Watatunga Wildlife Reserve

Had a wonderful surprise when my friends in Norfolk, I live in Kent, surprised me with a trip to Watatunga. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The guide Carly was so knowledgeable and made it really interesting. The volunteers also contributed keeping Carly updated on the movements of other animals. Dave the Busted topped the lot, such a character.

Jurassic Park without the risk of being eaten - Recently returned from a fabulous three day stay at the Gate Lodge at Watatunga. After an initial briefing and informative, introductory tour (thank you Miranda), as a resident, you are free to tour the 170 acres anytime between 9am - 6pm in your own dedicated off road electric buggy - great fun. After entering the reserve through the big metal gates, like entering Jurassic Park, the whole reserve is one big open site, with plains, woods and lakes so the deer, antelope and bird species, and you, are free to roam. Being a solitary vehicle, the animals are much less wary of your presence allowing a great, up close and natural experience. The accommodation was great too, fully equipped, comfortable and quiet, cottage. Dinner in the private garden with a glass of wine overlooking a paddock with antelope and bok was very enchanting. We highly recommend a stay, like going on a safari without the jet lag, which provides a memorable experience while helping support the important conservation work that this place is a major part of. This was our first visit and we hope to be back before too long. Keep up the good work.

A delightful way to spend a sunny afternoon. Extremely relaxing and enjoyable. Knowledgeable guides and beautiful animals in a spacious habitat. Not exactly a Kenyan Safari but well worth £60 for an educational outing.

Better than I'd expected! We had a gorgeous day for it, which always helps, but it was a really nice experience totally enhanced by Miranda's (the tour guide) enthusiasm and knowledge. She supplemented the tour with extra tit-bits that really helped. So good to hear of all the different endeavours to help this and that species. It is kinda limited, not ever so many animals, but its growing and looking as though its being done really well. As on real safari, don't expect to get up close. They're ensuring that the animals stay wild. Don't expect a petting zoo! (Pics just taken on my mobile.)

Really enjoyed Watatunga. The tour guide was really knowledgeable, and we saw a good number of deer, antelope, and birds. Felt like the animals had a great space to roam and were very well looked after. The buggies are a very good way of getting around a large area. Dave the Bustard was a real highlight and followed us for a while.

My recent visit to Watatunga was an absolutely phenomenal experience, and I can't recommend it highly enough! From the moment we drove through the gates, we were immersed in a beautifully maintained and thoughtfully designed environment that truly felt like stepping into the wild. It is incredibly spacious and clearly designed with the well-being of the animals in mind. It was a joy to see so many different species thriving and exhibiting natural behaviors. The staff were consistently friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the animals. They were happy to answer questions and clearly took great pride in their work. The facilities were also top-notch, with clean restrooms and well-stocked food and gift shops. Whether you're an animal enthusiast, a family looking for a fun day out, or simply seeking a unique and memorable experience, Watatunga delivers on all fronts. It's clear that a tremendous amount of care and dedication goes into making this park such a special place. We left feeling inspired, educated, and already planning our next visit! Five stars!

We had a fantastic time! The staff were friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. Lovely gift shop. Driving the golf buggy was fun. We saw some beautiful animals and wished we could stay longer.

Norfolk's own Jurassic Park. Brilliant and unique experience seeing rare and endangered species in Norfolk. The tour was run by guide Miranda who was clearly passionate about the animals and their welfare. Buggys are super comfortable too. Available to purchase through Virgin Experience days. Well worth it, driving a golf buggy for the first time was fun!