Accessibility Guide for Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure Park

Travel by public transport

There is no pavement between the bus stop and the entrance to the Safari Park — the roadside verge is soft and unsuitable for wheelchairs.

Travel by taxi

Parking

The Safari Park is easily accessed by car and our large car park is located next to the animal enclosures and attractions. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and following the government guidance, we no longer offer a bus transport to visitors without vehicles. 

Main entrance

Ticket/ information desk

Ticket Office

There is no wheelchair access into the Ticket Office. Visitors have to pre-book tickets online. They can get information online prior to their visit, or on arrival from our ticket booths which are all accessible by car. 

Things to See and Do

Drive-thru Reserves

Our four drive-thru reserves can be accessed by car, minibus or coach. All visitors driving through these areas must stay in their vehicles and keep windows closed. Our Safari Bus is not running. This means that visitors who arrive without their own transport will be unable to visit the drive-thru. If you don’t have a car, not to worry. The majority of our animals can be viewed from the platforms or animal enclosures.

Pets Farm

Pets Farm is an outdoor area and home to animals such as horses, alpacas, rabbits and guinea pigs, penguins, goats, sheep, meerkats, and lemurs. There is a hard-surface pathway throughout, fencing with open spaces at various heights and glass viewing panes from floor height. There are opportunities to pet some of the animals, and a handwashing station with wheelchair accessible sinks is located in the farm area. There is also a new tiger viewing area in the Pets Farm. 

Access from the top of the park to Pets Farm has a gravel path but part of it is tarmac. Some of the surface is not smooth but it is mostly wheelchair accessible.

Tiger viewing platform

The viewing platform is a great way for visitors to see our tigers, and the display panels with information about the animals can be read from a seated position. The ramp leading to the platform has a slight incline and has anti slippery surface.

Our tiger viewing platform is now open for all visitors. Our tigers can be also viewed from an additional area in Pets Farm.

Amusement rides

Our outdoor amusement area includes dodgems, mini Land Rovers and an astroglide slide. Most rides have some steps including the dodgems — access is by a permanent ramp and a single step — and the astroglide slide has a steep flight of steps.

All rides are supervised by staff members who will be happy to help assist visitors with disabilities. 

Play park

The outdoor play park has a giant play fort, a new smaller fort, large sandpit, swings and see-saw. The 'crow's nest' and infant swings are both easily accessible, and we also have an undercover play area. There are hard pathways throughout for easy wheelchair and pram access.

Bird of Prey Centre

The Bird of Prey Centre has an outdoor arena where our bird of prey presentations take place three times a day. There is plenty of seating and a designated area for wheelchairs and pushchairs — access is flat and open. 

There is also an enclosed area called Birds of Prey Centre that can be accessed through a doorway which is 780mm wide. There is a permanent ramp and hard flat path, the narrowest point being 2500mm. It is wheelchair and pram accessible. 

Lion viewing platform

Visitors can watch the lions from a raised viewing platform which is accessed by permanent ramp — the narrowest point is 990mm. You can also see them from ground level, where there are seating areas. 

Rhinoceros House

The Rhinoceros House has outdoor and indoor enclosures, with glazed viewing panes from floor level. 

Elephant House

Elephant House is accessed by a permanent ramp which has a slight incline. See our elephant from the outside viewing platform or indoors, accessed via a double door — windows are floor to ceiling. 

Elephant House and Elephant viewing platform are now open. 

Giraffe viewing platform

The giraffe viewing platform has a permanent ramp with a slight incline and viewing glass. Visitors can see the giraffes in their enclosures thanks to a new big viewing window. 

Chimp Island

The boat trip to Chimp Island has not restarted. Unfortunately, after two years on dry land our boats just aren’t fit for sailing. We are also unable to manage the queues effectively and are struggling to recruit boat drivers. We’re working on a solution to this but, for now, you can only view our chimps on foot. 

Pedal boats

There is a flat, hard pathway leading to the pedal boats. Note that there is a step down to pedal boats so wheelchair access is not possible. For Health & Safety reasons, flying fox is closed.  

Lemur Land

Access to Lemur Land is through double electric doors and the pathway is flat and smooth throughout. It is wheelchair accessible and all the signs are visible from seated position. There is one-way system. 

