zoo safari park abruzzo

Zoo d'Abruzzo

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Zoo d'Abruzzo - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sun 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Tue - Tue 3:00 PM - 7:30 PM
• (1.86 mi) Casa Isabella B&B
• (0.60 mi) La Cascina Hotel Ristorante
• (1.64 mi) B&B Il Golfo degli Aranci
• (1.90 mi) La Chiave dei Trabocchi
• (10.00 mi) Agriturismo Montupoli
• (2.12 mi) Trabocco Punta Fornace
• (2.00 mi) Trabocco Sasso Della Cajana
• (2.13 mi) Ebrezza Bistrot Vista Mare
• (1.92 mi) Caldora Punta Vallevò
• (2.07 mi) Trabocco Punta Isolata

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Zoosafari Fasanolandia: The Best Car Safari in Italy

• April 4, 2024

We’re constantly learning about what it takes to travel with a child. For the most part, our expedition style hasn’t changed, but we’ve certainly noticed a few differences. As parents, it’s difficult to not realize how many activities and attractions are geared towards kids. Whether it’s motorized toys you can rent by the minute or carousels in the park, the opportunity to entertain children at our expense exists everywhere .

Naturally, when we saw the consistent advertising of Zoosafari Fasanolandia throughout Puglia, we knew we just had to visit. Luckily, our experience ended up being just as much for us parents as it was for our daughter!

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know before planning a fabulous visit to Zoosafari in Fasano.

And Where Is Zoosafari Fasanolandia?

• Why You Should Visit

How Much Do Tickets Cost?

Where should you purchase tickets, when is zoosafari open, can you feed the animals, can you drive through with your windows down, how long does the drive through take, are dogs allowed, arrive before opening or during lunch hours, pack a lunch, be mindful of show times, scope out the park map beforehand, how to get to zoosafari in fasano, where to stay while visiting zoosafari.

• Is Zoosafari Worth Visiting?

What is Zoosafari Fasanolandia?

Zoosafari Fasanolandia is a combined theme park which consists of both an amusement park and an animal park . It is most known for its drive-through safari , which makes up the Zoosafari portion of the park.

Zoosafari is impressively the second-largest drive-through zoo in all of Europe and a prominent destination in Fasano altogether. Fasanolandia is the park’s other half and resembles a traditional theme park with rides, exhibits, and even an aquarium. Additional highlights of the theme park include a theatre, reptile house, monkey village, and a couple of small museums.

→ 🚘 Book a rental car from Bari Airport ←

Although the overall park is divided into two main components (Zoosafari and Fasanolandia), access to both typically goes hand in hand. A bit more on this below, but by purchasing tickets to Zoosafari, a visit to Fasanolandia is also included. On the other hand, it is possible to solely visit Fasanolandia without completing the drive-through safari. In short, there’s a ton to see and do at Zoosafari, but it can get confusing when planning your visit due to the way ticket sales are structured.

As the name suggests, Zoosafari Fasanolandia is located near the town of Fasano. Fasano is situated in southern Italy, specifically in the beautiful region of Puglia . It is 60 km (37 miles) from Puglia’s capital of Bari and less than a one-hour drive from Bari’s international airport.

→ ✈️ Find cheap flights to Bari Airport ←

Is Zoosafari Fasanolandia Worth Visiting?

Puglia is one of Italy’s most beloved summer destinations. There is no shortage of gorgeous beaches to enjoy, seafood to devour, and charming towns to explore. With that being said, Zoosafari is likely on your radar for only two reasons.

• You are an animal enthusiast and thoroughly enjoy zoo visits.
• You are travelling with kids.

For those who resonate with the first reason, it makes complete sense to be interested in visiting a well-curated and straight-up fun animal experience . Sure, a zoo is one thing, but it’s hard to find someone who wouldn’t like a drive-through safari. How often can you come across the chance to see wild animals without being confined to small cages, all while in the comfort of your own car?

