zoo safari fasanolandia

FASANOLANDIA

Il grande parco divertimenti immerso nel verde, vivi una giornata di divertimento e natura, una giornata davvero indimenticabile, fasanolandia.

L’esperienza allo Zoosafari non può dirsi completa se non ci si immerge nel meraviglioso mondo di Fasanolandia. In una cornice incantata, con le colline silvane a fare da sfondo e l'abbraccio della natura, si apre la via del divertimento. Un'offerta ricca e per tutti i gusti grazie alle tante attrazioni, gli spettacoli, le mostre, i musei, le aree shopping, i punti ristoro e l’amatissimo SeaLion Aquarium, dove poter conoscere da vicino la biologia e l’etologia di otarie, leoni marini e pinguini.

LA TUA GIORNATA A FASANOLANDIA

Un luogo unico dove vivere una giornata di felicità, la tua giornata a fasanolandia, ricca, genuina, di relax, immersi nella natura, 20 giostre per grandi e bambini, ami adrenalina ed emozioni forti o preferisci ritmi più rilassanti no, non c’è bisogno di rispondere dall’ euro figther alla ruota panoramica, passando per il brucomela e l’african river, non avrai che l’imbarazzo della scelta, area pedonale zoosafari, l’ingresso pedonale a fasanolandia vi regalerà un incontro straordinario, quello con i nostri primati: l’amato gorilla riù, i simpaticissimi scimpanzé, i curiosi e agilissimi lemuri. una esperienza unica e indimenticabile., spettacolo didattico sea lion aquarium, foche, pinguini e leoni marini sono gli ospiti affascinanti del nostro sea lion aquarium. partecipare alle sessioni didattiche sarà un modo emozionante ed unico per conoscere più da vicino i nostri amici marini: e poi tante curiosità e il rapporto di grande fiducia che lega strettamente gli animali ai loro trainer. una vera magia, al teatro fantasy è arrivata un’allegra brigata: adele e franco, insieme ai loro adorabili chiwawa e agli intelligentissimi e colorati pappagalli, sono pronti ad accompagnarvi alla scoperta di incredibili abilità., l'oasi dei conigli, nani, giganti, bianchi e pezzati, ariete e testa di leone… sono tutti tenerissimi e con un musetto irresistibile. sono i nostri amici dell’oasi dei conigli, un’area riservata a questi piccoli e amabili animali, dove vederli giocare, mangiare e riposare., museo dei dinosauri, mammut, stegosauro, t-rex, triceratopo, pterodactylus sono tra gli ospiti dell’area tematica dedicata alla paleontologia. un angolo di storia a portata di mano grazie alle riproduzioni in dimensioni reali di affascinanti animali del passato., mostra delle farfalle, sala dedicata principalmente ai lepidotteri di tutto il mondo esposti in teche tematiche, insieme ad altri insetti (coleotteri, fasmidi, ecc.) e ad aracnidi (tarantole giganti, scorpioni, ecc.)……. un’apoteosi di forme e di colori incredibili, veri e propri gioielli della natura, la puglia in miniatura, dai caratteristici trulli, all’imponente castel del monte passando per la basilica di trani e il ponte girevole. basteranno pochi passi per addentrarsi fra le bellezze infinite e i tanti monumenti della terra puglia, rappresentati magnificamente da bellissime miniature., scopri di piu', approfondisci anche, per le scuole.

Scopri le opportunità per le visite scolastiche.

DORMIRE ALLO ZOO

Scorpi le strutture convenzionate e le offerte riservate

RISTORAZIONE

Qui trovi tutte le informazioni utili sui nostri punti ristoro

• Panoramica privacy
• Cookie strettamente necessari
• Cookie di terze parti
• Cookie Policy

Questo sito Web utilizza i cookie in modo che possiamo fornirti la migliore esperienza utente possibile. Le informazioni sui cookie sono memorizzate nel tuo browser ed eseguono funzioni come riconoscerti quando ritorni sul nostro sito Web, e permetti di aiutare il nostro team a capire quali sezioni del sito Web trovi più interessanti e utili.

I cookie strettamente necessari dovrebbero essere sempre attivati per poter salvare le tue preferenze per le impostazioni dei cookie.

