Werribee Open Range Zoo : An African Safari Adventure in Australia

While a visit to the amazing African continent is just out of my family’s reach right now, introducing my children to the animals that roam the savannah is indeed possible thanks to the Werribee Open Range Zoo. Situated 35 kilometres west of Melbourne’s city centre, the zoo is a not-for-profit conservation organisation that focuses predominately on African species. It was a must for our Melbourne holiday itinerary.

The key to visiting any zoo is to arrive as early as you can. This will ensure that you secure a car space and have a chance to catch many of the animals when they’re active as they tend to seek shade as the day warms. When it was time for our family to visit the  Werribee Open Range Zoo we also received a hot tip that they had welcomed their very first litter of lion cubs and that they were on display just after opening for a mere hour with mum Nilo. Of course, we arrived super early!

When we arrived we headed straight for the cubs, bypassing all of the other animals which we could go back to later. Be warned, there can be a wait to see the cubs with one milestone indicating a 60 minute wait from its location. The zoo restricts the group size so that the litter is not overwhelmed. We watched the cubs chase each other, wrestle, climb and basically have a lot of fun with no regard for us. The viewing area looks through a wire fence, try to get right up the front so you can see them clearly.

My favourite adventure of the day was the Family Off Road Safari, a one hour tour through the Zoo’s African Savannah in an open vehicle. We had booked this in advance and made our way to the meeting point after viewing the lion cubs. Whilst our tour attracted an additional fee, all visitors can enjoy a 40 minute safari tour for free. From my perspective, the biggest difference would be the size of the group.

The Family Off Road Safari was perfect for the kids. We drove right up close to each group of animals – we could almost touch them. After providing us with a little information about each animal group, the driver provided time for the kids to ask questions. At different points animal fur, wool, hair and horns were passed around so the kids could form some insight into how each animal would actually feel. Moving off road did mean we were provided the best viewing platform in the whole zoo which of course led to lots of squeals of delight from me the kids. On our adventure we saw giraffes, rhinoceros, a range of antelope, camels, hippopotamus, bison, Przewalski’s Horse (including a brand new foal), zebras, and Oryx.

After the safari we made time to explore the park. The Hippo Splash area was in full swing and whilst I had packed bathers for the kids, the sight of mostly toddlers enjoying the water jets made them reluctant to join in so we moved on. I think it would be a great place, with full view of the hippopotamus, for a family rest stop. There are hammocks and deck chairs for the parents and the water doesn’t pool, which makes it fairly water safe.

We were impressed to see the gorillas in what is reputed to be one of the largest gorilla exhibits in the world at 6,000 square metres. From one of the many viewing decks we spotted silverback Motaba but were unable to spy his two sons, Yakini and Ganyeka. It was hot and with such a big enclosure they had plenty of room to hide out from the sun. At one side of the exhibit we found a play space for the kids with ropes and tree trunks where they could behave like the gorillas too. Of course, they took to the opportunity with full gusto.

Lunch was at the Meerkat Bistro? where T and I had the most amazing wedges (think added bacon and avocado) and the kids enjoyed a selection from the kids menu. I’m still blown away that Melbourne Zoo has its very own bakery which also supplies Werribee Open Range Zoo. Pretty impressive, right? The bakery goods are delicious.

With most of the animals checked off, we made our way to the Ranger Kids. What we found was the most amazing pretend play area I think I’ve ever come across. It’s an adventure all on its own and a brilliant way to impart a little knowledge about the impact of humans on the African wilderness. There are three main sections of Ranger Kids: the field hospital, the savannah and, a Melako village. It’s air-conditioned and absolutely perfect. It’s such an amazing part of the zoo, so unexpected, and so much fun for the kids. For kids under 10, I highly recommend you make time to stop here. It will provide you some downtime and the kids will be occupied. Your only issue will be moving them on.

The Werribee Open Range Zoo is free for children under the age of 15. Adult tickets are currently $31.60. The Kid Bucket List family was a guest of the zoo on this occasion. We were so impressed with the Victoria Zoo offerings that we purchased a gift membership for my brother and his family for Christmas.