There are unfortunately many zoos out there that do not have the best interest of animals at heart. Zoosafari is not one of them, and their dedication to research programs, conservation of species, and education to the public takes the first priority.

It doesn’t take much to persuade any parent with children to visit Zoosafari. Whether your family is a lover of animals or not, Zoosafari and Fasanolandia effortlessly provides entertainment for kids of all ages . Particularly for any family who has done the beach and the aqua parks, the animal park is an excellent choice for switching it up. After all, fellow parents will understand that we’re just here to serve our children and their attention span! (Kind of only kidding).

Zoosafari Fasanolandia FAQs

Our least favorite part about Zoosafari Fasanolandia is the price. Compared to a typical zoo, admission fees are a bit costly . On top of that, the ticket structure is more complicated than it should be. During our visit, we paid for a Zoosafari ticket, which costs €32 per adult and €25 per child (free for children under 4 years old).

Aside from the main feature which consists of the drive-through safari, this type of ticket gives you access to Fasanolandia. However, it does not include entrance to the aquarium or any rides.

If you omit the safari altogether, a ticket to just Fasanolandia costs €18 per adult and children over four years old. For those eager to go on amusement park rides, this type of ticket is recommended since it includes six rides. Lastly, the third type of ticket, which is an add-on to the Zoosafari and Fasanolandia ticket, is admission to the Aquarium. A ticket to the Sea Lion Aquarium costs €10.

One of the best things about visiting the Zoosafari complex is that you can walk up and purchase tickets on the spot . There is no need to buy tickets upfront or online before arriving. This is the most ideal scenario for families who tend to make last minute plans like us.

As soon as the park is open, you will line up at the ticket booth while in your car if you’re headed to the drive-through safari. If you’re only visiting Fasanolandia, you can park your car and then walk to the kiosk to buy entry tickets. Reservations are also never required unless you have special requests or are traveling in a very large group.

To fully experience Zoosafari, plan a visit during April to September . This is the period when the park is completely open and operational, with regular visiting hours, shows, and exhibits. Outside of these months, the park is occasionally open with certain conditions. For example, in February, March, and October, you can only experience the drive-through safari on specific dates, while Fasanolandia (the theme park) remains closed. Additionally, there are special events during holidays such as Christmas and Halloween.

For Zoosafari (drive-through animal park), it is possible to purchase tickets and begin the tour from 9:30 to 15:00. Fasanolandia, which includes the amusement park with rides and other features like the theater and museums, is available from 10:00 to 16:00. These opening hours are only applicable from April to September.

By the park’s official rules, it’s not allowed to feed the animals or attract them towards you with food. It’s advised to follow this regulation while touring the safari because you may not know how animals will react. It’s a bit different than feeding pigeons at the park! In a worst-case scenario, the safari animals may cause damage to your car or you if you attract them with your own food.

Ironically, as you approach the entrance and parking area for the park, you’ll see a ton of roadside vendors. Each of them is selling plastic bags of food geared towards the zoo animals, typically carrots or even peanuts. Clearly, these vendors are not associated with the actual zoo, and that’s why you’ll see them making their sales before the park grounds.

Similar to Zoosafari’s stance on feeding animals, you’re technically not allowed to drive through the safari with your windows down. There are signs posted in multiple areas of the park prohibiting this for safety and liability reasons. However, this is where we slightly broke the rules, but only when it made sense. For example, the drive-through route begins with a large section of many goats, donkeys, and some horses.

There was not one car among ours that did not have their windows down and sticking their arms out to pet the animals. How can you resist a friendly lick from a farm animal?

As you get further into the excursion and into high-risk sections like the tigers, it’s probably not a good idea to treat them like goats. Additionally, the guards staged in these areas are more alert and will remind you to put your window up.

Overall, we kept our windows closed at all times in the backseat for our daughter but kept ours cracked open in order to take better photos. Use your best judgment with this one!

