Win a day out at the safari park

4:55pm Wednesday 25th June 2008

MORE than 35 years after opening its gates for the first time, Knowsley Safari Park remains one of the North West's most popular attractions.

The 550-acre park on the Earl of Derby's estate offers visitors a unique experience on its five-mile safari drive, the chance to get up close and personal' with exotic animals from all over the globe.

We have five family tickets to give away in an exclusive competition so you can enjoy what the park has to offer.

These include rhinos, camels, buffalo, bison, wildebeest, lions, tigers, zebras, baboons, monkeys, deer, antelope and wallabies.

Current top attractions at the park include the three white rhino calves born over the last 18 months or so - Binta, Kifaru and Tatu - plus no less than ten lion cubs born in recent months.

Other recent animal arrivals include a pack of very rare African Hunting Dogs and a pair of Red River Hogs. However, for many visitors it is the baboons who remain the real stars of the show.

There is an alternative car-friendly route around the outside of the monkey jungle for those wishing to avoid any potential damage to their vehicle.

Visitors taking this route still have an excellent view of the baboons.

Other attractions include the safari village with its miniature railway and a walkaround animal area where elephants, giraffes, meerkats and otters can be viewed at close quarters.

Brand new in this area is the park's revamped sealion facility.

Linked to the existing sealion theatre, this includes a larger outdoor pool, rocks, beaches, waterfall effects and underwater viewing facilities. This enables visitors to watch the sealions' antics throughout the day, not just at show times.

Also new for 2008 are a free-roaming group of Marmoset monkeys and a spectacular new entrance to the safari drive. Meanwhile, Knowsley's Bug House offers everything from snakes and lizards to cockroaches, creatures a world away from the goats, lambs, cattle and horses for the youngsters to enjoy at Children's Lake Farm.

Knowsley is also home to Aerial Extreme - the North West's largest adventure ropes course - and at peak periods there are also bird of prey displays and more than 20 amusement park rides.

As well as the exotic' animals at Knowsley the park offers a wide range of native British wildlife.

Ten species of waterfowl nest around its lake, kestrels and buzzards can be spotted in the woodland and brown hares, stoats, weasels, grey squirrels and red squirrels can also be seen.

To get your hands on one of five family tickets, simply answer the following question:

Knowsley Safari Park covers how many acres?

Send the answer, together with your name, address and daytime contact phone number to: Safari Park competition, Wirral Globe, Haymarket Court, Hinson Street, Birkenhead CH41 5BX. The closing date is Wednesday, July 9.