If you’ve dreamed of an African safari, now there’s a new wild animal experience much closer to home. Wilde Manor At Tarover, a bed-and-breakfast that doubles as a safari lodge, has opened up in southern Virginia.
Located in Halifax County, Wild Manor was founded by Molly and Nick Wilde. They say their goal is to educate people about wildlife protection, environmental sustainability, and conservation. “We wanted to create a space where people could interact with animals and therefore discover a renewed appreciation for conservation,” Molly says.
The property features giraffes, African penguins, flamingos, and lemurs that guests can visit. They can also learn about local and global environmental protection efforts.
Cary Evans, the property’s education manager, says the goal is for guests to leave “inspired to take conservation actions, from reducing single-use plastic use to sharing what they learned to spread awareness.” For every booking, a portion of the proceeds will support conservation projects for the species that live at Wilde Manor.
The education program extends beyond guests staying at the manor. They plan to offer public workshops on topics like endangered species awareness. They will also hold trainings for educators who want to gain knowledge about environmental science. And will host school trips to teach children about conservation as well as citizen science programs.
The historic lodge dates back to 1854 and occupies 37 acres of Virginia countryside. The B&B includes six rooms available for overnight stays. There is also an option to reserve the whole manor, which sleeps 14.
Guests are treated to breakfast and happy hour in the library bar. A highlight is the morning giraffe meet-and-greet plus a tea time with the giraffes later in the day. Additional activities such as a giraffe adventure and lemur encounter are also available. 4112 River Rd., South Boston
Feature image courtesy Wilde Manor at Tarover