Driving through the safari can take 30 minutes or over one hour. It completely depends on how long you stop at each animal species and take the time to observe or admire. There were some animals to which our daughter was glued to and didn’t want to leave. Other animals were shy or not visible, so we zipped on by. Secondly, the time to complete the route will also depend on the number of other visitors accompanying you. After all, it’s a drive, which means there will either be a lot of traffic or not.

To our surprise, we saw a handful of dogs joining their human owners at Zoosafari. The dogs were even seen in the Fasanolandia theme park, which has access to the aquarium, monkey village, and reptile house. We believe there is a size limit for dogs allowed inside , as all of the pups we saw were rather small. If your dog isn’t large and is well mannered, bring them along!

Tips for Visiting Zoosafari Fasanolandia

This tip seems to apply to any frequented attraction or even beach, particularly in Italy. Arriving early is only effective if you get there before doors open so you are at the front of the line. If you arrive at opening hour, there will already be many cars ahead of you which cause traffic throughout the safari course.

We learned from our mistake, and when we visit Zoosafari again, we will likely arrive around 12:30pm when most people (Italians in particular) will start to leave for lunch instead.

On the subject of lunch, it’s recommended that you pack your own sandwich or something easy to bring along with you. There are a handful of kiosks selling food inside Fasanolandia, but they are overpriced and of low quality. We were definitely not the only ones taking a picnic break in our car after the drive-through safari and before entering the theme park.

If you’re keen on catching a show at the theatre, aquarium, reptile house, or any other special performance, consider planning your visit around the show times . Unfortunately, show times vary and they’re not on a structured schedule (or published online). But there are two ways to confirm this beforehand. First, you can ask the ticket booth when you first arrive for all the show times. Alternatively, you can email Zoosafari in advance if you like to plan well ahead.

For us, seeing the performances was not a critical aspect of our visit so we played it by ear. Still, we were pleasantly surprised to catch a dog show by chance as we walked by the theatre.

Parents who are traveling with young children will likely want to avoid as much backtracking and wandering in the wrong direction as possible. We know from experience that there is nothing worse than disappointing a toddler by ending up at the wrong ride or attraction. Luckily, when you purchase your admission tickets, you’ll also receive a copy of the park map (for both Zoosafari and Fasanolandia) .

The drive-through safari is very straightforward because it’s just one road and designed for you to see all of the animals. Fasanolandia is less intuitive, and the signs placed within the park don’t really point in the correct directions. Using the physical map to navigate the amusement park is best. It will give you a good preview of the layout instead of cluelessly walking around.

The town of Fasano is conveniently located right off the E55 motorway. The zoo and park are then situated on a hill just up the street from Fasano’s centre. Reaching Zoosafari Fasanolandia by car is by far the quickest way.

Zoosafari’s distance from a few major cities and towns in Puglia includes:

• Bari to Zoosafari – 60 km (37 miles)
• Alberobello to Zoosafari – 16 km (10 miles)
• Monopoli to Zoosafari – 18 km (11 miles)
• Brindisi to Zoosafari – 66 km (41 miles)

BY TRAIN: Reaching Fasano by train is possible, but the station is located 3 km from the town center. There is a bus that regularly shuttles passengers from the Fasano train station into town. However, there is no bus that departs from Fasano’s town center to Zoosafari park. You would need to catch a taxi or walk the remainder of the journey.

→ 🚊 Find schedules and train tickets to Fasano ←

Ever wonder what it’s like to sleep at a theme park? Zoosafari has a few options for guests looking to stay directly at the park and zoo. If you’re looking to make the animal park a focal point of your trip, spending the night or two can be super appealing to families with kids. Minimize travel time and maximize park time!

Park Hotel Sant’Elia (7.9 rating) – Book with Booking.com

Hotel Castel Miramonti (8.2 rating) – Book with Booking.com

Masseria Borgo Ritella (9.3 rating) – Book with Booking.com

→ 🛌 Find a place to stay in Fasano ←

Final Thoughts on Visiting Zoosafari Fasanolandia

If you are looking for our honest review of Zoosafari Fasanolandia, then we’d quickly tell you, yes, it’s worth a visit. It may not make the traditional list of the best things to do in Puglia but if you have the time, it won’t disappoint. As if we haven’t mentioned it enough, it’s especially a no-brainer if you are traveling with kids . To simplify our recommendation further, let’s break it down to pros and cons!

