Monarto Safari Park is the biggest open-range zoo in Australia, and indeed one of the largest in the world, spanning more than 1,500 hectares and home to more than 50 species of exotic and native mammals, birds and reptiles. You can actually fit every major zoo in Australia in Monarto Safari Park and still have land left over! Monarto Safari Park is home to many of Africa’s most impressive animals and also one of Australia’s largest lion prides and giraffe herds.

The park is located 60 minutes (70 kilometres) from South Australia’s capital city Adelaide and is the gateway to the picturesque Murraylands region.

Monarto Safari Park opened in 1983 as a breeding and pasture area. Since officially opening to the public in October 1993, Monarto Safari Park is now home to more than 500 animals roaming in vistas as far as the eye can see. It’s an escape from the city that immerses visitors in a natural safari-style setting.

Over the years Monarto has celebrated outstanding breeding success and our captivating, quirky and unique animals have captured the hearts of our visitors.

Monarto Safari Park is owned and operated by a conservation charity, Zoos SA.

Start your adventure

Explore Monarto Safari Park by hopping on our Zu-loop bus! As you travel around the open plains of Monarto Safari Park, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped out onto your very own African safari! The bus will bring you through our large open-range exhibits, you will get to see our amazing animals in a natural setting and hear more from our passionate guides!

To make the most of your visit, make sure you hop off at our viewing platforms.

Feeling energetic? You can also explore our 10km network of walking tracks. For those visitors keen to explore our zoo by foot, we have a number of tracks available ranging from easy to medium grading, with some suitable for robust pushers.

Map of the Zoo

Opening Hours

Monarto Safari Park is open daily from 9:30am – 5pm with last entry at 3pm. The park is open every day of the year, including Christmas and all public holidays. The exception to this is if the forecast temperature for Monarto is 40 degrees or above or SA County Fire Service declare a Catastrophic Fire Ban in which case the park will be closed.

To get the most out of your visit we recommend setting aside a minimum of four to five hours to fully enjoy the Monarto Safari Park experience. There are a number of ways to experience the zoo including on the free Zu-Loop Shuttle, pre-booked Safari Tours for groups and by foot via the walking track network.

Visitor vehicles must remain parked at the Visitor Centre.

Meet the Keeper

Monarto Safari Park offers a wide range of daily zoo keeper talks and animal feeds that give guests the opportunity to interact with our friendly staff and learn about the parks’s unique residents.

Follow the presentation schedule to get the most out of your visit to Monarto Safari Park. To see the full keeper presentations schedule click here.

Looking for a more unique animal experience? Consider booking a Behind the Scenes Animal Experience to come face to face with some of our remarkable animal residents.

Cafe

The café is open from 9:30am-5:00pm daily and offers a range of tasty treats, small bites and hot meals.

Picnics: For those who prefer to bring their own meals, sheltered picnic areas are available close to the Visitor Centre. Please note due to fire risk, the park does not allow for the use of BBQs.

Walking Tracks

Monarto Safari Park has a network of approximately 10kms of walking tracks. For those visitors keen to explore the park by foot, there are a range of walking tracks available ranging from easy to medium grading and are suitable for robust pushers.

Emu Track
The Emu Track is a self-guided 20-30 minute walk past a variety of birdlife and native flora. Easy grading.

Mallee Fowl Track
The Mallee Fowl Track is a self-guided tour of approximately 20 minutes to a habitat where you can see these unique birds in a native setting. Easy grading.

Ridge Track
The Ridge Track takes approximately 20 minutes and includes some beautiful views of giraffe, zebra or eland and their surrounds. Moderate grading.

Boma Track
The Boma Track is a self-guided walk of approximately 25 minutes leading to the Southern White Rhino enclosure. Moderate grading. Access to the cheetah track and viewing platform is via the Boma Track.

Bretag Track
The Bretag track is approximately 35 minutes one way and will take you from the Rhino Boma, past historic stone ruins to the African Lion and Painted Dog viewing platform.

Depending on prevailing weather conditions, Walking Tracks are subject to closure at short notice.

Monarto Safari Park app

Have a virtual keeper in the palm of your hand next time you visit Monarto Safari Park with our new free interactive app!

Monarto Safari Park is among the first Australian zoos to utilise geofencing technology which will transform your next visit by pushing information about the park straight to your smart phone, iPad or tablet, thanks to our sponsors Beach Energy and technological partner Specialist Apps.

The exciting new technology will act as a personal tour guide during your visit to Monarto Safari Park, providing an interactive map featuring information about the park, its animals and conservation work at the touch of a button.

As you walk around the park, the app will alert you to points of interest and provide interesting and practical information such as species facts, the location of the closest facilities and educational tools.

Hear from our keepers directly as you explore Monarto Safari Park and learn about the more than 500 animals that call the park home.

If you’re hard of hearing, the app is the perfect tool to compliment your Monarto Safari Park experience. Remember to turn on location services and notifications to ensure relevant information is provided throughout your visit.