Se disabiliti questo cookie, non saremo in grado di salvare le tue preferenze. Ciò significa che ogni volta che visiti questo sito web dovrai abilitare o disabilitare nuovamente i cookie.

Questo sito utilizza sistemi di analisi per raccogliere informazioni anonime come il numero di visitatori, e le pagine più visitate.

Mantenendo questi cookie attivi, ci permetterai di migliorare il sito e di offrirti un servizio migliore.

Attiva i cookie strettamente necessari così da poter salvare le tue preferenze!

Maggiori informazioni sulla nostra pagina della Cookie e Privacy Policy

• Hidden Gems
• Popular Classics
• Travel Tools
• Photography
• Vintage Pieces
• Digital Prints

Zoosafari Fasanolandia: The Best Car Safari in Italy

• May 3, 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

Affiliate Disclaimer: Please note that some links found in our posts are affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Share this:

1 thought on “zoosafari fasanolandia: the best car safari in italy”.

Pingback:  Where to Stay In Puglia as a Base in 2024 - Adventures of Ace

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Discover more from adventures of ace.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

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 .

Related articles

Discovering Bari, an unexpected meeting point between East and West

Puglia by bike: between trulli, olive groves and delightful villages

Digitally immerse yourself in the wonders of Apulia

Gallipoli, the pearl of the Ionian Sea

The Apulia region by way of Gino Sorbillo’s pizza

The Tremiti islands can also be visited in winter, think fishing and kayaking

Alberobello, the Trulli capital, a fairy tale experience

Castel del Monte: the fortress of mysteries in Andria

The truest soul of Lecce, with bike tours, cooking classes and home-cooked meals

Santa Maria di Leuca

The enchanting crystalline sea of the Zagare Bay in the Gargano district

Scialara beach, the number-one location on the Gargano coast

Apulia, pulsing heart of the Mediterranean, cradle of ancient civilisations and with a spectacular sea

32 locations and 18 exhibitions: PhEST Monopoli enchants with the photography of the future

Puglia, an authentic wonder also in autumn

The Trani Dialogues

Continue living like an Italian

Subscribe to the Newsletter so as not to miss places, events and experiences for experiencing the best side of Italy: the authentic one.

Keep up to date

Would you like to learn about the most authentic experiences to be had in Italy, stay up to date on the most interesting events, discover our special offers and receive lots of insider hints and tips?

Save your favorite places

Create an account or log in to save your wishlist

Do you already have an account? Sign in

Zoosafari Fasanolandia

Zoosafari Fasanolandia is an animal attraction and theme park in Fasano in southern Italy. The park includes a drive-through safari park in the visitor's own vehicle as well as walk around animal areas, animal shows, and several rides. The park opened in 1973 and includes the only male African elephant in Italy.

More information and contact

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoosafari_Fasanolandia

Official website http://www.zoosafari.it/

Email [email protected]

Phone +39 80 44 14 455

Address Via dello Zoosafari, 72015 Fasano, Italy

Coordinates 40°50'2.811" N 17°20'11.136" E

Sygic Travel - A Travel Guide in Your Pocket

More interesting places

• Privacy Policy
• STOCK 360° TRAVEL VIDEOS

Beautiful Puglia

Where your journey begins

Safari Zoo Puglia & Fasanolandia

The Zoo Safari in Puglia is a place that all children and their parents will love, this is where you can be in contact with nature and animals and have a great fun within the amusement park. This permanent structure that hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year is located just outside the town of Fasano in the Brindisi Province. It consists of the safari zoo, the wildlife pedestrian park and the amusement park known as Fasanolondia .

The entire complex is the biggest in Italy and one of the biggest in Europe. Main attraction is the Zoo Safari , this is a great wildlife park that houses about 1,700 specimens of 200 species. Here the animals live in absolute freedom in very large and open spaces; they can also get close to the public.

The zoo , a safari-style area, has to be visited by car: keeping all windows closed and driving alongside with lions, tigers, bears, camels and zebras is a truly exciting experience not to be missed. Stop near the giraffe section and offer them some peanuts, they will gently lean towards to your car.

