If you are looking for new and exciting things to do in the UK, then you might want to consider planning a day trip to West Midland Safari Park. This is an excellent place to visit if you are looking for somewhere that can be fun for the whole family, and it is great for people of all ages.

You can easily spend the entire day at West Midland Safari Park if you are planning to go on the safari and the rides, and there are plenty of places to stop for lunch in between. There are also events that take place at the park at specific times throughout the year that might be of interest to you too. 

In this article, we are going to tell you everything that you need to know about West Midland Safari Park, so you can start to plan your visit. You will be able to find out everything you need to know about, prices, opening times, and what to expect from your visit below.

What Time Does West Midland Safari Park Open?

West Midland Safari Park is open daily from 10am, but this may be earlier on days when there are special events taking place at the park. It typically closes at 5pm, but this will depend on the time of year that you plan to visit. The last entry to the park will be one hour before closing time on the weekend, and 2 hours before closing time on a weekday. 

It is important to double-check the opening and closing times for the day of your visit, and you can do this on the website. You should also note that the last entry to the safari is at the same time as the last entry to the park. On weekends, the rides will open at 11.30 am, and they will open at 12.00pm on weekdays. In peak season, the rides will usually open 1.5 hours after the park has opened.

How Long Does It Take to Drive Around West Midland Safari Park?

The Safari will usually take between 1.5 to 2 hours to drive around, but it can sometimes take longer than this on busier days, like in school holidays or bank holidays. To help with this, the opening hours are typically extended during the school holidays. It is recommended to enter the safari either as soon as it opens, or later on in the afternoon, as these are the quietest times. You can access the rest of the park in the meantime. 

Do You Need a Car For West Midland Safari Park?

While you can still access the rest of the park, you will need a car to enter the drive-through safari. If you do not have your own car, you can get yourself booked onto a guided minibus tour, but this will cost extra. You will need to pay an additional £7 per person, and you can book your seats in advance through the website. 

Can You Take Your Own Food to West Midland Safari Park?

Yes, you are more than welcome to take your own food with you to West Midland Safari Park, and there are plenty of picnic benches available in various locations for you to stop at for lunch.

What Happens if it Rains At West Midland Safari Park?

If the ground is wet, or it is raining, West Midland Safari Park will still be open, but the giraffes cannot be led out onto the grassy areas of the safari drive-through for their own safety. They will try to have the giraffes out on the safari as much as possible, but this is something that will be affected by the weather. 

Depending on the severity of the weather, it might be the case that other animals need to be kept inside. You can call the park ahead on 01299 402114 to find out if any of the animals will not be out.

How Much Are Tickets to West Midland Safari Park?

General admission tickets to West Midland Safari Park cost:

Adult – £25.00

Child (3-15yrs) – £20.00

Concessions (Student or Senior) – £22.00

Under 3s – Free

You should also know that a carer will be permitted free entry when a guest with disabilities purchases a full-price adult or child ticket. You will need to bring proof of a blue badge, Access Card, PIP, or DLA on the day of your visit.

The admission only tickets include access to:

  • Safari Drive-through 
  • Ice Age
  • Land of the Living Dinosaurs
  • Boj’s Giggly Park
  • Lorikeet Landing
  • Sea Lion Show
  • Reptile World
  • Penguin Cove
  • African Village
  • Hippo Lakes
  • Aquarium
  • Creepy Crawlies
  • Twilight Cave
  • Meerkat Mayhem
  • Lemur Woods 
  • Daily feeds, talks & animal encounters

How Much Are Wristbands At West Midland Safari Park?

