Post-Lockdown Days Out: The UK Safari
Post-COVID days out are something very different.
Rather than risk a long-haul and potential quarantine, staycations are the go and the UK offers more than you think. A trip to a UK safari park is both easier and cheaper as well as being something adults will love as much as kids. Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire has adapted its attractions to take into account the latest COVID-19 restrictions and keep you and your family safe. Here’s what to expect.
Book tickets in advance: Gone are the days where you plan a day out on a whim. Advanced booking is required in order to control numbers and ensure social distancing.
The safari experience: Having visited Woburn Safari multiple times we have always enjoyed driving through its 300 acres of parkland with exotic wildlife. The actual road safari experience is exactly the same as before Covid-19. You can still get close to some of the most beautiful and endangered animals on the planet including elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, bears, and giraffes! The monkeys are always entertaining with a penchant for jumping onto cars!
You may even get a chance to meet the five lion cubs who arrived during lockdown – born to mother Dakota and father Joco in the early hours on the 24th April.
Best of all, customers can repeat the road safari circuit as many times as they wish. Patrol vehicles are situated throughout the drive-through to help guide people to the re-entry or the exit.
We visited on Monday June 29, when only a small portion of the foot safari was open. However, now the majority of the foot safari and play areas are also open, but check online before you book to avoid disappointment.
Precautions: Woburn Safari Park has taken steps to safeguard staff, visitors and animals post-lockdown. Every car is now given a 100ml hand sanitiser to use during their visit. This is subject to availability, which meant we actually weren’t given a bottle when we arrived around 12.30pm. So it’s best to bring your own – as we did. The lead driver or visitor in each car is asked to read a notice and confirm they have no symptoms of Covid-19 before they enter the park. Tickets are strictly limited to maintain safe volumes of cars in the road safari and the number of people in the foot safari or using the toilets. However, that doesn’t mean it is not busy. We have been on a weekday in the past and it is normally very quiet. However, post-lockdown, and with so many still working from home or on reduced hours, expect weekdays to be just as busy as weekends.
The foot safari and leisure area walkways have been changed to a one-way system or marked for social distancing as appropriate – so it is easy to keep a distance from others. Toilets are cleaned continuously throughout the day, which may lead to longer queue times.
Homeschooling: If you fancy continuing learning from home during the summer then be sure to look on the safari’s website as it’s jam-packed with learning resources for KS1, KS2 and KS3 children. There are also print out colouring pages of animals for little ones to enjoy.
Did we feel safe?: Yes, mainly because we spent most of our time in our car. However, do makes sure your car is in full working condition after not using it as much as we saw two breakdowns during our safari experience. Although it was very busy for a Monday, most people were respectful and kept a distance.
On the day we visited, only the staff wore masks, I was surprised that very few customers chose to wear masks outside. However, with the rules around face coverings changing, it is best to check online before your visit.
Other popular Safaris in the UK:
- West Midlands Safari Park in Bewdley
- Port Lympne Reserve in Kent
- Longleat in Wiltshire
