Highland Wildlife Park – Kingussie

The Highland Wildlife Park is a spectacular 200-acre safari park and zoo nestled in the Cairngorms, where you can see incredible Scottish wildlife alongside amazing cold-weather animals from around the world. Located in Inverness-shire near Kingussie, the park uses the postcode PH21 1NL.

What to Expect and Enjoy

This is a thrilling day out that combines a drive-through safari with a beautiful walking zoo. It is an amazing chance to get up close with rare creatures in a wild, natural setting.

• The Drive-Through Safari: You start the adventure by driving your own car right through a massive main reserve. Watch in delight as herds of majestic European bison, red deer, and wild horses stroll across the road right in front of your bonnet.
• The Famous Polar Bears: The park is famous for housing incredible polar bears in huge, natural enclosures. Watching these magnificent giants play in the water or lounge on the grass is an absolute highlight.
• Amazing Walking Trails: After the drive, you park up and explore the wooden walkways on foot. You can spot rare Scottish wildcats, magnificent snow leopards, playful red pandas, and roaring Amur tigers.
• Keeper Talks: Throughout the day, the passionate keepers hold regular feeding sessions and talks, sharing great stories about the animals and their global conservation work.

Best For and Time Spent

This is an absolute winner for families of all ages, animal lovers, children, and couples looking for a fun, active day out together.

• Duration: Most visitors spend between 3 to 4 hours exploring the park. You can easily loop back to do the drive-through safari a second time if the kids want another look at the animals.
• Tone: Educational, exciting, and wonderfully scenic. Walking among the tall pine trees with mountains in the background makes it feel like a real wilderness adventure.

Helpful Tips for Your Visit

• Parking: Parking is completely free and plentiful on-site once you finish the drive-through section.
• Food & Drink: There is a lovely café serving hot meals, wraps, and snacks, plus a few kiosk stations for ice cream. There are also great outdoor picnic areas if you prefer to bring your own packed lunch.
• Savings: Tickets are cheaper if you book online in advance compared to buying at the gate. If you have an annual membership to Edinburgh Zoo, you can actually get into this park for free!
• Season: The park is open all year round, seven days a week. The animals are very well adapted to cold weather, so visiting on a crisp winter day can often be even more exciting as they love the snow.

Nearby and Combine-able Hits

The park is located perfectly to combine with other great local spots. You can head just up the road to the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre to walk among more beautiful hoofed animals. It is also close to Aviemore, making it easy to finish your day with a relaxing steam trip on the Strathspey Railway or a grand journey up the Cairngorm Mountain Funicular Railway.