others cannot.
Is wine included?+
Yes, four wine tastings and other drinks are included at the winery and tasting room.
Is the tour private?+
Yes, only your own group takes part.
Is it accessible?+
It is stroller accessible but not wheelchair accessible, and infants may sit on laps.
