ACCESSIBILITY
Important Information
Effective for visits from 5th June 2023
West Midland Safari Park is proud to partner with Nimbus Disability, operators of the Access Card scheme, who will now process all ‘essential companion’ (previously ‘Carer’) eligibility.
We have always been proud to offer free carer tickets for guests who require additional assistance when visiting our park and now with this new process, it means you will no longer need to bring confidential and sensitive documents with you on the day. You will now need to apply online through Nimbus Disability, at least 7 working days prior to your first visit (if you have already applied you will not need to do so again as all approved applications are valid for 3 years).
All applications must be completed online, at least 7 working days prior to your first visit. We are unable to accept any same-day applications.
Nimbus Disability will individually assess your needs, with the help of your supporting documentation and statements through their detailed application process, to determine if you qualify for a free Essential Companion Ticket. They will handle all your details safely and securely, without WMSP viewing the reason why you require additional assistance.
Please note that you will only receive a free Essential Companion Ticket when accompanying a paying guest. We will not issue a ticket if the guest is under 3 years of age as they do not pay admission.
It is important that we ensure our Essential Companion services remain beneficial for those who simply could not attend West Midland Safari Park without them. Nimbus Disability is a leading provider of disability-related advice and support, run by and for disabled people and is a recognised authority on accessible tickets in the UK.
It is important to note that having a disability does not mean you will automatically receive this service.
Once you have been approved by Nimbus, you can book your essential companion ticket online through the button below or by clicking here. Should you require more than 1 companion ticket (if you have been awarded +2 or more), please contact support@wmsp.co.uk.
You can also visit the Ticket Office on the day, located at the walk-through entrance, along with your essential companion to collect their admission tickets to the park. You will need to provide your application details/or Nimbus card. We recommend booking the companion ticket online where possible, to save time on arrival at the park as you won’t need to queue at the Ticket Office.
Once your application has been approved, you will not need to apply again as both the Access Card and free Access Scheme are valid for 3 years. If you plan to visit once they have expired after the 3 years, you would need to apply again.
We regret that we are no longer able to accept any other documentation on the day for a free essential companion, only guests who have an Access Card/successful Nimbus application with the required +1 symbol for an Essential Companion will be able to collect a free essential companion ticket.
Further information regarding accessibility can be found by downloading our Accessibility Statement.
ESSENTIAL COMPANION FAQS
An essential companion ticket allows an additional guest to enter the park accompanying a paying guest, to assist with their visit, free of charge. An Essential Companion ticket is available for guests where support is needed that is significant, substantial and in excess of what could be reasonably expected of family/friends already accompanying the guest. The support must be due to disability-related needs.
Following a successful application through our partner Nimbus, an Essential Companion ticket can be picked up from the Tickets office, located at the walk-through entrance. You will need to provide your application number and name OR your access card to our staff member, to verify your identity and to check you have been allocated the appropriate + symbol.
By accepting the Essential Companion ticket, your companion accepts responsibility for providing you with support when visiting the park. This includes supporting you additional assistance in the event of an emergency. WMSP staff are unable to provide assistance in excess of their typical roles and general reasonable adjustments.
An Essential Companion ticket is available for guests where support is needed that is significant, substantial and in excess of what could be reasonably expected of family/friends already accompanying the guest. The support must be due to disability-related needs.
If eligible, a guest may be entitled to more than one (but no more than 3), essential companion tickets. The number of tickets will be allocated depending on the assessment from Nimbus and with the appropriate +1/+2/+3 symbol, assigned to your application/Access Card.
Essential Companions must be over 12 years of age. If aged between 12-17 years, they must still be accompanying a guest over 18 years of age.
All applications need to be submitted via the Nimbus Disability website at least 7 working days before your visit, a direct link can be found below.
Applications are free of charge for guests who only wish to register their need to visit West Midland Safari Park. Your application, if approved, will be valid for 3 years. On each visit you will need to provide your application details to the Ticket Office on arrival to collect an Essential Companion ticket.
