History
The Safari Park 'Beekse Bergen' is located on grounds, in the province of Noord-Brabant in the south of the Netherlands, belonging to the municipality of Hilvarenbeek. These grounds were purchased in 1924 and 1938 by the city of Tilburg to use it, among others, as training facilities for the Dutch army. Both councils of the municipalities wanted to exploit the grounds and started to extract sand. The large pond of 70 hectare that was created as a result of this exploitation attracted lots of locals who liked to relax there. So, the municipal councils developed plans to turn it into a leisure park, which opened in 1964, Speelland 'Beekse Bergen'.
In 1968 the first safari park of the Netherlands opened its gates to the public. It was part of, and named after, the leisure park 'Beekse Bergen'. At that time it was not yet a safari park as we are used to nowadays, but just a large, 60 hectare, fenced territory. The development of the Lion park was a mutual investment of the two municipalities of Tilburg and Hilvarenbeek, and the owner of the leisure park. From the 1st of June visitors could enter the park in their own car and watch the four different groups of lions, a total of 40 specimens. So, the people being caged in their cars, and the animals roaming around free. Lion park 'Beekse Bergen' was designed and created by Jimmy Chipperfield, an English showman and circus director, who introduced the 'drive-through' safari park concept in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, such as Longleat and Woburn Abbey.
The Lion park was very successful in the beginning, with sometimes long rows of cars, full of people waiting for hours to experience this novelty. After a few years the number of visitors went down, and in 1970 other African animal species were introduced to attract more people and keep the park viable. The first species to arrive were cheetahs and baboons. The name of the park was changed into Safari park 'Beekse Bergen'. And already in 1972 the first successful breeding of cheetahs in a Dutch zoo was recorded. This, indeed, was a tremendous success, because cheetahs had proven to be difficult breeders in captivity. Like they did not produce offspring in London Zoo for years, but a year after their introduction in 1966 in Whipsnade wild animal park the first cubs were born.
During the 1970s there was a steady influx of species, white rhinoceroses, zebras, waterbuck, common eland, sable antelope, lamas, nandu, ostriches, giraffes, wildebeest, mountain sheep and gemsbok. As a kind of proof that the zoo was run according good zoo practices, in 1976 another remarkable success was noted, the first rhino was born in the Netherlands. A few years later, in 1978 African hunting dogs were introduced, as were the first tigers.
In this period the influence of Jimmy Chipperfield faded and there was more emphasis on nature conservation and education. In 1980 the Safari park joined the Dutch Zoo Association, and again extended its territory with several hectare, now 120. This allowed for introduction of some different species of ungulates, like Przewalski horse and sika deer, and a boost in the number of visitors.
Early 1980s, the walking safari was introduced, as requested by the public who wanted to leave their car, probably caused by the oil crisis. A small part of the grounds was designated for people to walk along some enclosures with small animals, like ring-tailed lemurs, squirrel monkeys and penguins. Just as in a regular zoo. In addition free flight shows with birds were started, in 1984, which still attract a large crowd a few times a day during the holiday season. Apart from entertainment, the flying is good exercise and essential for the birds to express natural behaviour.
Unfortunately, the Safari Park's financial situation deteriorated, and the owners - the municipalities of Tilburg and Hilvarenbeek, wanted to close down the Park or sell it. A quick response by loyal visitors, who established the Foundation of Friends Safari Park, prevented closure, and in 1987 the Park was privatised (Libéma BV, a company who owned several leisure parks and zoos already). This gave a boost to whatever was necessary, because financial investment was what the Park had been waiting for. New stables were built and the animal collection was complemented. Major changes were made to the Park's design and infrastructure. The Park got a more naturalistic design, fences and buildings were removed or hidden behind foliage. The animals were placed together according the geographical situation in the wild. A canal around and partly through the Park was dug, and in 1990 visitors could embark on a boat safari, which enhanced the total experience of visiting the Park.
During this period the Safari Park joined several EAZA Ex situ Programmes (EEPs) and even became coordinator of the EEP for cheetahs.
All through the 1990s changes and additions were made, which led to a walking safari of about four kilometers across the grounds of the Park. Although visitors still can use their own car to drive through the park, the introduction of the bus safari is a success. So, nowadays different kind of safaris are offered to the public, by foot, by boat, by bus or own car, and this means that for a total experience of the Safari Park the visitor should allow for one full day at least. As all safaris are different and provide different views on the animals, and - most strikingly - do also not interfere with each other. The buses, cars and boats do not disturb people doing the walking safari.
Since Safari Park 'Beekse Bergen' is privatised there is on-going work in progress. Additions and deletions to the animal collections are made, preceded with changes to enclosures. The most striking additions are made in 2006 with the introduction of four adolescent male gorillas and a group of chimpanzees from the Dutch primate research centre in Rijswijk. And last but not least the birth of a tiger cub after 25 years. Currently 1300 specimens of 110 animals species are on display on 140 hectare.
