One of the great things I have been enjoying about staying at the Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites is how social all the guests are and how everyone offer’s each other advice as to what to see and do.
Prior to leaving Perth when I was doing my research for our family holiday to Bali I had decided I wanted to visit the Bali Safari and Marine Park. But whilst at the resort I heard many fellow guests comment, “it’s a rather pricey day out.”
So would we feel the same about the Bali Safari and Marine Park?
On the Bali Safari and Marine Park website there are quite a few options for rates and packages which can be purchased direct. However I choose to book the Jungle Hopper Pass through our resort saving us 270 000IR. Our pass for 2 adults and 1 child cost 1 910 000IR ($191AUD).
Our pass includes:
- Return Transport
- 1 Safari Journey (each)
- Freshwater Aquarium
- Animal Show
- Elephant Show
- Bali Agung Show (Balinese dancing)
- Water Park
- 1 Fun Zone (each)
My Bali Safari and Marine Park Review
At 9am the following day we are collected from Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites for the 30 minute ride by shuttle.
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I was told by our hotel staff on arrival to the Safari Park to go to the express lane to collect our tickets. The express lane is a bit of a joke as people who have not pre-purchased tickets are pushing in to be served and no one seems to police the situation.
Finally with tickets in hand or more precisely wrapped as a bracelet around our wrists, we head to the bag check to enter the park. Here staff are confiscating all food and drinks including water – which I feel is a bit cheeky considering the cost to get in the park and it is a bit of a health issue considering how hot it is in Bali.
Then the final stage to reach the Safari Park proper is to board another shuttle bus from the entrance to the Park Terminal. I take a copy of the program timetable to ensure we don’t miss any of the shows.
We enter the lobby there is a Gloria Jeans coffee shop, souvenir shop and the aquarium to the left. We head to the aquarium to gaze at the brightly coloured array of fish.
A crowd gathers at the Piranha tank. Unfortunately I cannot get close enough for a picture. At 10:30 the Piranha fish are fed a chicken. It is a frenzy as the Piranha’s demolish the entire chicken – bones and all.
Then we amble along the paved jungle path. We are enchanted to see 3 brightly coloured Macaw parrots sitting on perches uncaged – I can’t believe they don’t fly away.
To the side there is a place to have your photo taken with an orang-utan (part of the Rhino package only).
Animal Education Show at Bali Safari and Marine Park
So we continue toward the stage in time for the Animal Education Show. We perch on a shaded section of the rickety wooden tiered seats under fake trees that unfortunately block a bit of the view and wait for the show to start. This show focuses on educating us about how we humans have domesticated wildlife to become our pets. Starting with birds and moving onto rats, guinea pigs, cats, dogs and then more exotic animals. Towards the end of the show the focus is on how jungles are being destroyed and animals such as the orang-utan are loosing their homes.
The education is one of the things I do like about this park, even though a few of the animals have obviously been trained for performances – it is primarily educating us, the public, how the human race has endangered so many species of animals and what we can now do to help with animal rehabilitation.
This message is reinforced at the next show – The Elephant Show.
But before we reach there we all stop to watch the elephant bathing. There is only a small viewing area and it is very clever that the elephants have been trained to spray water on the crowd hogging the front to ensure we all get a chance to have a look.
Each show is timed perfectly for the crowds to make their way at a leisurely pace from one show to the next without having to wait too long but allowing a chance to check out a couple of exhibits along the way.
We see the white tiger
and komodo as we walk towards the Elephant stage.
We opt not to have our photo taken with the poor drugged lion (seriously can you explain why it doesn’t attack if it’s not drugged?)
The Elephant Show at Bali Safari and Marine Park
The Elephant Show is about how humans went into the jungles logging and the fight that erupted between the elephants and the humans resulting in elephants being shot before a more harmonious way of life evolved for both.
Next on our education journey we learn about Poo Paper. This is paper made from recycling elephant poo. The paper is quite a thick paper and is used for craft.
After our education we head for the Safari Journey.
The Safari Journey at Bali Safari and Marine Park
We are fortunate with our timing and there is no queue and board the 4WD bus straight away.
The tour takes us through the jungle to native animals from Indonesia, India and Africa, doing it’s best to try to simulate a proper safari trip in the wild.
It was so nice to see the animals not locked up in cages or confined to small enclosures, but wondering about a much larger plain.
You can see more of the expedition into the wild on a Bali safari journey HERE.
Eating at Bali Safari and Marine Park
After a morning of non-stop shows and adventures we are hungry. We head to the Uma Restaurant, though there are other options available including the upmarket Tsavo Lion Restaurant and small stalls to buy snacks.
I have to say I was really impressed with how this eatery works. The restaurant is actually a bit like a food court, with a buffet option at the far end (I am sure part of the larger package options). We are given a card on entering, as we order food from the stalls our items are written down and we are told when to return to collect our meals.
Steve and I each have a very nice chicken satay, and Lewis the ever adventurous eater (not) had French Fries. We also order mocktails from the bar.
Whilst Steve and I finish off our meal and relax Lewis heads to the small kids play area.
At the end of our meal we exit via the checkout and pay according to the items listed on the card. Lunch was a very reasonable 212 000IR ($21AUD) for us all.
With only an hour left before our shuttle pick-up we head to the Water Park.
The Water Park at Bali Safari and Marine Park
Such a fun way to cool off at the end of the day: slipping down slides and getting drenched by the tipping bucket.
Though be a little careful on the big green water slides as you come to a sudden stop in a pool that is a little bit too shallow.
We decide to take the 3pm shuttle pick-up and as a result we run out of time to visit the Fun Zone – a selection of amusement style rides. We could stay until the 5:30pm pick-up but feel another 2 and half hours would be way too long, a bit of shame that there isn’t a 4pm slot – that would have been perfect to end our great day.