In addition to the drive-through safari, the park also has a traditional zoo area, with walk-through enclosures and exhibits.

The wildlife pedestrian park has different sections: jump on the monkey train and be ready to be surrounded by hundreds of monkeys and baboons looking for peanuts. Visit the tropical area with snakes, turtles and alligators, the ornithological area where several species of exotic birds can be admired and the reptile-fish-insect house. Finally take a trip with the metro-zoo to the lake and its tiny islands: watch out from the train for leopards and panthers. Jump off the train and watch the seals, rhinos, bears and hippopotamus.

The park also offers a range of attractions and activities, such as amusement rides, playgrounds, and shows featuring trained animals. There are also several restaurants and snack bars located throughout the park, as well as gift shops where visitors can purchase souvenirs and gifts.

Fasanolandia

Fasanolandia is the name of the amusement park located within the Safari Zoo in Fasano, Italy. It is part of the larger Zoosafari Fasanolandia complex, which includes both the drive-through safari and the traditional zoo areas.

Fasanolandia offers a variety of attractions and rides, including roller coasters, water rides, and a variety of other thrill rides. There are also several playgrounds and areas specifically designed for younger children, as well as live shows featuring trained animals.

In addition to the amusement park attractions, Fasanolandia also features several restaurants and snack bars, as well as gift shops where visitors can purchase souvenirs and gifts.

For further information please visit the website: www.zoosafari.it

Things to do near the Zoo Safari in Puglia

There are several things to do near the Zoo Safari in Puglia, Italy. Here are a few options:

Visit Ostuni , the “White City” – This beautiful city is just a short drive away from the Zoo Safari and is famous for its whitewashed buildings and stunning views.

Explore the Alberobello Trulli – Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage site and features unique, cone-shaped buildings called trulli. You can wander through the town and learn about the history and culture of the region.

Head to the coast – Puglia has some gorgeous beaches, and you can find several along the Adriatic coast near the Zoo Safari. Some popular spots include Torre Guaceto and Torre Santa Sabina.

Visit the Grotte di Castellana – These caves are a stunning natural wonder and are located just a short drive from the Zoo Safari. You can take a guided tour through the caves and see incredible rock formations and underground lakes.

Explore the Baroque city of Lecce – Lecce is known for its stunning Baroque architecture and beautiful churches. You can spend a day wandering through the city and admiring the stunning buildings and historic sites.

Best things to do in Bari

Trani: things to do and see, 8 reasons to visit bari, best things to do in puglia.

Zoosafari Fasanolandia, a wildlife safari and amusement park

Sightseeing

Sandra Marx | Live the World

November 23, 2022

The southern-Italian region of Apulia is the perfect destination for a weekend trip or beach vacation. Eating delicious food , sunbathing and exploring dreamy towns are not the only activities waiting for you in the region – you can also experience fascinating wildlife first hand! 

The nature park Zoosafari Fasanolandia is the second biggest animal park in Europe and just a 40-minute drive away from Bari . It is located in the Apulian town of Fasano, which is part of the commune of Brindisi and has over 40000 inhabitants. The wildlife and amusement area consist out of multiple parks, which guarantees an enjoyable and diverse adventure.

The main attraction is the safari park. You are driving with your own vehicle to observe the animals living in a spacious area adapted to their needs. At the beginning of the safari, there are animals, such as deers and water buffalos followed by an area full of lions, tigers and black bears. After leaving the area of predators you will be able to see many other exotic animals such as monkeys, zebras, giraffes, emus, and camels. The last section of the Safari offers a close look on feather animals like flamingos, peacocks, and cranes. 

The drive through the wildlife area is usually about an hour long and afterwards you can continue your exploration tour on foot. The first section is a tropical room with alligators, snakes, lizards and turtles. On the over 60 000 m² wildlife park, there is also a water area with large mammals, tropical birds, dolphins, a penguin house and many primate species. 

Often, there are also animal shows with dolphins, sea lions, and penguins, showing off their tricks with their trainers. 