You will also have the option to upgrade to a full Access Card at a cost of £15. Access Cards are valid for 3 years and are widely accepted across thousands of locations across the UK and beyond, including many other amusement parks and leisure attractions who offer similar assistance.
Please click the link below in order to start your application:
If you are not able to use online forms and would be unable, because of the nature of your impairment, to apply online, Nimbus will be able to assist with telephone registration on 0330 808 5108.
If you already have a full, valid Access Card, you will only need to bring it along with you on the day and present it at the Ticket Office. If you have been issued the +1/+2/+3 symbol, you will be able to collect an Essential Companion ticket.
You will be able to show your Access Card again at the Wristband Office to pick up a free Essential Companion wristband, providing you have paid for a wristband for yourself, and they will be assisting you on a 1:1 basis.
If you have an annual pass with us and have previously had free carers, you will also now need to apply for Essential Companion through Nimbus. You will be able to apply for free or you can upgrade to a full Access Card, you will need to make sure you apply with at least 7 working days notice of your next visit.
If your application is successful, you will be able to visit main Reception on your next visit and provide your Nimbus account details to our team. One they have confirmed you have been awarded the essential companion requirement, they will be able to issue you with an essential companion annual pass, on the same tier as the guest who requires the support.
Alternatively, if you struggle with walking to Main Reception, please email our team on experiences@wmsp.co.uk, including your annual pass membership number, your Nimbus account details and a photo of the pass holder with the Nimbus account (this will be required for the team to create the companion pass as below).
The companion pass will need to have the photo and name of the guest requiring support. The pass will only be valid when using in conjunction with the named pass holder on the access card and the validity will be for the same time as the access card holders pass. You will be able to book in your visits online and will not need to collect a ticket on the day from Ticket Office.
The Access Card holder or individual who applied online, needs to purchase an individual/senior ticket online in advance, the Essential Companion ticket can be collected on the day, if approved by Nimbus, from our Ticket Office located at the walk-through entrance.
An Essential Companion ticket allows an additional person to enter the Park with a paying guest to assist with their visit, free of charge. Both people must enter West Midland Safari Park together, and the named person on the Access Card must be present, your ID will be checked by our admissions team.
You will only be able to access the Safari Drive-through if you have first visited the Ticket Office and collected your essential companion ticket. The companion ticket will not have a safari time slot allocated to it, so they can visit the drive-through at the same time as the rest of the prebooked party.
Essential Companion tickets are only available to accompany paying guests, we will not accept applications for children under 3 years who do not pay for admission. Free returns/complimentary tickets will need to apply online/present your card or application details as usual, please see our FAQ’s for more information.
A free essential companion wristband for the theme park rides can be collected on the day from the wristband office providing the guest they are accompanying has purchased a wristband for themselves. You will need to show your Essential Companion ticket at the Wristband Office.
You will not need to make an application each time you plan to visit as once approved, your application through Nimbus is valid for 3 years when visiting WMSP or 3 years with an Access Card.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the applications and to ensure that the team at Nimbus have enough time to process all your supporting documents, you will not be able to apply with less than 24 hours’ notice. Applications are still possible within 7 working days, however this provides significantly less time for an application to be reviewed.
If you are purchasing tickets on the day (with Tesco vouchers, using legacy complimentary tickets or similar), you can still apply in advance of your visit date, with at least 7 working days notice.
Any guest who has not applied online through Nimbus, or if they have applied but have not had a reply so have no confirmation or card details, will not be able to collect a free Essential Companion ticket. All members of your party will have to pay for their admission to enter the park, as all guests require a valid ticket.
Please note, our staff are unable to review or approve any supporting documentation presented on arrival other than a valid Access Card or a Nimbus approval e-mail for a visit. Any such requests will be declined, and all guests will be required to pay the full on the day admission price to enter the park.
We ask for all guests who require essential companions to apply through Nimbus where possible.
