If you thought Chessington was just about the rides, think again! This incredible resort in Greater London is also home to one of the UK’s most exciting wildlife experiences, with over 1,000 animals, a full SEA LIFE aquarium and a genuine safari-style adventure all packed into one day out. For families, the Chessington animals safari offers a truly memorable experience with its unique combination of rides and up-close encounters with fascinating creatures.
TL;DR: Chessington’s animal offering covers giraffes, zebras, gorillas, penguins, sea lions, otters and hundreds more species. The SEA LIFE Centre is included in your standard ticket, and the Zufari ride takes you through open savannah-style terrain for a proper safari feel. It’s a brilliant choice for families who want wildlife AND rides in the same visit.
Whether you’re planning your first visit or returning in 2026 to see what’s new, here’s everything you need to know about the Chessington animals safari experience, from the zones and species to the VIP encounters you won’t want to miss!
Why Chessington is So Much More Than a Theme Park
Chessington World of Adventures Resort actually started life as a zoo. The site originally opened as Chessington Zoo back in 1931, and the theme park element wasn’t added until 1987. That heritage still shows today, and it’s a big part of what makes Chessington so special for families.
Most theme parks give you rides and that’s about it. Chessington gives you rides, a zoo with over 1,000 animals, a full SEA LIFE aquarium, safari-style animal viewing and the option to book VIP animal encounters on top. For families with children of different ages, that variety is genuinely hard to beat.
What makes it stand out for families:
- The zoo and SEA LIFE are included in your standard day ticket, not sold as extras
- Animal areas offer a slower, calmer pace between the bigger ride attractions
- The Zufari ride gives you a safari-style experience that no ordinary theme park can match
- Younger children get a wildlife experience that is genuinely educational and exciting
The resort covers 128 acres and sits just 35 minutes from Central London by train from Waterloo or Clapham Junction. Book your Chessington tickets here to make sure you get the best price before you travel.
What Animals Can You See at Chessington Zoo?
Chessington Zoo is home to over 1,000 animals across a wide range of species, spread across several distinct zones around the resort. It’s one of the most diverse collections you’ll find at any UK attraction that also has a full theme park on the same site.
Wanyama Village and Reserve
This is the big one for safari fans! Wanyama is Chessington’s open savannah-style reserve, home to some of the most impressive animals on site. Walking through this area genuinely feels like a different kind of day out.
Species you can spot here include:
- Nubian giraffes (you can also see them from the Zufari ride)
- Grevy’s zebras, one of the most endangered zebra species in the world
- Southern white rhinos
- Greater flamingos
- Blesbok and common eland (African antelope species)
- Ostriches
- Ankole cattle
- Sitatunga (a semi-aquatic African antelope)
Trail of the Kings
Home to some of Chessington’s most iconic residents. Here you’ll find:
- Western lowland gorillas, a critically endangered great ape species
- Serval (a striking wild cat from sub-Saharan Africa)
- Red fox
AMAZU
Chessington’s rainforest-themed zone is packed with smaller but no less fascinating species:
- Spider monkeys and Bolivian squirrel monkeys, swinging overhead
- Pygmy marmosets, one of the world’s smallest primates
- Three-banded armadillos
- Cuban rock iguanas
- Red-footed tortoises
- Skunks (yes, really!)
Penguin Bay
One of the most popular animal areas with younger visitors! Watch the colony of Humboldt penguins up close. These charismatic birds are always a crowd favourite, and the viewing area makes it easy to get a great look.
Sea Lion Bay
California sea lions are playful, fast and endlessly entertaining to watch. Sea Lion Bay gives you a brilliant view of their antics and is a great spot to pause with younger children.
Other Animal Areas
Elsewhere around the resort you’ll find:
- Asian short-clawed otters near the Lodge Gate entrance
- Capybaras in the Rainforest area
- Sulcata tortoises (one of the world’s largest tortoise species)
- Reindeer near Sea Lion Bay
- Asian brown wood owls and Indian scops owls, which may appear at the Animal Antics show
Bear with us here! Chessington’s Amur tigers and Asiatic lions have recently moved to Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park as part of a conservation programme. The good news is there are still hundreds of incredible species to discover across the resort!
The Chessington Safari Experience: Zufari and Wanyama Reserve
If you’re searching for that genuine chessington animals safari feeling, two experiences deliver it better than anything else on site.
Zufari: Ride Into Africa
This is the one that makes Chessington genuinely unique among UK theme parks. Zufari is a safari-style ride that takes you through an open African reserve, coming face to face with free-roaming animals including Nubian giraffes, Grevy’s zebras and ostriches as you travel through in an open-sided vehicle.
It’s a family ride rather than a thrill ride, which means it works brilliantly for all ages. Little ones get close to animals in a way that feels genuinely exciting. Older children and adults appreciate the scale of the experience. It’s one of those moments that tends to be a highlight of the day for everyone, regardless of age.
Practical tips for Zufari:
- Queue early in the day as it can get busy by late morning
- Sit on the sides for the best animal views
- The experience varies depending on where the animals are roaming, so every ride is slightly different
Wanyama Reserve (On Foot)
Beyond the Zufari ride, you can also explore the Wanyama Reserve on foot. Walking through the reserve gives you a different perspective, letting you stop and observe animals at your own pace rather than passing through on a vehicle.