Except for amazing experiences with animals, Zoosafari Fasanolandia offers also many different amusement park attractions. There are numerous roller coasters, some for children and some for adrenaline junkies, water rides, fairy wheels, and even a 4D cinema. Fasanolandia is located on a hill, overlooking the Adriatic Sea, which makes all panoramic rides particularly special. 

Zoosafari Fasanolandia is the perfect day trip for all families, animal lovers and amusement park enthusiasts. 

Title Picture © Credits to Wikipedia/Massimop

Book a nearby experience

Let our ai assistant help plan your trip.

Create a personalized plan and share it with your friends

Never run out of things to do! Sign up to our newsletter today, what are you waiting for?

• Puglia Tourism
• Puglia Itineraries
• Puglia Hotels

Zoosafari Fasanolandia Ticket Price, Hours, Address and Reviews

• Emilia-Romagna
• Things To Do In Puglia

Zoosafari Fasanolandia

• Address: Via dello ZooSafari, 72015 Fasano BR, Italy, 72015, Puglia Map
• Timings: 09:30 am - 03:00 pm Details
• Fax: +1-0804422525
• Tags: Zoo, Family And Kids , Social, Zoos, Aquariums And Wildlife Sanctuaries

An animal attraction and theme park nestled in southern Italy, Zoosafari Fasanolandia was opened in 1973 and features the only male African elephant in Italy. Animal shows, rides like roller coasters and ghost trains, and walk around animal areas along with a drive-through safari park is what makes this park a fun to visit destination. The safari park, tropical room, pedonal zoological trail, lake of the large mammals, ornithological exhibit, penguin house, and dolphinarium are the significant animal exhibits at the park.

• Zoosafari Fasanolandia Address: Via dello ZooSafari, 72015 Fasano BR, Italy, 72015, Puglia
• Zoosafari Fasanolandia Timing: 09:30 am - 03:00 pm
• Try the best online travel planner to plan your travel itinerary!

Zoosafari Fasanolandia Reviews & Ratings

Attractions Nearby

• Citta Vecchia - Bari
• Scavi Di Egnazia - Museo
• Basilica Of Barsento
• Trullo Sovrano
• Castle Of Carlo V
• Lido Ottagono

If one has not his private car, does the zoo provide something to have the round inside ? How much is the cost ?

Magnets On The Fridge

Self-planning vacationers exploring the world

Zoosafari Fasano – a drive-through zoo in South-Italy, Puglia

We have stopped our car and ostriches are circling us. They are knocking on the windshield with very awaiting looks on their faces. Their beaks look quite intimidating and they are staring us. Can they crack our car window? They seem to be expecting some food, but we don’t have anything to give them … so we decide to take selfies with them instead.

How we got here?

We were on our way from Torre Santa Sabina to Alberobello while visiting the Puglia area when we saw a Zoosafari Fasano sign. The sign itself didn’t give away much- there were only a name “Zoosafari” and distance. But it caught our attention.

We couldn’t find much information from the Internet, but enough to be interested. We had never been in this kind of zoo. Ticketed costed 25€ for adult and 21€ (in the year2018) for children and will include also a visit to a regular zoo, to monkey ride and to a tropical house, but it still seemed to be a lot. But it really was worth it! It is a quite unique experience- basically, you will drive through the zoo with your own car.

NB: Zoosafari ticket is now 34€ according to their website zoosafari.it/tariffe/ (in the year 2024).

Driving trough Zoosafari Fasano

The whole zoo is separated into two main parts and together they make up Zoosafari Fasanolandia. The safari section for driving and regular zoo. Safari part was a really cool and up-close experience. Animals there looked friendly, happy, playful and very used to the vehicles passing by. They came close and were very interested in us. Ok- not exactly us. They probably expected to get some food.

Animals are separated with fences between different areas. Lions, tigers, and bears have their own dedicated areas where it is forbidden to open a window. But to be honest- it even didn’t came to our minds to open car windows in the lion cage. Double gates are between those areas which are manually operated. You have to drive through the first gate and wait until that closes. After that man in the booth opens the next one and you can move on.

All other animals are kept less strictly separated. Must be based on which ones get along each other naturally. Basically, they live freely – so don’t be surprised if you will find goats sleeping on the road or an ostrich knocking to the window. You can let down your window and pet the animals if you want.

