Education, Conservation and Research Centre
The sustainably built ECRC (opened 2024) houses interactive displays, classrooms and a native plant garden, with the Drey Café right beside its park-side entrance.
Fota Wildlife Park
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About
A 100-acre wildlife park on Fota Island near Cork where kangaroos, wallabies, giraffes and cheetahs live in open, natural-style habitats — one of Ireland's best-known family days out.
Things to Do
Free-roaming kangaroos and wallabies
Much of Fota is a walk-through park where eastern grey kangaroos and wallabies roam loose alongside visitors. Stay on the paths, keep your distance and don't feed them.
Giraffes, zebras and the savannah
The African section holds Nubian giraffes, Grant's zebra, ostrich and scimitar-horned oryx. Fota runs international breeding programmes for several endangered species, including the giraffe.
Cheetahs, lions and tigers
The park's best-known residents are its cheetahs, which use a dedicated run, plus Asiatic lions, Sumatran tigers and Indian rhino in the Asian Sanctuary.
Ride the Panoramic Wheel
A 35 m observation wheel rises above the habitats with views across the park and Cork Harbour. It is a temporary, separately ticketed attraction (from €5 per person, cash or card at its own booth) sited inside the park, currently staying until September.
Take a behind-the-scenes VIP tour
Ranger-led private tours go behind the scenes, include animal feeding, a look at the giraffe house and a certificate. The 2-hour Behind the Scenes Experience is €140 for one adult, €187 for two, €250 for three; the 2-hour VIP Family Experience is €195 (children over four, up to six people).
Hop on the tour train
If 4.5 km of internal roads sounds like a lot, the tour train runs daily in peak season and at weekends from November to March, at €1 per person per trip. It takes wheelchairs, and buggies must be folded.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: Open daily 9:30am to 6:00pm, last entry 4:30pm (5:00pm for annual pass holders). Hours change seasonally and the park is closed 24-26 December.
- Admission: At the gate: adults €22.50, children €15.60, students/seniors €16.50, toddlers free. Online is cheaper: €20.20 / €14.00 / €15.00.
- Parking: On-site car park costs €3 per car per visit, contactless payment accepted; the fee also covers entry to Fota House's grounds, walled gardens and arboretum. There is also a dedicated gate beside Fota train station for rail arrivals.
- Food: The Drey Café, by the ECRC, serves snacks, sandwiches and hot and cold drinks and closes 30 minutes before the park. The Oasis Café at the far end, near the train station, does burgers, chips and nuggets and closes an hour before the park. Picnics are welcome, with plenty of tables.
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