So did we think Bali Safari and Marine Park was pricey?
Well if I had purchased the more expensive Rhino Package – most definitely! The Rhino Package offers unlimited times on the safari journey and in the fun zone – but there just isn’t time in the day to do everything more than once (even if we’d stayed until 5:30pm). The Rhino Package also includes lunch and photos with animals. However we found the Uma Restaurant to be very affordable and tasty something those buffets (from experience) are usually not, and don’t get me started on photos with drugged up animals.
However we bought the Jungle Hopper Package, we came out thinking yeah a bit expensive – though this seems to be the standard price to do most tourism activities in Bali with which we had a full day’s entertainment. So overall it was a great day at reasonable price (for Bali).
Would you or your family enjoy a day out at Bali Safari and Marine Park?
Tell me in the comments.
If you would like to read more travel stories from our family holiday to Bali click HERE.
Linking Up With:
- Essentially Jess #IBOT
- Bumble Bee Mum #TravelTuesday
- My Brown Paper Packages #WednesdayWanderlust
- Agent Mystery Case #WorthCasingWednesday
- Monkey and Mouse #WhateverTheWeather
- A Brit and a Southerner #WeekendWanderlust
- My 2 Morrows #URH
What a fabulous day out … apart from the drugged up lion:( The water park looks like great fun for kids! #MondayEscapes
The water park was fun Lisa.
Did most people go from one show to the next? It sounded a bit conveyer belt like.
It only felt that way as we left the first show Vanessa, after that everybody moved onto different side attractions depending on their preference before converging on the next show.
Thats nice that the talks were educational and focused on protecting animals instead of trying to just make money off them. The bird show pic looks cool!
That’s what I like about it as well Dani
It looks interesting. It may be an option depending how many days you are staying and if you are traveling with kids. I have been to a similar concept in the Mexican Riviera. It is considered expensive but I had a great time and believe it was worth it.
The price seemed comparable to other activities offered in Bali Ruth, and I think enjoyable even without kids.
I didn’t realise there was such a place in Bali. I must say I’m impressed because a lot of the Asian Zoos or Wildlife Parks that I have visited have been a bit run down. I would definitely take my family here or maybe just go myself as I adore animals.
This place Kathy was anything but run down. Whilst entering was a bit of a shemozzle the rest of the place was very professional.
This is a really through run down of this park, I’ve never heard of it before. I’m sure my kids would have fun here
Thanks for joining in #wednesdaywanderlust
It was generally a very professionally run establishment and your kids would love it Malinda.
This looks like an action packed day out, with lots to do for everyone. However the thought of drugged up animals makes me sad, and are they doing anything to further conservation and/or protection of the various species they house? Or just make money off them? At least they are doing a good job of educating the visitors, which is positive! Thanks for a balanced review 🙂
Rachel our guide on the Safari Journey mentioned they had a breeding program to help with populating the more endangered species. I suppose fortunately it appeared that the lion was only drugged animal.
Love your balanced review of the park. AUD191 does sound quite pricey to me. But I guess if I’m on vacation, I would just pay for it and visit. I always love safari adventures where we can see the animals right next to our vehicles.
Sadly Lin, Bali is becoming quite pricey. There are now world class restaurants – but at a pricey and quality tourism attractions which also come at a cost. So as a family you can only afford to do a couple.
I’ve not been back to Bali since my honeymoon in 2010, but it looks like a fab place to take children too. The safari looks amazing! I’m very jealous! #whatevertheweather
Bali is a fantastic family friendly destination Lisa, if you get the chance to return with kids take it!
What a great review! Thanks for the info. My kids would LOVE that water park. It would probably pip the animals for the most fun award. #teamIBOT
I think most kids would take a water park over any other attraction Emily.
It looks like a great and educational visit. I love that they had lots of discussions about humans affecting the animals habitats and lives and not just telling you about the animals themselves. The safari bus looks interesting, I’ve never seen a 4WD bus before! The water park also looks fantastic, but not so sure about the slides if the pool is shallow at the end. Definitely worth shopping around before buying tickets though.
Thanks so much for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x
The water slides were all fine in the kiddy area Jenny it was just the 2 giant green slides in the other pool.
Wow. I had no idea that park existed in Bali. Its been a few years since we were there mind you but I’ll definitely be looking into this more when we go next. Looks like a great day out. Thanks for linking up xx
Your kids will love it Shannon!
At first I thought that sounded really expensive and was a bit annoyed that they confiscated food and water, but it does sound like they have a lot on offer. I too would refuse the picture with the drugged tiger (I agree, they must be drugged). It’s good that they have lots of educational things there too and I can’t get over how much there is to do. A great family day out. Thanks so much for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x
Yes I agree Chloe, when you put into perspective as to how much you get for your money it’s not bad value.
I think that’s pretty reasonable, but I would be frustrated having to buy food and drink as well. Any kind of animal park is reasonably expensive to visit. It’s s bit frustrating, but I guess I can understand.
We thought for all that was included it wasn’t too bad a price Jess.
I would love to take my kids here one day. I always thought of Bali as a honeymoon type destination and didn’t really look into the family friendly side of things. When we make our way out East (hopefully in the next few years) we are going to try to visit.
You will be surprised Cheryl with how many family friendly options there are in Bali. I have more posts coming from this trip so stay tuned.
Hi. Great write up! We will be in Bali next month and looking at going here. Do you suggest booking early as in online, or just paying at the gate?
Hi Myk, We pre-booked through our hotel. The price was a little cheaper – check if your hotel offers something similar. However, once we arrived we found that many people did not adhere to the priority queuing system for pre-purchased tickets. Overall the queues weren’t that big, just allow time to collect tickets and make your way through security – all very strict.