(Source: website Safari Park Beekse Bergen; website ZOOsite.nl; Wikipedia)
Visit(s)
03.10.2010
While walking towards the entrance of the Safari Park, I try to remember how it looked when I visited the park for the first time, more than 35 years ago. During those days, the only way to enter was in your own car. That could be wrecked by the baboons. They would climb on top of the vehicle, and test if it was baboon proof. More likely than not, some damage could be recorded after such a car safari. But that was all in the game, so to speak. This, and the visible fences - lots of fences, is as much as I can recollect from those days.
Things have changed for the best, and I am pleasantly surprised by the alternative ways to explore the Safari Park. You can take the boat, the bus, your own car, and you can walk. They all offer different views, but especially the walk safari is a great way to enjoy the park.
I chose the walk safari to start my visit with, and it turned out that I hadn't any time left to embark on either bus or boat. Which was a shame, of course. But it takes careful planning, and a long day, to do do more than just the walk safari, as there is a lot to see and the boat and bus do not operate by a hop-on-hop-off system, but on a tight schedule from just a few places to board.
The chimpanzee enclosure is the first you will approach when starting your tour walking anti-clock wise. Actually, this is one of two enclosures where you can find chimpanzees. The one near the entrance is the oldest, and consists of two separate buildings both connected to the outdoor island surrounded by water, and the (nowadays) inevitable electrical wire. The chimp island is located directly in front of the terrace of the 'safari restaurant', great for viewing.
When walking to the enclosure of the African hunting dogs, you have to cover quite some distance while going along an undulating footpath that provides excellent sighting of plains that house wildebeest, Grant zebra, gemsbok (Oryx gazella) and other African ungulates. Bridges in the walkway allow for connection of the plains left and right of the walkway, and therefore extend the area where the animals can roam freely. Just before the hunting dogs you pass one of the few aviaries in the park. It merges with the surroundings, while it is erected using wooden poles and coloured wire mesh panels. The birds in this aviary make a fine African collection, including a few migrating species, like the hamerkop, cattle egret, black stork, yellow-necked spurfowl (Francolinus leucoscepus) and trumpeter hornbill.
Next, as said, the African hunting dogs (8 specimens counted) are waiting for you in an impressive large terrain with grass, trees and shrubs, though the pond could have been larger. As the fences around this large enclosure are hidden by foliage, the sole spot to view the hunting dogs is from the watching hut. This creates a nice, sheltered, and undisturbed area for these animals. 
Next-door, the smallest of the two cheetah enclosures displays one specimen in a nice green environment with grass, trees and lots of foliage. But it is really a small exhibit when compared to the other cheetah grounds, which will take even the cheetah some time to cross from one side to the other. It is a beautiful enclosure, which provides excellent hide-outs for the animals, but also some excellent views for the public when standing on the bridge which leads to the savannah with the rhinoceroses. Nevertheless, the fastest part of the cheetah's natural predator behaviour cannot be expressed, of course. This is unfortunate, but it is the best cheetah enclosure I have seen so far. A minor issue was that the exhibit looked empty, I haven't seen a single animal.
Then a beautiful wetland appears, which supposed to mimick a savannah area, but due to heavy rainfall transfered into a wetland. Nevertheless, this mixed species exhibit with white rhinoceroses, watussi cattle and the common eland or eland antelope seems to fit its purpose. Peacefully, the animals stand together on the dry parts of the field, eating the hay that has been provided.
The second chimpanzee enclosure, situated in the middle of the park, is huge. It consists of two interconnected islands with the footpath crossing it as a fly-over, and a separate island, all of them directly connected to the inside enclosure. The exhibit seems to be poorly endowed with enrichment, like climbing equipment, but this is just because the enclosure is that big. On the other side of the indoor facilities, the gorillas (four adolescent males) live together with colobus monkeys on another primate island surrounded by water. The animals do not have any shelters to hide from the public, and are therefore extremely 'exposed'. This is very different from the situation in Rotterdam Zoo, where the gorillas have been separated from the public by a wall. A wall that has been erected after the silverback Bokito attacked a female visitor by crossing the water-filled moat bordering the grounds. In addition, I think the Colobus monkeys should be provided with more and a larger variety of climbing opportunities. In general, all the primate islands are quite bare. There is not much enrichment, and the climbing facilities consist most of the time of clean wooden poles or trunks without any leaves.
To get from this part of the Safari Park to the Amur tiger enclosure opposite the 'kongo restaurant', you have to walk through the exhibit with Axis deer and blackbuck, both from the Indian peninsula. The five tigers live in two enclosures, which look very natural, except that the wire mesh fences ruin the idea of real nature, and that the animals are very exposed to the public. It is interesting to see that the tree-trunks are not protected from the scratching activities of the tigers. Nevertheless the trees survive, perhaps because they largely outnumber the tigers. It is a bit disappointing that the enclosure overlooked from the restaurant terrace has only one high level observation post, which seems a bit meagre for three big felines.