We hoped to see lions up close and around the car, but unfortunately, they were relaxing on the grass. Far away from the road and not interested of us, which was a pity. They were just watching us from the distance. Same with bears and tigers. We caught them after feeding probably.

Regular zoo and theme park Fasanolandia

After you will finish with the safari part, you can park your car outside of the park and go visit the pedestrian zoo. We used the parking lot on the left after exiting safari. Parking did cost around 3€ in the year 2018.

The regular zoo is also separated into different areas and it also features a theme park which altogether makes up the “Fasanolandia” park. Some of the examples are monkeys cage, tropical house, dolphinarium and the lake for the large mammals like sea lions. They also provide dolphins, penguins and sea lions shows for visitors at various times each day. This was at an extra cost.

People in the cage

In Zoosafari Fasano you can swap position with animals. You have the possibility to go inside of the monkey cage- but for that, you have to get on to the train and into the cage. This was a really unique experience- some monkeys were riding with us on the top of the train and checking us out through the metal grid. Others were just having their normal life- grooming, eating or taking care of the babies.

Questions we had before going to Zoosafari Fasano

We had many questions before going to the zoo safari. It was not quite clear for us how the exact visit will look like, is there a time limit for driving etc. Here are some of the questions answered.

Is there room to let other drivers pass you?

Yes. The roads are quite wide so you don’t have to worry about that. Driving is done in one direction – no oncoming traffic either. Even a tour bus was able to pass us. After we saw how this tour bus rushed through the safari, we were glad that we were there with our own car. It left us the liberty to decide how much time we wanted to spend looking at the specific animals. Bus variant must be pretty boring for visitor.

How fast I have to drive through the zoo safari?

There is no strict time limit so you don’t have to rush through the zoo. Also, there is no speed limit nor time restrictions as we did understand. But the recommended maximum time was about 90 minutes. It’s plenty of time to look at the animals and take the selfies. We were totally able to keep our own pace and take as long as we wanted.

Since we visited Zoosafari Fasano in the middle of the week in April, there were not many other cars around. When we looked this place up in Google Maps we saw that it can be worse. But at the same time, you can see some cars and buses passing the row. Google maps link here .

How can I get a ticket? Should we park our car first or should we drive directly to the ticket office?

You can drive directly to the ticket office at the main entrance, purchase your ticket, and then drive directly to the safari. After you have finished the safari road, you can park your car, and walk to the pedestrian zoo. A parking lot will cost 3€ and it has a nice shadow on the top.

Can I feed the animals?

Obviously, animals are used to get snacks from visitors since they gather around cars. We wonder if people would not give them food- would the experience actually be less attractive and animals would not come close? At the first gate, there was a sign that states that it’s forbidden to give food to the animals.

Still have questions?

If you have questions feel free to ask in the comments section. If we remember or know the answer to it, we will answer.

Was worth it!

Our overall experience was great and we were pleased. It might be due to it’s our first time visiting such zoo. Janar usually doesn’t like zoos because of animals seem to be not happy in them. It’s not the case in Zoosafari Fasanolandia- especially in safari part. We would totally recommend visiting this- although it could get pretty pricey for families.

The home page of the Zoosafari Fasano is http://www.zoosafari.it/

PS: If you are looking for a place where to have lunch and you wouldn’t mind driving a few kilometers, then we would recommend Ristorante La Grande Quercia . It is 4 km (10 minutes) drive from Zoosafari Fasano. We read some really good reviews about their pizza, but unfortunately, they are serving pizzas only in the evenings. But the pasta we tried was also really good! And the best part is, that it seemed to be a real authentic Italian restaurant where also the locals will eat.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Math Captcha − 8 = 1

hep-i-book'a

A lazy perfectionist in the kitchen and on the road, petroskoi or petrozavodsk, capital of karelian republic.

My second trip to Petrozavodsk , the capital of Karelian Republic in the North of Russia, has proved once again my first impression of a very provincial and yet welcoming city. In fact this visit has been one of the most rewarding as far as my job goes. But of course there was a travel part to this journey which was almost completely left out during my first time in Petrozavodsk 2 years ago .

