citico wildlife wilderness

A well kept secret near Vonore, TN is CITICO WILDLIFE WILDERNESS which is a beautiful mountain preserve for exotic and protected hoofed animals. The adventure begins on a flatbed outfitted with comfortable padded seats for approximately 25 people. Guests are towed along a dirt road that winds through the fenced in mountain area. In some sections, the animals come right up to the vehicle and we have wonderful Natl. Geographic type pictures recording our trip. Kelly, the interpreter on board knew the names and history of all of the animals and allowed time for questions and photography. Our group of 9 ranged in age from 13 to 78 and agreed it was the best traditional Friday After Thanksgiving excursion they remember. The more than an hour long trip ended with modern toilet facilities in a lovely handcrafted cedar building with a bon fire outside. Hot chocolate and cider were provided and we provided makings for S'Mores. There were bowls of raw sweet potato and grapes to hand feed the exotic tiny deer eagerly looking for handouts. A big bonus was a chance to see AND HEAR a pair of porcupines housed nearby. They too were eager for handouts. The price was very reasonable and the location is almost 2 hours from Farragut, TN adjacent to the Cherokee Natl. Forest. Specific directions are sent once you have reservations. I THINK they are closed through the winter months. We will need to return in the spring to see newborns in the different herds.

Thank you so much for your review and your kind words! I welcome you back on your next visit to our area. Thanks again, Kelley.

I am so happy I found this safari. The ad was in the back of Tennessee Mountain Traveler. Cleve (the owner, tour guide and all out caretaker of this awesome treasured place) has the best cared for exotic animals I have seen. He has a gift for caring for God's creation and a heart to go with it. Everyone needs to see this place and visit it often. It is an experience you won't forget. He certainly has the knowledge to care for his animals and the park. He is truly a fascinating man with Southern hospitality, an extensive background in a wilderness setting and a love for the mountains. Can't wait to go again. Well worth the cost. Easy to find if you follow the well written instructions Thank You Cleve. Bill and I really enjoyed our tour with you. Diane

My wife and I stopped in one day while camping at Double Creek. The place is hard to find but well worth the drive! Cleve is the owner, tour guide, and caretaker of the place. He has expert knowledge of all the animals he has brought to his own little Garden of Eden. He lives on the property and has opened his Jurassic Park-esque gates to the public. We saw animals from 6 continents, and some that were nearing extinction. I don't won't to give too much away but this place is well worth the drive and the entrance fee. The money goes back to the place to provide care and feed for the animals. We drove from over 4 hours away to check this place out and were not disappointed. We look forward to coming back next year!

This was a total surprise. I have been wanting to do this for a while but knowing what I know now this will be a regular event. There is no way to take this event in on a single trip. Mr. Tedford is very nice and extremely knowledgeable in his field. The trip around his farm is worth the fee he charges not to mention the animals. Take a bunch of friends and enjoy the experience like I did. You will not regret it!

Exotic animals that are essentially free and obviously well cared for by the owner Cleve Tedford. He takes you through a breathtaking section of incredible woodland with streams and awesome views on a safari wagon reminiscent of Jurassic Park. Animals are present at each twist in the road. Cleve stops and describes the animals and their heritage and specific natures, and very knowledgeably answers questions. We had lunch in the Pavilion which, unexpectedly for a wilderness, had very nice bathroom facilities. We were able to hand feed a few of the animals, but you were always safe under the expert guidance of Mr. Tedford. Although it was very exciting experiencing his handling of the safari wagon around twists and turns and up and down this incredible wilderness.You have to experience it yourself!

A complete wildlife experience with exotic animals and an exceptional guide. The tour was truly an adventure. I could go again and again!Heather B, Dubai, UAE

What an adventure I had today! I got to see an anoa (the smallest member of the water buffalo family) for the very first time. I saw beautiful deer, bison, sheep, goats, capybara, antelope, yaks, and a zebra just to name the ones I can remember off of the top of my head. The setting of the wildlife wilderness is located in the beautiful Cherokee National Forest where you will enjoy breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains. Cleve Tedford has extensive knowledge about his animals and made the tour very informational. I got to ask lots of questions to which he knew all of the answers! This is such a great place. I can't wait to go back!