• The drive-through safari is excellent and good old-fashioned fun for all. There is a great variety of animals , and the route is well-maintained and designed.
• The Zoosafari ticket gives you automatic access to the pedestrian zone and Fasanolandia. It’s a good value to see additional exhibits like the reptile house, monkey village, and museums.
• There is plenty of parking, so you do not need to stress about sold-out tickets or availability.
• Much less affordable than a traditional zoo.
• For the price of admission, it feels like access to the Aquarium should also be included.
• Parking is also not free in the designated lots and costs around €3 for the whole day.

Zoosafari Travel Resources

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Zoo d'Abruzzo

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ZOO D'ABRUZZO: Tutto quello che c'è da sapere (AGGIORNATO 2024) - Tripadvisor

• dom - dom 10:00 - 16:00
• mar - mar 15:00 - 19:30
• (2.97 km) Casa Isabella B&B
• (0.95 km) La Cascina Hotel Ristorante
• (2.62 km) B&B Il Golfo degli Aranci
• (3.03 km) La Chiave dei Trabocchi
• (16.00 km) Agriturismo Montupoli
• (3.40 km) Trabocco Punta Fornace
• (3.20 km) Trabocco Sasso Della Cajana
• (3.42 km) Ebrezza Bistrot Vista Mare
• (3.07 km) Caldora Punta Vallevò
• (3.31 km) Trabocco Punta Isolata

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• Zoos Rocca San Giovanni

Safari Park d’Abruzzo

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Description of Safari Park d’Abruzzo

Safari Park in Abruzzo allows adults and children to enjoy fun experiences inside a zoo.

The park is made up of a series of structures that house a varied range of animals of all kinds.

At our headquarters in Rocca San Giovanni in the province of Chieti, you will have the opportunity to:

• walking with camels
• attend animal shows

This is a unique experience, especially for your children who will be able to meet specimens they have never seen.

At our zoo you will have the opportunity to spend a pleasant day enjoying a series of services, such as a refreshment area, bar, restaurant and amusement park.

For more information you can contact Safari Park d’Abruzzo ! Come and visit us!

Zoos Abruzzo

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Contrada Scalzino 27/A Rocca San Giovanni

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Zoo d'Abruzzo

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Zoo d'Abruzzo - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

• Sun - Sun 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Tue - Tue 3:00 PM - 7:30 PM
• (2.97 km) Casa Isabella B&B
• (0.95 km) La Cascina Hotel Ristorante
• (2.62 km) B&B Il Golfo degli Aranci
• (3.03 km) La Chiave dei Trabocchi
• (16.00 km) Agriturismo Montupoli
• (3.40 km) Trabocco Punta Fornace
• (3.20 km) Trabocco Sasso Della Cajana
• (3.42 km) Ebrezza Bistrot Vista Mare
• (3.07 km) Caldora Punta Vallevò
• (3.31 km) Trabocco Punta Isolata

Lo Zoo d’Abruzzo ospita un numero selezionato di specie animali ordinato secondo un criterio geografico, spesso con più specie che convivono nello stesso territorio, come accadrebbe in natura.

E’ una struttura a gestione famigliare in continua evoluzione e sviluppo, dove sempre maggiore attenzione viene posta alle esigenze degli animali ospitati anche per favorire al massimo la funzione educativa che gli zoo moderni devono perseguire. Anche grazie al continuo supporto dei visitatori lo Zoo sarà presto ampliato con una nuova area di due ettari.