Petrozavodsk is of exactly the same age as St Petersburg and was founded by the same super-active person, tsar and then emperor Peter the Great. Actually,  Petrozavodsk is a shortened version of Petrovsky Zavod , the Factory of Peter, as there was this factory founded to make metal things for the Russian fleet.

People had populated the area long before the new settlement appeared on the shores of the Onega lake, well, in fact, thousands of years earlier, so the region has enough to show and tell about its indigenous people and their culture, the Karelians. The language is very close to the Finnish language and – if not widely spoken – it is still preserved in the region. Petrozavodsk is Petroskoi in Karelian and that’s what you read written on top of the Stalinist railway station building when you arrive from St Petersburg.

Karelia for me is all about forests and stones. It’s a pity in this time of the year you don’t see much when travelling with an overnight train. When we arrived in Petrozavodsk it was so early in the morning we had to wait at the station (which had free wifi and actually there’s wifi all over the city for free!) till it got less dark and we could go have breakfast on the 4th floor of an ex- mica factory (dating back to 1930 but now shut down) with a view over the old roofs of the city. We were the first customers but I must say that Na Kryshe (On the Roof) cafe proved to be ready with tasty buttermilk oladyi (pancakes) served with oblepikhovoye varenye ( sea buckthorn jam) and a pot of milk Oolong tea. And that was a very economical breakfast!

Out of all the cities I visited so far this autumn I think I liked the haunted Kaliningrad with its ever present past the most. Whereas Chelyabinsk left very negative feeling and it was not for nothing that I kept coughing each time I went outside there, Petrozavodsk left a rather positive impression on me. It’s a small very low rising (unless you visit one of the suburbs) provincial town with some preserved old houses and an embankment where you can catch a hydrofoil to get you to the famous Kizhi island which has become an open-air museum for wooden structures. We arrived too late in the year to get there but I hope I will see Kizhi soon. At least I don’t mind seeing Petrozavodsk in a better weather!

Petrozavodsk itself is an open-air museum for old houses, be it wooden barracks or Stalinist imposing buildings along the main arteries of the city. It used to be a very St Pete-like city, I mean the houses were really old, both built in stone and those in wood. Like this hospital building which can be seen from the Onega Lake embankment:

Well, the war swept away most of the old city and there came the 1950s when the new rationalizing plans which brought new buildings for the better future of the Soviet Petrozavodsk. And oh boy what houses!

This is the house where the central office of Post of Russia is (no postcards!). Actually sometimes the buildings housing Post of Russia are one of the best in the cities I’ve visited (like in Vologda). But then it rarely affect the quality and the swiftness of the service…

Another grand Stalinist house forming the ensemble of the central square:

With these Stalinist buildings you just have to remember to look up from time to time – to discover all those details and (decaying) balconies which I actually try to avoid these days 🙂

And then – in stark contrast – there is this type of houses – we saw several of them:

or these barracks – people still live there, mind you…

the same house from the other side – and with the wood for the long winter…

and this is the entrance to one of the wooden houses opposite those barracks

and how about this one?

the wall is just oh so decadent!

However the city has a number of 19th and early 20th century wooden houses all gathered together near Onega embankment that form a separate district of historical and architectural value. Take a walk along the Onega Lake embankment starting from the square in front of the Theatre and then turning left. But do not walk fast however windy the day might be!

The embankment is yet another open-air museum (and how does one fit in all this in such a small town?!) – this time of various successful and not that very successful sculptures and statues. The one from the beginning of the post called the Statue of Fishermen (a gift from Minnesota) looks really nice against the colourful sunset sky and the lake while the tall figure of Peter the Great (19th century) has actually been removed from its original place twice throughout the Soviet period. And guess who stands in Peter’s place now in the middle of the central square? You’ll find it out later in the post.

And with this small stone house begins the district full of old wooden houses, in one of which we entered to warm ourselves up a bit and from which we went out with some embroidered souvenirs. They also have some natural products like shampoo and soap, made without any preservatives and all that stuff.

This is the hospital church:

And this is one of the most expensive hotels in the city spoiling the view on the old town. ‘Spoiling’ because as I said the city has very small amount of high-rises in its historical center, so this weird construction can be seen from far away.

