Get Close To Lots Of Animals At The Exciting Knowsley Safari Park, England

Get Close To Lots Of Animals At The Exciting Knowsley Safari Park, England
Sarah J
Sarah J 
Published
| 4 min read

Within the UK’s county of Merseyside and close to the vibrant city of Liverpool, Knowsley Safari Park is a fantastic day out for children and adults alike. Home to many animals from around the world, visitors can enjoy seeing animals roaming semi-freely within large enclosures. Tracks pass through many of the sections, allowing vehicular access, and there are parts where you can leave the vehicle and safely see animals whilst you walk around.

Here’s a bit of what to expect from a fun visit to Knowsley Safari Park:

Safari Drive with a wide variety of animals

get close to lots of animals at the exciting knowsley safari park, england | safari drive with a wide variety of animals

Knowsley Safari Park is home to many species of animals from all around the world. The Safari Drive lets you observe the animals within relatively close proximity. Tracks run right through the large enclosures and animals have heaps of well-maintained living space.

Feel the thrill as you journey past a beautiful pride of lions, watch as deer, reindeer, antelopes, and wildebeest graze alongside you and skip in front of your car, and see large shaggy camels roaming around. Drive through areas where large rhinos lumber around, delight in watching graceful zebras, and see a whole host of other animals as well.

Whilst you do see tigers on the Safari Drive, the magnificent striped beasts are kept within a large enclosure alongside the track; they are not free to approach vehicles as the other animals are.

Cool walk-around area with even more animals to admire

get close to lots of animals at the exciting knowsley safari park, england | cool walk-around area with even more animals to admire

The walking areas let you see even more animals, such as elephants, meerkats, and giraffes. The giraffe viewing platform is especially recommended as you are elevated to the same height as the giraffe’s face, and the gentle, attractive creatures can approach very close to guests.

Let your eyes adjust to the gloom of the Bat Forest and watch as large fruit bats flit around, nibble on juicy pieces of fruit, and hang upside down as they rest. Dare to step into the Bug Hub where you can see an assortment of creepy crawlies, such as spiders, giant millipedes, beetles, and snails. Learn more about bees and how they produce honey, and see an assortment of frogs and lizards.

Informative shows and demonstrations

get close to lots of animals at the exciting knowsley safari park, england | informative shows and demonstrations

As well as being able to see an interesting selection of birds, including impressive birds of prey, you can watch enthralling demonstrations at Flight of the Talons. Admire the strength and skill of various powerful birds and learn more about their hunting methods in the wild.

The sea lion show is also excellent. Designed to be educational and informative, rather than simply making the intelligent creatures perform tricks, it is really engaging and lovely to watch. There are also some pretty comedic moments too! You can see the sea lions at other times outside of the demonstrations, with both outdoor and underwater viewing areas.

Different transportation options for getting around the safari park

get close to lots of animals at the exciting knowsley safari park, england | different transportation options for getting around the safari park

A lot of visitors use their own vehicle to drive around Knowsley Safari Park. Although there are parts of the park where it is possible to view animals whilst walking around, the attraction is mainly about getting up close to the animals with a drive through the different sections.

The roof must be up on convertible cars, any sunroofs must be closed, windows must be closed, and soft top cars cannot be taken through the lion or baboon enclosures. Alternative routes are provided to bypass these areas. Regular vehicles may also wish to skip entering the baboon enclosure as the mischievous creatures are notorious for ripping pieces off vehicles! The “safe route” still lets you watch the baboons’ antics without actually allowing them to clamber all over your car. If you do choose to drive through the baboon area, be prepared to possibly lose windscreen wipers, aerials, wing mirrors, and even rubber seals from around windows and doors!

Rangers are scattered throughout the park to monitor visitors and maintain the safety of animals and guests.

There is transportation around the park for people who do not wish to drive around themselves. Hop on the Baboon Bus, a park minibus, for an additional fee of 5 GBP per person (approximately 7.40 USD). A journey around the safari park takes between one and two hours, with the bus making regular stops to allow people to watch the animals for some time before moving on.

You can also use public transportation to visit Knowsley Safari Park. There is a bus, called the Safari Xpress, that operates from Liverpool City centre and picks up at several stops along the way, including Old Swan and Huyton. The bus provides return transportation to and from the park, takes visitors on the Safari Drive, and gives plenty of time for people to enjoy the walk-around areas and other park attractions. Inclusive tickets cost 12.75 GBP (approximately 18.80 USD) for adults and 9.50 GBP (approximately 14 USD) for children. The public bus service only operates on certain days of the week; make sure you check days and times in advance on the safari park website to avoid disappointment.

Other attractions and facilities at Knowsley Safari Park

other attractions and facilities at knowsley safari park

Whether you grab a bite to eat in the Oasis Restaurant, chill out at the Coffee Shop, or take your own food to enjoy in one of the nice picnic areas, there are plenty of options for food and drink within the safari park. Peacocks and other small birds wander around the grounds – there’s no escaping wildlife!

There are a few small amusement rides for kids, such as dodgem cars, swing chairs, and a carousel, as well as a children’s play area. There are additional charges for the rides.

The large car park offers ample space to leave your vehicle whilst you enjoy the walk-around areas and other attractions, indeed, you should plan to spend about half of your time outside of your car. The car park also serves those who choose to enjoy the Safari Drive on-board the Baboon Bus.

A guide book is available for 2.50 GBP (approximately 3.70 USD) to help you navigate the park with ease and ensure that you don’t miss anything.

Other useful information to help you plan your visit

The regular admission fees for Knowsley Safari Park are 12.50 GBP (approximately 18.50 USD) for adults and 10 GBP (approximately 14.80 USD) for children up to the age of 15. There are often special promotions available for online bookings and at certain times of the year.

Knowsley Safari Park is only open at weekends during winter (November to mid-February). It is open every day at other times of the year.

Book your visit to Knowsley Safari Park for loads of animal fun in Merseyside!

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Originally from the UK, Sarah has been mostly based in her second home of Thailand for the past five years. As well as exploring new places, learning about different cultures, and sampling lots of...Read more

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