kilmarnock to blair drummond safari park

Blair Drummond Safari Park Visitor Guide

Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park in Stirlingshire is Scotland’s only safari park. This family-friendly attraction is home to over 350 animals, many of which are free to roam the 120-acre estate. Visitors can enjoy a drive through several enclosures before entering a large animal-themed adventure park that features a zoo, fun-fair rides, restaurants and cafes, and play parks.

Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park, located near Stirling, is the only safari park in Scotland, and it’s also one of the country’s busiest tourist attractions. Covering more than 120 acres, the park contains several enclosures that are home to a variety of animals, mainly from Africa and Asia, along with a few inhabitants from closer to home.

Visitors can drive through each reserve in their car and get some great close-up views of the free-roaming animals before heading into the adventure park on foot. Once inside the park, there are lots of attractions to keep visitors entertained such as Lemur Land, Chimp Island, the bird of prey habitat, and Pets Farm, to name a few.

Other attractions include fairground rides and amusements, a pirate ship and adventure fort, as well as a boat safari, pedal boats, dodgems, a rollercoaster, and a carousel. Meanwhile, food and drink are catered for with a restaurant and several snack outlets.

Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park also has a more serious side as it’s involved with conservation initiatives like the Giraffe Conservation Foundation  and the AfriCat Foundation . In addition, the park’s education team regularly gives talks on the elephants, tigers, rhinos, and other animals they care for.

The Highlights

1: Drummond Safari Park provides a unique opportunity to see a wide range of animals in drive-through reserves and walk-around areas. Visitors can enjoy close-up views of exotic species like lions, rhinos, giraffes, and elephants, all from the safety and comfort of their own vehicles.

2: The park isn’t just about animal viewing; it also offers adventure and play areas designed for children. These include outdoor playgrounds, a giant astraglide slide, pedal boats, and a flying fox zip wire.

1: The park participates in breeding programmes for endangered species and works with various conservation projects. Visitors can learn about these efforts and gain insight into the importance of preserving our natural world through educational talks and interactive displays.

Visiting Tips

1: Since many activities are outdoors, the weather can impact your experience. Dress appropriately and consider taking waterproof clothing or sunscreen, depending on the conditions.

2: To avoid lines and potentially save money, purchase your tickets online before your visit. This can also help you take advantage of online discounts or special offers.

3: The park can get busy, especially on weekends and during school holidays. Arriving early not only helps you beat the crowds but also gives you a full day to explore without feeling rushed.

Tourist Information

There are a huge number of activities for families to enjoy during their visit to Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park, although the highlight has to be driving through the reserves to get up close and personal with the animals on display. There are four main reserves to drive through, and each one showcases animals from various parts of the world in habitats that have been designed to be as close as possible to their own natural environments.

The African reserve features non-carnivorous native African species like zebras and white rhinoceros, while the lion reserve is home to a pride of African lions. The lion reserve, in particular, is a great enclosure as it features a raised walkway that can be accessed on foot from inside the park, so you can get a different perspective on the lions once you’ve finished the drive-through safari.

The other two reserves are the Monkey Jungle, which houses a troop of Barbary macaques, and the Asian Reserve, which contains herbivores native to Asia such as deer and camels. All the reserves are well-maintained, and the animals appear to be very happy in their habitats, which is great to see.

Once you’ve finished the safari, it’s time to leave the car behind and set out on foot into the adventure park where you’ll discover various enclosures that are more like the ones you’d find in a zoo. In this area, visitors will see African elephants, rhinos, and giraffes alongside great apes on Chimp Island and ring-tailed lemurs in Lemur Land.

Next to Lemur Land is a lake that you can explore on a pedal boat, but if you prefer a more leisurely cruise you can take a ride on the boat safari which sails around Chimp Island. I highly recommend taking the boat trip as it’s a great way to see the park’s troop of chimpanzees foraging about in the undergrowth.

If you have children and they’re not too exhausted after seeing all the animals, you can take them to a couple of other areas to burn off their remaining energy. First is an enormous wooden fort that has a bird’s nest and slides, and second is a pirate ship that can be found inside a giant sandpit.

Both play parks have picnic benches and BBQ areas nearby, or you can use the on-site restaurant and cafe. There’s also an outside dining area that allows parents to keep watch while the kids are having fun.