We signed up to do a 90 minute tour here with a group of friends. We did not know what to expect--maybe some deer and other wildlife seen in the Cherokee National Forest. This was so unexpected--to find animals from all over the world (India, China, Patagonia). The owner/guide, Cleve Tedford, is wonderfully knowledgable, considerate, INTERESTING. A few tips without giving away the many surprises.--You won't stumble across this place. There are no signs noting the location. Get directions; GPS won't get you there. The entrance is just past Campground 6.--Mr. Tedford will meet you outside the barred entrance in a 4 wheel wagon. It has a cover so you don't really need sunscreen etc.--While there is no real hiking and people with mobility problems went on the trip (just have to get into the wagon by climbing up several metal steps), wear closed shoes.--Bring a camera and binoculars. We also brought bottles of water and were glad we did.--Some of the animals get up very close. The zebra and donkey are inseparable and the donkey likes to be petted. The zebra didn't let us touch him/her but it was right next to us.--The ride alone is worth the price of admission--along the river and through the woods.--Talk Mr. Tedford into seeing his house. It was worth a whole other admission and there was no extra charge.--There are bathrooms at the visitor center but you will ride quite awhile before arriving.--We were just so surprised at the number of animals, how close we got to them. The fences are so unobtrusive that you feel you are completely in the wild.--We cannot say enough about Cleve Tedford. Intelligent, interesting, and yes, quirky.-- Living so far out in the boonies with these animals, working with them all the time, doing his own vet work, and then see the books he reads in his home. We were all adults on our tour, but we all said grandkids would LOVE this tour as well.I just cannot say enough to encourage people to do this trip!

What a great way to see rare and unusual animals in a beautiful wilderness environment. Cleve is a great guide, very knowledgeable of the animals he has collected and raised over the years. Riding in an open top safari truck up and down steep trails gave an up-close and personal view of a fantastic variety of wildlife. Who would have thought of something like this in southeastern Tennessee? It's great.

Wow!! This is an opportunity to see animals from 6 continents during a tour narrated by a knowledgeable guide. You can even ride a yak and a camel. Unique, super fun in a magical setting.

Citico Wildlife Wilderness is a world unto itself, an enchanted place nestled in the bosom of the Cherokee National Forest, far from city lights, traffic noise and amenities like electricity and cellular service.Once inside, one is met by owner, host and tour guide, Cleve Tedford, a passionate naturalist and expert on subjects ranging from environmental concerns to animal science. Tedford has literally brought his work home with him in the form of the 25 different species of animals from all over the world (some endangered) that freely roam the 100 acre preserve.While there are one or two species that require pens for their own protection, the majority of animals have no such restrictions, and one may cross your path at any moment. This was exactly the case from the moment we entered the gated preserve. Read More about our wonderful visit: http://knoxvilleparent.com/2014/05/the-wild-wild-east/.

Nestled next to the Cherokee Nat'l forest, you'll see wildlife in their environment. Our guide Cleve, knew every animal, he's a walking encyclopedia! Adventure, yes! All you have to do is find the place.... My advice, FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS CLEVE GIVES YOU! Lol, otherwise your adventure may end up being late or lost! Hop on the open-air covered seating and HOLD ON. Up & down the hills driving right up to rare deer, rare everything! Your guide even gets out and 'flushes' the animals out of their cozy hiding places. There is a small lodge for overnighters - THIS WOULD BE AN AWESOME PLACE FOR A BOY'S CAMPOUT! Wanna get out and walk around? Sure! But stay close to your guide. I have NOTHING to compare this to, you just have to experience it yourself. It feels a bit like Jurasic Park mixed in with the Garden of Eden.

This place has a lot of very unique animals that are from all over the world. We'd be standing there listening to Mr Tedford explain about one kind of animal, and then about 50 feet away a group of 2' high antelope (?) would run by. We turned a corner and up popped a kangaroo (actually it was a Wallaby explained Mr Tedford). My guess is there is about 20-25 different types of animals. We asked ahead of time if we could hike through the preserve, and he had the time so he led our small group on foot through the area. Mr Tedford seems very knowledgeable and is interesting to listen to as you go through the preserve. The land itself is really pretty - lots of ups and downs, and quite a gorgeous view from the top. If you want to hike you should be in good shape. Otherwise sit back and relax and let them drive you through the preserve. I went to Kenya and Tanzania years ago and one thing that is so neat about going to a wilderness preserve like this is that it is something that all ages like -- from young to old, getting driven around to look at unusual animals is something that all ages can enjoy.

This is a hidden gem of the Citico area. Beautiful country located near the creek. Many exotic and unusual animals. Many are endangered or becoming extinct in their home countries. This is an excellent opportunity to see different wildlife in a natural setting and to learn about the history and environmental issues surrounding their native habitats. You can spend 2 hours here or you could spend all day. Well worth the trip.