Allo Zoo non troverai solamente alcune delle più famose e splendide creature che condividono con noi la Terra, come il leone, la giraffa, l’elefante africano ed asiatico, il rinoceronte bianco, il pitone reticolato, ma potrai avere la possibilità di osservare il comportamento di specie esotiche e autoctone nelle strutture sempre più progettate per rispondere alle esigenze dei nostri ospiti, come la nostra isola dei lemuri, la laguna degli alligatori e la voliera del gufo reale nel nostro settore dedicato al bosco europeo.

Durante la giornata non mancheranno poi occasioni di conoscere meglio i nostri animali durante le presentazioni che il nostro staff tiene nelle varie aree dello Zoo.

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La nostra missione

Vogliamo diventare una struttura dedicata ad aumentare la consapevolezza dello stretto rapporto di interconnessione tra uomo ed animali.

In questo quadro, evidenziamo da un lato le relazioni di reciproco beneficio che esistono tra uomo ed animali domestici, e dall’altro siamo un centro di educazione popolare sulle misure preventive necessarie a garantire un futuro alla biodiversità, sia a livello locale che planetario.

Lo Zoo d’Abruzzo nella “Regione verde d’Europa”

L’Abruzzo è internazionalmente conosciuto per le sue importanti aree protette (in primis il Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise, fondato nel 1922) e per l’eccezionale biodiversità che ospita. Lo Zoo d’Abruzzo non vuole sovrapporsi al ruolo delle aree protette, ma eventualmente collaborare ad una maggiore conoscenza e sensibilità ambientale attraverso:

• La conoscenza di specie locali meno famose ma egualmente rilevanti per gli ecosistemi
• La costituzione di un centro naturalistico facilmente accessibile a categorie di visitatori che avrebbero difficoltà a raggiungere un’area protetta (anziani, portatori di handicap, famiglie con bambini piccoli):
• Rappresentando a livello regionale l’unica struttura naturalistica con un focus planetario, grazie alla presenza di esemplari appartenenti a specie in grave pericolo di estinzione provenienti da vari continenti

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Safari Park d´Abruzzo

Il Safari Park d’Abruzzo è nato nel 2007 e all’interno è possibile trascorrere una giornata indimenticabile a contatto con gli animali provenienti da tutti i continenti. E’ possibile ammirare animali come: giraffe, rinoceronte, leone, zebre e lemuri del Madagascar, africani, gli asiatici elefanti e i cammelli, specie animali australiane e americane ma anche europee, come daini, gufi, e altro ancora. Nello zoo, vengono organizzate attività educative rivolte sia a grandi che a piccoli. Il programma didattico è rivolto sia al mondo della scuola, sia ai visitatori che tutti i giorni vengono nella nostra realtà. Tutto ciò ideato per far conoscere il mondo della natura!

Dove dormire e mangiare vicino a Safari Park d´Abruzzo

Scopri le migliori strutture ricettive dove dormire e mangiare durante la tua permanenza a Safari Park d´Abruzzo . Clicca sulle varie categorie e contatta direttamente per info e prenotazioni.

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Clicca sul link qui sotto per consultare gli orari di apertura e i prezzi dei biglietti per entrare a Safari Park d´Abruzzo , le attrazioni , la mappa e tutte le novità 2024 per organizzare la giornata con tante offerte e promozioni.

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The Fasano Zoosafari, biodiversity in 6 stages, including a surprise

In Europe in terms of the number of species it hosts. At 140 hectares, it is a true oasis of biodiversity and, in the spirit of modern zoos, plays an important role in protecting and safeguarding many endangered species. 

Close encounters

Immersed in nature and surrounded by a wide range of animals of all species, welcomed and cared for in complete freedom, the Zoosafari is a natural paradise where you can spend a day full of emotions and unforgettable encounters : meet the lion that yawns as soon as he wakes up, see the hippos bathing under the branches, make way for a line of busy zebras or let yourself be mimicked by a cheeky chimpanzee . Everywhere you look there is a surprise, something to explore.

The park is divided into various areas , plus the final surprise: the FasanoLandia park, dedicated to entertainment, the crowning glory of a visit to Fasano. 

