Tucked away in the rolling hills of Lamar County is a wildlife wonderland, full of exotic birds, spirited equines, and captivating monkeys.
Little Creek Landing Safari Park opened in 2024, but owner Chris Thurman isn’t new to the business of caring for animals. He got the bug as a boy, when his grandmother, “Mamaw Bessie” Lee, had her own menagerie that she shared with Thurman, a Monticello native.
“The first year we had over 12,000 people,” Thurman said.
The park, which is a member of Pearl River Valley Electric, features more than 300 animals, including some you can touch and feed. A few animals, including a donkey and a couple alpaca, may be seen at the park’s entrance. A koi pond with a gently flowing water fountain, brings a feeling of serenity to those entering the main building.
Thurman’s safari park is a multi-faceted facility, with areas for guests to interact with some of the animals, and a larger area, viewed from a “people mover” where grazing animals can be seen “up close, but not too close.”
“It’s hands-on,” Thurman said. “We just get you up close and personal.”
The self-guided walking area has kangaroos and wallabies, including a few albinos; several species of ducks, swans and geese; goats, alpaca and calves; a few grey crowned cranes; tortoises and more than 100 peacocks and hens. This area is also available for touring during dinner service on Friday and Saturday nights.
“It’s hands-on,” Thurman said. “We just get you up close and personal.”
A monkey lanai is in the walkable area, with spider monkeys and marmosets. A few lemurs, which are primates but not part of the monkey family, are located nearby.
The larger part of the safari park is home to zebras, camels, buffalo, bison, llamas, antelope, ostrich, emus, and more. Thurman is working to expand the park, so he can add more animals, including giraffes. This area of the park is usually closed in the evenings.
Guests can do a quick tour or take their time going through the park.
“We have people come and stay half a day,” Thurman said.
For an additional fee, guests may enjoy a visit with a lemur, kangaroo, bat-eared fox or fennec fox. Other animal encounters include feeding toucans or lorikeets or riding a mule.
Little Creek Landing also has a restaurant, where visitors may enjoy lunch or dinner, with a view of the pond. The dining area is behind the main entrance, which includes a gift shop and the animals available for one-on-one encounters.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays for café-style lunches and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays for full-service meals. Guests can come to the park to enjoy a meal without visiting the park areas.
The lunch menu includes sandwiches, burgers, salads, chicken strip or catfish baskets and more. The dinner menu offers a variety of steaks, a port ribeye, chicken, catfish pasta, and more. Occasional specials are offered, including dishes like prime rib or parmesan-crusted salmon.
The park is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays- Saturdays; and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $20 per person for ages 2 and older, which includes admission to all areas of the park. Restaurant, animal encounters, and merchandise are not included. Group rates, field trips, and special events are also available.
The park is at 222 Little Creek Road in Sumrall.
For more information, visit littlecreeklanding.com or call 601-550-1658.
