Fota Wildlife Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland and has been awarded ‘Best Family Day Out’ for both Munster and Cork on several occasions.
Transport and Car Parking
Please note – if you choose to park your car at Fota, this means that your visit to Fota House’s grounds, frame yard garden, walled gardens and arboretum are also included in the €3 car park charge and monies raised from this charge go towards the upkeep of Fota House and Gardens. The Irish Heritage Trust, which owns Fota House and Gardens, is a charitable status organisation like the Wildlife Park.
Alternatively, you may travel to Fota by rail. The Wildlife Park has a station gate entrance adjacent to the Irish Rail stop that facilitates visitors who may not have a car or choose to use public transport. Please visit www.irishrail.ie for the full list of train times and connecting options.
Visitors to Fota have several options when it comes to eating on site. Our Savannah Café is located by the main entrance – within view of the Colobus and Meerkat habitat – and serves a variety of snacks, hot and cold drinks, and sandwiches throughout the day.
*Note, Savannah Cafe closes 30 minutes before the Park closes.
The Oasis Café is situated at the opposite end of the Park (near the Irish Rail station) and has a range of hot food options including burgers, chips, and nuggets. There is a large Picnic & Rest area nearby with plenty of benches, trees, and a Marquee for shade when the sun shines.
High-chair loan is not currently available for outdoor dining. Oasis Café opens daily and closes 1 hour before the Park closes.
SHOPPING
Looking for a takeaway treasure or a gift to surprise someone?
The Serengeti Gift Store, located by the main entrance, offers something for everyone. Decorated with trees from the island itself, the shop features a wide range of products to suit every budget, including: soft toys, Fota-branded merchandise, books, jewellery, educational puzzles and drinks and sweets!
Payment options include Visa, Mastercard, Laser, and Eurocard. Please note that the Serengeti Gift Store closes 10 minutes before the park’s closing time, so plan your visit accordingly to avoid disappointment.
Looking for a takeaway treasure or a gift to surprise someone?
The Serengeti Gift Store, located by the main entrance, offers something for everyone. Decorated with trees from the island itself, the shop features a wide range of products to suit every budget, including: soft toys, Fota-branded merchandise, books, jewellery, educational puzzles and drinks and sweets!
Payment options include Visa, Mastercard, Laser, and Eurocard. Please note that the Serengeti Gift Store closes 10 minutes before the park’s closing time, so plan your visit accordingly to avoid disappointment.
Looking for a takeaway treasure or a gift to surprise someone?
The Serengeti Gift Store, located by the main entrance, offers something for everyone. Decorated with trees from the island itself, the shop features a wide range of products to suit every budget, including: Soft toys Carved statues, Fota-branded merchandise, Books, Jewellery, Educational puzzles
Payment options include Visa, Mastercard, Laser, and Eurocard. Please note that the Serengeti Gift Store closes 10 minutes before the park’s closing time, so plan your visit accordingly to avoid disappointment.
Apart from duck food, which can be purchased from the Duck Feeder Hut beside the lake (accepts €1 coins only), we ask visitors not to feed any of their own food to the animals as it may make them ill or even cause their death.
Fota Wildlife Park tries to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable day when they visit, so if there’s anything extra we can do (heating baby food or special food requests), please ask a member of staff and we will do everything we can to help. Toilets, disabled toilets and baby-changing facilities are also available.
Two First Aid stations are located within the Park – one as part of the Main Entrance complex and a second near the Oasis Café.
Further Supports
Accessibility and Special Needs Support
Wheelchairs and Buggies
Fota Wildlife Park is wheelchair accessible, there are six disabled/wheelchair accessible toilets located within the Park. Two at the Savannah Café, one by the Tiger Forest and one located in the Oasis café which is by the lake and two in the newly opened Education, Conservation and Research Centre. There are four manual wheelchairs available for use free of charge, however, these are subject to availability, these are in Reception, just inside the main entry point.
Our tour train can facilitate wheelchairs and buggies (buggies must be folded) – this operates seasonally and is subject to capacity. Please call 021 481 2678 if you have any queries.
Additional Needs & Carers Policy
We have a discount of 50% on the entry ticket for a child or adult with special needs, their accompanying carer will receive entry free of charge, please have your associate members card (such as the Rainbow Club) or lanyard or carers card with you on arrival. Payment will be on arrival at admissions gates, these tickets cannot be pre-booked.
If you have any additional needs gaining access such as but not limited to the points below,
please call our team on 021 481 2678:
- Queuing at the main gates
- Queuing in one-way system in the shop
- No dogs are allowed
Support for ASD visitors
Please download or read our social story to help prepare for your visit here.
Please ask for our free Sensory Map to help prepare for the various sensory levels you may encounter on your journey around the Park (such as heat in the Tropical House and the sounds some of the animals make). Please note we can provide a pair of disposable earbuds if you do not have your own ear defenders – just request from our team on entry at the gates.
Fota Wildlife Park is wheelchair accessible, there are six disabled/wheelchair accessible toilets located within the Park. Two at the Savannah Café, one by the Tiger Forest and one located in the Oasis café which is by the lake and two in the newly opened Education, Conservation and Research Centre. There are four manual wheelchairs available for use free of charge, however, these are subject to availability, these are in Reception, just inside the main entry point.
Our tour train can facilitate wheelchairs and buggies (buggies must be folded) – this operates seasonally and is subject to capacity. Please call 021 481 2678 if you have any queries.
We have a discount of 50% on the entry ticket for a child or adult with special needs, their accompanying carer will receive entry free of charge, please have your associate members card (such as the Rainbow Club) or lanyard or carers card with you on arrival. Payment will be on arrival at admissions gates, these tickets cannot be pre-booked.
If you have any additional needs gaining access such as but not limited to the points below,
please call our team on 021 481 2678:
- Queuing at the main gates
- Queuing in one-way system in the shop
- No dogs are allowed
Please download or read our social story to help prepare for your visit here.
Please ask for our free Sensory Map to help prepare for the various sensory levels you may encounter on your journey around the Park (such as heat in the Tropical House and the sounds some of the animals make). Please note we can provide a pair of disposable earbuds if you do not have your own ear defenders – just request from our team on entry at the gates.