First stage by car: the Safari

This is the “wildest” part, a 6-kilometre-long adrenaline-filled route that can only be completed by car, camper van or bus. A real safari among the centuries-old olive and carob trees of the Mediterranean maquis, where it is possible to observe, at close quarters, as many as 3,000 animals of 200 different species : the animals of the savannah, lions, tigers, giraffes, gazelles, elephants, zebras, bison ; roaming free and mixed with species belonging to different ecosystems: ostriches, llamas, camels and dromedaries , as well as deer and flamingos . 

Second stage on foot: the Primates' Area

After the car tour, the visit continues on foot. Completely immersed in the greenery, the pedestrian route has other thrilling surprises in store: you will enter the lively world of primates , who are often so astonishingly similar to us: from the beloved gorilla Riù, the real star of the park, to the hyperactive chimpanzees , and then the herd of very friendly lemurs, the docile alpacas , the lycaons and various large birds . 

Third stage with the Metrozoo: the Lake of Large Mammals

Once the pedestrian route is over, it's time to get back on board a new means of transport, this time the Metrozoo , a monorail with a panoramic view which, skimming over the tree tops, takes visitors into a new realm, this time an aquatic one: a small lake scattered with islets and topped by a small waterfall is home to a varied group of seals , hippos , singing gibbons and, surprisingly, brown bears and polar bears. And on the way back, there is the noisy monkey village with its very lively and busy guests.

Fourth stage: The Tropical Room, the Reptile House/Aquarium

Still within the pedestrian area, the itinerary continues indoors, in the Tropical Room , an air-conditioned tent covering about 700 square metres hosting reptiles , fish and various invertebrates . Here, visitors can get up close to all kinds of snakes , both poisonous and non-poisonous ( boas, pythons, rattlesnakes, vipers ), freshwater and land tortoises , saurians, iguanas, monitor lizards, geckos, chameleons, alligators , as well as giant spiders, scorpions and butterflies .

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You’ve probably never been to…Italy’s Abruzzo National Park. Here's why you should

Dec 20, 2022 • 7 min read

Experience one of Europe's rewilding projects in Italy's Abruzzo National Park © Francesco Riccardo Iacomino / Getty Images

In Rome, tourists swarm into the ruins of ancient temples, jostle for selfies and stand in line for restaurants. But just two hours away, the hills and valleys are empty and the only wait you have is in hope for a sight of an elusive bear or wolf. This is   Italy ’s Abruzzo National Park, a triumph of conservation and rewilding in both Italy and Europe.

In the entirety of the Abruzzo region  – of which the national park is only a portion – just 1.3 million tourists visited in 2021, with far less making the journey from Abruzzo’s gorgeous coastline inland to the park. The result is that outside the high summer season , it’s completely possible you might hike for the day without passing anybody else.

Here are the best things to do in Abruzzo National Park.

Look out for the local wildlife: bears, wolves and deer

Abruzzo National Park is one of the best places in Italy to spot large animals and makes a strong contender for the best in Europe. When it comes to advertising the park, however, there is one superstar and that’s the Mariscan brown bear. Smaller and less aggressive than their fearsome North American counterparts, they are literally the icon of this area, appearing on the park logo and on statues in Pescasseroli, the main town of the park.

Walking with my guide Andreas from Wildlife Adventures, he described the park as a “heaven for bears” thanks to an abundance of good food. They can be difficult to spot due to being largely solitary creatures but evidence of them is everywhere if you know where to look. Over the course of five days, Andreas regularly pointed out tree trunks that were used by bears to rub against, finding hairs still trapped in the wood. 

A slightly more contentious inhabitant of the park is the Italian wolf. There are many farmers in the region that dislike sharing space with them. We met a local farmer who lost cattle due to wolves and even pointed out a calf who was still recovering from painful injuries sustained from a wolf attack. But the wolves are a huge draw for people. For many visitors, especially from urban areas, Andreas said they tend to view wolves almost as puppies. Despite his own deep love of the animals, he takes a more neutral standpoint: “I think the truth is something in between.”

