A Taste of Africa at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo

Visiting Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo is a truly unique and incredible experience. What makes this experience even better is staying in a luxe African-style tent at the Zoofari Lodge inside the Zoo. This is a hotel where you can wake up to a beautiful sunrise while watching giraffes and zebras feed. It’s like being on an African Safari, without having to actually leave Australia!

First Let’s Talk about the Logistics- Planning a Trip to Dubbo

What to Pack

Outback NSW is on the top of everyone’s bucket list and you can be so busy planning your trip you may forget to pack some essential items. That’s why I’ve made an essential Travel Packing list that you can use when you visit Dubbo, so you have everything you need for your trip and be prepared for any season. You can also download a FREE PDF version too!

Table of Contents

If you are interested in upping your photography game then you may also want to see what’s in our camera bag for all the best travel photography gear we use when we travel. There is plenty of beautiful spots around Dubbo so be sure to pack a good camera!

Accommodation

The accommodation options at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo range from budget to luxe. I stayed at the Zoofari Lodge and would highly recommend this experience for couples and families alike!

There are also plenty of options available on Airbnb that range from budget to luxe. Here are some favourites I’ve found:

Or if you prefer Hotels, I always find the cheapest rates by searching Hotels Combined– I’ve pre-filled Dubbo for you below so just click search and explore what’s on offer!

About Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is open-range with walls and fences replaced by concealed moats that divide the animals from the visitors. This creates the impression of actually being with the animals in the wild. The site on which the zoo sits on was formerly an army camp during World War Two before it was transformed into a 300 hectare zoo. It was also the first zoo to be built in Australia in 60 years when it opened in 1977. Being able to drive around the entire park speaks volumes about the size of the Zoo and is something that sets it apart from your average Zoo experience.

Dubbo’s large open plains, weather and season patterns are similar to the features of a typical savannah in Southern African regions which is why it’s an ideal home for zebras, giraffes, lions and the like. The animals of Taronga Zoo have all the necessary requirements to experience the utmost positive emotional and physical well being possible through an extensive range of experienced zookeepers, vets, behavioural biologists and even their very own nutritionist! (So spoiled!)

My tips for the Zoo:

Arrive when the Park opens and move around the park in line with the Feeding times/Zoo talks where you will definitely see more action from the wild animals
If you want to hire a golf buggy- book in advance! They sell out quick. If you miss out at least you have the option to drive around with the car. There are plenty of parking spots at each animal enclosure along the park’s circuit.
Book the Animal encounters in early- you will definitely want to hand feed a Giraffe, or perhaps a Tiger?
BYO Food & Water- there is only a Café/Bistro at the entrance to the Zoo and one small one about 6km into the circuit. You will save money by being prepared though.

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Staying at the Zoofari Lodge in Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Spending the night overlooking the African Savannah within the confinements of Taronga Western Plains Zoo is definitely a pinch yourself moment! To give you an idea, the Zoofari cabins are ultimate luxe glamping tents, each with a front deck that looks out over the savannah, which is filled with Giraffes, Zebras, Rhinos, Antelope, Ostriches and even the casual family of Kangaroos!

The features and facilities of the cabins are gorgeous, including a king bed (and pull out sofa bed), a beautiful private ensuite with free-standing bathtub, as well a coffee and tea making facilities, binoculars and a mini-bar & fridge. Also, just a short stroll from the cabin is the equally luxe Zoofari Lodge Guest House, where you can relax in the pool, with a drink from the bar, or play games in the lounge area.

What do you do during your stay at Zoofari Lodge?

When you stay at Zoofari Lodge it comes as a full package including an afternoon and morning safari, dinner, breakfast and more! Not to mention your luxurious tent located along a large open plain with various zoo animals and wildlife.

I highly recommend checking in on time (2-3pm) as you get to enjoy watching the animals have a feed in the savannah before your afternoon safari kicks off.

Pro Tip: Make sure you use the binoculars in your cabin as the views are quite incredible!

Your afternoon safari tour takes about 1.5 hours and you will get driven around the parts of the zoo that isn’t accessible to the public. It’s an amazing behind the scenes experience where you learn lots about the different animals and get to watch them getting fed. The guides so friendly and very informative, providing tons of information not only about the animals but also the history of the Zoo itself.

A delightful surprise upon returning from the safari was a wine tasting session with some canapés before dinner. It was great being able to sample some of the local regions lovely wine and we even bought a bottle to enjoy with dinner!

Dinner was an African-Style banquet served in large dishes to share, some of which included: a zesty salmon salad, Moroccan lamb with roast veggies, African rump chicken and much more! Make sure to get in a good night’s rest for your early morning safari.

Sometime early in the morning, we could hear the incredible mighty roars coming from the lions! It was so amazing! We woke as the sun just started to rise and the beautiful golden colours came streaming into the cabin, it was breathtaking!

Your morning safari kick offs at sunrise. You will visit some different animals from the day before and enjoy watching them get fed breakfast. The highlights for me were hand-feeding the giraffes (I couldn’t wipe the big grin off my face) and watching the elephants get washed and groomed! There were beautiful moments where we could see how happy the elephant was as she was getting hosed down.

After the safari your stay at Zoofari Lodge will end with a big hearty buffet breakfast. Unlike most buffets, the food was hot and fresh, constantly being replenished by the chefs. There was so much variety- including scrambled eggs, pancakes, toast, mushrooms, sausages, bacon, granola, yogurt and cereal.

If you want to see us in action during our stay, check out my stories on Instagram!

So, what’s included when I stay at Zoofari Lodge?

Your stay at Zoofari Lodge comes with a bunch of great inclusions that makes the experience fun and keeps your schedule busy with a lot to see and do. In summary your Zoofari Lodge package includes a 2 day admission to the Zoo, exclusive guided tours with Zoo guide (one in the afternoon/evening and another in the morning!), African-inspired dinner and breakfast, wine tasting with canapés and some discounts on the activities and shops at the Zoo as well as free bike hire.

There are also some budget-friendly options available too where you can opt to stay in a Savannah Cabin or camp under the stars and in close proximity to Lion Pride Lands at Billabong Camp.

Some Important Things

Did you know: During the 1980s, around 100,000 elephants were being killed each year. Their numbers have decreased in recent years due to poaching for their ivory tusks, at a rate of around a hundred a day. Eliminating the demand for ivory is the only way to stop poaches – remove the market and you remove the threat to the elephants. It’s so sad hearing about the unfortunate situation of these amazing animals however, education is the way forward. Hopefully, by spreading awareness it can help to make a difference.

Did you know: Mobile phones contain a mineral called coltan and much of the world’s supply of coltan comes from Central Africa, where its mining is directly linked to habitat destruction and the decline of at least 10 of Africa’s primate species including Western Lowland Gorillas. It was a a scary realisation to how we are destroying the wild without even realising it. Taronga Western Plains Zoo is supporting the ‘They’re Calling On You’ campaign and inviting members of the public to donate their old mobile phones and help save the species through reducing the demand of coltan. Simply pick up a postage-paid envelope from the Zoo’s front gate and place your mobile phone in it and send it off, it’s that easy.

There’s also an app that you can download on your phone that can help with preventing illegal wildlife trade. It’s called Wildlife Witness. The Wildlife Witness app allows you to report any illegal wildlife trade you may see or come across. If you see something, say something! Your reports enter a database that is used by a Wildlife Crime Analyst to collate information and identify trends. Enforcement agencies are informed so that action can be taken.

Don’t just spend your weekend at Taronga Western Plains Zoo! Visit the rest of Dubbo and check out some of the cool things this small town has to offer! Click here for more on visiting the best of Dubbo!

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