Make sure you download the free app from iTunes or Google Play before your next visit and experience Monarto Safari Park like never before.

Download the Monarto Safari Park app today!

The app was made possible by our sponsor Beach Energy and technology partner Specialist Apps.

Download our app in 3 easy steps!

1. Go to your favourite app store
2. Search for “Monarto Safari Park”
3. Download the “Monarto Safari Park” app to your device

Download the app using your home Wi-Fi to avoid longer download times and buffering whilst at the Zoo.

Getting Here

From Adelaide by car take the Monarto exit off the South Eastern Freeway to the Princes Highway and follow the signs. Approximate travelling time sixty minutes – distance approximately 65km from Adelaide CBD to Monarto Safari Park.

From the East by car take the Murray Bridge exit off the South Eastern Freeway to the Princes Highway and follow the signs. Approximate travelling time 15 minutes – distance approximately 14km from Murray Bridge to Monarto Safari Park.

For those visitors who prefer not to drive, please contact Link SA for details of bus travel from Adelaide departing from the Central Bus Station (Monday to Saturday) phone 08 8532 2633. Timetable information is available on the Link SA website. Bookings are essential.

By Bus

Prefer to catch the bus?

It’s easy and convenient.

LinkSA now has a direct service from Adelaide CBD to Monarto Safari Park Monday to Friday in the morning with a return trip to Adelaide mid-afternoon to allow you a full day at the Monarto. You can also access the park from Murray Bridge via LinkSA services.

Want a bit more flexibility, LinkSA also offers 6 connecting services to Monarto Safari Park throughout the week. From Adelaide catch an Adelaide Metro Service to Mount Barker and connect at the Dumas Street Park ‘n’ Ride with a LinkSA service taking you from Mount Barker to Monarto Safari Park. Some weekend services are also available via the Mt Barker connecting services.

You can purchase a LinkSA return Adelaide city transfer with Monarto Safari Park entry tickets by clicking the button below.

Buy bus & entry ticket

Click on the Monarto Safari Park icon on the LinkSA Website for full timetable details

For further information on timetables and fares please contact Link SA on (08) 8532 2633 or visit their website.

Services and Facilities

Monarto Safari Park services and facilities ensure an enjoyable and fulfilling experience whether you are a day visitor, attending an educational excursion or an after-hours function.

Picnic and Rest Areas
Public Amenities – including disabled toilets and baby change rooms
Vending Machines – provided throughout the park for drinks
First Aid facilities – first aid facilities are available at the zoo
Disabled Access – the park provides ramps and railings for disability access
Guide dogs – Due to strict quarantine regulations, guide dogs and assistance animals are not permitted to enter Monarto, this is for the safety of park animals as well as the assistance animals.

Group Visits to Monarto Safari Park

Monarto Safari Park offers a comprehensive range of discounted group visit options which cater for visits with or without your own bus.

Visiting groups to Monarto Safari Park have the opportunity and flexibility to experience our open range zoo in a number of ways:

Interstate Zoo Members

Zoos SA recognises reciprocal membership rights of the following Australian zoos:

Taronga Conservation Society of Australia (Taronga Zoo and Taronga Western Plains Zoo)
Perth Zoo
Zoos Victoria (Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary)

Please note South Australian residents holding Zoos Victoria membership will no longer receive free child member entry to Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park and will be required to pay normal admission to enter. This reflects a national change to reciprocal entry rights among participating zoos.

This only applies to Zoos Victoria child members between 4-14 years old who live in NSW, ACT, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia.

It does not affect Zoo Victoria adult members, wherever they live, who will still enjoy free admission to all participating zoos.

To gain access to both Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park with your reciprocal rights entitlement, please provide ID (showing a photo + address), your valid interstate membership card and a letter of validity (so we can determine that your membership has not expired) from your parent zoo and present them to gate staff on entry.

A letter of validity can be obtained from your member organisation by phoning;

Taronga Zoo Friends Office – 02 9969 2777
Perth Zoo Friends Office – 08 9474 0350
Zoos Vic Member – 1300 966 784

Offset your visit to Monarto Safari Park

Environmental sustainability is living within the limits of what the environment can provide. It’s about understanding the many interconnection between the economy, society and the environment. More so it’s about the equal distribution of resources and opportunities. Learn how you can reduce your carbon footprint and help wildlife.

Climate change is already impacting species and their habitat. By adopting more sustainable practices we can help reduce the impact of climate change.

Zoos SA has a sustainability program to reduce our footprint. We undertake voluntary carbon planting to counter our carbon emissions, while also creating new habitat for species.

Reduce your footprint on the earth by taking sustainable action in your everyday life.

take simple steps to save energy and water
choose renewable resources
Refuse/Reduce/Reuse/Recycle
choose sustainable transport and walk, ride or bus

Keeper Hayley made this incredible Pygmy Blue-tongue cake for the #TSBakeoff, complete with the spider burrows thes… https://t.co/jTG6sWpSmS