Things to Do

Safari Drive-Thru : Embark on an exciting self-drive safari to see zebras, ostriches, bison, and monkeys roam free in the park. Don’t forget to make sure all your windows are closed as you drive, and if you have a convertible, make sure the roof is up before you enter the lion enclosure!

Keeper Talks : The team at Blair Drummond Safari Park holds daily talks about the most popular animals, including what they like to eat, where they come from, and how they manage to survive in the challenging conditions of the modern world. Conservation is a key aspect of the talks, but they’re also fun and engaging for children.

Sea Lion Show: Enjoy the clever California sea lions’ daily live training demonstrations as they display their agility skills. The keepers also provide insightful commentary about the natural behaviours of these animals in a show that’s easily one of the most popular in the entire park.

Bird of Prey Centre : See an incredible collection of eagles, hawks, and owls at the Bird of Prey Centre. The daily flying demonstrations are a must-see, as you can watch these magnificent creatures soar through the sky and learn about their crucial role in the ecosystem.

Adventure Playground : The park’s adventure playground is a fun-filled area with a fortress, pirate ship, and giant slides. Kids can burn off energy while parents relax in a nearby seating area with a coffee in hand, knowing their children are in a safe and secure environment. The playground is designed to be inclusive, so children of all abilities can enjoy it.

Things to Do Nearby

Doune Castle . Castle Hill, Doune, FK16 6EA. 10-minute drive. A mediaeval castle with one of the largest curtain walls in Scotland. Doune Castle is located near the River Teith in the historic village of Doune. It is famous for being the filming site for Monty Python, Outlander, and Game of Thrones.

Stirling Castle . Upper Castlehill, Stirling, FK8 1EN. 11-minute drive. One of the largest castles in Scotland and second only to Edinburgh Castle in importance, this 12th-century fortification was the original seat of power for the nation’s royalty. Today, it offers tourists permanent exhibitions, renovated rooms complete with period furniture and paintings, a café, and a shop.

Deanston Distillery . Teith Rd., Deanston, Doune, FK16 6AG. 6-minute drive. Located in a former cotton mill, this distillery on the banks of the River Teith offers guided whisky tours, tasting experiences, a shop, and a café.

Briarlands Farm . Blair Drummond, Stirling FK9 4UP. 2-minute drive. A farm-themed zoo is situated behind the safari park. This family-friendly attraction features a petting zoo, go-karting, a field maze, berry picking, play parks, and tractor rides.

River Teith . 10-minute drive. This picturesque river is the setting for lots of relaxing walks along its banks, which can be visited from almost any point along its length. The river is renowned both for its fishing and for the arched bridge that crosses it half a mile southwest of Doune village.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go to blair drummond safari park without a car.

Blair Drummond Safari Park features a drive-through safari that makes it very convenient for visitors with cars. However, it’s not strictly necessary to have a car to visit, as a large part of it can be walked around. The closest major town is Stirling, from which you can take a taxi or a local bus service. Note that some attractions within the park, like the drive-through safari, are designed only for motor vehicles.

How long does Blair Drummond Safari Park take?

The drive through the safari park takes around 30 minutes. The theme park area can take an hour to an entire day, depending on how much time is spent at each attraction and animal enclosure.

Do you need a car for Blair Drummond Safari Park?

A car is required for the safari park drive. Public transportation is available for accessing the theme park area on foot (buses #59, 160, and S60, X10A stop at the entrance).

Is Blair Drummond open all year?

Blair Drummond Safari Park is a seasonal attraction and is open from spring to autumn only, from mid-March onwards.

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Craig Neil is the author, photographer, admin, and pretty much everything else behind Out About Scotland. He lives near Edinburgh and spends his free time exploring Scotland and writing about his experiences. Follow him on Pinterest , Facebook , and YouTube .

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Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park Admission

Home to over 300 animals, Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure park offers an exciting experience getting up close to the animals. Choose from some of the more tailed animal experiences or enjoy a safari day out with the whole family.

Located on a beautiful 160-acre estate just outside Stirling, Blair Drummond is one of the area’s most popular visitor attractions and home to some of its most fascinating inhabitants.  There are over 300 animals at Blair Drummond, including giraffes, tigers, and chimpanzees, all cared for by an expert team of keepers and vets.

With activities to suit all ages, this is a full day out! You’ll get up close and personal with lions, rhinos, and monkeys in the drive-thru reserves, come face to face with lemurs in their walk-through enclosure, and learn about the safari park’s role in the conservation of endangered species at educational animal talks throughout the day.  You can even meet the dinosaurs in their prehistoric forest… if you’re brave enough!

