Monarto Safari Park – South Australia’s best-kept Secret – Travel Guide

Monarto Safari Park is one of South Australia‘s best-kept secrets. Formally known as Monarto Zoological Park or Monarto Zoo, this is no ordinary zoo. As a conservation park overseen by SA Zoos, this is the largest open-range safari park outside of Africa! Spread out across more than 1,500 hectares, there is enough room for all the major Australian zoons to fit into the park and still have room! With over 500 native and exotic animals in the park, there is something for everyone to see and experience.

A brief history of the park:

The park initially opened as a breeding and pasture area in 1983. In October 1993, the park was opened to the public as an international standard zoo, with around 250 guests present. The first animals to arrive at the Monarto Safari Park were two young female bison from the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand. Later, around 150 animals were transferred from Adelaide Zoo to ease overcrowding, leading to improved animal enclosures. The advances in exhibit designs that the park created to set high standards in the zoo industry, including the chimp home, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, which was opened in 2008 by Dr Jane Goodall, the world’s leading expert in chimpanzees. 

Now, the Monarto Safari Park is one of the largest open-range zoos in the world and plays an integral part in the conservation of many rare and endangered species, including the Tasmanian Devil, cheetahs and rhinos, to name a few. 

The Monarto Safari Park is no ordinary zoo and is a must-visit location in South Australia.

How to get to Monarto Safari Park:

From Adelaide via car:

Located 70km from the South Australian capital city of Adelaide, it is an easy 50-minute drive from the CBD. Take the Monarto exit off the Southern Eastern Freeway towards the Princes Highway, then follow the signs the rest of the way!

From Murray Bridge via car:

Take the Murray Bridge exit off the Southern Eastern Freeway through Murray Bridge to Monarto Road, then follow the signs the rest of the way! This is an easy 15-20 minute drive, as it is only 14 km between Murray Bridge and the Monarto Safari Park.

Via bus:

LinkSA now operate a direct service between Adelaide CBD and the Monarto Safari Park, making it even easier to access for travellers! Running on Mondays to Fridays, the bus will leave the CBD in the morning and return mid-afternoon, giving you a full day at the park! 

Tickets:

Adult (one way) – $23.80

Concession/Student (one way) – $11.90

Please note that LinkSA tickets can only be purchased in cash; the correct amount is preferred. 

There are also six connecting services available if you want more flexibility. Catch the Adelaide Metro service to Mount Barker (the Dumas Street Park ‘n’ Ride stop) and then catch a LinkSA service through to Monarto Safari Park. This also means you can catch a bus on weekends, as some weekend services operate using this connecting service!

For more information, tickets and timetable details, please follow the link to the LinkSA Website.

Opening hours:

The park is open daily from 9:30 am – 5 pm, including Christmas and all public holidays. We recommend allowing at least four to five hours at the park to get the most out of your experience!

What to bring:

While everyone needs and wants different things, here is what we recommend bringing:

• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water bottles
• Light snacks
• Small backpack to carry essentials in
• Comfortable clothes you can walk in
• Jumper (raincoat during winter is recommended)
• Camera

Tickets:

Tickets can be purchased up to three months in advance, making this the most accessible trip to organise!

Please note that children under four years old must be booked under the Cub ticket (free of charge). 

Adult (15 years and older) – $40.50

Child (4 – 14 years) – $21.50

Concessions – $29.50

Cub (0-3 years) – $0

One adult + 3 or 4 children – $102

One adult + 5 children – $109.5

2 adults + 1 – 3 children – $102

2 adults + 4 children – $109.50

Two Visit Pass:

Are you going to be checking out the Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park? Make sure you get the Two Visit Pass before going for an attractive discount!

Adult (15 years and older) – $60.75

Child (4 – 14 years) – $32.25

Concessions – $44.25

Cub (0-3 years) – $0

One adult + 3 or 4 children – $153

One adult + 5 children – $164.25

2 adults + 2 or 3 children – $153

2 adults + 4 children – $164.25

To book your tickets, follow the link here!

How to get around the park:

The free Zu-loop bus:

The free bus service around the park is a great and easy way to explore. The buses take you through each enclosure, getting you up close and personal with these incredible animals while learning all about them from one of the guides. Hop on and off the bus at each animal platform to get the most out of the experience! Buses depart every 15-30 minutes (approx.) and follow a loop around the park, ensuring you see everything! If you don’t want to get off the bus, the tour will take you about 1.5 hours in total.

Walking trails:

Are you feeling like a little more than just a bus tour? Monarto Safari Park has over 12km of walking trails that take you through the park, perfect for an energetic explorer. These trails are easy to medium but wear good walking shoes. You will need to get onto the buses to enter the enclosures, as you cannot walk through a pride of lions!

Make sure you grab your map from the Visitor Centre before heading out! Check out the map here.

Keeper talks:

Make sure you watch some of the free keeper talks on offer! These talks are a great way to see these animals closer and see them enjoy a treat or view a feed! Below is a list of the keeper talks and the start time (please note that these are subject to change/cancellation).

Chimpanzee 10.30 am*

Giraffe 11:05 am

Tasmanian Devil 11.30 am

White Rhino 12.15 pm

Meerkat 12:15 pm

Cheetah 12:30 pm

Giraffe 1.40 pm*

Carnivore 2:40 pm

*Weekends, school and public holidays

Where to eat at Monarto Safari Park:

The cafe at the Visitor Centre is open daily and is a great place to grab a hot drink and something to eat. The Outpost pop-up cafe is only available during peak periods (such as school holidays and long weeks) and offers a smaller range of treats and drinks. 

A picnic area is available at the Visitors Centre for anyone bringing their own food! Plenty of sheltered tables and chairs are situated next to the cafe. 

For more information about the animals or special events at the park, please head to the official Monarto Safari Park website.

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