West Midland Safari Park — Attraction in Wyre Forest

The West Midlands Safari Park is a popular wildlife park located in Bewdley, Worcestershire, England. Opened in 1973, it spans 81 hectares (200 acres) and offers a unique combination of a drive-through safari and a pedestrianised area with animal exhibits and other attractions. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect: The Safari Drive: Immersion: This is the highlight for many visitors, allowing you to drive your own car through a 6km safari route. You'll get up close to free-roaming animals from Africa and Asia, including giraffes, zebras, rhinos, lions, tigers, and more. Animal Encounters: It's common for animals to walk right by your vehicle, offering incredible photo opportunities and unique interactions. You can even purchase food to feed some of the animals as you drive through (though caution is advised, and it's important to follow park rules). Exhibits: The safari features various reserves such as the Bengal Tiger Reserve, Asian Reserve, and African Reserve, showcasing diverse species. Walking Areas and Exhibits: Beyond the drive-through safari, there's a large pedestrianised area with plenty to explore: Discovery Trail: This area features a range of animals and exhibits, including: African Village: See animals like pygmy goats and Somali sheep. African Walking Trail: A newer addition that allows you to see some safari animals like giraffes, rhinos, and elephants on foot. Red Panda Retreat: Home to red pandas. Reptile World: Showcasing various reptiles, including large green anacondas and dart frogs. Sea Lion Theatre: Offering sea lion shows. Land of the Living Dinosaurs: An immersive exhibit with over 40 life-size, animatronic dinosaurs from different time periods. Ice Age: Features animatronic mammals from the Cenozoic Era, such as mammoths and giant ground sloths. Animal Encounters & Talks: The park offers various opportunities for hands-on animal encounters, talks, and feeds, including lorikeet feeding. Adventure Theme Park: Rides: The park also includes an Adventure Theme Park with rides suitable for various ages, from family-friendly attractions to more thrilling options. You can purchase wristbands for unlimited rides or individual ride tickets. Explorer's Play Park: Designed specifically for younger guests. Animal Conservation: West Midlands Safari Park is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). The park is actively involved in conservation efforts and houses many animals listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered by the IUCN. They have had notable successes in breeding programs, such as the first male African elephant born via artificial insemination in the UK. VIP Experiences & Accommodation: Animal Experiences: For a more in-depth visit, the park offers VIP experiences, such as "Keeper for a Day" programs, animal feeding experiences (e.g., rhinos, giraffes, lions, tigers, lemurs), and behind-the-scenes tours. Safari Lodges: For the ultimate immersive experience, you can stay in luxurious Safari Lodges located within the park, offering spectacular views of the animal habitats. Planning Your Visit: Tickets: You can often get discounts by booking tickets online and in advance. There are different ticket types available, some including both the safari and theme park, and others just the safari and walking areas. Opening Hours: Opening times vary by season, but generally, the park is operational from mid-February to early November. It's crucial to check their official calendar for specific opening and closing times, especially for the safari drive and theme park, as last entry times can differ. Accessibility: The park aims to be accessible, with features like disabled parking, wheelchair-accessible toilets, and easily navigable paths in the walking areas. Food & Drink: You can bring your own food and use picnic areas, or there are various food and drink outlets...