Want to get a behind-the-scenes look at your favourite animals?  Book in for one of the thrilling animal experiences. Become a keeper for the day and create some memories that you’ll never forget!

Facilities include indoor restaurant, takeaway taco bar, wood-fired pizza hut, BBQ and picnic areas, viewing platforms and an AMAZING adventure play area.

Open seven days a week, from 10.00am until 5.30pm.

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Wee Walking Tours

• Jun 21, 2022

Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park

We are always up for an adventure, and when an attraction has that word in it, we know that we’re in for an exciting time. So, grab your safari jacket, hat, and sturdy walking shoes, because we are headed to Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park in the ‘wilds’ just beyond Stirling, Scotland.

We have a well-established love of animals as evidenced by our many posts on our local Edinburgh Zoo, but sometimes it’s fun to venture out and explore other places. Fortunately, we didn’t have to travel too far for our latest adventure as it is less than an hour’s drive from Edinburgh to the outskirts of Stirling.

Drive-Thru Animal Reserves

When we arrived at Blair Drummond, we decided that we wanted to head out to do the drive-thru of the animal reserves first. We were banking on the fact that it was morning time and were hoping the animals would be out and about enjoying some breakfast. Fortunately, we were in luck as we were able to see a variety of species roaming their habitats.

As you drive through the animal reserves, it’s fun to imagine that you’ve been transported to the wide-open spaces of the plains or savannas of Africa. And that isn’t hard to do when you are driving around and see a pride of majestic lions!

Other animals you might see roaming the drive-thru reserves include Ankole Cattle, Greater Kudu, White Rhinos, Barbary Macaques, and Bactrian Camels to name just a few.

Animals Big & Small

After fascinating drive through the animal reserves, we parked our vehicle and headed to the Safari Park where the grounds are spread out over 160 acres. There are over 300 animals at Blair Drummond, so we recommend that you set aside an entire day to be able to properly explore the Park.

Look out for animals big and small. Some of our favourite animals at the bigger end of the spectrum included White rhinos, giraffes, zebra, and an African elephant.

We were also excited to see that Blair Drummond Safari Park recently had a rather hairy group of new arrivals…a fold of Highland cattle (affectionately known as ‘hairy coos’). According to Blair Drummond, there are five males- Avalon, Paddy, Ben, Ueli and Cowboy- and three females- White, Hika and Valentina. On our visit, we were fortunate to see some of them up close and they seemed as curious to check us out as we did them!

Close to the Highland cattle pastures is Chimp Island. This was one of my favourite habitats of the entire park as they have clearly done a wonderful job at creating a beautiful place where they chimpanzees can relax or have some fun climbing around their own adventure playground.

Not to be forgotten are some of the smaller animals. One fun area is the Pets Farm Animals section of the Safari Park.

Here are a few more of some of our smaller friends in the animal kingdom:

Dinosaurs at the Park!

While exploring Blair Drummond Safari Park, we came across a few surprise inhabitants. It seems that some of the dinosaurs that escaped Jurassic World have made their way to Blair Drummond! So, be sure to tread carefully through Park as you never know who or what you might come across. Scroll through the slideshow below (clicking on the back arrow) to see some of the dinosaurs we saw on our visit:

Activities For All Ages

The adventure park aspect of Blair Drummond has various activities that are great fun for all ages. For the wee ones, there is a large playground complex where kids can ‘set sail’ on their own adventures on land or water via the charming pedal boats.

Let’s be real for a second. Eating certainly qualifies as an important ‘activity’ that we all must do every day. Fortunately, Blair Drummond Safari Park has some excellent food options. For example, we got the Wagyu beef bacon cheeseburger from the Safari Shack Grill and BBQ and the dirty fries with pulled pork shoulder to share. I’m pleased to say that the food was excellent, and the portions were generous- meaning you get your money’s worth. This was a refreshing surprise in the age of paying more for less.

Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts are important to us, and we were pleased to see that Blair Drummond Safari Park puts it at the forefront of their work. They state that they work with the European Endangered Species Programme on various breeding programmes to help rare species. Additionally, Blair Drummond states that, “since 2014 we have disbursed over £192k, which has helped fund important projects, protecting endangered species in the wild from extinction”. Last, but not least, the Park works closely with Scottish Universities on various research programmes including ones that inform their conservation efforts.

