It’s here! The Wild is Calling… The doors to Monarto Safari Park’s new Visitor Centre will open on 25 March 2022 giving guests a wild welcome and even wilder experiences to come.

Heralding more visitors than ever before, excited explorers will arrive via a new entrance from Monarto Road. And now, a trip to Monarto Safari Park will truly begin the moment a visitor enters the gates and before being transported to a land where Australian natives and some of the greatest African land mammals roam the Monarto plains.

“The wait is over and now we can’t wait to share our new Visitor Centre with our members and visitors,” says Elaine Bensted, CE of Zoos SA.

“The building is absolutely stunning and fitting for such an exciting and inspiring place that is the wild home of the conservation of African and Australian animals.

“The new Visitor Centre will welcome more visitors than ever before yet still retain that spacious feeling that we love about Monarto. The shop, cafe and play area all have that indoor yet outdoor feel and the view is simply spectacular.

“We are delighted with the work that builders Mossop Construction + Interiors and architects Intro and StudioGram have produced and can’t wait to show it off to our members at our exclusive opening days before opening to all on 25 March.

“For the first time, the Visitor Centre becomes a destination in its own right so we hope that locals will enjoy coming for a coffee, while enjoying the great view and kids’ play space.

“As an accessible to all site, we can’t wait to welcome you. Please make sure to book online before visiting as we expect to be busy!” says Elaine.

Discover in the wild As a conservation charity, every single visit to Monarto Safari Park helps to fund the vital work that we undertake to save animals from extinction.

As well as caring for the 50 species at Monarto Safari Park through breeding programs and insurance populations, Zoos SA’s conservation teams assist and partner with fellow conservation groups and projects around Australia and the world.

Relax in the wild

Housing a cafe with breathtaking vistas over the park, a large and airy retail space and a playground, a trip to Monarto Safari Park’s Visitor Centre becomes a destination in its own right. Park up and enter the new Visitor Centre and discover a spacious heart space where you can buy tickets, animal experiences, a drink, a hearty snack and even a cuddly lion before boarding the bus and starting your exploration. Now, for the first time ever, a trip to Monarto Safari Park can be for a whole day or just an hour or two… We like to see our new Visitor Centre as the perfect place to meet up with friends who are coming from Murray Bridge, Strathalbyn, the Adelaide Hills or the city – meet at Monarto and forget the hassle of ‘finding a park’. Enjoy shopping, snacks and space for littlies to let off steam.

Walk in the wild

Breathe in the fresh air, stretch your legs and explore the open plains of Monarto Safari Park and its abundant flora and fauna. With 12kms of walking trails between the new Visitor Centre and our animal viewing platforms, you can walk the entire trail or combine a walk with the bus. The majority of the walking trails are accessible for robust pushers and wheelchairs and are sign posted throughout. Stop on the way to rest, relax and picnic before continuing. Absorb your surroundings, the sounds of birds and even the roar of nearby lions.

Explore the wild

Come face to face with a giraffe, feel the roars of a lion reverberate through your chest and see a rhino crash roam and wallow. A visit to Monarto Safari Park brings species and their stories to life, inspiring visitors to help us work together to save their wild cousins. With over 50 species of native and African animals roaming the plains of Monarto, a visit not only captures your interest but your imagination and desire to support the conservation work that we carry out in South Australia, Australia and the world.

Learn in the wild

As they form such close bonds with the animals they care for, our keepers are passionate storytellers who will engage the young and old and bring about a greater understanding of the species and their plight in the wild. Through a mix of keeper talks, interpretive signage and play, our visitors will enjoy a day learning all about the native and African animals that call Monarto Safari Park home and leave with a thirst to learn more!

Experience the wild

Take the walk of the brave at Lions 360, hand-feed a giraffe, and feel between the folds of a Southern White Rhino’s skin. Animal experiences at Monarto Safari Park put you within a whisker of some of the world’s most fascinating and, at times, ferocious animals. Just as with their day-to-day care, all of our experiences are uniquely designed with animal welfare leading the way and are positioned so even the youngest of visitors can take part and experience the wild.

Play in the wild

Where better to ‘let off steam’ than in the home of conservation? Monarto Safari Park has a number of nature-inspired play areas where kids can run free range. Stop at the cafe for a leisurely coffee taking in the stunning view as the kids let loose in the nearby playground. Take five in the rhino boma area as kids become safari rangers and cool off in the sprinklers alongside a mob of mischievous meerkats. And after a day exploring and playing don’t be surprised if it’s a very quiet car ride home… sssshhhhh.

The Visitor Centre project received $11.25m of funding from the Australian Government and $4.55m from the State Government towards a total $16.8m cost of building the new entry and Visitor Centre.

The Rural City of Murray Bridge also contributed to the project through the construction of a new slip lane entry from Monarto Road.

#TheWildIsCalling

Book your visit to Monarto Safari Park at www.monartosafaripark.com.au/tickets.