West Midlands Safari Park Review
West Midlands Safari Park
Reviewed by Tara Davies
We recently visited West Midlands Safari Park, as a family of five, 2 adults and 3 children aged 8, 11 and 15. Finding the park was easy and it is well signposted from the M5. We were all really looking forward to the day ahead and I have to say we were not disappointed!
On arrival, we decided we would do the safari tour first, using our own car. Most of the tickets booths were open, so we were only queuing a matter of minutes, which was great as we were eager to get started. Entrance to the Safari Park is £19.99 per adult and £14.99 for children which I think is reasonable as there is lots to see. Just a tip, if you buy your tickets online, you get a free return visit. We also purchased some animal feed (a must I would say), for £3 per packet. The safari park is divided up into different themes…. African Plains, Wild Asia, Carnivores and Elephant Valley. The first animals we saw were from the Antelope family and they were absolutely adorable and so timid, they were happy to ‘say hello’ and eat from our hands, an amazing experience! As we drove around the park there were so many animals to see, they looked extremely well cared for and happy. We all had our personal favourites, including the Elephants, Zebra, White Lions and Giraffe, the baby deer were gorgeous too and stole our hearts! The only problem we had was that our 11 year old decided he needed the bathroom half way around, so I would advise on making sure you have used the loo before you set off. Other than that we were all blown away by the experience.
Once we had finished the tour we parked up, ready to set off for the theme park. The parking area was well signpost and well-staffed, so finding a safe home for our car for the rest of the day was easy and stress free.
The entrance to the park was inviting and attractive, a small ‘arcade’ style area, including food stalls and shops lined the entrance. Once inside it was clear there was an array of things to do. We began with the penguin show, where a well-informed member of staff ‘introduced’ us to the animals, telling us lots of interesting facts. There were also fish available to feed to the animals and a great glass viewing area where you could observe the penguins diving under water. There were also a variety of other ‘shows’ going on, including a Sea Lion arena and reptile area, however, we didn’t stop to see these as the children were keen to get to the theme park.
There were plenty of rides at the park, which you can have unlimited access to by purchasing a wristband. Wristbands are priced at £12.99 for adults and children over 16 and £11.99 for children. We all agreed that this was excellent value for money, although, if you aren’t too keen on the rides, you can purchase individual tickets. We were extremely lucky and didn’t have to queue for any of the rides, so we certainly got our money worth out of the wristbands. We even went straight back to the front of the queue on our favourites! I think this may have been due to the fact that it was a damp day, although this didn’t stop us from having fun and, when the showers were heavy, there were plenty of places to take cover. Having children with a range of ages wasn’t a problem as there was something to suit everyone, including small rides to keep the little people happy and rides only attempted by the brave (which my 15 year old was impressed by). Bradley, my eldest, enjoyed Venom the best, Sonny (11) loved the water rides and Poppy was a fan of the Hippo ride and the mini roller-coaster.
The park itself was exceptionally clean and well maintained. Staffing levels were also great and there were plenty of people on hand to help out with any queries or if we needed directions. All the staff we had contact with were more than helpful and very polite. Due to the time of year staff were also dressed in a Halloween theme, which the children thought was fab. The park was also decorated in a Halloween theme with various pumpkin characters around the park, very creative and certainly added to the atmosphere.
If you are feeling peckish then there are plenty of places to eat. On average, a meal deal will cost you around £6.50 for an adult, which I would say is reasonable by theme park standards. Plenty of choice too, including baguettes, pizza, burgers, hotdogs and even pie and mash. The children had a pizza meal and thoroughly enjoyed it. There are also areas around the park where you can sit and eat a packed lunch if you would you prefer to take your own food though.
Before leaving we visited ‘The Land of the Living Dinosaurs’ , it’s a sort of mini Jurassic Park, including animated dinosaurs, sound effects, fossils and loads of interesting facts (with a few fun photographs thrown into the mix). A perfect way to end the day.
Overall, we had an amazing time and the children have already asked when we can go back next. A fabulous day out for all the family, young and old. I would highly recommend West Midlands Safari Park as a day out, definitely worth the money. We all agree it deserves 5/5!!!
Rating: 5/5 
Winter admission prices: £17.99 adult / £12.99 children
General admission tickets cost £19.99 for adults, £14.99 for children aged 3-15 years and children under 3 go free. Book online and save up to 20%. Theme Park ride tickets or multi-ride wristbands are charged extra (from £7.99 to £12.99) but can also be purchased online in an all-inclusive ticket deal also saving you money.
Open daily from 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm).
For more information or to book tickets online visit www.wmsp.co.uk.
West Midland Safari Park, Spring Grove, Bewdley, Worcestershire, DY12 1LF | 01299 402114
