Giraffes, Asian lions, Sumatran tigers, Indian rhinos, gibbons and red pandas roam at Fota Wildlife Park (fotawildlife.ie; adult/child €21.70/15, tour train per trip extra €1, VIP experiences adult/family €140/195), a huge 40-hectare outdoor zoo on the Cork harbor island of Fota, which helps restore endangered species’ populations through its conservation breeding programs.
A tour train (on wheels) runs a circuit round the park daily from April to October and weekends November to March, but walking its 4.5km of paths offers a more close-up experience. Behind-the-scenes VIP experiences include a two-hour ranger-guided tour. There are cafes and picnic areas. The park has its own entrance at Fota railway station.
