Accessible Britain

THE WEST MIDLANDS AND WEST COUNTRY
is fun and a great way to see the
Giraffe, West Midland Safari and Leisure Park
animals up close, but take some
tissues with you, as you may be
left with slobber on your hands!
The latest exhibit in the animal
reserves is Realm of the Lions,
which is home to a pride of twelve
African Lions. You are welcome
to drive around the park as many
times as you wish. Guided minibus
tours (£4.50) are available, but you
need to be able to board the vehicle
on foot.
After the safari experience,
there is even more to enjoy in the
rest of the park. Penguin Cove is
home to a colony of Humboldt
penguins, complete with a semisubmerged
beach and underwater
viewing area, while the African
Village houses Meerkat Mayhem
and Lemur Woods. There’s also
Creepy Crawlies, Seaquarium,
Twilight Cave, Mark O’Shea’s
Reptile World and various animal
encounters throughout the day.
As the park is a pedestrian area
you’ll need to leave your car in
the disabled parking area near
the entrance. There are some
considerable distances to cover, and a few slopes to negotiate, but rest stops are provided
along the way. Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed too, but do call ahead to book and
note that your car keys or driving licence will need to be left as a deposit. Access to most
of the animal houses, including the ramped high walkway over the hippo enclosure, is
reasonable, although disabled visitors should be prepared for some steep and uneven
surfaces. The park boasts thirty rides and unsurprisingly not all of them are accessible. If
you can transfer from your wheelchair, the intense Venom Tower Drop and the delightful
Jumbo Parade family ride, among others, are manageable. You can find a very brief but
useful overview of each ride on the “fun” section of the website, along with lots of other
information.
FOOD & DRINK aa The Explorers Café is midway through the park and has plenty of
healthy options, a children’s menu, disabled toilet and lots of outdoor seating. Most of
the seating is fixed, but there are some moveable chairs.
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