Highland Wildlife Park
Highland Wildlife Park
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Highland Wildlife Park is home to over 250 animals, many of which are rare and endangered including polar bears, Arctic foxes and wildcats! As part of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, we are an award-winning gateway to the natural world where you can experience nature, learn about the challenges facing wildlife and discover the vital conservation work our charity does around the world. See our snow leopards while looking across amazing views of the Cairngorms. Explore our drive-through reserve and get up close to species such as Bukhara deer, Eurasian elk and Przewalski’s horse. Wander through Wolf Wood and see our European grey wolves and European forest reindeer. Hear the roar of the world’s largest big cat, the Amur tiger. As well as seeing our amazing animals you can listen to exciting talks from our discovery rangers and catch daily animal feeds. Please be aware only assistance dogs are permitted. To protect animal welfare, pets are not allowed in any areas of the park.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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- Sean LForres, United Kingdom69 contributionsJust glorious - a spectacular wildlife parkThis is a spectacular wildlife park. Beautifully set, wonderful, happy animals with plenty of room. The polar bears, snow leopards and tigers all astonishing - you can really get up close. Best of all? The wolves and the lynx. Just glorious.Hello SeanL358, thank you for taking the time to leave a positive review. We're delighted you enjoyed your visit and saw lots of our incredible animals including our polar bears, wolves and lynx. Being based in the Cairngorms National Park we are surrounded by incredible landscapes as you ay and all of our enclosures are designed to meet the needs of our animals. Every visit helps us to feed and care for all of our animals and deliver vital conservation work at home in Scotland and around the world. Thank you for supporting our wildlife conservation charity 💙Written February 18, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten February 17, 2024
- WCE11Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom82 contributionsFun day outFantastic day out with family & friends. Love the fact that there's a walk around & car safari. The park itself is one of the best we have bern to. Weren't made aware that the red pandas aren't there (realised this after going to enclosure & it was closed off, but due to making improvements). Paths a little slippery in places (due to it snowing). Food in the cafe was really good. All in all, it was a really good day out.Hello, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, we're delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit! Our red pandas moved to Edinburgh Zoo in 2022 to minimise disruption and allow for construction work to take place at the park. We're sorry for any disappointment this may have caused but we hope that Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre will make up for it once complete. You can find out more about the project at https://www.highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/animals-attractions/attractions/swdc/ While our teams do their best to ensure our pathways are cleared of snow, we always recommend suitable clothing and footwear when visiting us in the winter months. Thank you for supporting our wildlife conservation charity, we hope to see you again soon 💙Written February 28, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten February 23, 2024
- FMW13Irvine, United Kingdom200 contributionsFour “Isbjørn”We came to see the Polar Bears & weren’t disappointed. Having been so upset seeing the polar bears at Singapore Zoo years ago - confined, stressed, in tropical heat - we went to Svalbard last year & were lucky to see a young “ice bear” in its home environment. We put our dog into kennels & came to Kincraig to see these magnificent animals close up & not stressed - young Brodie playing with his floating red ball as if it was a seal, was a joy to watch. The Australian Keeper’s talk was also highly informative: thank you. We enjoyed walking the loop round all the enclosures, though my elderly mum would have struggled to get round: it’s quite a distance, with steps. No indication of how far, as the map has no scale on it. Finally, the “safari park” drive was so good that we went round twice! Arrived 11:30, left 3:30.Hello FMW13, thank you for taking the time to leave a positive review of your visit. We're delighted you enjoyed your day out, especially seeing our amazing polar bears and having the opportunity to learn more at our talks. Thank you for sharing your feedback on the accessibility of the walk through areas of the park. We have a limited number of manual wheelchairs and mobility scooters available for hire for anyone who might need it. We are currently in the process of reviewing our map and will share your feedback with the relevant teams. Every visit helps us feed and care for our animals and deliver vital conservation work here in Scotland and around the world. Thank you for helping to create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved 💙Written April 1, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten March 25, 2024
- Vince HSkelton-in-Cleveland, United Kingdom528 contributionsA good variety of unusual animalsTucked away on the outskirts of Aviemore, this gem of a wildlife park is a must visit for anybody in the area who likes animals. The drive through "safari" was a little bit underwhelming on our first drive through, but we saw a few more animals on our second drive through later in the day. Your ticket allows multiple visits to the drive through safari on the same day which is quite unusual but very much appreciated. The walk through areas were very impressive with a wide variety of animals, including Amur Tigers, polar bears (one being a stroppy teenager who was giving poor mum a bit of grief in the lake), snow leopards, Scottish wildcats and many other species that you would not expect to see in Scotland. Our visit coincided with the renovation programme of the cafe and gift shop area so a pop-up shop and refreshment trailer were available and provided a good variety of hot drinks, cold drinks and food.Hello, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a lovely five star review, we're delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit and were able to spot so many of our amazing animals! We always recommend re-visiting enclosures or taking another drive around the reserve at different times throughout the day for the best chances of seeing everyone exploring. As you have mentioned, we are currently in the process of refurbishing our visitor centre. We apologise for any disruption this may have caused but promise it will all be worth it! Thank you for supporting our wildlife conservation charity, we hope to see you again soon 💙Written May 14, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten May 12, 2024
