If you’re looking for a truly jaw-dropping wildlife moment on your next family day out, West Midlands Safari Park’s hippos are hard to beat. Home to the UK’s largest pod of hippopotamus, this incredible park near Bewdley, Worcestershire gives families the chance to get closer to these magnificent animals than almost anywhere else in the country!
Whether you’re planning a day visit or dreaming of an unforgettable overnight stay, there are so many brilliant ways to experience the hippos at WMSP in 2026. We’ve pulled together everything you need to know right here.
TL;DR: WMSP has four resident hippos (Mavis, Hilary, Gussie and Friday), daily hippo feeds included in admission, a hippo-themed ride, and the only Hippo Lodge overnight stay in the UK. Read on for prices, tips, and what to expect!
Meet the Hippos at West Midlands Safari Park
West Midlands Safari Park is home to four female hippos: Mavis, Hilary, Gussie and Friday, making it the largest pod of hippos in the UK. These incredible animals are native to sub-Saharan Africa and are actually the third largest land mammals on the planet, only smaller than elephants and white rhinos!
Did you know? Hippos are surprisingly strong swimmers and can hold their breath for an average of five minutes, long enough to take a stroll along the lakebed. It’s why they’re nicknamed the ‘river horse’!
Despite spending much of their day in the water, hippos don’t actually eat aquatic plants. Mavis, Hilary, Gussie and Friday come onto land to feed on grass and tasty lettuce treats from the park’s keepers. Spotting them lumber out of the lake for feeding time is one of those genuinely unforgettable moments!
Are the Hippos Part of a Conservation Programme?
Yes! West Midlands Safari Park is committed to hippo conservation. Common hippos are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), facing real threats in the wild including poaching and habitat loss.
WMSP’s hippos are part of the EEP (European Endangered Species Programme), a breeding programme that supports wild hippo populations by maintaining a healthy reserve population in accredited zoos and parks. Visiting the park directly supports this vital conservation work, which makes the trip feel even more worthwhile!
How to See the Hippos: Your Options in 2026
There’s more than one way to get up close to the hippos at WMSP, and the good news is that some of the best experiences are included in your standard admission ticket! Here’s a quick overview of all your options:
| Experience | Included in Admission? | Extra Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Safari Drive (view hippos from your car) | Yes | No |
| Hippo Feeds on the African Walking Trail | Yes | No |
| Hurtling Hippos ride | No | Wristband or 2 ride tickets |
| Hippo Lodge overnight stay | No | From £449/night |
The Safari Drive
The famous four-mile Safari Drive takes you right through the park’s animal habitats, and the hippos are one of the highlights. You’ll cruise past their lake and, if you’re lucky, spot them wallowing, swimming, or even walking along the lakebed. It’s a brilliant experience for kids of all ages, and you don’t even need to leave your car!
Daily Hippo Feeds
One of the best free extras included in your West Midlands Safari Park admission is the daily hippo feed! Head to the African Walking Trail and watch the keepers hand out grass and lettuce treats to Mavis, Hilary, Gussie and Friday. It’s a proper crowd-pleaser and a fantastic opportunity to see these huge animals up close and active.
Top tip: Check the daily schedule at the park entrance as soon as you arrive so you don’t miss the hippo feed time!
The Hurtling Hippos Ride
If your little ones want a hippo experience with a bit more adrenaline, the Hurtling Hippos ride in the Adventure Theme Park is an absolute must! It’s time to take flight as the hippos take you for a spin, and trust us, these naughty hippos love to change direction when you least expect it!
What You Need to Know Before You Ride
- To ride: You’ll need a ride wristband or 2 individual ride tickets
- Minimum height: 1.0m tall if accompanied by an adult, or 1.2m tall to ride alone
- Riders 1.2m to 1.4m: Can ride with or without an adult
- Riders 1.4m+: Can ride independently
Bear with us here! The height requirements mean this one works brilliantly for primary school-age kids and older, though younger children who meet the 1.0m minimum can still join in with a grown-up alongside them.
A ride wristband costs just £10 per person on top of your standard admission, and it covers all the rides in the Adventure Theme Park, so it’s fantastic value if your family loves a good spin!
Stay Overnight in a Hippo Lodge
Want to take your hippo experience to the absolute next level? The Hippo Safari Lodges at West Midlands Safari Park offer something genuinely unique: an overnight stay with panoramic views of the hippos right outside your window. And we really do mean right outside your window!
These luxurious two-storey lodges are the only place in the UK where you can stay overlooking hippopotamus in their habitat. Watching Mavis, Hilary, Gussie and Friday from your own private balcony as the sun goes down is the kind of memory your family will talk about for years.
What’s Included in a Hippo Lodge Stay?
