High Summer

West Midland Safari Park will be open late throughout August for their Summer Nights season, which sees extended opening hours from 1st to 31st August.

The usual opening time of 10.00am remains the same. However, the closing times will change. Last admission into the Park will be extended until 7.00pm, with the gates to the 4-mile self-drive safari closing at the same time. An evening Sea Lion Show is scheduled for 7.00pm and Discovery Trail exhibits will close at 9.00pm, along with the amusement rides.

Angela Potter, Deputy Director of Wildlife, said "I have often been asked why the animal reserves close at 7.00 o'clock during Summer Nights and not 9.00 o'clock. It's because the animal keepers need to get some of the animals safely into their night quarters and to prepare evening meals for them, before it gets too dark. This is not a quick or easy task, as we have almost a hundred animals to move indoors, such as the lions, tigers, rhino, elephants, wild dogs, cheetah and dholes.

Keepers often leave work long after the Park has closed even during Summer Nights."

Angela, continued, "It is also important that animals, such as our giraffe have their concentrated feed, which contains essential nutrients; vitamins and minerals to keep them in tip top condition. On very hot summer nights, such as we have recently experienced, the giraffe will then be given outside access for the whole night and this is when they are given their forage, such as lucerne - a type of high quality hay - as well as browse such as willow and silver birch to munch on throughout the night".

The concept of staying open late during the peak holiday period was first trialed in 2007 and due to its popularity, it has become an annual event in the Parks' calendar ever since.

The standard admission charge applies throughout Summer Nights - £16.99 for adults, £12.99 for children. This includes the 4-mile self-drive safari, along with Discovery Trail exhibits, African Village, Hippo Lakes, car parking and various talks and animal encounters. Admission prices also include a free return ticket. Amusement rides are charged extra in all cases. Further information is available from the Park's official website www.wmsp.co.uk or by telephone 01299 402114.