- Adventure270138041992 contributionsFantastic Day OutWe had a family day out at Highland Wildlife Park in May. Aged from two to sixty. They had something for all of us. We had a fantastic day. The animals are beautiful and obviously well cared for. All the Staff we met were friendly, helpful and very informative. Our Granddaughter was unsure of which toy she wanted from the shop as there was so much to choose from! Everything is clean & tidy. Staff went out of there way to help you when needed. So for us it was a great experience, would highly recommend and we will return.Hello, Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a lovely five star review, we're so glad to hear you and your family enjoyed your visit and were able to see so many of our amazing animals! As a wildlife conservation charity, every visit and purchase made in our cafe and gift shop helps feed and care for all our animals and supports our vital conservation projects at home in Scotland and around the world. Thank you for your support, we hope to see you again soon 💙Written May 19, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten May 17, 2024
- Rachael J6 contributionsA great dayI decided to pay the park a visit during my stay in Aviemore last month and I loved it. My dad’s work is part of the Royal Zoological Society so he gets half price tickets. Got to see all the animals I wanted to and it was a dry day which was a bonus.Hello P9915ZSrachaelj, Thank you for leaving us a lovely five star review, we're pleased to hear you enjoyed your visit! As a wildlife conservation charity, every visit and purchase made in our cafe and gift shop helps feed and care for all our animals and supports our vital conservation projects at home in Scotland and around the world. Thank you for your support, we hope to see you again soon 💙Written June 13, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten June 9, 2024
- alikarsteGarmouth, United Kingdom284 contributionsGreat day outHave been coming here for about 30 years with our own kids and nowadays with the grandkids. Seen so many changes over the years but one thing that never changes is the great time you can have here. For a family day out in the summer with a picnic this place can't be beaten. Highly recommend.Hello alikarste, Thank you for leaving us a lovely five star review, we're pleased to hear you enjoyed another visit! As a wildlife conservation charity, every visit and purchase made in our cafe and gift shop helps feed and care for all our animals and supports our vital conservation projects at home in Scotland and around the world. Thank you for your support, we hope to see you again soon 💙Written June 24, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten June 17, 2024
- Iona M34 contributionsGreat Family Day OutSuch a good park for walking around - we’ve visited twice now with our wee one and even though the weather has been horrendous both times (no surprises in Scotland!) there were lots of sheltered bits and plenty to see. We also found the staff were really knowledgeable and happy to stop and talk to you about the different animals, such a great choice for a day out for families. The on site cafe is also great and has really good options for little ones and adults, and lovely cakes!Hi Iona, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a lovely review, we're so glad you enjoyed your visit despite the weather! As a wildlife conservation charity, every visit helps feed and care for all our amazing animals and supports our vital conservation projects at home in Scotland and around the world. We hope to see you again soon 💙Written July 18, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten June 26, 2024
- Gillian FEdinburgh, United Kingdom286 contributionsActive animals in the HighlandsGood to be able to drive through as well as walk around the park. It was a wet afternoon with lots of the animals active if you watched for a little bit. Outdoor but covered eating area with a cafe, venison/ burger & ice cream vanHi Gillian Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, we’re so glad you enjoyed your visit and were able to see so many of our amazing animals! As a wildlife conservation charity, every visit helps feed and care for all our animals and supports our vital conservation projects at home in Scotland and around the world. If you have any further feedback that can help us make your next visit a five star one then please do get in touch via wildlife@rzss.org.uk. Thank you so much for your support, we hope to see you again soon 💙Written July 3, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten July 2, 2024
- yoshimitsu-tsaibhaLondon, United Kingdom58 contributionsBeautiful animal parkNaturally suspicious of animal parks, this one is clean, with large spaces for animals. They seem to be fine and fit The only negative point to make would be to indicate whether the animals are released or in the enclosure because not necessarily easy to see Walking and car ride possibleHello yoshimitsu-tsaibha, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a lovely five star review, we're so glad you enjoyed your visit! We're pleased to hear we surpassed your expectations. We always recommend visiting enclosures more than once during your visit to the have the best chance of seeing all of our amazing animals. Thank you for supporting our wildlife conservation charity with your membership, we hope to see you again soon 💙Written August 9, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten August 3, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Joshua
Aberdeen, UK98 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
If you are looking for something to do in the Aviemore area: the Highland Wildlife Park is definitely something to check out. You can book online or pay on the gate although we found booking online was quite expensive even though it was out of a season, through the week and with the kids back at school.
