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Be immersed in a true, simulated African savannah on this unforgettable animal experience at Werribee Open Range Zoo just 30 minutes from Melbourne. On this experience, you'll be taken into the heart of the savannah and surrounded by a range of incredible wildlife from the African continent including the likes of rhinos, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and more - it's akin to feeling a world away despite being just outside one of Australia's biggest cities. The safari is conducted aboard purpose-built, open-sided vehicles that provide great, unrestricted views of all the wildlife with numbers limited to a maximum of 14 people, ensuring you'll get the best possible vantage point from which to take all the animals in.
Throughout the journey, you'll learn a whole range of new and interesting facts about each of the animals and the environment of the African savannah in general, while being able to get up close, stop and take photos. In addition, after the safari tour is over, you'll have full access to the rest of the excellent Werribee Open Range Zoo for the day and be able to explore it at your leisure. Renowned for its entirely different atmosphere to most zoos, Werribee is an award-winning attraction that puts wildlife conservation at the forefront, and its open-ended nature makes it a highly memorable day out. Enhance your trip to Werribee in an unforgettable way - book an off-road safari tour online today.
Note
Visitors aged 16 years and over must be fully vaccinated. This is still subject to Public Health considerations of epidemiology at the time. This is a legal requirement under the Health Directions as endorsed by the Chief Health Officer in order to protect the health and safety of Victorians. All visitors must present their digital COVID-19 vaccine certificate upon entry
Inclusions
Entry to Werribee Open Range Zoo
Off Road Safari tour
Highlights
Experience your own African adventure safari with an Open Vehicle Adventure at Werribee Open Range Zoo
In this behind the scenes encounter you will meet an expert guide and board a specially designed open vehicle which accommodates only 14 people
Heading off road you will be completely immersed in the sights, smells and sounds of the savannah as you travel across the Zoo's open plains spotting rhinoceros, giraffes, zebras and antelopes
Imagine being surrounded by magnificent wildlife and taking the perfect safari photo just 30 minutes from Melbourne's city centre
Time
Tours run daily at 10.30am and 12pm
Duration
Approx 75 minutes
Additional Information
Maximum 14 people
Minimum age of 8 years
Children tickets FOC on public and school holidays only
Booking Information
Confirmation in the form of a tour voucher will be received at time of booking
Upon completion of purchase, please print the voucher and present on day of the tour
For your information, complete Tour Operator Information including contact details is included on your tour voucher
4.8 out of 5 stars
5 stars
80%(4)
4 stars20%(1)
3 stars0%(0)
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Charlene Mola2 years ago
“
Would definitely recommend the off-road tour. The off-road safari tour was really good, the tour guide was very knowledgeable and we were able to get up close and were provided more information than what you would have got on the normal safari. The zoo itself was lacking animals, it's a big zoo however we found there weren't many animals around and a few places closed (maybe just unlucky). I would have been disappointed if I went to the zoo.
Would definitely recommend the off-road tour
Charlene Mola2 years ago
Would definitely recommend the off-road tour. The off-road safari tour was really good, the tour guide was very knowledgeable and we were able to get up close and were provided more information than what you would have got on the normal safari. The zoo itself was lacking animals, it's a big zoo however we found there weren't many animals around and a few places closed (maybe just unlucky). I would have been disappointed if I went to the zoo.
The off-road safari was really good
Charlene Mola2 years ago
The off-road safari was really good. You were able to get up close to the animals and learn more about the animals. The zoo itself isn’t up to much, not many animals and most of the areas were empty. I would recommend the trip for the off-road safari but not the zoo alone.
The Off Road Safari Tour was such an amazing experience
Edward Bushrod3 years ago
The Off Road Safari Tour was such an amazing experience. To get up so close to so many animals especially the Rhinos, Giraffes, Zebra and more for the opportunity to take so many fantastic photos was incredible. The tour guide was very enthusiastic, answered as many questions/giving so much information about what had happened with the various animals/why they were at Werribee Open Range Zoo and what conservation programmes the zoo was running alongside other Australian zoos. Definitely a tour worth going on.
This off-road safari was incredible
Brittney - Staff Review4 years ago
This off-road safari was incredible! We were able to get up close to the animals in the vehicle and stay with them for longer than the looping bus included in the entry ticket. We watched the animals at feeding time for a relatively close distance, which made for some awesome photo opportunities! Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a smaller safari encounter with a guaranteed great seat.
Last Wednesday 24th January
Vicki Baird4 years ago
Last Wednesday 24th January, we went to Werribee Open Range Zoo and did the off-road safari. This experience was sensational. You feel like you are actually in Africa. You are so close to the animals you could touch them. The safari tour guide was fantastic. An experience of a lifetime!
“With this activity being available to limited numbers only and highly popular, we recommend you book well in advance.”
Werribee Open Range Zoo Off-Road Safari Review
Brittney Deguara
Experience Oz Travel Writer
If you’re looking for an epic animal encounter without the hefty price tag, a trip to the Victorian countryside will soon put you in the right place. Located just a short trip from the Melbourne CBD sits Werribee Open Range Zoo, with a range of animal experiences unlike any other available in Australia.
So lace up your shoes, put on your hat and make sure your camera is fully charged as you get ready for a day exploring the ‘African Savannah’.
That's exactly what I did on my most recent visit and boy was I impressed.
How to get there
By car: Werribee Open Range Zoo is located around 38 minutes southwest of the CBD and features a large, free car park.
By public transport: If travelling from the city you can catch the Werribee Train Line out to Werribee Station and then a bus from the station to the front entrance of the zoo.
