Day trip to Fota Wildlife Park
Only twenty minutes way from Castlemartyr Resort is the amazing 100 acre Fota Wildlife Park where animals are free to roam. A day out at Fota Wildlife Park is not only exciting, it’s an educational experience for all ages too. Visiting Fota is a great way to learn about the natural world, and even get up close to some of the most fascinating animals on earth. Our junior guests will love spotting some of their favourite film stars as there are relatives of King Julien, Marty and Melman from Madagascar are all releatives. As well as Aslan from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe who has family and friends in the park too and there is even a seal called Elvis!
Start your day by visiting the meerkats, the official welcome mob (that’s what a group of meerkats are called!) and learn about these busy-body animals. Next stop, is the giraffe viewing area, where the mighty Rothchilds giraffe graze, they are the tallest mammals in the world and they roam the park grasslands, just like in the Serengeti. Then take a look at the big cats Fota Wildlife Park’s Asian Sanctuary. The Sumatran Tigers and Asian Lions, both of which are endangered species, share this amazing open nature space with Indian Rhinos, Long Tailed Macaques and Red Pandas. All the various primates at Fota Wildlife Park live in Monkey Island and the Madagascan Village and will give you a noisy welcome as they swing above your heads. For past visitor to the park there is always something new to discover too, such as the recent additions of Bigbelly Seahorses and Two Toed Sloths, making a stop at The Tropical House unmissable. The Chilean Flamingos and Great White Pelicans will be hanging out with the park’s adorable penguin colony, who are always ready to show off their diving and splashing skills. Nearby you can buy duck food and feed the resident ducks- always a big hit with little visitors. As you explore, don’t forget to keep an eye out for the free roaming furry friends. Ring Tailed Lemurs, Grey Kangaroos and inquisitive Wallaby’s that are around every corner.
Look out for any special events or activities that the park may have running, face painting and arts and crafts tents are great way to spend time and are often available during the school holiday breaks. You can hop on the Fota Wildlife Park train or take a walking tour to explore the entire park. Both are great ways to get a really good view of all the animals and learn more about them.
At the end of the day, you’ll have a better understanding of the fantastic animals, and have made some great memories of your time in Cork.