On the last day of our stay we left our hotel and went for a walk in the sun, heading towards the local history museum where we wanted to spend some quality time. It was sunny but rather frosty and we had quite a lot of time before the train back to St Pete – that was not an overnight but a rather fast Siemens train with comfortable seats which takes 5 hours.

When we came to the end of this wall we realized that was the Industrial Museum (which we skipped) occupying the old factory buildings. We thoroughly enjoyed this urban art on the walls!

So in the end we spent an unusual for an average visitor lot of time at the local history museum . Recommended by the way! There’s even a chance to listen to some Karelian folk songs and incantations or get a copy of Karelian recipes (will try some of them for sure!). Karelian cuisine is based on what the wild nature gives you and so some of the exhibits at the museum were dedicated to it.

And yep, here’s your Lenin right in the middle of Lenin Square (apparently), where Peter the Great used to stand until the 1930s came. And the Square itself has a very curious story to tell – it changed its name so many times I got lost when counting them. Well, they definitely embellished the look of the square whatever name you call it in the recent years. But as soon as you go into the back yard of the museum, you find yourself staring at this wrack of the “state-preserved” building:

The museum will also tell you about the brief period of the Finnish occupation of the city (1941-44) when the same Square which used to be Round Square (:) was renamed into Administrative Square. And oh, remember those Karelian forests that go on and on and on? Well, with the forests you have a strong culture of gathering or foraging and that means you have all the tools for berry picking or hunting for mushrooms 🙂 Here’s what you can see at display at the museum:

This thingy with spikes is to pick berries in a fast and efficient way. Everything made from wood and bark of the trees… Perfect! Just as this proto-rucksack for carrying all the treasure the forests can give:

After that we just could not have missed the local food! So we headed to the same restaurant opposite one of the best known symbols of Petrozavodsk (hotel Severnaya where I stayed last time – definitely NOT recommended, if only to see the inside of that super-red Stalinist buildings with white columns) where I ate 2 years ago . The restaurant is called Karelskaya Gornitsa and is although quite pricey and tourist-oriented is a nice place to imagine yourself travelling back in time.

But you see, last time we went to the Finnish part of the restaurant and this time we entered the Karelian part, which I found out when we were already leaving the place. All the time we were there I was wondering why I cannot recognize the place at all =) And then they explained to me there are two entrances leading to two parts of the restaurant. So we’ve made a better choice this time entering the Karelian cuisine part!

There I sampled thew most fluffy and almost yogurt-like thing called tolokno (oat flour which contains all the bran usually removed when making the regular flour) mixed with blueberries (hence the colour) and also a rye blin (pancake) filled with millet. This type of rye or barley pancake is called skantsy or sulchiny and is traditionally filled with porridge (they are either baked or fried, sweet or sour) . We drank cowberry mors (juice) which is almost always the best choice when it comes to traditional non-alcoholic drinks in Russia.  

For some Karelian recipes , see my post on kalitka , traditional Karelian rye boat-like pie which is also enjoyed in Finland and in the North of Russia.

So, to wrap up Petrozavodsk, here are my checklist points:

• decent postcards – failed
• post office – found
• market – failed
• local history museum – done
• dairy products and baked stuff – sampled
• local specialit é s – as far as the vegetarian stuff is concerned – tasty! And my Mom said that her fried fish and rich mushroom soup were really good!
• old town – seen and admired

Here you can hear the official hymn of the Republic of Karelia (actually a song from 1963). It was played on the train when we were leaving Petrozavodsk without unfortunately seeing all the beauty of the Karelian woods and lakes…

By the way, I am going to the dark-dark Arkhangelsk in two weeks! Hope this time I will get hold of the authentic sochni of Arkhangelsk…

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Vkontakte (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Bloglovin' (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

4 thoughts on “ Petroskoi or Petrozavodsk, Capital of Karelian Republic ”

Great atmospheric pics!

I love this kind of posts and pictures. Amazing!

Thank you, Abel! Now I will have to get back to some cooking posts as well 🙂

Say something... Cancel reply

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar