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Safari in alicante spain. Safari park in spain on the costa blanca

A few kilometers away is the most interesting and most impressive amusement park in southern Spain - Selwo Aventura Safari Park, which is definitely worth a visit if you are planning your own.
Spread over 100 hectares, the safari park is an open zoo where animals live in their natural habitat. I would like to note that the park is part of the same network with the Selwo Marina dolphinarium and the Telerifico cable car, located in the city of Benalmadena, therefore, by purchasing one ticket to visit all three places, you can save a lot.

Safari park Selvo Aventura - prices

Here we present prices for visiting only the safari park(at the time of writing): an adult ticket (from 10 years old) costs 24.50 euros per person, a child ticket (from 3 to 9 years old) - 17 euros. If you order tickets online, then the discount is 1 euro for each ticket. It is possible to purchase one ticket per family, depending on the number of children, which will be slightly cheaper than if you bought each ticket separately.

The safari park is open mainly in summer, in winter the park is closed and starts working approximately from the beginning of March. In any case, when planning your vacation on the southern coast of Spain, it is better to check in advance both the opening hours of the park and prices, and, possibly, book tickets in advance in order to be guaranteed to enjoy visiting the park. All this can be done on the safari park website: http://www.selwo.es/en.
A small note: even if you are not used to booking tickets on your own and prefer to buy all excursions and tickets from a guide, then in this case it is better to do it yourself and get a guaranteed discount on visiting all three places!

Safari park - how to get there

A trip to the safari park should definitely be planned for the whole day, since two or three hours to explore it will definitely not be enough for you. A big minus in its location: getting to the safari park will not be very easy if you are not staying in Marbella and not in Estepona. So, a free bus runs from the park on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but the route and time of arrival must be specified in advance with the guide or by calling the numbers on the site. With this bus, you are guaranteed to get to the park from Marbella for free. But keep in mind that seats on the bus must be booked in advance, otherwise the driver will not let you in.

If you don’t get a bus from the park, then it’s most convenient to get to the park by taxi, since the regular bus that runs between cities along the coast does not take you to the park, and you have to walk a decent distance uphill, which is hot, and even and with children, quite inconvenient.

In principle, in the most extreme case, if you don’t want to spend time and effort on the road to the safari park in one day, but you want to go there, you can book a hotel near the park and stay there for a few days. But this option is good for those who travel on their own by car, and of course, if your children are not quite small, since civilization will be available only a few kilometers in the form of the city of Estepona.

Selwo Aventura - animals and entertainment

Well, now let's see why we talked for so long about how to get to the park. After reading about how to get to the park, and seeing decent prices for entrance tickets, you have probably already begun to wonder if it's worth going there at all!
Calmly! Having gone to the safari park, you will definitely have a good day with your children. The park has collected more than two thousand animals from several continents, and they do not live in cages, as in an ordinary zoo, but freely roam the park in the areas assigned to them. Speaking of the safety of your children: all areas are securely fenced with nets, but do not lose vigilance to avoid unnecessary injuries, as the terrain is very mountainous.

The park is divided into three large areas that climb to the top of the mountain (by the way, from the mountain in good weather you can see the coast of Africa!). You can move between sectors both on foot and in open jeep trucks, which regularly come to the stops marked on the map.

Let's just say what these jeep trucks so that you will not be surprised when you arrive at the safari park. You will ride on high trucks like KAMAZ with an open top. In the back are wooden benches with handrails to hold on. And you need to hold on tight, as the path first goes high up along a narrow winding road, and then descends back very much down to the beginning of the park. So keep an eye on your children continuously during the trip!

In general, we recommend that you build your trip through the park in such a way that you can get to the top by jeep, and go down on foot if you have the strength and if it is possible with your children. But if you are with a stroller, then it is also better to go down in jeeps, because the transitions between the zones will be in the form of suspension bridges, along which it will be problematic to carry both the child and the stroller!

The first sector you enter after going through ticket control is Natura Portico. The flora and fauna of this sector is represented by animals and vegetation of tropical and subtropical climate. Similar vegetation is just near the Great Lake in Africa. Here you will meet nimble cheetahs, gazelles, unusual red pandas, caimans, flamingos, various monkeys and small meerkats.

In 2012, a new section was opened on the territory of this zone - “ land of hyenas”, which are a symbol of African living creatures. There is also a kind of tropical forest where you can meet a special kind of lemurs living only in Madagascar.

For the youngest visitors to the park, this is where contact mini-zoo, where you can pet such little animals like sheep, rabbits, piglets. There is no limit to the delight of kids, but parents need to have a large supply of wet wipes with them!
Near the petting zoo there is an entrance to a small farm with pygmy goats, don't miss it! Both you and your children will like it.

Older children, as well as, in principle, adults, can have fun jumping on a vine across the lake, which is a small copy of the Great Lake located in Africa. To participate in this attraction, your weight must not exceed 90 kg. In the same sector there is a souvenir shop and a snack bar.

From the Natura Portico sector you can get into a small area - bird canyon with many rare species of South African birds, which connects the upper and lower parts of the park.

Next, you will move to the territory where lynxes live. Some lynx species that live in the park are endangered in their natural habitat. Here, your children will be delighted to see otters of a special breed - small-clawed otters. Cute plump otters will gladly accept a good dozen cookies from you as a gift, which they will immediately eat to the delight of your children.

The most impressive sector of the park is Central Village. To the right of the Canyon of the Birds you will find a very picturesque part inhabited by the largest mammals in South Africa. Clumsy rhinos, tall giraffes, fat hippos - that's who will meet you in this part of the sector. The same territory also sheltered smaller mammals, not exceeding 400 kg in weight: zebras, antelopes, some species of which are no longer represented in Africa due to their destruction.

Not far from this part lives a family of elephants. Their head of the family, the elephant Kanwar, is known throughout the world for being the only Asian elephant born and raised not in his homeland, but in this safari park. He was born around July 2008. This species of elephants is subject to the threat of destruction in natural conditions.

The central village is a kind of middle of the safari park. Just here you can watch the family of lions - the leaders of the animals of the African savannas. The huge aviary is fenced with glass walls, animals can be viewed from different angles. There is also a cave with bats, a terrarium and a platform with eagles, where, just like in Benalmadena, eagle shows are held. A little to the side is the territory of camels, where you can even ride them.

In the Central Village sector there is a small self-service restaurant called El Mirador de Africa. In fact, the restaurant is located on one of the highest points above sea level, offering magnificent views of the coast.
But, unfortunately, in this restaurant you will find a big disappointment in the form of absolutely tasteless food and high prices. If older children can still choose a more or less edible dish for themselves, then it will be very difficult to feed the kids here. It's a shame that the quality of food here leaves much to be desired, because after such a busy day, you still want to have a full meal, and not interrupt yourself with sandwiches from snack bars that you meet along the way in other sectors.

way back can be overcome both in jeeps, departing from a stop near the restaurant, and on foot, if there is still strength left. Please note that the whole road is winding and mountainous, both ascents by cars and descents on foot! Part of the descent on foot passes, as we have already said, over suspension bridges. If you have strong nerves, you can stand in the middle of the bridge and admire the animals below, which you saw from the window of the safari jeeps. If such an extreme does not appeal to you, then it is better to return back the same way as here.

Safari Park "Aytana" is located in the mountains at an altitude of 1000 m. Its spacious enclosures are inscribed in the surrounding landscape so that it seems that the animals are free. It is more convenient to get acquainted with the collection with the help of a guide who will tell interesting facts about each of the pets, but if you wish, you can do it yourself. Moving around the territory is carried out only by cars.

In the Aytana safari park, tourists will see zebras, giraffes, hippos, elephants, porcupines, raccoons, noses, camels, mountain goats and rams, as well as walking domestic donkeys, ponies, cows, pigs and goats. All these animals (except hippos and elephants) are allowed to stroke and feed. In addition, the collection also includes large predators: tigers, lions, jaguars, cougars and lynxes. At the end of the tour, you will have the opportunity to take a picture with a pet python.

The infrastructure of the safari park includes toilets and the restaurant "Kanibal", stylized in African style. The restaurant serves local cuisine, as well as snacks (burgers, sandwiches, etc.).

Safari Park "Aytana" on the map

Type: Zoos, reserves, aquariums Address: CV-785, Km20, 03815, Alicante, España. Opening hours: the park opens daily at 11.00, closes in winter at 18.00, in summer at 19.00. From 14.00 to 15.00 the entrance to most of the park is closed. Guided tours start at 11.00, 15.00. Cost: 20 €, for children 4-10 years old - 16 €, for children under 3 years old - free of charge; for adult groups (more than 25 people) - 14 €, for children's groups - 10 €. How to get there: Take the AP-7 motorway, turn off at exit 66 and continue on the Villajoyosa Sella road. From the coast, it is more convenient to move along the Alcoy-Villajoyosa CV-770 highway. Restrictions: it is strictly forbidden to open the windows in the car when crossing the predator zone. Website.

Located about 70 km from Alicante, in a mountainous area, at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level. This is a fairly large area, divided into 2 main parts: one of them is driven by his car (the total path is about 7 km), the other, much smaller, is visited on foot.

Many animals live in the park, most of them are relatively safe herbivores - without any cages and enclosures: you can not only drive very close, but also get out of the car and come closer. Of course, there are areas where, for safety reasons, it is impossible to get out of the car (for example, the territories of predators - lions and tigers), where even the windows in the car must be closed.

We drive through this area for approximately 2.5 hours, with numerous stops at different animals and getting out of the car where it is allowed.

Most interesting to visit the park with park staff, he leads a caravan of cars through the park at 11.00 and 15.00, and also feeds the animals, so they all run closer.

IN pedestrian zone there are mainly small animals and cubs - raccoons, ferrets, parrots, monkeys ... you can touch a boa constrictor and see how cubs of animals play without a cage (there were both tiger cubs and lion cubs - it depends on who was born and grew up enough).

On the territory of the park there is a playground and a picnic area, a good restaurant; parking is free.

Cost and conditions

  • Number of people, up to: 8
  • Duration, hours: 6-7
  • The tour is conducted with a minimum of 4 participants. Excursions in the high season (May-September) - usually "teams". In the low season (October-April) - individual.

Included in the price:

  • Directions, toll roads, paid parking, driver / guide work.

The price does not include entrance tickets to the park:

  • Adult - 22 euros,
  • children from 4 to 10 years old - 18 euros,
  • up to 3 years inclusive - free of charge.

Other:

  • can be combined with the Guadalest Day tour, with a price increase of 15 euros per person. The duration in this case is 10-12 hours.
  • Usually the tour takes place WITHOUT lunch. If this is a long time for you, take a snack with you. You can add lunch - there is a simple good restaurant in the park, "menu of the day" - about 15 euros. In this case, the total cost of the trip (for all participants together) is increased by 20 euros. You pay for your own lunch. The option is available ONLY by agreement with the guide (or in advance, when applying).
  • the road to the place is partly serpentine (about half an hour). Not scary, but can rock. Those who are prone to seasickness, stock up on a remedy for it. In Spanish pharmacies, such a remedy is called BioDramina, it is available for children and adults.
  • the park is located at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level, that is, not in summer it is usually noticeably cooler there than by the sea, take some sweaters or jackets. If it's summer it will be hot, so don't forget hats and water.
  • tour with your own transport: 80 euros, with lunch: 90 euros. When combined with the tour of Guadalest, the cost of the trip with your car is 150 euros
  • the average tour time is from 9:30 to 15 hours
  • departure is possible from Alicante, El Campello, Benidorm or Villa Hoyosa.

General description of Aytana Safari Park on the Costa Blanca in Spain

Despite the fact that in Benidorm there is a beautiful natural zoo Terra Natura with a large number of animal species, located at a distance of 40 km to the west, among the spurs of the mountain of the same name (Aitana, 1558 m - the highest peak of the Costa Forms), safari park aitana, attracting many visitors every day. What is the reason for this attraction?

In the safari park, most animals do not even have enclosures - they roam freely and graze on a vast territory. At the same time, access to this vast part of the park is allowed on your own car. Slowly driving along a winding road 7 km long, you can meet bison and buffalo, donkeys and ponies, giraffes and ostriches. Moreover, which is undoubtedly the main trump card, it is allowed to get out of the car, approach the animals - many of them are not shy, especially ponies and llamas, who themselves are trying to actively get acquainted with visitors:

And if there are not enough people, then they communicate with cars:

Elephants can be observed at the watering hole and taking a shower:

True, you won’t be able to approach the predators so easily - they are in specially fenced large enclosures, you drive up to the barred gate, a special employee opens them and warns them not to open either windows or doors. At first glance, the lions and tigers seemed somehow sleepy:

Perhaps they were just waiting for someone to stick the handle out of the car?

Practical information about Aitana Safari Park

How to get to the park

If you are relaxing on the Costa Blanca, then the road to Aitana lies through Benidorm or neighboring Villajoyosa ( Villajoyosa). If you come from the south, then in Villajoyosa turn off N332 left on CV770 in the direction Orxeta, Sella. Drive along this road for about 25 km and then do not miss the left turn onto CV785, there will already be a yellow arrow pointer SAFARI AITANA. A couple more kilometers - and you are already at the gates of the park. It is convenient to use the same route if you are traveling from Benidorm, or go in the direction of Finestrat ( Finestrat) By CV758, which after this town will lead to the same CV770.

If you are traveling from the north of the Costa Blanca (Altea, Calpe, Jabea), then you can choose the route already described above through Villajoyosa, or turn off N332 to the right a little earlier, in Altea, on the road CV 755. This path, leading to the fortress-museum of Guadalest, is described in detail. Passing Guadalest (here you can stop, having spent 2-3 hours exploring this interesting place), we move further along the CV70 in the direction of Benasau. After 19 km, without entering this town, we turn left onto the same road CV770 on Alcoleja. After about 8 miles, turn right onto CV785 in the direction of the arrow SAFARI AITANA and further as described above.

Opening hours, entrance tickets to Aitana Park

Aytana Safari Park opens at 11.00, closes at 18.00 in winter and 19.00 in summer. You also need to keep in mind that from 14.00 to 15.00 the entrance to most of the park is closed. In general, it's okay, you can spend this time looking at the monkeys, birds and snakes living in enclosures, children can visit the playground or have a picnic at the picnic area.

Top 6 Best Safari Parks in Spain

Visiting the amazing country of Spain, numerous tourists will enjoy not only the warm sea, clean beaches, beautiful sights, historical monuments, but also nature reserves, as well as safari parks where animals live in conditions close to wild. They will be especially interested in visiting children of all ages and nationalities. Here are the largest and most famous safari parks in Spain:

1.? Safari Park Madrid

This park is located in Aldea del Fresno, where animals live in semi-wild conditions that mimic their natural habitat. Driving your car along a specially organized route, you can see representatives of the African fauna and the inhabitants of the savannah: lions, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, ostriches. Huge hippos and elephants roam at arm's length. Visitors have the feeling that they woke up in the jungle of Asia. Most of the park can be driven around by car, but some areas of the park guests have the opportunity to see, leisurely walking on foot, and even feed the animals at specially designated points. The park also has a mini-zoo, where its inhabitants live in enclosures: these are monkeys, small rodents, birds of prey and even tigers.

2.? Safari Park Aitana

This is the most popular safari park on the Costa Blanca and one of the best in all of Spain. It is located in the mountainous area of ​​the Sierra de Aytana in the vicinity of the city of Alcoy (Alicante) and occupies a vast territory, which is divided into 2 zones:
- safari: here animals live almost in freedom in conditions close to wild. You can get here by your car and a specially equipped and rented jeep right in the park. Visitors can stop in any part of the park and even get out of cars, except for areas where it can be dangerous and, as a result, are marked with special signs and signs. The only restriction is that it is forbidden to get very close to animals and feed them. Here you can see giraffes, antelopes, zebras, buffaloes, elephants, camels, hippos, lions and tigers, various artiodactyls, etc.
– dectery: in this part of the park, animals are kept in enclosures, so visitors explore this area on foot.

3.? Safari Park Vergel (Vergel Safari Park)

Another park located on the Costa Blanca is located between Oliva and Denia. Its area is about 35 hectares, more than 1400 animals representing 145 species live here. You can drive around the park and watch tigers, lions, leopards, wolves and dozens of other animals. Safari Park is divided into 3 zones depending on the animals inhabited in them: African herbivores; tiger zone; lion zone. Several routes have been specially developed in the park: each visitor can choose the one he likes best for himself. Also, guests have the opportunity to walk along the footpaths, which are fenced with wooden barriers and canals, and explore various thematic sections: the Pyrenean fauna, African birds, Asian and oceanic fauna. There is a separate enclosure for reptiles. An interesting show with the participation of dolphins and seals takes place in the pool.

4.? Safari Park Selwo Aventura

This is the largest park in the south of Spain, it is located in Estepona on a vast territory of 100 hectares: you can spend the whole day here and even stay overnight. From the highest point of the park offers stunning views of Gibraltar and the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. More than 2,000 animals from all over the world live in the park: they live in huge spacious enclosures, and visitors can watch them from specially equipped viewing platforms. Here, the natural habitat of animals is maximally recreated, so it seems that they live in the wild. During the day, about 10 performances with animals take place in different parts of the park. The main attraction of the park is a mini-excursion - Serengeti safari, which is a trip on a specialized bus-truck with stops in the habitats of various animals: rhinos, zebras, antelopes, hippos, etc., some of them you can even feed. In one of the areas of the park you can ride a camel.

5.? Aqualeon Safari Park

One of the few free animal parks on the Costa Dorada. It is located in the province of Tarragona and is open only in the summer (from May to September). This feature of the schedule is due to the fact that the park includes not only a habitat for animals, but also a full-fledged water park, so a visit to Aqualeon can satisfy the desires of any child. A visit to the park takes place by bus in close proximity to tigers, lions, bears, zebras, emus and other wild animals. Visitors can also enjoy an interesting flight of birds of prey show and an exhibition of exotic birds.

6.? Safari Park Cabarceno (Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabarceno)

This is an amazing place in Cantabria, which is a must-see when traveling through the north of Spain. The park was opened in 1990 and is the largest safari park in Europe. It is located 17 km from Santander in a former open pit where iron ore was mined. At the end of the twentieth century, the quarry pit was ennobled and inhabited by animals from different continents of the planet. About 20 km of asphalt roads are laid on the territory of the park, along which you can drive by car or bicycle between the areas inhabited by various animal species. The route runs through plains, gorges, lakes, glades, natural labyrinths. Here, the life of animals without cages and enclosures, living in natural conditions, is perfectly organized. More than 150 representatives of the fauna are collected in the park. You can enhance the impression of visiting the park by riding in a cabin on a cable car 6 km long. Such a journey takes about 50 minutes, and the speed of movement is 2-3 meters per second. The main pride of the park is a large herd of elephants in Europe, besides, other species of animals that are on the verge of extinction live on the territory of the safari park - white rhinos, leopards, Amur and Bengal tigers, jaguars, bison and brown bears.