Planning Your Visit

I hope you have enjoyed our brief visit to Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park. If you are in the Stirling area, we highly recommend that you visit them. Please note that, at the time of writing, tickets must be booked in advance and are not available to purchase at the gate. Be sure to head over to the Blair Drummond website for more information on how to best plan your visit.

As we close, if you haven’t done so already, we encourage you to subscribe to our blog as we have upcoming articles that we will be publishing on some amazing places we’ve visited on our travels around Edinburgh as well as further afield throughout Scotland.

Until next time- Explore & Discover!

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Scots safari park welcomes first chimpanzee in eight years

Peter the chimp was transferred from a zoo in Leicestershire.

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A safari park has welcomed a chimpanzee into its resident troop for the first time in eight years.

Visitors to Blair Drummond Safari Park can now see Peter, a 31-year-old male, who arrived in February.

He was transferred to Blair Drummond near Stirling from Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire on February 29.

He had been living alongside another male chimp, Tommy, before the move was recommended by the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme, as it is hoped his relocation will allow Tommy to re-integrate with Twycross’s breeding troop.

For the past few weeks Peter has been settling into his new home and on April 4 he was introduced to Blair Drummond’s resident male, Chippie.

The park said this was carefully planned as introducing chimps can be a complex process requiring patience and strict safety protocols.

Chimpanzee team leader Alasdair Gillies said: “Introducing Peter and Chippie for the first time was naturally quite nerve-wracking.

“Thankfully, this went very well, and the two boys quickly engaged in playing behaviours. Chippie was born here 37 years ago and had never actually met another male chimp.

“However, he’s always been very playful, and we were hopeful that he would enjoy finally having a male friend to play with. Happily, this appears to be the case.

“Peter has also since been introduced to our female chimp, Gill, and the troop now have unrestricted contact with each other.

“We’re delighted that Peter has integrated so well and are certain he will enhance the dynamics of our troop.”

Mr Gillies described Peter as “really thoughtful and clever”.

He added: “He’s always watching everything around him and is quite talkative too. He’s not shy about telling us exactly what he wants. He’s a brilliant climber and a star in his daily training sessions.

“We’ve had to earn his trust but now he knows us better, he’s full of character.”

The safari park said all species of chimp are now considered to be endangered in the wild, due to a range of threats including habitat loss, disease and the illegal wildlife trade.

They are also still widely poached for their meat and at risk from warfare across the regions in which they live.

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Blair Drummond Safari Park

Please select date and arrival time below, early entry is not permitted. The park is open from 10am - 5:30pm daily, and on Saturday 4th & 25th May until 7pm.

Please make one booking per vehicle arriving at the park. Pets are not permitted inside the Safari Park, basic kennel facilities are available at the entrance, further information here

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Win a family trip to Blair Drummond Safari Park and see the new highland cows

Answer one question for your chance to win a family pass to Blair Drummond Safari Park

• 12:20, 23 JUN 2022

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The Courier has teamed up with Blair Drummond Safari Park to offer readers the chance to win a family pass for two adults and two children each week - and learn a bit more about their residents at the same time.

Last month the team welcomed their new family of Highland Cows.

The safari park’s communications and conservation manager Jamie-Leigh Green said: “We now have five hairy gentlemen (Avalon, Paddy, Ben, Ueli and Cowboy) and three hirsute ladies (White, Hika and Valentina).

“These characterful cattle are a great addition to the park, and they have settled into their new home very well.

“The cattle came to us from a private estate near Kilmarnock and look spectacular in their new field.

“Highland cattle are a native Scottish species and are the oldest registered cattle breed in the world.

“Although we now mostly think of Highland Cows as being ginger, they were originally black in colour.

“Nowadays they can also be yellow, brindle, dun or white.

“As their shaggy coats suggest, Highland cattle are designed for the cold Scottish weather, with two layers to their thick coats. Their fluffy undercoats help to keep them nice and cosy during our cold winters, while the longer hair on top helps keep the rain and snow off.

“Amazingly, this long hair also means that they sometimes act as pollinators, just like bees.

“ Pollen and wildflower seeds will attach to their coats and then drop off, helping them to move to new locations.

“And although they might look a bit intimidating, in the wild Highland Cattle actually use their strong horns to dig through snow and ice when foraging for food.