Then, farthest away from the entrance, things get a bit confusing regarding the the species on display and their biogeographical origin. Having walked from Africa to Asia, you then reach representatives from South America, with capibara and squirrel monkeys sharing one exhibit. But next, the ring-tailed lemurs island appears (Africa-Madagascar), followed by a South American exhibit with guanaco, nandu and greater rhea. Next, an enclosure with African species, the black-footed penguin or African penguin (Spheniscus demersus). At this end of the park the free flight shows with birds of prey take place. Good entertainment for the young and the old, and it is great exercise for the birds of course. Giving them the opportunity to express their natural behaviour.
When returning to the entrance/exit from here you enter the part with Asian species again. Where you can find sloth bears (3 specimens) and rhesus monkeys sharing an exhibit, Malayan bears (2 specimens), stump-tailed macques (2 specimens), and Asian small-clawed otters in an interesting enclosure with a waterfall and stream, and big windows which allow the visitor to see the otters under water too. It's a nice and large enclosure inhabited by three of those playful creatures.
Much in contrast to the next large safari exhibit with sika deer, Père David's deer and the Sarus crane in a spacious environment, the red panda is housed in an old-fashioned cage which doesn't suit this modern Safari Park. The cage has a concrete floor without any covering. The two pandas have access to tree trunk to climb, but they must envy the other animals nearby who can roam freely over quite some distance. Perhaps, this is just their winter quarters, but the adjacent outdoor enclosure doesn't seem able to prevent red pandas escaping. So, there is a need for improvement here. Next Asian species is the Chinese dhole (Cuon alpinus lepturus), a representative of the wild canids, which is not very numerous in western Europe zoos. They inhabit a nice and large enclosure with a pond and some hills and small walls which provide shelter. This makes it hard to see the animals.
And then you return to Africa, the zoo's specialty. The African lions, with whom the history of Safari Park 'Beekse Bergen' starts, are fat and lazy. Nine specimens, one male, can be observed through several windows in the fence that separate the visitors from the lions. There is one huge platform about 2-3 meters high, which is the favourite spot of more than half of the lion family, so it seems. A brush for the animals to scratch themselves, same as is used in cowsheds, is attached to a tree. All the enclosures that can be found in this part of the park are outsize. Both the spotted hyena and the serval have access to an enclosure with grass, trees, bushes, hide-outs and a pond. Especially the serval enclosure looks great. The Rothschild giraffes (12 specimens) are housed together with Grevy zebras, sable antelope and the recently acquired African buffalo, who completed the Safari Park's Big Five. Unfortunately, the elephants were already inside when I arrived at their exhibit, as it was near closing hour. The unnecessary assets, kangaroos and emus, I just skipped, but the leopard (Panthera pardus) I had to see. And this was a pleasure, because the enclosure was big, with lots of green foliage and some tree-trunks positioned horizontal near the roof of the exhibit. An excellent place to rest for a leopard.
As you can expect in a 140 hectare safari park, most animals are provided with lots of space. In addition, the management has made some good decisions: not to strive for having as many species as possible on display, but focus on one or a few continents. Therefore, the two species from Australia can be regarded as an honest mistake. The rather large ratio of m2/specimen, and the way the animals are distributed over the area makes the place restful. A place you want to return to. And I will most certainly do, because I haven't had the time to embark on a boat or bus safari.
Gallery
Video
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More info
Some additional information, such as contact details and involvement in breeding programmes.
Location
Directions
Directions to Hilvarenbeek Zoo, Safaripark Beekse Bergen
Address:
Beekse Bergen 1
5081 NJ
Hilvarenbeek
The Netherlands
public transport
from within the Netherlands
Take the train to Tilburg Central Station. From Tilburg station, you can take either bus 142 in the direction of Best, or bus 143 to Reusel (on weekdays); alight at bus stop 'Safaripark, Hilvarenbeek' after approximately 15 minutes. Of course, you can always pay a fortune and take a taxi.
For the best route and connections, call 0031 (0)900-9292 or check OV9292.
from Belgium
Take the train to Turnhout. From Turnhout, take bus 480 to Reusel bus station Then take bus 143 in the direction of Tilburg (on weekdays) and alight at bus stop 'Safaripark, Hilvarenbeek' after about 30 minutes. In the weekend public transport is not recommended.
For the best route and connections, check the website of De Lijn or Belgian Rail for the Belgian part of the trip, and call 0031 (0)900-9292 or check OV9292 for the Dutch part of the trip.
by bicycle
The Netherlands is really bicycle-minded with a plethora of cycle paths in every province. The area around Hilvarenbeek has some typical rural landscape features, though there is also intensive pig farming to be found. So, if you would like to explore the area up close it is recommended to rent a bicycle at Tilburg station and take any route in the direction of Hilvarenbeek, shortest or more scenic whatever you wish. A bicycle route planner in English is available here. You could also use the website of Fietseropuit (in Dutch) to plan your route in the surroundings of Hilvarenbeek.
by car
The Beekse Bergen Safari Park is situated on the provincial road N269 between Hlivarenbeek and Tilburg. The way to Beekse Bergen is signposted from the A-58 on white information signs. The way to Beekse Bergen is signposted from the N269 on blue road signs. There's a large car park in case you do not want to use your own car for the drive-through safari.
Do not follow SatNav systems, because these lead you to the exit.
Zoo map
Go to the interactive map here.
