A safari adventure close to home
If you’ve ever wanted to experience the magic of an African safari, you can – all without going far from home.
Monarto Safari Park is open seven days a week, so it’s the ideal place for a mid-week bushwalk, an adventure with the kids (or grandkids) or a day out with friends. Between the animal exhibits and all the other attractions, you can easily spend a whole day on safari.
Above: There’s always new additions arriving in the Monarto family.
Monarto is well on its way to becoming the largest safari park outside of Africa. But, unlike a wild safari experience, there is so much more to discover and enjoy at Monarto. It’s home to over 500 animals, with 50 different species from all over the world (and some gorgeous wild Aussie natives), so you’re guaranteed to see some extraordinary wildlife.
Above: Meet the adorable, interactive chimps and learn about their individual personalities.
The park’s size and location in the beautiful Murray River, Lakes and Coorong means there’s plenty to do. A day at the park can range from hands-on animal experiences, to more traditional safari-style animal spotting at your own pace. Bushwalking, dining in the park café, picnicking while you watch the animals or letting the kids or grandkids go wild on the nature playground are all great options too.
Explore your own way, any day
Monarto’s animal exhibits are linked by an impressive trail network, which is fast becoming an attraction of its own.
Above: Trail runners and mountain bikers love the trails in and around Monarto, for its varying terrain and woodland landscape.
Almost 10km of walking tracks connect the park, ranging from easy to medium grading. Most individual trails are 20-35 minute self-guided experiences, so you can choose where to go and what to see. Take a guide in your pocket by downloading the Monarto Safari Park app before you arrive. With maps, on-demand information and real-time alerts to points of interest, it’s easy to explore your own way.
Rather safari with a group? Take a free guided bush walk with former Zoos SA President Heather Craddick and get to know more about the native flora and fauna that also call the park home.
Monarto also has regular shuttle buses linking the exhibits with the visitor centre for easy access.
Get close to a lion or tickle a rhino
Feeling extra adventurous? How about coming face-to-face with the king of the jungle … within clawing distance!
Above: Are you brave enough to enter the Lions 360 dome?
Get closer than ever to the animals with one of Monarto’s signature animal experiences. Take the walk of the brave with the Lions 360 experience – the only one of its kind in Australia, where you’ll come face-to-face with lions – and even feed them. Take a giraffe safari, mingle with meerkats, get close to cheetahs or meet the zoo’s new rhino calf.
Above: With lots of room to run around, the local lion pride continue to grow in numbers.
Daily Meet the Keeper sessions give you an insight into life behind the scenes for some of the zoo’s star attractions.
Save a species
As well as offering a front-row seat to visitors wanting to see Africa’s most popular animals, Monarto Safari Park is also a sanctuary for some of its rarest species.
Through its impressive breeding programs, Monarto is taking a leading global role in preserving some of the world’s most vulnerable animals for future generations. Their programs are so successful that there’s often a local baby boom.
Above: There’s always something happening in the Chimp troop!
Lion cubs, a Southern White Rhino calf, baby chimpanzees, giraffe calves and zebra foals are just some of the recent arrivals.
Monarto’s rhino crash is also set to increase significantly in size, with facility expansions underway to increase the exhibit area for the Black Rhinos and the Southern White Rhinos as the park prepares to welcome more animals in future.
Keep the adventure going
Want to enjoy even more safari action? Monarto Safari Park offers both annual and lifetime memberships, including discounts for concessions, so you’ll have unlimited access both to Monarto and its sister site, Adelaide Zoo. Once you’re a member, you also receive extra discounts in the zoo shop and café, and on animal and behind-the-scenes experiences.
Above: Experiences the entire family will enjoy.
If you want to extend your safari adventure even further, why not add one of these to your Monarto experience:
1. Discover some of the region’s own unique flora and fauna on a bushwalk through Kinchina Conservation Park, or at the brilliant Swanport Wetlands.
2. Head east to Murray Bridge and discover the picturesque Sturt Reserve and dare to be scared by Bertha the Bunyip.
3. Head to the beautiful historic river town of Mannum (just 30 minutes away) and stay a night or two on the river – making time to explore the Mannum Waterfalls, Mannum Dock Museum or take a relaxing cruise.