Recent reports say the wolves are not showing as much fear around humans as they were before, something of a “shifting point in their attitude towards us”. There was even a biting incident recently near the Abruzzo coast after a tourist cornered a wolf. However, the biggest problem is often other humans, in particular the desire to get close to get the "perfect" picture. If people are lucky enough to spot the wild animals one day, they will often tell their friends who come back and, perhaps, take more risks in order to get the same experience.  

Despite the long days and good weather, it can sometimes be more difficult to see wolves in the summer because the pack splits while in winter they travel together. The last intensive survey of wolves in the park estimated there to be about 10 packs, with between 60 and 70 wolves in total.

Still, there is no shortage of animals to see. When I visited, we were lucky enough to be treated to two spectacular displays of red deer in the early mornings. The males bellowed loudly, their noisy display the first step in warning other males against approaching some females in the area. Despite that, some persisted and the sight of them locking antlers in the early morning sun, at the side of a mountain, was spectacular. 

The best time to go wildlife watching is very early morning or at sunset. While waiting, it’s a beautiful opportunity to slow down and really take in the landscape. And if you don’t spot anything? “That’s part of the game!”, jokes Andreas.

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Witness a gradual rewilding during a rewarding hike

When not waiting for the animals, there are nearly 150 well-marked hiking trails for you to explore, covering an incredible 750km (466 miles) in total. If you’d prefer to not hire a guide, a full list of trails is available on a map you can pick up from any local tourist office. 

However, with a bit of expert help, you can more deeply appreciate the gradual rewilding of the park. Intensive forest management ended 50 years ago but the landscape is still feeling the effects of it today. Trying to optimize the land for agriculture meant plenty of space was kept between trees to ensure there was enough shade for grazing animals, as well as space for them to eat. Now the trees are gradually closing the gap and Andreas estimates that maybe in 100 years, without intervention, it will resemble a primeval forest once again. Beech tree woods cover about 60% of the park today.

In the meantime, it is a joy to trek through, spotting the slow re-encroachment of nature, imagining what it might have been like in the past and what it may look like again. Even the fallen or dead trees are left here to add to the ecosystem, fungus and seeds appearing on them like mini-universes. Good mushrooms often appear when trees are about to die. Bring your attention and slow down to really take in all these details.

Stay in a mountain hut

We spent one night in Rifugio Terraegna , a hut high up in the mountains that can accommodate groups of up to ten people. With comfy beds and some limited electricity from solar power, it has everything you need for a short stay and our host Valeria cooked a delicious three-course meal, with some organic local red wine also available to purchase. Afterwards we all told stories about some of our favorite moments in nature, one that brought a touch of magic to our lives.

There are plenty of rifugios (refuges or shelters) dotted around the park with varying degrees of luxury. Booking ahead is recommended.

Indulge in Abruzzo's local cuisine

During your wild wanderings, you may sometimes forget you’re in Italy but you’ll certainly remember when it comes to dinner. Abruzzo is famous for hearty takes on Italian classics . The region is famous for lamb and the arrosticini sheep skewers are a local delicacy, although the meat will be used in any number of delicious dishes for your secondo, including agnello cacio e ovo (lamb covered in a lemon, egg and cheese sauce) or mutton stew. If you’re so inclined, everything is best washed down with some Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, the most famous wine of the region.

Check out the Visitor Centre and sanctuary

Pescasseroli is the headquarters of the park and the Visitor Centre is a sanctuary for a couple of injured bears and other wild animals. A lot of the displays are only in Italian but at least you’re guaranteed to spot some animals if your wildlife-watching has been a bit disappointing. It's not an essential stop but we passed a particularly wet afternoon there quite pleasantly and it was my only sighting of a bear in the park.

