Wild Encounters Near Valencia: The Safari Park Where Lions and Giraffes Roam Free

Just an hour and a half from Valencia, there is a place where you can see lions, giraffes and elephants almost within arm’s reach. It is Safari Aitana — the only safari park in the entire Valencian Community.

The park is located in the Sierra de Aitana mountains, at an altitude of around 1,000 metres, in the municipality of Penàguila (province of Alicante). Covering an area of around 1.5 million square metres, it is home to more than 700 animals from 60 species, brought from every continent — Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Oceania.

Unlike a conventional zoo, the animals here roam freely across vast open areas, while visitors drive through the park along an internal road of around 7 kilometres. During the route, you may come across giraffes, spot a herd of zebras, or watch lions and tigers in conditions designed to be as close as possible to their natural habitat.

Safari Aitana opened in 1975, although construction had already begun in 1973. The idea came from Juan Sevila and Maria van Soldt, who wanted to create a space where animals could live in near-natural conditions. Today, the park is run by their son and is officially recognised as an Alicante wildlife reserve. It also works with SOIVRE and SEPRONA.

The safari’s residents include African elephants, lions, tigers, jaguars, hippos, water buffalo, llamas, Eurasian lynxes, wolves, meerkats and dozens of bird species. Some of the animals arrived after being confiscated, while others were handed over by private owners who could no longer care for them.

The main route can be done in your own car, with no advance booking required. Entry to the park begins at 11:00, and the last entry is at 16:00. Private guided tours are also available, and in some cases visitors can feed the animals, but only with prior booking. Tickets cost €25 for adults, €21 for children aged 4 to 10, and are free for children under 4. More details are available here.