The standard package covers everything you need for an unforgettable short break:
- Exclusive use of a Hippo Lodge for up to 5 or 6 guests (depending on lodge chosen)
- Panoramic views of the hippos in their habitat
- Two-day admission ticket to West Midlands Safari Park and all attractions
- Two-day ride wristbands for the Adventure Theme Park
- Breakfast and dinner provided
Hippo Lodge Prices
| Guests | Price Per Night |
|---|---|
| Base rate (2 guests) | From £449 |
| Additional adults | £195 per adult |
| Children (3-15 years) | £135 per child |
| Under 3s | £25 per child |
Good to know: Two of the Hippo Lodges are fully accessible for wheelchair users, which is brilliant news for families with accessibility requirements.
The lodges themselves are spacious and well-equipped, with large open-plan living and dining areas. Accessible lodges feature a double bed downstairs (convertible to two singles) plus an upstairs bedroom sleeping three more guests. It’s a proper home-from-home with a rather extraordinary view!
It’s a popular destination for a reason! The Hippo Lodges are in high demand, so we’d strongly recommend registering your interest and booking as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
What’s New: The Expanded Hippo Habitat
Exciting things are happening at West Midlands Safari Park for the hippos in the coming years! The park has submitted plans for a major redevelopment of the hippopotamus facility, and it sounds absolutely incredible.
The new habitat will include an additional 3,000m² grazing area, giving Mavis, Hilary, Gussie and Friday even more space to roam on land alongside their existing lake. The plans also include a brand-new hippo house with indoor pools, mud wallows, and evening pools positioned directly in front of the Hippo Lodges for close-access viewing from balconies.
Why This Matters
The expanded habitat isn’t just great news for visitors. It’s designed to:
- Improve animal welfare with more modern, spacious facilities
- Enable future breeding programmes as part of the EEP
- Give the hippos 24-hour access to both indoor and extended outdoor environments
- Allow day guests to enjoy additional viewing points along the African Walking Trail
The bigger picture: West Midlands Safari Park already has the largest pod of hippos in the UK. These new facilities will make the experience even more immersive for families visiting in the years ahead, and further strengthen the park’s conservation work with this vulnerable species.
West Midlands Safari Park Tickets and Admission in 2026
Ready to plan your visit? Here’s a quick rundown of your ticket options for 2026. The hippo feeds and Safari Drive are included in all standard day ticket options, so you don’t need to spend extra to see the stars of the show!
Day Ticket Options
- Standard Admission: Access to the Safari Drive and Walking Trail, including daily hippo feeds and animal encounters
- Admission + Ride Wristband: Everything above, plus unlimited rides in the Adventure Theme Park (including Hurtling Hippos!) for just £10 extra per person
- Adult & Pre-Schooler: A brilliant deal at just £19.50 for one adult and one child aged 0-4
- Flexible Tickets: Visit anytime within the next 12 months, great for families who like to plan ahead
Hot deal right now! There’s currently a Buy One, Get One FREE offer running until 30th April 2026, giving you two admission tickets for just £32. That’s an amazing saving for families!
If you visit regularly, annual passes are also worth considering:
- Silver Pass: Unlimited visits, 20% off ride wristbands, 10% off food and retail
- Gold Pass: Unlimited visits plus a multi-ride wristband, 20% off food and retail, and 15 x £15 guest tickets
- Ultimate Pass: Unlimited entry to three attractions, plus all Gold Pass perks and 20 x £15 guest tickets
You can check out all the latest prices and grab your tickets through our West Midlands Safari Park page, and don’t forget to check our West Midlands Safari Park discount codes before you book, as we regularly have deals that can save your family a significant amount!
Top Tips for Making the Most of the Hippo Experiences
A little planning goes a long way at WMSP! Here are our top tips for getting the very best out of your hippo-filled day:
- Arrive early. The park can get busy, especially during school holidays and weekends. Getting there when the gates open means less queuing and more time with the animals.
- Check the daily schedule first. Hippo feeds happen at set times each day. Grab the schedule at the entrance so you can plan your route around the best moments.
- Book tickets online in advance. Not only does it save time on the day, but it can also unlock better prices. Check our West Midlands Safari Park discount codes before you buy!
- Factor in the Hurtling Hippos ride. If your kids are tall enough, add a ride wristband to your ticket. At just £10 per person it covers all the rides, and Hurtling Hippos is a highlight.
- Allow a full day. Between the four-mile Safari Drive, the African Walking Trail, hippo feeds, the theme park rides, and all the other brilliant attractions, you’ll want the whole day. Most families spend six to eight hours at the park!
- For the Hippo Lodge: Register your interest as early as possible. These are the only hippo-view lodges in the UK and they sell out fast, particularly during summer.
The verdict? Whether you’re going for a day or staying overnight, West Midlands Safari Park’s hippos offer something genuinely special that you simply can’t find anywhere else in the UK. It’s a brilliant day out that the whole family will love!