Woburn Safari Park
Woburn Safari Park
Woburn Park
Bedfordshire
MK17 9QN
Tel: 01525 290407
Email: info@woburnsafari.co.uk
About Woburn Safari Park
Woburn Safari Park is to be found in 3000 glorious acres of deer park at Woburn, Bedfordshire, close to another wonderful family attraction, Woburn Abbey stately home. After the Second World War, the 11th Duke of Bedford, President of the Zoological Society, introduced bison, Muntjac, Waipiti, Antelope, Lion and Tiger to the estate, and Woburn Safari Park was opened to the public by the 13th Duke of Bedford in 1970. Ticket holders can drive past numerous naturalistic animal enclosures as part of a fascinating family day out at one of the country’s leading conservation parks, which was the first 'captive' breeding facility to rescue a species from extinction in the wild - the Pere David deer.
A 45-60 minute Woburn Safari Park circular drive takes in powerful and rare White Rhino, as well as the biggest of the big cats – Tigers – and the kings and queens of the jungle, the Lions. Additionally, the open plains reserve features slender Giraffes (which reach up to 5.5. metres in height), addax, Eland, Oryx, Lechwe, Gemsbok, Ankole cattle with two-metre horns, Sitatunga, majestic Zebra, Bongo, Congo Buffalo, Colobus, Vervet, grass and Patas Monkeys, and Barbary Apes.
Additionally, the world’s largest land animal, the Elephant, is the star turn at the Elephant Encounter area of the African Ungulate Conservation Centre, while the presence of inquisitive Camels means that ticket holders shouldn’t get the hump on a family day out to Woburn Safari Park.
Elsewhere, the family attraction has varieties of lemurs, wallabys, emus, and reptiles including lizards and snakes, and a public footpath grants ticket holders close-up access to many of the animal enclosures. Some of Woburn Safari Park’s natural-born entertainers can be seen messing about on the water, namely seals, which skitter about Sea Lion Cove, roll on the beach or under their waterfall, dive in and out of the water, and put on a show for the crowds during their regular feeding sessions. Just the ticket to brighten up a family day out!
Woburn Safari Park’s 40-acre leisure area also features regular Birds of Prey demonstrations, Animal Encounters with European Lynx, the head-weaving and comical marmosets, slithering snakes, red river hogs, ponies, goats, and donkeys, while Land Of The Lemurs won the British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums Award for Best New Enclosure in 2004. Ticket holders can walk among the playful squirrel monkeys in Monkey Business, which is guaranteed to bring a smile on a family day out. Woburn Safari Park additionally boasts the fullest programme of animal demonstrations and keeper talks in the country, with Animals and Birds in Action including free-flying parrots and Keeper talks at feeding time in Monkey Business, Land Of The Lemurs and Penguin World, where Humboldt penguins put on a show for ticket holders viewing them in their glass-sided pool.
The flightless feathered friends dart through the water at up to 10 mph and make for a captivating sight at feeding time when they line up for their fish.
The Navajo Trail has black bears and wolves in close proximity, as they would have been in Britain 1000 years ago – something you won’t see at any old family attraction. Then there’s the Rainbow Landing indoor aviary, populated by lorikeets which fly down to visitors’ hands and drink from cups of nectar, making for an enchanting interlude on a family day out.
Besides the glorious flora and fauna of Woburn Safari Park, the family attraction has plenty of play facilities for children, who can ride on the Safari Lorry at the Wild World Leisure Area. Among the other play facilities are the Mammoth Play Ark undercover area with scramble nets, slides, rope bridges and ball pools, while parents can make use of the adjacent café, Junglies Gift Shop and a Safari restaurant. Kids can also let off steam on the Tree Top Action Trail, with scramble nets, tunnels and an aerial runway to the treetop assault course; the Tiny Tots Safari Trail with bouncy zones and a picnic area; the Badger Valley playground; and the Bobcat Run slide. Ticket holders can also use the safari train that travels through one of the paddocks to Bison Halt and Elephant Junction.
For those wishing to add an extra dimension to their family day out to Woburn Safari Park, guides can take groups off road into the Reserves to see Rhino, Antelopes, Giraffes, Buffalo and Zebras. School groups to the family attraction can have sessions on Feathers, Fur or Scales?, looking at classification differences between mammals, birds and reptiles; Endangered Species and Us, drawing on animal artefacts seized by H.M. Customs; Habitats and Adaptations; Food for thought, on the importance of diet and nutrition for animals at Woburn Safari Park, including the story behind the biggest teeth at the family attraction; How do we save planet earth?, all about ecosystems and wildlife; Endangered Species and The Law, spotlighting the wildlife trade; The Role of a modern zoo, focusing on conservation at Woburn Safari Park; and Guided coach tours that drive around the family attraction’s reserves, or interactive guided walks with educational games taking in Colours and Camouflage; Adaptations; and Animals in Danger, dealing with the threats to animals’ natural habitats.
Other packages at Woburn Safari Park (detailed at the website) include a 90-minute Elephant Walk Experience; a 90-minute VIP tour in a Landrover; Shadow A Ranger, which allows visitors to follow a keeper for the day, contribute to feeding, mucking out and other activities; and a Carnivore Experience in the 32-acre lion and tiger reserve.
Birthday parties are catered for and feature a Safari Drive Treasure Trail, a goody bag and a surprise gift for the birthday child. Woburn Safari Park also has disabled access and facilities throughout, making it an ideal family attraction for a super family day out enjoyed by everyone.