Blair Drummond Safari Park opened on 15 May 1970 on the Blair Drummond estate, eight kilometres north-west of Stirling, and it is the only safari park in Scotland.
It covers 120 acres and holds over 300 animals, many of them roaming freely in large drive-through reserves rather than in enclosures.
You drive through it in your own car, which is the point.
Lions in their own reserve, behind double gates.
Rhinos, zebra, antelope, bison, camels, ostrich and deer in the main drive-through, where the animals wander among the vehicles.
Barbary macaques in a separate loop — the monkeys climb on cars, and there is a car-friendly bypass for anyone who would rather keep their wing mirrors and roof rack. Take the bypass if you have a convertible, a roof box, or any attachment to your windscreen wipers.
The drive takes about forty-five minutes to an hour at a slow pace.
If you do not have a car, a safari bus runs the route.
The larger half of the visit.
Chimpanzee island, reached by a boat trip across the lake — a genuine highlight, and the chimp talks are the best-attended events of the day.
Sea lion shows in a pool arena, several times daily.
Lemurs in a walkthrough enclosure.
Meerkats, penguins, tapirs, giraffes, elephants and a pets farm for small children.
Birds of prey flying displays.
A large adventure playground, flying fox, boat rides, and astraglide.
Every experienced visitor says the same two things.
Arrive early. People who arrive late consistently report running out of time and missing something — most often the lions, because the safari drive is at the far end and the reserves close before the park does.
Get the talks timetable at the gate and plan around it. The chimp talk, the sea lion shows and the flying displays are the best parts, they run at fixed times, and they cannot all be caught without a plan.
The sea lion shows get very crowded at the outdoor pool. Visitors report being unable to see over the crowd, and note that the indoor presentations are considerably better viewing. Go early to get a position, or take the indoor option.
Time: a full day. Visitors routinely struggle to see everything before closing.
Admission charged; online booking is cheaper. Widely described as good value for a full day.
Season: mid-March to the end of December. Closed in deep winter.
Facilities: cafés, picnic areas, shops, toilets, baby changing.
Parking: free, and you drive your own car through the reserve.
Access: the walk-round site is largely level and surfaced; the safari is done from your vehicle.
Weather: largely outdoors. The indoor animal houses and shows provide some cover, but a full wet day is a wet day.
Dogs: not permitted, for obvious reasons.
Blair Drummond, off the A84 north-west of Stirling, about fifteen minutes by road and signposted.
Doune Castle is ten minutes further on.
The Trossachs and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park begin twenty minutes north-west.
Stirling is fifteen minutes east.
Yes — the reserves are drive-through in your own car, taking forty-five minutes to an hour, with a safari bus for those without a vehicle.
They can. There is a car-friendly bypass around the macaque enclosure — use it if you have a roof box, a convertible or any concern.
A full day. Visitors regularly run out of time and miss the lions.
Mid-March to the end of December. It closes in deep winter.
The boat trip to chimpanzee island and the chimp talk, closely followed by the sea lion shows.