Animal enclosures

The enclosures for our penguins, giraffes, ostrich, rhinos and elephant all have low viewing glass. Our new meerkat enclosure is fully wheelchair accessible. Our brand-new sea lion pool is now finished. It is fully wheelchair and pram accessible. A new wheelchair accessible pathway to Pets Farm has been created.

Meerkat Mansions

Visitors can now view the meerkats in a brand new outdoor and indoor habitat too, with floor-to-ceiling glass viewing areas. This new indoor space is also fully wheelchair accessible, so everyone can enjoy all the cheeky antics of our meerkat friends. 

Public toilet

Changing Places toilet

You will need RADAR keys to access Changing Places toilet. The RADAR keys are available at the Victoria's Pizzeria or amusement ticketing booth.

Public toilet

There are several standard accessible toilets, as well as disabled toilets with raised seats and handrails, and baby changing rooms.

Shop

Gift shops

We have two gift shops — one beside the amusement area and the other beside the pedal boats. Entranceways to the shops are flat and both have enough space inside to turn a wheelchair or pram.

Place to eat and drink

Food Court Restaurant

The Food Court Restaurant overlooks the play park. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible and has ample indoor and outdoor seating. We also have facilities to warm baby food and an allergens list is available for visitors with food allergies.

Place to eat and drink

Taco Bar & Ice-cream parlour - outside

Taco Bar & Ice-cream parlour. The ultimate folded fast-food with a choice of filling and ice-cream offerings. There’s outside seating and the food ordering point is accessible for wheelchair users. New stretch tent has been added to the area providing more undercover seating. It is wheelchair and pram accessible. 

Place to eat and drink

Safari Shack Grill & BBQ - outside

Head to the Safari Shack for a homemade burger, chips and hot dogs. There's level access to the food ordering point and outside seating is available. Open at peak times only. It is wheelachair and pram fully accessible. 

Place to eat and drink

Chakula Cafe - outside

Toasted sandwiches, ciabattas and delicious hot snacks on the go, as well as a selection of teas and coffees. The Chakula Cafe is located beside the boat stop to Chimp Island and has level access to the food ordering point. It is wheelachair and pram fully accessible. 

Place to eat and drink

Hot Chocolate Bar

This is an outdoor kiosk that sells delicious hot chocolates. It is a wheelchair accessible area and there are benches nearby for seating. 

Place to eat and drink

Donuts & Coffee Bar

This is an outdoor kiosk that sells doughnuts, coffees and teas. It is situated near our BBQ area. There is a slight incline but it is wheelchair accessible and the visitors are welcome to use undercover BBQ area nearby. 

Sea Lion Building

The new sea lion habitat is open and our sea lions have returned to the Park, but they are still settling into their new surroundings and not ready to perform. We expect the sea lion display to restart in early summer and, in the meantime, you can see the sea lions in their outdoor area and meet their keepers in Q&As, which will take place throughout the day. The area around the sea lion habitat is wheelchair and pram accessible.  

Picnic Area

Barbecue area

Our new barbecue area is easily accessible by wheelchair users, and families with prams and buggies. It is sheltered so can be used on rainy days. Barbecues can be booked on arrival and we provide charcoal free of charge. 

Picnic areas

Picnic areas are located throughout the park, all easily accessible by wheelchair. We also have specially designed picnic benches for wheelchair users.

Dinosaurs

The dinosaur exhibit has over 20 life size dinosaurs. There is also a dinosaur dig area and photo opportunities. The prehistoric animals are installed into a 1000m2 area of woodland at the Safari Park, which visitors enter through giant ‘Jurassic Park’ style gates. The permanent attraction has been installed to mark the Safari Park’s fiftieth anniversary.

The path has a slight incline.  

Accessibility equipment

We have a limited number of wheelchairs for hire on a first come, first served basis. We charge a £20.00 deposit, fully refundable when you return the wheelchair.

There is no designated charging area for mobility scooters or battery-charged wheelchairs, but we do have access points where batteries can be charged if needed.

Emergency evacuation procedures

Our emergency planning and procedures take into account visitors with disabilities, and we now have a Tannoy loudspeaker system.

For information:

We have spare harnesses available for emergency use in the Changing Places toilet.

Customer care support

All Safari Park staff in customer services roles have had disability awareness training. e have a member of staff who can use Makaton.