Woburn Safari Park will be reopening their Road Safari from next Monday (15/6) following last night's Government announcement.
Boris Johnson has announced that outdoor attractions, including zoos, drive-in cinemas and safari parks, are allowed to reopen. This much-anticipated update is likely to save popular attractions throughout the UK, as many zoos warned that they were even on the brink of going bust.
Families will now be able to visit Woburn Safari Park from Monday, with tickets going on sale on their website from 9am on Saturday (13/6). It is not yet known how much the tickets will cost, but Woburn Safari Park has said they will be "reduced" with a price per car as the main option.
While Woburn Safari Park has been waiting for this "much welcomed" update, staff have been busy putting various safety measures in place. "Every necessary precaution has been taken to safeguard the health and well being of staff, visitors and animals," a spokesperson said.
Precautions include:
- Entry to the park with be through the Ridgmont Gate entrance (Sat Nav MK17 9QN), a patrol driver will be at the gate to ensure only Woburn Safari Park guests are allowed entry.
- Visitors are only able to enter the park, travelling in your own vehicle, as you are able to self-isolate within your car thus maintaining social distancing, as per Government guidelines.
- Tickets are only available to purchase online to reduce all unnecessary contact with cashiers.
- Tickets are strictly limited to maintain safe volumes of cars in the Road Safari and the number of people using toilet facilities.
- Toilet access will be strictly controlled by a social distancing patrol attendant. Access will be provided per family / visitor group and a queueing system in place.
- Cleaning routines will be continuous throughout the day. To ensure the highest possible standards of cleanliness, all cleaning products have been upgraded to specifically target both bacterial and virucidal cleaning. Toilets will be cleaned by operatives, directly after each family / visitor group exits the toilet block, ready for the next group to enter.
- Staff have been fully briefed and are following the strictest health and safety standards and have all been supplied with the appropriate PPE.
Central Bedfordshire Council, the park's licensing authority, has also visited for an inspection and has confirmed that the Road Safari has passed all COVID-19 requirements.
Visitors will be able to see "wild animals in wide open outdoor spaces, while respecting social distancing guidelines including having minimal contact with people outside of your household".
The lockdown baby boom has continued in time for the welcomed Road Safari reopening with the births of two bear cubs and an alpaca baby, amongst other new arrivals.
The two North American black bear cubs are the first to be born at the Park since the last surprise trio arrived in 2016. The new babies have comfortably settled into a ground-level den, in an enclosed half-acre pen spending quiet bonding time with mum Phoenix and away from other bears. Developing well and behaving like typical young babies – they are sleeping for long periods of time, playing together and suckling.
The female alpaca baby born to father Pyro and mother Lydia is the fifth born to the herd. Described by keepers as confident, having floppy ears and settling in nicely, she has already been mingling with other young alpacas that were born last year.
The Road Safari takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes and visitors can drive round as many times as they like.
The reopening of the Foot Safari, when safe to do so, will be announced soon.