A Roaringly Brilliant Day Out at West Midlands Safari Park! West Midlands Safari Park isn't just a drive-through; it's an immersive adventure that transports you to the heart of the African and Asian plains. From the moment you enter, you're greeted by the sight of magnificent creatures roaming freely, offering a wildlife experience unlike any traditional zoo. The four-mile safari drive is the undisputed highlight. Imagine the thrill of having giraffes saunter right up to your car, their gentle giants peering curiously inside. Zebras with their striking stripes graze peacefully, while rhinos, both white and Indian, command attention with their sheer size. The sheer variety of animals is astounding – from the elegant eland and powerful waterbuck to the playful dhole and, of course, the majestic lions and tigers. The enclosures are vast, giving the animals a sense of space that is wonderful to witness. You can truly take your time, soak in the sights, and capture incredible photos. For an even more insightful experience, the guided minibus tour is highly recommended, with knowledgeable guides sharing fascinating facts about the animals and their habitats. Beyond the drive, the park offers a wealth of other attractions. The Discovery Trail is a fantastic walk-through area where you can get up close with penguins in their chilly cove, be mesmerized by the colorful inhabitants of the SeaQuarium, and brave the Reptile World and Creepy Crawlies exhibits. Lorikeet Landing is an absolute must-do – for a small fee, you can feed these vibrant birds as they land on your hands and even your head! Step back in time at the Land of the Living Dinosaurs and the Ice Age exhibits. The life-sized animatronic dinosaurs are truly impressive, roaring and moving in a way that captivates visitors of all ages. The Ice Age exhibit offers a fascinating glimpse into the creatures that roamed the earth after the dinosaurs, complete with rumbling volcanoes and atmospheric ice caves. The African Village provides a charming interlude, where you can walk amongst lemurs, get up close with meerkats, and even feed friendly goats. The Hippo Lakes offer excellent viewing of these impressive semi-aquatic mammals. For those seeking thrills, the Adventure Theme Park (open during the summer season) boasts a range of rides, from gentle carousels for the little ones to exhilarating rollercoasters and a towering drop ride for the adrenaline junkies. What truly sets West Midlands Safari Park apart is its commitment to conservation and providing a fantastic value for money experience. Many visitors are delighted to receive a free return ticket, making it an even more attractive option for families and wildlife enthusiasts. The staff throughout the park are friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the animals in their care. Whether you're a seasoned safari-goer or a first-time visitor, West Midlands Safari Park promises a day filled with wonder, excitement, and unforgettable encounters with the animal kingdom. It's a truly brilliant destination that deserves all the accolades it receives. Don't just take our word for it – go and experience the magic...

Disappointed in my visit today. Worst visit here in about 15 years. The new system of booking a time slot for the safari, I thought would have improved waiting times. I was wrong, we sat bumper to bumper the majority of the 2 hrs it took us to drive through. It has never taken us this long before. Only observation I saw is the new rule of ' keep right lane clear' was not being observed by the majority and equally not being enforced by the few and far between rangers. Also had a car being escorted back through the queue, causing more chaos,as they were in a soft top car. Which again , are one of the rules that are not allowed. How was this car able to enter and get 30 minutes in beforehand? Another rule that seemed to impact this year is that you are no longer able to buy the animal feed to use whilst in the safari. So the fact that there seemed to be longer queues despite less animals in the road is very frustrating. Equally frustrating is that you can no longer go back around the safari later on in the day as only given one time slot. The best bit about the safari today, was I finally saw the lion pride sat up on the Rock.

We then went through to the 'walk around ' area, you now have to scan your tickets through a turnstyle system, which again was hectic and crowded as like myself, I had all the barcodes on my phone and there was no obvious instructions how to get everyone in the group through. Turns out you have 5 seconds to walk through before it locks. Just one member of staff on these gates which was not enough when he also had to staff the accessible gate. All In all a chaotic start.

Food was our next stop, we found ourselves in the Dino diner as lack of other indoor eating as it started to rain. There are no table menus , just a QR code on a poster and again one member of staff with a queue going halfway back to the other end of restaurant. Food was mostly overpriced pizza or pasta, I had chips and didn't find any salt or vinegar and sauce sachets are 60 p each! Also was extremely loud and very difficult to talk and be heard in there.

Next week explored the area, enjoyed the lemur woods and the trail where we could see the new tiger cubs. However they used 'peep holes' at high and low levels. Which were difficult for a short adult. But it was lovely to see them. The Land of living dinosaurs and Ice age exhibits are telling there age now. Only the T-rex was moving which was a shame. The rides were ok, however Kong and Twister were not operating which are favourites in our family, so felt the ride wristband was not worth it for us on this visit. The rides available are much better for younger primary aged children not my two teenagers sadly.

Sadly this visit was lacking for us this time.

P.s avoid the expensive ice cream van in the car park - The ice cream counter just inside the entrance was £3.75 for a...