They are unfortunately having some renovations done at present which means the cafe/gift shop is all closed and has been minimised to an outdoor cafe area which is rather pricey and a portakabin gift shop, so nowhere for a proper heat and a blether on a cold rainy Highland day. We did enjoy our visit but found for the money it wasn't worth it all with us only spending 2/3hrs here, the drive through enclosure is always good fun but the animals seemed to be miles off the track and you cant really see them from your car.
It would have been good to have a reduced rate with the current renovations and with the time of year, even an online exclusive if you book ahead of time. The Highland Wildlife Park is great for all the family with plenty of animals, learning experiences and different talks throughout the day it is a great addition to the Cairngorms.
They are unfortunately having some renovations done at present which means the cafe/gift shop is all closed and has been minimised to an outdoor cafe area which is rather pricey and a portakabin gift shop, so nowhere for a proper heat and a blether on a cold rainy Highland day. We did enjoy our visit but found for the money it wasn't worth it all with us only spending 2/3hrs here, the drive through enclosure is always good fun but the animals seemed to be miles off the track and you cant really see them from your car.
It would have been good to have a reduced rate with the current renovations and with the time of year, even an online exclusive if you book ahead of time. The Highland Wildlife Park is great for all the family with plenty of animals, learning experiences and different talks throughout the day it is a great addition to the Cairngorms.
Written November 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MissReviewer
Harrogate, UK117 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
Really lovely and well kept wildlife park. We really enjoyed driving around the “safari” at the beginning and then walking around the park after. The animals are clearly well looked after and it has more of a sanctuary feel then a “zoo like”’feel as we don’t like to see animals in cages but these animal enclosures and spacious and they seem very happy. The polar bear talk was really interesting and we loved the wolves and wild fox’s. We came in winter so it was freezing and slightly wet everywhere so I’m sure it would be even better and busier in the summer season. Would defo come back in summer.
Written January 15, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikki J
10 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We had an absolutely fantastic day out at the Highland Wildlife Park at the weekend and highly recommend a visit.
The staff are universally lovely and the keepers quite clearly really know and care about the animals they look after. Attending the keeper talks is a must if you want to know more about each of the animals (although the information boards are really good throughout).
The animals have large enclosures and are not trained pets so you may need to go back at different times to see them if they are resting away from view on your first visit. We saw nothing at all on our first try, but were rewarded on our second visit by the utterly adorable Arctic fox cubs playing together right next to the viewing area. The wildcat kittens were also wonderful to watch and (in true cat style) were sleeping in the very clever overhead walkways that link the larger enclosure areas (cats sleep anywhere...!) on our first visit, but very active running, climbing and exploring on our second. The female polar bear and her cub were enjoying a swim in their pond, despite the torrential rain (the pond has to be huge as there were two polar bears in it and still lots of free space left for them to swim in).
We had lots of sunshine and a couple of pretty impressive Highland rain showers, but as long as you have a raincoat it's so beautiful here a wee bit of rain won't spoil your day.
The facilities are good.
At the visitor centre, the toilets are plentiful and clean, with portaloos also positioned regularly around the walking trail just in case.
