Recognition highlights Louisiana’s immersive safari experience as voting opens Feb. 9
Folsom, Louisiana (February 9, 2026) – Global Wildlife Center is honored to announce its nomination for Best Safari Park in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This national distinction spotlights top travel attractions, with nominees selected by a panel of USA TODAY editors and subject matter experts and final winners determined by public vote.
The USA TOAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are a respected travel recognition program featuring trusted recommendations for outstanding destinations and experiences across the United States. Nominees are chosen for quality and appeal, and winners are selected by public engagement — making this nomination a meaningful mark of both editorial recognition and community support.
Public voting begins on Monday, February 9, at noon EST and runs through Monday, March 9, at 11:59 a.m. EDT. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 18, at noon EDT.
Set across 900 acres of serene, free-roaming landscape in Folsom, Louisiana, Global Wildlife Center invites visitors into a one-of-a-kind wildlife escape that feels worlds away but is right at home in the South. From the seat of a covered safari wagon, guests can feed and see giraffes stretching tall against the sky, observe bison lumbering across gentle rolling hills, and discover more than 30 species of endangered, threatened, and exotic animals living in natural spaces. Beyond the signature wagon safaris, visitors can choose Private or Semi-Private Pinz Tours for a more personalized experience, as well as separate animal encounters designed to bring guests closer to wildlife while supporting education and care.
“Being named a nominee for Best Safari Park is a tremendous honor for our entire team,” said Christina Cooper, Executive Director. “This recognition speaks to the care and intention behind every guest experience, and we’re grateful for the continued support of our visitors and community.”
Voting is open daily to the public. Those who wish to support Global Wildlife Center can cast their daily votes at https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/global-wildlife-center-folsom-louisiana beginning February 9.
About Global Wildlife Center
Global Wildlife Center is one of the largest free-roaming wildlife preserves in the country, home to more than 30 species of endangered, threatened, and exotic animals, and voted #3 Best Safari Park in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Visitors can get eye-to-eye with reticulated giraffes and feel the woolly fur of bison as they explore the 900-acre preserve in a guided covered wagon safari, Private or Semi-Private Pinz tour, or chat with a capybara during the new capybara encounter. Visit www.GlobalWildlife.com for more information or to book your adventure.