The Rio Safari Elche - Located between Santa Pola and Elche in the central Costa Blanca region of Spain, is the wonderful animal park, the Rio Safari Elche. All the family will enjoy a trip to this excellent park with plenty to offer new and returning visitors alike.

Before you take a trip to the Rio Safari, it is a good idea to check with your local Tourist Information Office as they often have vouchers giving money off entrance to the park or possibly even 'kids go free' tickets. At the very least you will be able to pick up a leaflet and a map of how to get to the park.

The Rio Safari Elche has other facilities apart from just the animal park - the swimming pool is open during the hot summer months, so take some towels and swimming costumes (and especially suntan lotion!) and enjoy a cooling dip while you are there. Tabled picnic areas are provided, so you can take your own snacks and refreshments (though refreshments are available on site).

A very enjoyable part of the whole Rio Safari Elche experience is the 'train' ride through the park. This is a unique opportunity to get close to the animals and also to take some great photographs. Throughout the day there are a number of entertaining animal shows, all included in your ticket price, the animal shows comprise a parrot show, an elephant show and a sea-lion show, all with commentaries in English and Spanish - great fun for all the family!

Feeding the many animals is one of the most enjoyable parts of the whole Rio Safari Elche experience and you can do this whilst walking through the park during free periods between the 'train' rides and animal shows. The most fun to feed are the giraffes, who are very gentle and graceful and do enjoy a nice juicy carrot (or three!) - they will take one from your hand, using their long tongue.

The goat pen is sometimes open for visitors to go inside and carrots may be on sale at the entrance for feeding them. However the goats can be a little over-enthusiastic at the sight of a carrot, so a little care is needed.

The variety of different animal species that can be seen at the Rio Safari is mind boggling and includes crocodiles, chimps, monkeys, deer, antelope, buffalo, emus, ostriches, lions, tigers, jaguars, llamas, camels, giraffes, an elephant and a hippo. Another popular section is the parrot house featuring some very colourful specimens, also the reptile house and aquarium, with a good variety of snakes, lizards and fish.

Some recent refurbishments to the Rio Safari Elche have given it a fresh new feel, and have resulted in a much enhanced experience for visitors to the park, as these improvements continue, it is hoped that the park will attract even bigger audiences.

So if you are in the area why not take a day out to visit the Rio Safari Elche and enjoy a day amongst the 4,000 or so palm trees. You will not be disappointed.

The Rio Safari Elche is located between Santa Pola and Elche just off the CV-865 and is well signposted from this road.