The Wildlife Loop at Custer State Park in South Dakota never fails to deliver. In all three times that I drove around the loop, I was always rewarded with a sight of wildlife so close to the road.
Apart from the breathtaking scenery as you drove around the prairie, the wildlife loop wins best show in terms of the number of wildlife out in the open in their natural habitat. This place is a little Safari!
You see them from afar.
These donkeys stop vehicles, literally. They are actually very friendly to people. They stick their heads through the car windows for food.
The buffalos are many. Some of them can be at a very close range.
As you circumnavigates the Custer State Park, you see more of the buffalos.
Beware, a few of them can be playful. Don’t go out of the vehicle. Remain calm.
Here they are in herds.
You can see their young.
And always be alert. Buffalos are unpredictable. Even park rangers keep on warning visitors who stop and go out of their vehicles to keep distance from the animals.
The pronghorns are amazing and they also come in groups.
Aside from these animals, if you get lucky, you will also see deers, wild turkeys, antelopes, prairie dogs, coyotes and more.
If you have been driving for quite a while and haven’t seen any animal along the route, take time to ask a ranger where to find the wildlife. Once you find them, take as much time as you want to enjoy the sight.
You will pay a $15 fee to get in the park, but it is well worth it. The fee is good for a week.
Address: Custer, SD. You may not find the exact address of the Wildlife Loop with your GPS, so it is better to bring a map with you. Ask a map from any visitor center before doing the trip.
See also: My other travel adventures.
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