Introducing our thrilling new virtual reality safari experience

Ever wondered what it would be like to swim with whales, stand under a towering giraffe or come face to face with a gorilla? Well now you can, thanks to a new virtual reality experience here at Marwell Zoo.

Using state-of-the-art headsets, you can experience the animal kingdom, getting closer than ever to many of the planet’s animals in their own habitats.

There are two different VR experiences running throughout the summer holidays and new films will be released every month.

The first film is A New Odyssey Around The World where visitors will be able to experience evolution from the tiniest of ants, to the majestic mountain gorilla as well as the enormous sperm whale. This runs until 10 August 2025.

Then between Monday 11 August and Sunday 7 September 2025, the experience changes to The Savannah Cycle, where you travel to the Masai Mara and Serengeti National Parks in Kenya and Tanzania for a breath-taking spectacle in the heart of the savannah. Prepare to get up close to giraffes, lions, elephants and wildebeest to see how they live.

If you visit our enchanted winter lights trail Glow Marwell or the magical Christmas grotto experience in Grade 1 listed Marwell Hall, you can also prebook your VR experience. Meet polar bears, reindeer and arctic foxes in the experience Facing Winter, as you are transported to cold climates and understand how climate change is impacting the animals’ survival.

The VR experiences are suitable for ages 5+ and cost £6 per person. The films run daily in the Giraffe House. We recommend booking tickets in advance as space is limited.

Laura Read, Marwell’s CEO, said: “This is the first time we’ve had a permanent experience like this at Marwell in collaboration with Wild Immersion, who specialise in creating immersive nature experiences. It’s incredibly exciting that visitors will actually be transported to the habitats of some of our most loved animals and see the spaces that inspire our animal habitats right here at the zoo.

“As well as feeling up close and personal to these creatures, visitors will also be able to learn about the challenges they face just surviving day to day.”

For more information on the VR experience and to book tickets, visit our Virtual Reality Experience webpage.