Africa Alive! Kessingland, Suffolk: A Family Day Out at the Savannah Zoo

Africa Alive! is the savannah-themed zoo south of Lowestoft, run by the Zoological Society of East Anglia (which also operates Banham). 100 acres focused on African species — lions, rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, hyenas — with daily keeper talks and a road train that loops the savannah enclosures. It works as a properly substantial family day out and pairs naturally with a Lowestoft beach morning.

Visitor essentials

What to expect on a family visit

A full day. The site is large; the road train (free with admission) saves a lot of walking with smaller children. Pre-booking online saves on the gate price. The on-site café is functional; picnic areas are signed if you bring lunch. Open daily through the year except Christmas Day.

Planning your visit to Africa Alive!

Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures vary across the year. Check the live page on Zoological’s own website for the day you are planning to visit — this is the only authoritative source.

Plan your route: the relevant Ordnance Survey map for Africa Alive! is OS Explorer 231 — Southwold & Bungay. Mobile signal is patchy across many of these places — a paper or downloaded OS map is more reliable than your phone for finding car parks, footpaths and the way home.

Correct as of 28 April 2026 — please check before you travel, especially on Bank Holidays, Easter and between Christmas and New Year.

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