Take a Walk on the Wild Side at the UK’s Best Safari Parks

Drive-through safari parks make a great day out for the whole family. You can expect to see a variety of exotic animals, from enormous elephants to mischievous monkeys. Discover the best UK safari parks and where to stay nearby below.

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1. West Midlands Safari Park, Worcestershire  

West Midlands Safari Park is an all-day attraction for the whole family, with plenty to see and activities to keep all ages entertained. It offers a mixture of drive-through and walk-through safari sections, theme park rides, VIP experiences, guided tours, and much more. West Midlands Safari Park advertises seasonal events in the run up to them, so check what’s on before you go.  

Some of the animals you’ll see as you explore the park include elephants, zebras, lions, tigers, lemurs, penguins, red pandas, and so many more! Read our ultimate guide to visiting West Midlands Safari Park.

Stay nearby: Check out our variety of campsites in Worcestershire, including our Wolverley Club Site which is just over a ten minute drive from the West Midlands Safari Park.

2. Longleat, Wiltshire

Did you know that Longleat’s drive-through safari was the very first safari park to open outside of Africa in 1966? Today, it is one of the best family days out in the UK!

Longleat has an impressive range of animals to see. Enter the territory of a wolf pack in Wolf Wood, brave mischievous monkeys in Monkey Mayhem and marvel at the herd of southern white rhinos in the Big Game Park. You can get out of your car to visit the African Village, where you’ll get to see zebras, giraffes, lemurs and much more. Other animals to watch for include cheetahs, Anne the rescued elephant, tigers, lions and more.

Once you’ve visited the animals, your trip to Longleat doesn’t have to end. Longleat House was built between 1567 and 1580 and has a rich history to uncover on a guided tour. If you want to stick to strictly family fun, there’s plenty more to do. Spend hours in the adventure playground called Adventure Castle, get lost in one of the biggest hedge mazes in the world, enjoy a ride through the woodland on the railway and ride on Rockin Rhino, Longleat’s adventure ride for young visitors.

Stay nearby: View all of our campsites in Wiltshire or jump straight to our Devizes Club Site which is just over a 40-minute drive from Longleat in beautiful Melksham countryside.

3. Knowsley Safari, Merseyside

Enjoy a wild day at Knowsley Safari, just 30 minutes away from Liverpool. Knowsley is home to the UK’s longest safari drive which includes camels, baboons, rhinos, lions, and much more. If you don’t have a car or don’t fancy risking damage to your vehicle, you can hop on board the Baboon Bus instead. This safari park also has a Foot Safari, where you’ll see bears, tigers, giraffes, sea lions and many more wonderful animals.

The fun doesn’t have to end after completing the safari routes. Knowsley Safari has a range of amusement rides for kids as well as good food and drink locations to wrap up your visit with.  

Stay nearby: Search all of our campsites near Knowsley Safari.

4. Port Lympne Safari Park, Kent

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve offers both a walking route and safari in the beautiful county of Kent. Over 900 animals across 75 species live at Port Lympne, and your ticket funds not only the care of those at the park but also overseas conservation projects. Port Lympne is a safari park with a big difference because instead of driving your own car, you hop on board one of the park's iconic safari vehicles for an experience just like you’d get in Africa!

The ultimate safari experience lasts 2.5 hours and includes the chance to feed giraffes and black rhinos. Other animals you’ll see on the safari experiences available include bison, lions, bears, tapirs, monkeys and many more.

Stay nearby: Our Canterbury Club Site is around a 35-minute drive from Port Lympne. Alternatively, view all campsites in Kent.

5. Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park, Scotland

Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park is located near the beautiful city of Sterling and is one of the top family days out in Scotland. The safari park is home to over 300 animals, many of which you can see from the comfort of your own vehicle - just remember to close your windows. On the safari drive-through, you’ll see animals including rhinos, antelopes, camels, and lions.

Other animals at the park include giraffes, tigers, sea lions and chimps. Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park are keen on education, so note the animal talks advertised during your visit to interact with the keepers. An adventure play park for all ages, pedal boats, giant slides and a mini funfair are a great way to wrap up your trip before heading home or back to your campsite.

Stay nearby: Search our Scottish campsites or jump straight to view our Milarrochy Bay Club Site which is around a 40-minute drive from Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park.

6. Woburn Safari Park, Bedfordshire

Woburn Safari Park is a brilliant day out with a mix of walking and driving safari sections, keeper talks and family-friendly facilities. You can drive around the safari circuit as many times as you like to see the animals, including bison, rhinos, zebras, tigers, giraffes, monkeys and much more! Then hop out of your car and explore on foot to see penguins, red pandas, monkeys and lorikeets, just a few of the animals you’ll encounter. 

Keep an eye on the timings of the keeper talks and demonstrations throughout the day. From parrot and sea lion demonstrations to insect encounters and penguin feeding, there’s so much to experience. Go Ape is also available at Woburn if you’re looking for an adventurous way to end your day trip.  

Stay nearby: Our St Neots Club Site is close to the historic market town of Cambridge and is around a 35 minute drive from Woburn Safari Park.

Looking for more animal based attractions to visit in the UK? View our guide to the UK's best zoos!