South Lakes Safari Zoo

Fantastic zoo really shouldn't be missed lots of animals.and unlike most zoos these days you can see all of the animals advertised and even feed most of them including big cats and penguins!!!!! Winter months even have free access with donations requested but even during warmer months entrance fees are excellent.
Always visit when we are up in the South Lakes and happily recommend to anyone who's going on holiday to the lakes

Recently visited the park and had an absolutely fabulous time! Plenty to do and see including feeding of animals i would never get the chance to feed anywhere else! Every keeper there was enthusiastic about all the animals and happy to help with our questions. If i ever venture back up North one of the first places I'm going is the South Lakes Safari Zoo! 10/10! 😀

Had a great day out here recently. Loads of animals to see and free to get in! Value for money is immense even if you can't take your own food in. To see most of the animals so close up was brilliant and our two young twin boys loved every minute of it. Would thoroughly recommend.

Had a fantastic day out here with my family recently. Loved the new park and improved safari zoo. There was a huge car park and a good children's play park kept the children entertained even after we'd seen all the animals. Adults tickets are only £5 currently which is excellent value for money and children are completely free. Keep up the good work South Lakes Safari Zoo! Already planning our next visit back here.

Really great for the animals but a little miffed about the expensive food. The car park had massive signs saying that no food or drink is allowed in the park as it endangers the animals. We considered not taking in baby food. Then the literal first thing you see as you step through after paying is three food shops. The food is very expensive for what it is. Nobody is monitoring if people give the animals food. Saw a kid feeding a load of bread to a peacock and then his mum shoved it off the table when it climbed on up. No staff said anything despite the signs threatening removal from the park. I would go again but will ignore the signs and take my own food in.

On the whole we did enjoy the day, however the condition of the indoor enclosures for the spider monkeys was disturbing. Littered with holes, we saw numerous rats running in and out of the pens. However, what was most concerning was the pile of rotten food left for the animals to eat. I watched for some time one monkey pick their way through the food and sniff various pieces before putting it back down. It was not fit for consumption and this was a very sad sight to see.

We arrived at 11am and the food had not been put out that day - doubtfully even the day before. I went back to the area before leaving at 330pm and the same food was still down.

This place has had so much bad press lately I was a little apprehensive about going.

I can't remember the last time I went to a zoo and this place couldn't be further from my mental image of animals in cages.

All the animals have huge areas in which they can roam, the only animals I saw to the contrary we animals that were being monitored by the vet. These segregations were clearly labelled and at no time did the animals look in any distress.

There are regular feeding times and educational talks about the animals from the staff l. The big cats feeding time was the most impressive. You can also pay to feed the giraffes and Lemurs which the kids loved.

There are plenty of clean facilities and restaurants. However picnics are welcomed and we took advantage of that and brought our own.

In light of said bad press it was fantastic to see such happy staff on hand to answer any questions and help direct us. It seemed the press I read was unfair on these clearly dedicated people.

All in all we had an amazing and educating day. It was free entry but I think this is due to end. We did donate, and said the prices they were asking were more than reasonable so would happily pay in future.

Please don't look at this place as a traditional Zoo as such but more of a tool to educate the younger generations about animal welfare and conservation. This is exactly the message that was sent by the Zoo.

We visited yesterday, and were surprised to discover that entry was free! However, we paid our Entrance Fee (two Concessions) as a donation, and bought the excellent guidebook, as we want the zoo to succeed and not to close. We enjoyed a visit years ago before the dreadful fire which killed the lemurs, and always intended to return one day. At once, we were impressed at all the construction work that had been done and was continuing to improve the enclosures etc for the animals and birds without spoiling the pleasure of walking amongst many of them safely. The sight of the baby giraffe was a first delight on walking up the hill from the Entrance, it being only a couple of weeks old, then the baby rhino too in the same extensive paddock. The whole day was a series of pleasant surprises, including a good lunch, and we can confirm that all the animals looked looked well care for and happy. Loved the "pink" Arctic Wolves howling to each other! The zoo is open for free all April except for Easter weekend, so I hope people support the efforts being made, and go and see for yourself. I sound like an advert, but that is definitely not the case. I'm still a great fan of Chester Zoo, visiting ever since I was in MY pushchair. Now I'm MUCH older, I found Safari Zoo, being a lot smaller, less tiring to walk round and I got to see everything.

Have been to this zoo in the past. Now under new management there has been a lot of improvements made. Lots of animals to see & we saw most of them with only a few being indoors and out of sight. Still lots of renovation happening but this didn't spoil our day.
Helpful & polite staff.
Refreshments available as well as plenty of outdoor seating for picnics, etc
The new road and entrance has helped to minimise the traffic through the village & the car park is much larger now.