The cafe has a good selection of food and drink (great coffee!) at really normal prices. They do kids portions of the hot food so remember to ask for this for the kids. Or bring a packed lunch and use one of the many picnic tables.
There is a water bottle filling station next to the cafe, and if you've forgotten your reusable bottle, the shop has a great selection of different items including some lovely reusable water bottles. The shop prices are exactly what you'd pay for similar items anywhere.
There is some building work going on, but this has obviously been planned to cause minimal disruption to animals and visitors. It looks like the new facilities will be world class when they open next year.
Crucially, the ticket price (which is about average for a visitor attraction of this size goes right back into looking after these wonderful animals and the wider conservation programmes they participate in.
I would recommend a minimum half day visit so you can take your time, have some breaks, and just enjoy the experience.
Thanks HWP for a lovely day and for the excellent conservation work!
The staff are universally lovely and the keepers quite clearly really know and care about the animals they look after. Attending the keeper talks is a must if you want to know more about each of the animals (although the information boards are really good throughout).
The animals have large enclosures and are not trained pets so you may need to go back at different times to see them if they are resting away from view on your first visit. We saw nothing at all on our first try, but were rewarded on our second visit by the utterly adorable Arctic fox cubs playing together right next to the viewing area. The wildcat kittens were also wonderful to watch and (in true cat style) were sleeping in the very clever overhead walkways that link the larger enclosure areas (cats sleep anywhere...!) on our first visit, but very active running, climbing and exploring on our second. The female polar bear and her cub were enjoying a swim in their pond, despite the torrential rain (the pond has to be huge as there were two polar bears in it and still lots of free space left for them to swim in).
We had lots of sunshine and a couple of pretty impressive Highland rain showers, but as long as you have a raincoat it's so beautiful here a wee bit of rain won't spoil your day.
The facilities are good.
At the visitor centre, the toilets are plentiful and clean, with portaloos also positioned regularly around the walking trail just in case.
The cafe has a good selection of food and drink (great coffee!) at really normal prices. They do kids portions of the hot food so remember to ask for this for the kids. Or bring a packed lunch and use one of the many picnic tables.
There is a water bottle filling station next to the cafe, and if you've forgotten your reusable bottle, the shop has a great selection of different items including some lovely reusable water bottles. The shop prices are exactly what you'd pay for similar items anywhere.
There is some building work going on, but this has obviously been planned to cause minimal disruption to animals and visitors. It looks like the new facilities will be world class when they open next year.
Crucially, the ticket price (which is about average for a visitor attraction of this size goes right back into looking after these wonderful animals and the wider conservation programmes they participate in.
I would recommend a minimum half day visit so you can take your time, have some breaks, and just enjoy the experience.
Thanks HWP for a lovely day and for the excellent conservation work!
Written August 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello 500nikkij,
Thank you for leaving us a five star review, we're pleased you enjoyed your visit to the park!
We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed seeing our amazing animals and listening to the talks from our discovery rangers.
We're pleased you found our gift shop to be well priced and enjoyed the food and drink options available at the park.
Some of the building work you mentioned includes the creation of Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre, an exciting project that will inspire visitors and communities in the Cairngorms National Park to protect nature at a time when the world faces a biodiversity crisis. You can find out more at highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/animals-attractions/attractions/swdc/.
As a wildlife conservation charity, every visit helps feed and care for all our amazing animals and supports our vital conservation projects at home in Scotland and around the world 💙
Written August 21, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carolyn B
113 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Difficult place to find not signed well. First impressions were overgrown and like a building site.The drive through enclosure very disappointing, barren over grown and no animals apart from deer and ducks.The rest of the park was full of weeds and hardly any animals to see. When we found the Polar bear area it was upsetting to see two male bears in a small caged enclosure, we never got to find where the female and cubs were.The paths are not child friendly or wheel chair friendly and the food vans/cafe expensive. Would not recommend taking children here, Longleat and other wildlife parks are far superior.
Written June 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, we're sorry to hear you did not enjoy your visit.
Our drive through reserve is vast and home to our family of elk (Raven and Ash have recently welcomed twins), as well as large herds of bison, Przewalski’s horses, red deer, Bukhara deer and a new herd of vicuna, so we are incredibly surprised to hear you only saw deer and native birds. Visitors can go round our drive through reserve as many times as they like and we always recommend doing so for the best chances of seeing everything. Our elk might be the largest animals at the park, but they are easily hidden in the landscape.
