Monarto Safari Park

Monarto Safari Park is a non-government conservation charity, every visit, adoption, donation and ticket helps to save species from extinction.

Monarto Safari Park is now the largest safari experience to exist outside of Africa. Spanning more than 1,500 hectares and home to more than 50 species of exotic and native mammals, birds and reptiles, you can fit every major zoo in Australia inside the Park and still have land left over! 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 is home to many of Africa’s most impressive animals and also one of Australia’s largest lion prides and giraffe herds.

Since officially opening to the public in October 1993 as a breeding and pasture area, the 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. Monarto Safari Park is owned and operated by a conservation charity, Zoos SA.

Start your adventure

We recommend setting aside a minimum of four to five hours to fully enjoy Monarto Safari Park.

Explore the park by hopping on our free Zu-loop bus, included in your entry ticket. The bus will bring you through our large open-range habitats, 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. Please note that we can only store foldable strollers on our buses.

Feeling energetic? You can also explore our 12km network of walking tracks, for those visitors keen to explore our park by foot. The tracks available range from easy to medium grading, with some suitable for robust pushers.

Visiting with little ones?

Accessibility at the park

See our guide for families here. Learn more about the park’s accessibility.
Pay space   Accessibility at the park

Our opening hours are 9:30am – 5pm.

Last opportunity to explore the park is on the Zu-loop bus departing the Visitor Centre at 3pm.

We are open every day of the year, including Christmas and all public holidays. The exception to this is if 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.

There is no longer a requirement to pre-book your visit to Monarto Safari Park.

Zoos SA Members can arrive anytime and scan their membership card at the entry turnstiles.

Non-members who do pre-book their visit can scan their ticket at the turnstiles.

If you do not pre-book a ticket, you can purchase your entry at the admissions windows

Book now

Monarto Safari Park has all-day free parking at the Visitor Centreincluding accessible parks, caravan and RV parking, and electric vehicle charging parks.

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

All Keeper Talks are Auslan translated and audio described. To find all accessible Keeper Talks, click here.

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

The flying of drones over Monarto Safari Park is strictly prohibited without approval. The flying of drones over animals can cause distress and possible injury.

All personal cameras are permitted and encouraged on site. Tripods, selfie sticks, boom microphones and lighting equipment is not permitted to be used without prior approval.

If you intend to use images or footage you take at Monarto Safari Park for any other purpose than personal use (family photos, personal social media page) please contact the Zoos SA Media team here.

The café is open daily and offers a range of tasty treats, small bites and hot meals.

The café is wheelchair accessible and offers highchair and seating facilities.

The Outpost pop up Café is open during peak times, for a small range of tasty treats, beverages and hot food.

Picnics: For those who prefer to bring their own meals, a grassy picnic area and sheltered tables and chairs are available near the café at the rear of the Visitor Centre. Please note due to fire risk, the park does not allow the use of BBQs.

Monarto Safari Park has a network of approximately 12kms 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.

Cheetah Track
The Cheetah Track is a self-guided 1.84km walk through some Mallee scrub area with native wildlife and flora. Easy grading.

Emu-Wallaby Track
The Emu-Wallaby Track is a self-guided 1.19km 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 1.19km to a habitat where you can see these unique birds in a native setting. Easy grading.

Ridge Track
The Ridge Track is approximately 1.54km 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 0.89km leading to the Southern White Rhino habitiat. Moderate grading.

Bretag Track
The Bretag track is approximately 1.22km one way and will take you from the Rhino Boma, past historic stone ruins to the African Lion and Painted Dog viewing platform. Easy grading.

Windana Track
The Windana Track is a short 650m between the carnivore viewing platforms at Windana and the visitor centre. Easy grading.

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

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 70km from Adelaide CBD to Monarto Safari Park.

From the East by car take the Murray Bridge exit off the South Eastern Freeway through Murray Bridge to Monarto Rd 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.

Click 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.

 

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.

  • Public Amenities – including disabled toilets, baby change rooms and parents rooms
  • First Aid facilities – first aid facilities are available
  • Disabled Access – the park provides ramps and railings for disability access
  • Assistance Animals – Zoos SA is unfortunately unable to allow assistance animals on site at Monarto Safari Park. Temporary accommodation for assistance dogs can be provided; however, it is recommended leaving service animals at home. If required, Zoos SA recommends visiting with a companion who can assist during your visit.

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 safari park in a number of ways:

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)

To gain access to Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park, please provide ID (showing a photo + address) and your valid interstate membership card.

Please note: South Australian residents holding Zoos Victoria or Taronga 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 and Taronga child members. It does not affect Zoos Victoria or Taronga adult members who will still enjoy free admission to all participating zoos.

Monarto Safari Park has four 7kW EV charging stations located in the car park near the visitor centre. To use the network, download the Chargefox app and follow the prompts.
For more info visit: raa.com.au/charge.

Have a question? Search our most Frequently Asked Questions to find the answer you might be looking for.

About Zoos SA

Zoos SA is a not-for-profit conservation charity that exists to connect people with nature and save species from extinction.

Zoos SA acknowledges the Country on which we stand always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land and we pay our deepest respect and gratitude to Kaurna (Adelaide Zoo) and Ngarrindjeri (Monarto Safari Park) Elders, past, present and emerging.

We undertake critical conservation work throughout Australia and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands.

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