How to get to Abruzzo National Park and where to stay

Pescasseroli is the main town in the park and the most popular base to stay in if you want to remain within the park bounds. It has the most choice of accommodations and places to eat, as well as some charming lanes to explore in your downtime. If you want to stay near the coast and don’t mind a longer drive, Pescara  is a good option.

It’s a two-hour drive from Leonardo DaVinci airport to Pescasseroli. It’s probably too long a drive – with far too many things to do – for a day trip but it’s certainly doable in a weekend trip from Rome (although you will certainly fill more days if you’d like to, particularly if you’re a nature-lover). 

If you are traveling independently, a car is your best bet, both to get there and also to ensure you have full access to the beginnings of the trails and the best wildlife watching spots. There are bus connections from Rome via Prontobus to the town of Avezzano.

AnneMarie traveled to Abruzzo National Park on the invitation of Much Better Adventures.  

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Safari park offers home to Swiss hippo calf

A zoo in Abruzzo on Wednesday offered to adopt a hippopotamus calf born in Switzerland's Basel Zoo who grabbed headlines worldwide after reports surfaced that the zoo would euthanise the animal and feed it to the tigers.

After an outcry, Basel backed down but explained that the male baby could not stay at the zoo because the highly territorial nature of hippos means there can only be one male in a herd.

The Swiss have said Farasi, whose name means horse' in Swahili, can remain until a suitable home is found for him.

''We have the space and a pool that we will make available for inspection,'' said Abruzzo Safari Park chief Mario Bellucci, making an offer for Farasi on Wednesday.

Bellucci said the zoo had previously hosted a pygmy hippopotamus from a passing circus for a month.

However, the park's lack of other hippos may mean Basel Zoo will look more favourably on other offers, since it has said Farasi needs to live ''in a social unit''.

In October last year the Abruzzo park's four-year-old Bengal tiger gave birth to three ligre cubs, which are a cross between a lion and a tiger.

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Visit Butterfly Jungle in an all new way! Learn about the butterfly life cycle on your way into the Hidden Jungle aviary, then become immersed in the wonder of colorful, fluttering butterflies.

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Marriyum inaugurates Lion Safari at Lahore Zoo

Senior Provincial Minister Mar­riyum Aurangzeb inaugurated Lion Safari at Lahore Safari Zoo on Saturday. While announc­ing free entry to the safari park on Eid day, on the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, she disclosed that the free facil­ity would be allowed to 60-plus people even after Eid. Mean­while, huts meant for the night safari will soon be opened to the public to fully enjoy the facility.

The senior minister inspected different sections including salt range, deer and bird safaris, and undiyal safari in the e-safari cart. She provided a timeline of three months for the establishment of the veterinary complex, bird hatcheries, information boards' installation, systemisation of electric carts, fixing of speed limit boards on pathways, foun­tains, artificial moulds, water ponds' construction and making the environment dust-free for the visitors. She stated that two more veterinary doctors would be immediately hired for the health of animals, while sepa­rate vet doctors would be hired for different animals. She also instructed for the arrangement of accommodations for safari park staff, ensuring the health of animals and their regular medi­cal treatment. She mentioned sending wildlife staff to learn the latest technological interven­tions to vetline center in Hong Kong, the Chinese panda zoo and other countries. The provincial government is developing a sa­fari park application while intro­ducing an international bidding system for swings. She further stated that three elephants are being imported from Zimbabwe for the safari park, for which four vet doctors would be appointed. Safari Park Wildlife Center will be making a world-class safari in three months; she said and added that the CM Punjab will soon announce an eco-tourism plan for Changa Manga Forest and Wildlife Park.

Kohat police arrest 20 suspects

Alongside this, Chief Minis­ter Maryam Nawaz Sharif has brought the best systems on an urgent basis for solid waste man­agement. CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif is monitoring hoarding issues and price control mecha­nisms, which has led to a reduc­tion in prices. As there are some deep connections between hu­mans and animals, hence emer­gency centers will also be estab­lished along with wildlife centers, concluded the senior minister.

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