All of our animals have access to large, natural enclosures with plenty of foliage to provide organic cover. Many are also masters of disguise, so it can take a moment longer to spot them. Our wolverines for example are easily hidden, and our lynx can often be spotted having a nap in amongst the bushes at the front of the enclosure. We always recommend revisiting different enclosures for the best chances of seeing everyone up and about.
We have around ten acres of space dedicated to polar bears here at Highland Wildlife Park. Evidence from animal care specialists and welfare scientists fed into the design of our charity’s polar bear habitats which feature a range of habitat, including large ponds, natural vegetation and soft areas. They benefit hugely from the complex and stimulating natural environment of the Cairngorms National Park which, alongside an excellent standard of care from an expert team, provides for the bears’ physical and mental health.
In the wild, polar bears, particularly adult females, are solitary animals that only come together during mating season. We have replicated this by having Victoria’s enclosure on the far side of the park, away from where Arktos and Walker share a custom-built enclosure considered to be one of the world's largest and best at almost six acres in size.
You are right in saying that there is currently ongoing construction here at the park. We are in the process of building Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre. Construction work has started on the main discovery hub, which will use innovative digital technology to immerse people in stories of Scotland’s wildlife of the past, present and future. Our learning hub is also underway and will enable visitors, groups and communities to learn about wildlife conservation through STEM, outdoor learning and citizen science. Over the course of this year, we will develop our hilltop hub, with views of the Saving Wildcats conservation breeding for release centre providing an ideal opportunity to tell the story of why wildcats in Scotland are on the brink of extinction and how RZSS and partners are working together to save the species. The construction work will also involve the refurbishment of Highland Wildlife Park’s existing visitor centre. So while we are looking a little scruffy at the moment, it is for good reason!
Highland Wildlife Park seeks to provide equal opportunities for all visitors and we are working hard to ensure that our visitor facilities are accessible to everyone. Our location in the Scottish Highlands means that our site is steep and rugged and while this creates ideal habitats for our animals, as well as great scenery, we understand it can also make moving around the park a challenge in places. Most of the steps can be bypassed via alternatives paths but due to the nature of our park these are steep in places. We continue to work hard to ensure the park is as accessible as possible for visitors who have mobility issues and other disabilities. For those who need further information, we have a dedicated webpage for visitors with disabilities. This can be viewed at highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/plan-your-visit/day-planner/visitors-with-disabilities/
As a wildlife conservation charity, every visit and purchase made in our cafes helps feed and care for all our animals and supports our vital conservation projects at home in Scotland and around the world. You can find out more about some of the projects your ticket helped support at rzss.org.uk/conservation
Written July 2, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
20-Abs-13
London, UK80 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Visited for the first time today. Enjoyed our visit. Animals seem to be well looked after with large enclosures.
The drive through safari area was closed due to icy weather unfortunately, but price to enter was not reduced to reflect this, thankfully this did not put us off as we were aware of the good work in conservation they do as well as the fact that the zoo animals will still need feeding regardless of the weather!
There is also quite a bit of building work going on at present, I think it's going to be a new visitors centre which looked good.
The gift shop was really quite expensive however, some fridge magnets cost £8 for example, which is just beyond a joke!
Would return for another visit.
The drive through safari area was closed due to icy weather unfortunately, but price to enter was not reduced to reflect this, thankfully this did not put us off as we were aware of the good work in conservation they do as well as the fact that the zoo animals will still need feeding regardless of the weather!
There is also quite a bit of building work going on at present, I think it's going to be a new visitors centre which looked good.
The gift shop was really quite expensive however, some fridge magnets cost £8 for example, which is just beyond a joke!
Would return for another visit.
Written January 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, we're delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit. During winter, the drive through reserve can often close at short notice due to poor weather conditions. This is to protect our animals, visitors and staff. We're sorry for any disappointment this caused and are glad to hear you still enjoyed your visit. It is worth noting that depending on where they're exploring in the reserve, most of the animals (vicuna, Przewalski's wild horses, bison and deer) can all be spotted from the main visitor areas of the park too, particularly from the path up to our female polar bear enclosure and on the path down from our snow leopards past the herd of markhor.
