Have you ever dreamed of going on a safari in Africa, getting up close to the lions and elephants? Luckily you can recreate this sense of adventure right here in the UK. Take a break from driving by booking a trip with South East Coaches. You can simply relax and enjoy the views.

The best parks provide an unforgettable experience where you will get up close to the wild animals, often seeing endangered species and be transported to the plains of Africa or the jungles of Asia. 

There are many great zoos to visit but these are 5 of the best drive-through safari parks and zoos in the UK.

Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire

Longleat was the pioneer of safari parks in the UK. To this day it still provides everything you would want to experience. It’s 360 acres are home to lions and tigers roaming wildly. The monkey habitat brings you closer than you might want as they clamber over your vehicle. Coach hire means that you can keep your car safe. There are white rhino in the Big Game Park and you can meet giraffes and zebras in the African Village.

Woburn Safari Park, Buckinghamshire

Here in this 300 acre park, you will start with a road safari followed by a foot safari. The large animal exhibits include tigers, black bears and white bears. The animals roam in the extensive, beautiful countryside often coming really close to vehicles for a close-up experience. Get a premium view by booking a ticket with South East coaches. You can see a herd of buffalo on the Northern plains and a whole pride of lions in the Kingdom of Carnivores. The foot safari will give you the opportunity to see the smaller animals and enjoy informative talks from the zookeepers.

West Midland Safari Park, Worcestershire

This 150 acre park gives you the opportunity to get close to cheetahs, zebras and elephants. One of the most popular experiences is the white rhino herd on the African Plains. You will find rare deer cohabiting alongside buffalo. Elephant Valley is lucky to have young Sutton who will energetically entertain as he charges around, watched by his Mum. With Dinosaur Land and an ice age experience, there is something for all the family.

Knowsley Safari Park, Merseyside

This 550 acre park has the longest safari drive in the UK. The 5 mile drive will take you through different zones where you can get really close to the animals and the circuit takes around an hour to complete. The highlight has to be the lion enclosure where the lions wander between the vehicles. Other animals include tigers, white rhino and antelopes. The baboons always delight visitors with their funny antics.

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Kent

The Port Lympne reserve has over 900 different animals, many of which are rare and endangered. The 600 acre park has been open since 1976 and hosts 88 different species. Conservation is at the heart of the zoo’s philosophy and you can be assured that the animals are very well cared for. Your ticket fee helps to fund their mission. The Aspinall Foundation aims to stop the extinction of rare breeds and return endangered animals to the wild when possible. You can see some more unusual animals such as painted dogs and west lowland gorilla as well as black rhinos. You will also find European wolves and spectacled bears.