The combination of the Zufari ride AND the walk-through reserve is what gives Chessington its safari credentials. Very few UK attractions offer both.
The real reason this matters: Most families visiting a theme park don’t expect to come home talking about giraffes and rhinos. Chessington changes that, and it’s a big part of why the resort works so well for families who have mixed ages or children who aren’t quite ready for bigger rides yet.
SEA LIFE at Chessington: The Underwater World Included in Your Ticket
One of the best-kept secrets about a Chessington day out is that the SEA LIFE aquarium is fully included in your standard ticket. You’re not paying extra for it, and it’s not a small add-on. It’s a proper aquarium experience with stingrays, sharks and seahorses, plus a whole range of colourful ocean creatures.
For families with younger children, the SEA LIFE Centre is a brilliant change of pace. It’s indoors, it’s calmer, and it gives little ones a chance to come face to face with underwater life in a way that genuinely holds their attention.
What you’ll find in the SEA LIFE Centre:
- Stingrays gliding overhead in the tunnel walkthrough
- Sharks in large viewing tanks
- Seahorses and other delicate marine species
- Colourful tropical fish and reef displays
- Interactive displays designed to engage younger visitors
The indoor setting also makes SEA LIFE a great option if the weather turns or if you need a quieter moment during a busy day. It’s the kind of experience that adds real depth to the visit, and the fact that it’s included in your ticket makes it a genuine bonus rather than an afterthought.
It’s a popular destination for a reason! The combination of rides, zoo and aquarium in a single ticket is genuinely rare. Most families would expect to pay separately for each of those experiences at different venues. Chessington bundles all three, which is a big part of why it represents such strong value for a full family day out.
VIP Animal Experiences: Get Even Closer
For families who want to go beyond the standard zoo visit, Chessington offers a range of VIP animal experiences that let you get up close and personal with some of the resort’s most incredible residents.
The most popular of these is the Giraffe Feeding Experience, where you can hand-feed the Nubian giraffes and get genuinely close to these magnificent animals in a way that standard viewing simply can’t replicate. It’s the kind of memory that tends to stick with children for years.
These experiences are bookable separately and need to be arranged in advance, so if you’re planning to include one, it’s worth sorting that before your visit rather than hoping for availability on the day.
Why a VIP experience is worth considering:
- Direct interaction with animals rather than viewing through barriers
- Guided by knowledgeable keepers who can answer questions
- Perfect for birthdays, special occasions or simply making a visit extra memorable
- Available for a range of species across the resort
Browse Chessington tickets and plan your visit to see what’s available for your chosen date.
What’s New at Chessington in 2026?
2026 is a big year for Chessington! The resort is opening the brand new World of Paw Patrol land, scheduled to launch in May 2026. This new themed area has been designed specifically for younger children and pre-schoolers, replacing the old Scorpion Express section with an all-new Paw Patrol-themed zone complete with a new Zierer Force roller coaster designed for younger riders.
For families visiting with little ones, this is a genuinely exciting addition. It means Chessington is doubling down on what it already does brilliantly for pre-schoolers, and the combination of Paw Patrol theming, animal areas and SEA LIFE makes it one of the strongest options in the UK for families with children under seven.
What this means for your 2026 visit:
- New rides and attractions in the World of Paw Patrol zone
- More reasons than ever to visit with pre-schoolers and younger children
- The animal and safari experience remains as strong as ever alongside the new additions
- Booking ahead is recommended, especially during school holidays and peak season
The main season runs from March to October, with the park open daily from 10:00am. Closing times vary throughout the year, so always check before you travel. Weekdays outside school holidays are typically much quieter than weekends, which is worth bearing in mind if you have flexibility.
Planning Your Chessington Animals Safari Day Out
A little planning goes a long way at Chessington, especially if you want to make the most of the animal areas alongside the rides. Here’s what we’d recommend!
How to Make the Most of the Animal Zones
| Animal Zone | Key Species | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Wanyama Reserve | Giraffes, zebras, rhinos, flamingos | All ages, safari atmosphere |
| Trail of the Kings | Western lowland gorillas, serval | Older children and adults |
| AMAZU | Monkeys, marmosets, armadillos | Younger children |
| Penguin Bay | Humboldt penguins | All ages, especially toddlers |
| Sea Lion Bay | California sea lions | All ages |
| SEA LIFE Centre | Sharks, stingrays, seahorses | Younger children, indoor option |
Getting There
Chessington is located on the A243, just two miles from both the M25 and the A3. By train, it’s a 35-minute journey from London Waterloo or Clapham Junction to Chessington South station, which is a 10-minute walk from the entrance.
Tickets and Prices
Official online day tickets start from £32, compared with a £66 walk-up price. Booking in advance is the single easiest way to save a significant amount on entry. Children under 90cm visit free.
Quick visit essentials:
- Opens at 10:00am daily during main season (March to October)
- SEA LIFE included in standard day ticket
- Parking is charged separately (from £15 standard, £20 express)
- VIP animal experiences require separate advance booking
- Children under 90cm go free
Ready to plan your visit? Check the latest Chessington tickets and availability and book ahead to get the best price. You can also explore the full Chessington attraction listing for more details on everything the resort has to offer!