You are right in saying there is a fair bit of construction work taking place on site at the moment, but we promise the disturbance will be worth it. We are currently in the process of building Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre (due to open later this year!). This project will feature a hill-top conservation hub, a learning hub, a discovery hub, and the refurbishment of our visitor centre and cafes. You can find out more on our website.
As a wildlife conservation charity, every visit and purchase made in our gift shop and cafe helps feed and care for all our amazing animals and supports our vital conservation projects at home in Scotland and around the world. Thank you so much for your support, we hope to see you again soon 💙
Written January 30, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gomar
Glasgow, United Kingdom68 contributions
Nov 2024 • Family
Our visit to the highland park was amazing. We only stayed two and a half hours including the drive through but could have spent the day there. We arrived around midday just after a rainy morning so there weren't many people there so we had plenty space. Even if there had been more people, I doubt space would've been a problem. The paths are accessible for prams and the information boards are clear and easy to understand. It's a fun day out for children and adults (I'm 29 and my dad is 71) ! Coffee tastes super.
Written November 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
estokoe14
Derby, UK60 contributions
Jun 2023
We found this Wildlife park by accident when we were staying in Kingussie, and it's been a highlight of our trip! I had low expectations at the beginning because there is construction going on, the car park / visitor area looks a bit sparce, and the entry price was quite steep (£22 ish per adult) but my initial concerns were blown away when we started walking around to see the animals. All the enclosures were spacious and the animals all looked healthy and well taken care of. We were lucky enough to see several baby animals including the first sighting of 7 healthy arctic fox cubs (so cute!!!). The polar bears, snow leopards and tigers were all incredible and I would return in a heartbeat (we didn't have time to do the drive through bit but you could see camel / bison from the road). Would highly recommend.
Written June 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello estokoe14,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a five star review. We're delighted to hear we were the highlight of your trip!
We're pleased you managed to see so many of our amazing animals, including some of our new arrivals.
The building work you mentioned is the creation of Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre, an exciting project that will inspire visitors and communities in the Cairngorms National Park to protect nature at a time when the world faces a biodiversity crisis. You can find out more at highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/animals-attractions/attractions/swdc/.
As a wildlife conservation charity, every visit helps feed and care for all our animals and supports our vital conservation projects at home in Scotland and around the world. We hope to see you again soon 💙
Written June 23, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TAmember13
Northern Ireland534 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
We have been having some really amazing family adventures in Scotland including Blair Drummond Safari Park and Landmark Forest Adventure Park (highly recommend both). However we were sorely disappointed by this place. There is so much construction on site. The place simply looks really unkempt on arrival. No one around to direct car parking. It is difficult to make sense of the map and what direction to walk in. We didn’t see as many animals as anticipated. The make shift food options and shop aren’t great. The food we had was not good. Cheap frozen fries and our son had a hot dog, advertised as hot dog and it turned out to be a frankfurter…….surely serving frankfurter in a park which cares about animal welfare is against everything you stand for? Entry was £68 for 2 adults and 1 child. Far too expensive for the current experience on offer. Thank heavens for the views of the Cairngorms all around which saved it a bit for us and the excellent ranger talk on Reindeer. I really don’t recommend this one, sorry.
Written August 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi TAmember13,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, we're sorry to hear you were disappointed by your visit.
As you say we have had some construction on site recently to renovate our cafe and build Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre. Thank you for your patience while we get everything up and running. You can find out more about our new buildings by visiting highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/visit/discovery-centre.
Every visit helps us to feed and care for our animals and deliver vital conservation work at home in Scotland and around the world. Thank you for your support 💙
Written August 16, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kristen
Huntly, UK1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Couples
Came here with my husband in early Jan 2024 and had a great time. Animal enclosures are large with lots of grass and hills for them to move around in. The staff do animal talks/feedings at various times of the day (signposted in the gift shop) and I highly recommend attending these if you can as they're very informative and interesting.
Venison burger stand outside was great. Would also recommend checking out the gift shop as it has a lot of unique animal-related crafts and is reasonably priced. I got a lovely wildcat mug and tote bag :)
Venison burger stand outside was great. Would also recommend checking out the gift shop as it has a lot of unique animal-related crafts and is reasonably priced. I got a lovely wildcat mug and tote bag :)
Written January 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Kristen-Scotland, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a positive review. We're delighted you enjoyed your visit seeing our amazing animals and were able to learn more about them from our friendly staff. It's also great to hear you had the chance to make the most of your visit with a tasty venison burger and some mementos from our gift shop.
