“Perry Weather is the best way to get weather alerts and plan our day-to-day operations to make sure that we’re doing everything possible to keep animals, guests, and staff safe.”
At Georgia Safari Conservation Park, “the wild is better up close.”
That’s the guiding philosophy that drives this one-of-a-kind experience that brings guests face-to-face with giraffes, ostriches, and over 100 different animals from five continents.
Nestled across 530 acres of lush Georgia forestland, the park offers an immersive safari adventure that feels like a slice of Africa — without ever leaving Madison, Georgia.
But behind every up-close wildlife moment is a team working tirelessly to make sure animals, staff, and visitors, stay safe, no matter the weather.
Kara Hipps, Director of Safety and Security at Georgia Safari, leads that effort. From hosting school groups with guided educational tours to offering luxury overnight stays in safari tents — and yes, even their signature giraffe suite, weather plays a role in every decision Kara makes.
“There’s no limit to how far we can reach to have people come get a little taste of Africa without actually having to go there.” she says.
Whether she’s protecting the park from lightning, monitoring heat stress, or prepping for storms, Kara is watching the weather constantly and tracking “future forecasts to decide if tours may need to be postponed because of lightning, or if the park needs to be shut down because of an ice storm or a snowstorm.”
And when the park experienced not one but two back-to-back snowstorms that forced the park to close for multiple days in 2024, it was her job to ensure nothing took the team, or the animals, by surprise again.
That’s when she turned to Perry Weather.
Before Perry Weather, Kara was stuck using generic weather apps that lacked precision. “I used to rely on free weather apps, but ‘this might happen in your area or it might be this temperature’ just wasn’t enough.”
Now, with an on-site Perry Weather station and outdoor warning system, Kara and her team get hyper-local, real-time weather data that gives them the confidence to act quickly and accurately.
“It gives a much more accurate description of the weather and what to expect.”
Real-Time Decisions with Lightning Precision
Kara is well aware that lightning can strike any time of the day and in any season. “You could have lightning on beautiful days, and it just comes out of nowhere.”
That’s another reason why Perry Weather has become an integral part of Georgia Safari’s daily operations, impacting everything from tour schedules to animal care protocols.
The park has a 50-30-10 mile lightning radius set up, so when lightning strikes anywhere nearby, Kara’s team gets instant alerts.
“The most used feature is the radar that shows the lightning and the radius, how far out it is.” Kara emphasizes. “I can see the exact location and distance of lightning in real-time.”
“When the Lights Flash, It’s Time to Move”
Coupled with the automated alerts and the outdoor strobe warning system, everyone – staff, guests, even those working remotely – is immediately aware of the danger.
When lightning is within 10 miles, the outdoor warning system with visual strobe lights gives a clear signal to postpone tours and bring everyone indoors.
Having the Perry Weather station on site, there’s also a bright visual cue that flashes when it detects lightning.
“So if you see the light flashing, that’s your cue to check the weather today to see what’s coming, and how close this lightning is, and when the last strike was.”
Staying One Step Ahead of the Heat, Without Breaking a Sweat
And it’s not just lightning. Georgia summers are no joke. Kara uses Perry Weather to monitor the heat index and the wet bulb globe temperature, keeping both staff and guests safe from exhaustion and dehydration.
When it’s dangerously hot, Perry Weather helps Kara’s team closely monitor heat stress to “make sure that we are offering our guests and staff water, cold rags, or anything to keep them hydrated and keep them from overheating.”
Georgia Safari’s Secret Weapon? Meteorologists on Call
One of Kara’s favorite things about Perry Weather? The Request a Forecast feature. With it, her team can connect directly with a professional meteorologist anytime, day or night, and get a custom forecast, complete with precise timing and severity.
That feature came in extra handy during a tornado threat earlier this year.
“Within minutes, I got an email from a meteorologist telling me exactly what we needed to know, how severe it’s going to be, and what time we’re expecting it to hit. That kind of support is incredibly valuable.”
Keeping Every Department on the Same Page
The Perry Weather app is used daily across every department — from the education team to animal care and guest services.
“Safety and security have to make calls depending on the forecast, and so do the touring, education, maintenance, and animal care teams.”
With real-time alerts, planning becomes easier and safer, ensuring that when severe weather looms, Kara doesn’t have to make guesses. Instant notifications help plan activities around safe weather windows and avoid last-minute scrambles.
Perry Weather: The Calm Behind the Safari Storms
For Kara, Perry Weather has transformed how Georgia Safari handles risk. Whether it’s a sunny day with surprise lightning or a heat wave rolling in fast, Perry Weather gives her the clarity and confidence to make the right call.
Even if she’s not on-site, Kara can monitor everything from the Perry Weather dashboard, so she’s always in the loop, even off the clock.
“I can still monitor and alert everyone at the park that needs to know.”
Whether it’s postponing a guided safari tour, calling in lightning alerts, or making sure every department is synced on the day’s forecast, Perry Weather gives Kara the tools she needs to lead with confidence.
“It keeps the animals safe. It keeps our staff and guests protected. It’s been very valuable for us.”
At Georgia Safari Conservation Park, conservation happens in real time — and now, so does weather safety. Thanks to Perry Weather, the wild isn’t just better up close. It’s safer, too.