By shuttle: You can book onto the zoo shuttle that departs the CBD every morning.
Highlights
Hang out with giraffes, rhinos & zebras
Wide range of animals
Informative animal presentations
Scenic journey through the savannah
Entry to the zoo
Great for all ages
What you'll do
Explore the zoo
Werribee Open Range Zoo is a large, open-plan animal attraction that houses a number of native and exotic animals. So before the Off-Road Safari took off at 11 am, we had time to explore all the park has to offer.
With the likes of emus, kangaroos and koalas living along the Australian Journey Trail to the lions, cheetahs, hippos and gorillas spread out in their own large enclosures, we were able to get a look at a range of animals.
Watch a presentation
There are animal presentations and feeding sessions dotted throughout the day, however, we were only able to see the Serval presentation. While this may look like just a bigger version of our cats at home, the friendly and experienced guide taught us about the serval's habits in the wild and their hunting abilities.
This show was one of the main highlights of the day and once it was over the crowd walked away with a new understanding of an animal many of us had never seen before.
The keeper did an excellent job of showing us the. beautiful animal and teaching us all about it in the short time she had with us.
Gear up for the safari
The next thing on our agenda was the anticipated Off-Road Safari. After stopping for a takeaway coffee – insider’s tip, don’t order a coffee nearing midday, you might have to wait with the rest of the zoo who are doing the same – we made our way to Safari Station. Another helpful hint: you aren’t allowed food or beverages on the tour, so prepare to down your piping hot coffee.
The Safari Station is where all of the bus tours around the grounds depart. Queues for the free tour soon begin to form, however, the three-carriage truck is large enough to fit almost all of those waiting in one go. Once we were seated in our 14-person open-air truck we were ready to go.
Be sure to be prompt and on time as you won’t want to keep the remainder of the tour waiting; it could be an unpleasant journey after that. After all of the guests had arrived (we were a little late ourselves), we set out on our off-road safari through the African Savannah.
Explore the savannah
Our first stop was to admire the lazy camels. Not caring one bit that they had company, they continued to go about their day simply laying down and looking around. There was one baby camel contorted in a rather uncomfortable looking position, but it seemed to work for them so we snapped some photos and continued on our way.
Some Przewalski’s Horses, Antelopes and Bison were pointed out, however, they weren’t in the mood for socialising today. We were also taken past some lazing hippos, a mother and daughter duo that is kept separate from the three we saw earlier over personal issues (they don’t like each other).
Driving around the large, open grounds we had to remind ourselves that we were still only a short distance from Melbourne’s busy CBD. The comfortable nature of the grounds was reflected in the strolling, roaming and seemingly carefree animals. The absence of cages and enclosures gave the animals an ample amount of freedom.
A short drive later through the beautiful grounds and through a few un-Savannah like security gates, we arrived at one of the highlights of the safari. As we drove over the hill we were greeted with a group of Rhinos, Zebras and Giraffes enjoying their lunch side-by-side. An unusual sight, as our guide pointed out, that must have been organised by the keepers. Though we kept our distance, we were as close to these animals as I had ever imagined.
As the giraffes neared closer, inspecting the vehicle that tends to visit throughout the day with different occupants each time, we once again felt like we were the animal attractions as opposed to the other way around. The large safari bus passed us and we were left alone with these incredible animals.
Rhino Politics
After learning about them and sitting and watching them for a good amount of time we were ready to leave when a ‘discussion’ began amongst the rhinos. The pack consisted of four women; a grandma, mum, daughter and an auntie and a lone male who is no relation and apparently is not a welcomed intruder.
The fight began over a cooling patch of mud. Grandma signalled it as hers and challenged her granddaughter who tried to join in. Not long after, the lone male strolled over trying to get in on the action but was welcomed with an aggressive pack of women. We watched on as the horns lined up and voices bellowed, eventually resulting in the male retreating quite quickly.
This was not a rare occurrence but we were advised it was quite rare for it to happen when they have company. Not wanting to overstay our welcome we moved along ushered by a curious ostrich showing us the way.
Head back to Safari Station
After a short drive around the grounds on our way back to the station we drove past a placid, statuesque crocodile sunning himself in the mud. This is an aggressive animal that seemed too docile to be real; we were then advised that it was indeed fake after a sufficient amount of photos were snapped.
Before long we were driving back into Safari Station with smiles on our faces and a jig in our step as we were given a memorable tour through the grounds, seeing something that we would have otherwise missed on the normal tour.
What's included
Entry to the zoo
Small group 4WD journey around the savannah
Extended time with the animals
Daily animal presentations
What to bring
Camera
Money to purchase food and souvenirs
Hat & sunglasses
Water
Comfortable walking shoes
Lunch (if you don't want to buy it)
My Recommendations
All in all this was an incredible day and if you have the chance to visit the Werribee Open Range Zoo I strongly advise it, the same goes for this amazing Off-Road Safari! Seeing all of these incredible animals in close proximity while learning about them and their environments was a truly wonderful experience.
The Off-Road Safari was a great way to see and learn about the animals that live in the open plains of Werribee Open Range Zoo. With a small group on board the vehicle, it was a more intimate and comfortable than the general safari included in your entry ticket.
Great for all ages to enjoy, if you're wanting a more up close experience with the animals that everyone can and will enjoy then the Werribee Open Range Zoo Off-Road Safari is the way to go.
Brittney visited Werribee Open Range Zoo as a guest of Zoos Victoria.
Book your spot on Werribee Open Range Zoo's Off-Road Safari online and get ready to explore the world of the animals.