“Unlike other breeds of cow, the group name for Highland cattle is a ‘fold’ rather than a ‘herd’. This name comes from the stone shelters that they would be kept in overnight during winter to protect them from the harsh weather. Fortunately, the weather is a bit warmer than that at the moment, so the family have been enjoying the summer sunshine and exploring their new enclosure.”

Blair Drummond Safari Park is open seven days a week, from 10am until 5.30pm. Tickets can be booked online at blairdrummond.com.

For a chance to win a family pass, which can be used any one day during the park’s opening season this year, just answer the following question:

What colour were Highland cattle originally?

Send the coupon with your answer, name, address and contact number to: Safari Park Competition, West Lothian Courier, One Central Quay, Glasgow, G3 8DA. The deadline is Wednesday at 4pm. Only original vouchers will be accepted.

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Safari Park welcomes first chimpanzee in eight years

A safari park has welcomed a chimpanzee into its resident troop for the first time in eight years.

Visitors to Blair Drummond Safari Park can now see Peter, a 31-year-old male, who arrived in February.

He was transferred to Blair Drummond near Stirling from Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire on February 29.

He had been living alongside another male chimp, Tommy, before the move was recommended by the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme, as it is hoped his relocation will allow Tommy to re-integrate with Twycross’s breeding troop.

The park said this was carefully planned as introducing chimps can be a complex process requiring patience and strict safety protocols.

Chimpanzee team leader Alasdair Gillies said: “Introducing Peter and Chippie for the first time was naturally quite nerve-wracking.

“Thankfully, this went very well, and the two boys quickly engaged in playing behaviours. Chippie was born here 37 years ago and had never actually met another male chimp.

“However, he’s always been very playful, and we were hopeful that he would enjoy finally having a male friend to play with. Happily, this appears to be the case.

“Peter has also since been introduced to our female chimp, Gill, and the troop now have unrestricted contact with each other.

“We’re delighted that Peter has integrated so well and are certain he will enhance the dynamics of our troop.”

She added: “He’s always watching everything around him and is quite talkative too. He’s not shy about telling us exactly what he wants.

“He’s a brilliant climber and a star in his daily training sessions. We’ve had to earn his trust but now he knows us better, he’s full of character.”

The safari park said all species of chimp are now considered to be endangered in the wild, due to a range of threats including habitat loss, disease and the illegal wildlife trade.

They are also still widely poached for their meat and at risk from warfare across the regions in which they live.

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Safari park welcomes first chimpanzee in eight years

Peter, a 31 year old male, has been making new friends

• 10:47, 25 APR 2024

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A former resident of Leicestershire's Twycross Zoo has moved to a new home. Peter, 32, arrived at Blair Drummond Safari Park, in Scotland, at the end of February, and is now settling in to his fresh abode and making new friends, according to bosses. Peter is the first new chimpanzee to arrive at the park in eight years.

Before his relocation, which was part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme's recommendation, Peter was living in Leicestershire with another male chimp named Tommy. The move aims to help Tommy reintegrate with the breeding group back at Twycross.

Peter, who was born at Twycross, has been getting accustomed to his new surroundings for several weeks, and at the start of April met Blair Drummond's own male chimp, Chippie, for the first time. The introduction process was meticulously orchestrated, as integrating chimps can be intricate, demanding patience and stringent safety measures.

READ MORE Meet 'Instagram famous' Leicester cat who has social media account tracking his adventures

Alasdair Gillies, the park's chimpanzee team leader, said: "Introducing Peter and Chippie for the first time was naturally quite nerve-wracking. Thankfully, this went very well, and the two boys quickly engaged in playing behaviours.

"Chippie was born here 37 years ago and had never actually met another male chimp. However, he's always been very playful, and we were hopeful that he would enjoy finally having a male friend to play with. Happily, this appears to be the case."

Peter has also been introduced to the park's female chimp, Gill, and now the troop enjoys unrestricted interaction.

"We're delighted that Peter has integrated so well and are certain he will enhance the dynamics of our troop," said a spokesperson for the safari park.

Keeper Georgie Taylor described Peter as "really thoughtful and clever". "He's always watching everything around him and is quite talkative too," she said. "He's not shy about telling us exactly what he wants. He's a brilliant climber and a star in his daily training sessions. We've had to earn his trust but now he knows us better, he's full of character."

The safari park said all species of chimp are considered endangered in the wild due to habitat loss, disease, and the illegal wildlife trade. They also face threats from poaching for their meat and the impact of regional conflicts.

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