If you want to go on the rides at West Midland Safari Park, then you will need to purchase a wristband. You will then have access to everything that we have mentioned above, plus the rides in the Adventure Theme Park on the day of your visit. The pieces for the wristbands are as follows:

Adult Wristband – £15.00

Child Wristband (up to 15yrs) – £13.00

Concessions Wristband (Student or Senior 65+) – £14.00

Little Penguin Wristband (between 0.8m-1.0m in height) – £8.00

Safari Drive Through

If you want to get up close to some of the most incredible animals from around the world, then we highly recommend that you go on the drive-through safari. You will be able to drive through various sections of the safari to see lots of different animals in their own enclosures. The drive-through safari is a unique experience that you won’t regret, and you can find out more about what you can see there below.

African Plains

The African Plains are home to a herd of southern white rhinos. One of the most popular sights in this area are the elegant giraffes, but you will also find zebras, ankole cattle, ellipsen waterbuck, congo buffalo, the largest of the antelope species, and more here.

Wild Asia

In Wild Asia, you will be able to see everything from the amazing armoured Indian rhino to the dainty blackbuck. You will also spot some of the world’s rarest deer, the Philippine spotted deer, and the endangered barasingha!

Carnivores

This part of the safari drive-through experience is home to some of the world’s greatest hunters. You will be able to witness magnificent and powerful tigers, the world’s fastest mammal (the cheetah), and even a pack of rare African painted dogs. At the top of your to-see list is likely to be the African lions that reside here.

The Borderlands

You can also journey down into The Borderlands, where you will find critically endangered Bactrian camels. The majority of this species has now become domesticated, but West Midland Safari Park are important ambassadors that work to raise awareness of these wild animals.

Elephants

Nearing the end of the safari experience, you will be able to see the African elephants that live here as they explore their newly developed habitat. You can also watch Five and Sutton as they enjoy their new surroundings.

Adventure Theme Park

If you buy the extra wristbands, you can also head to the adventure theme park to find family-friendly rides and arcade games. The theme park has some of the more traditional funfair rides, like dodgems, and fun rides for children, but it also features water rides and rollercoasters for those of you that are looking for a bit more excitement. As well as this, there are various game stands and amusement arcade machines.

Land of the Living Dinosaurs

West Midland Safari Park also features the UK’s largest animatronic dinosaur attraction, so you can get ready to be transported back in time and see the story of the dinosaurs unfold over millions of years. The timeline is as follows:

Permian – The time just before dinosaurs appeared, featuring 3 mammal-like reptiles

Triassic – The beginning of the Mesozoic era, where dinosaurs, mammals, and flying reptiles first appeared. Here, you will see the Eoraptors, the first true dinosaur.

Jurassic – Known as the age of reptiles, this period featured creatures like the Stegosaurus and the Mamenchisaurus.

Cretaceous – Here, you can see some of the most recognizable dinosaurs that lived during this period, like the Velociraptor, Triceratops, Spinosaurus, and T-Rex.

Ice Age

You will also be presented with the opportunity to go on a prehistoric journey of life on Earth after the dinosaurs went extinct. You can even wander through an enormous rumbling volcano and pass through a huge atmospheric ice cave.

Discovery Trail

In the discovery trail, you will be able to see lots of different species and even watch some informative animal encounters, talks, and shows. Here, you can explore the following:

Red Panda Retreat – See red pandas enjoying their brand-new habitat 

Penguin Cove – Observe the Humboldt penguins and watch the daily talks that take place here

Seal Lion Theatre – Watch the California Sea Lions show off some of their amazing skills

Lorikeet Landing – Get up close to an extraordinary flock of rainbow lorikeets in a heated indoor exhibit.

Reptile World – Home to some of the largest and most deadly reptiles from around the world, including iguanas, tree frogs, boas, and anacondas.

Creepy Crawlies – You can see tarantulas, cockroaches, leaf cutting ants, locusts, and more.

Aquarium – Experience aquatic life from different parts of the world, like piranhas, clownfish, and brightly coloured reef fish. 

Twilight Cave – You can step into darkness and experience two different species of bat flying around your head.

African Village

The African village is home to three different species of lemur, a mob of meerkats, and a group of guinea fowl. You will also be able to see goats, hippos, and ostriches in this section of the park.