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Knowsley Safari Park

More than 35 years after opening its gates for the first time, Knowsley Safari Park remains one of the North West’s most popular attractions.

In 2007, the park achieved a significant rise in visitor figures for the fourth year in a row, welcoming 523,000 people - the best annual total since 1972.

The 550-acre park on the Earl of Derby’s estate offers visitors a unique experience on its five-mile safari drive, the chance to get ‘up close and personal’ with exotic animals from all over the globe.

These include rhinos, camels, buffalo, bison, wildebeest, lions, tigers, zebra, baboons, monkeys, deer, antelopes and wallabies.

Current top attractions at the park include the three white rhino calves born over the last year or so - Binta, Kifaru and Tatu - plus no less than ten lion cubs born in recent months.
Other recent animal arrivals include a pack of very rare African Hunting Dogs and a pair of Red River Hogs. 

However, for many visitors it is the baboons who remain the real stars of the show.

The good news is that Knowsley now offers an alternative car-friendly route around the outside of the monkey jungle for those wishing to avoid any potential damage to their vehicle.  Visitors taking this route still have an excellent view of the baboons.

Other attractions at the park include the safari village with its miniature railway and a walkaround animal area where elephants, giraffe, meerkats and otter can be viewed at close quarters. At peak periods there are also bird of prey displays and more than 20 amusement park rides.
Brand new in this area (from around Easter 2008 onwards) is the park’s new £600,000 sealion facility.  Linked to the existing sealion theatre, this includes a larger outdoor pool, rocks, beaches, waterfall effects and underwater viewing facilities.  This enables visitors to watch the sealions’ antics throughout the day, not just at show times. 

Also new for 2008 are a free-roaming group of Marmoset monkeys and a spectacular new entrance to the safari drive.

Meanwhile, Knowsley’s Bug House offers everything from snakes and lizards and
cockroaches, creatures a world away from the goats, lambs, cattle and horses for the youngsters to enjoy at Children’s Lake Farm.

As well as the ‘exotic’ animals at Knowsley the park offers a wide range of native British wildlife.  10 species of waterfowl nest around its lake, kestrels and buzzards can be spotted in the woodland and brown hares, stoats, weasels, grey squirrels and red squirrels can also be seen.

Knowsley Safari Park General Manager, David Ross, commented: “In terms of visitor numbers the park had another record year in 2007 and we look forward to welcoming even more people over the course of this season.”

Knowsley Safari Park has an excellent location close to the national motorway network.  Leave the M62 at junction six then leave the M57 at junction two and follow the brown Safari Park signs.

The park is open daily from 10am and tickets cost just £12 for adults and £9 for children, with a family ticket on offer at £37 for two adults and two children. Download your Special Offer tickets here.

For more details ring the 24-hour information line on 0151-430-9009 or log on to www.knowsley.com