Every ticket and purchase made in our food outlets or gift shop helps our charity to feed and care for our animals and deliver vital conservation at home in Scotland and across the world. Thank you for helping to create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved 💙
Written January 9, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jill M
1 contribution
Feb 2023 • Family
We had a great visit to the park with my nephew today.
We drove round but much preferred the part you walk around. He was delighted to see the snow leopards, the tigers and of course, the polar bears.
Our visit to the shop was a treat too. We were able to buy some nice gifts for family that were slightly different to what is generally available.
The shop was busy and the manager was working alone, but dealt with everyone courteously, professionally and with good humour.
A positive end to a successful trip!
We drove round but much preferred the part you walk around. He was delighted to see the snow leopards, the tigers and of course, the polar bears.
Our visit to the shop was a treat too. We were able to buy some nice gifts for family that were slightly different to what is generally available.
The shop was busy and the manager was working alone, but dealt with everyone courteously, professionally and with good humour.
A positive end to a successful trip!
Written February 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Jill M,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your visit and were able to spot so many of our amazing animals!
We're so pleased to hear you also enjoyed our gift shop. We pride ourselves on having a unique selection of products on offer, many made my local artists and craftspeople! We will pass on your kind comments to our retail team.
As a wildlife conservation charity, every visit helps feed and care for all our animals and supports our vital conservation projects at home in Scotland and around the world, Thank you for your support, we hope to see you again soon 💙
Written February 17, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sonia Pui Ka T
Hong Kong, China
I'm planning to visit Highland Wildlife Park. I've heard that there are walking areas that allow visitors to explore the park. I'm curious if walking around the park provides a different experience compared to driving through it. Since I don't drive, walking in the designated areas seems to be my only option for exploring the park. Thanks.
Written May 15, 2024
If you have internet access, there is a website. You can have a good experience on foot as there are walkways. Better if you have a simple pair of binoculars to pinpoint animals and see them more clearly. Places to eat and souvenir shop as you would expect. I don’t like zoos but this park is involved in conservation work. Some animals do appear to show classic signs of stress. The wildlife can’t roam for miles and polar bears can’t access ice floes and hunt for seals! But enjoy your day and support RZSS!
Written May 16, 2024
Will we manage to walk around with the buggy ?
Written April 9, 2024
Of course you will. There are walkways.
Written May 16, 2024
Hi Guys,
We will be travelling with our 4 year next week to Scotland and plan to visit highland wildlife by car.
Please let me know the entrance fees includes tour by the highland wildlife or we need to drive on our own and explore the park.
Also, can we easily spot the ticket counter .
Thanks
Written September 7, 2023
Hi yeah it's a drive through you do it on your own.
It doesn't take to long to drive through it.
Also if you book it online it's a bit cheaper.
Written September 7, 2023
Hello,
Just wondering if the drive through area is open? Because the web says that it's postponed. Thanks
Written April 8, 2023
You can drive through in your own vehicle. You can drive through more than once if you want to.
Written April 9, 2023
any promo code or discount promo for winter months? Please also advise how much time to allocate for winter entry?
Thanks!
Written November 7, 2022
I would go on to their website, there may be offers and Promos on there. We were there a few months ago we spent 4 hours at first driving around the drive through enclosure then parked up and walked around. It was by far the best option to walk you see so much more and they have great viewing platforms. Hope this helps. Enjoy.
Written November 8, 2022
Can you get a bus to park from Aviemore
Written November 1, 2022
We travelled by car so I'm not sure. There is a bus stop immediately outside the park, with just a short walk up to the entrance so it is possible to get directly there by bus, but I'm not sure where from. The park might be able to help if you call them - the staff are all local.
Written November 2, 2022
Would binoculars be helpful for viewing the animals? Are they available for rent at the park?
Written July 17, 2022
Would binoculars be helpful for viewing the animals? Are they available for rent at the park?
Written July 17, 2022
Can we visit with a camper van? Would we be able to do the reserve drive through in this? Thanks
Written July 18, 2021
Highland Wildlife Park
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi lisarP2880VT,
You can indeed visit with a camper van and go round our drive through reserve. We just ask that you disconnect from any gas supply at the time.
Hope to see you soon!
Written July 19, 2021
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