If you are private carer for a client, their guardian will need to apply through Nimbus in advance of your planned visit.
For groups visiting from care/residential homes, SEN organisation or similar, who are not able to apply through Nimbus (whether you’re bringing a large group, do not have access to the documents required when making an application or cannot due to GDPR), we will instead accept a dated, headed & signed letter from the manager of your organisation, to be presented along with your staff ID at the Ticket Office on arrival. The letter must state how many guests are visiting (their tickets can be prebooked online or purchased on the day) and how many essential companions/carers are attending with them.
You will need to head to the Ticket Office when you arrive with the letter and your staff ID and our team will be able to issue the required number of essential companion tickets.
We regret that we will not accept staff ID on its own; failure to produce a headed and dated letter alongside ID will require payment for all remaining guests, no refunds will be considered.
If you have any concerns about applying through Nimbus when accompanying residents/clients, please email support@wmsp.co.uk who will be able to assist.
For further details regarding Nimbus Disability and the Access Card scheme, please Click here
Please visit our FAQ’s where we have answered more questions about Essential Companion tickets, including what you need to do if you are booking a free return, or complimentary tickets, how time slots work for companions collecting tickets on the day and if you are due to visit in less than 7 working days. Please click here.
PARK SERVICES FAQS
The natural contours of the land mean that some areas have differing gradients. However, these have been minimised where possible. All our enclosures are accessible by tarmac or hard surface walkways with wheelchair access.
Please note, the path leading to the African Walking Trail has a steep incline with a compressed gravel surface. We do not recommend this route for wheelchair or mobility scooter users. Guests with pushchairs may also find this section difficult to navigate.
Available at our Main Reception are a limited number of manual wheelchairs. These can be hired for free, but they must be pre-booked via an email to info@wmsp.co.uk or by phone on 01299 402114.
A driving licence or similar will be required as a returnable safety deposit.
We currently offer free on-site parking and 41 dedicated spaces for wheelchair users located adjacent to the entrance to the Lost City Plaza. This parking area is on a tarmac surface and on a slight decline towards the Lost City Plaza entrance.
A valid Blue Badge must be displayed at all times, although special arrangements can be made for guests who do not have a Blue Badge and still need priority parking. Please advise a member of staff on arrival.
Disabled access toilets are located in the main car park area, Dino Diner, Treetops Pavilion, Cellarz, the Discovery Trail and Adventure Theme Park area. All toilets have level access for wheelchairs, lever arm taps to low basins and hand rails. Toilets in Dino Diner, Treetops Pavilion and Adventure Theme Park area also have an emergency pull cord.
Adult changing facilities are available in the main car park toilet block. This is a 12m2 Changing Places approved Adult Changing Room with an adjustable changing table, WC and fixed wash basin. Unfortunately, there is no shower facility. The room is fitted with an XY track system and powered hoist with a Standard 2 point spreader bar – no harnesses are provided. This facility will require a RADAR key, keys are available from the Main Reception if required, with a driving license or similar left as a returnable deposit. The Disabled Toilets do not require a RADAR key.
The First Aid post is located at the front of the park, next to the Ticket Office and near the car park. Kindly note: First Aid staff are unable to dispense pills, potions or sprays.
A trained first aider is resident in every area of the Park, please ask a member of staff for assistance. The First Aid Post is not permanently manned, please ask a staff member for assistance.
Blind or visually impaired guests can enter the Park for free. You will not be able to book a ticket online but will need to pick up a ticket from the Tickets Office on the day. You will need to bring with you a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) or similar (issued by your local council). You will also be entitled to an essential companion ticket, you will not need to apply in advance for this provided you are able to show your CVI or similar ID for yourself. All other guests in your party must book online in advance or pay on the day.
To use the rides in the Adventure Theme Park, you would need to purchase a full price ride wristband and we would issue an essential companion wristband free of charge, you will need to show your CVI at the wristband office again.
Assistance dogs can accompany their owners through the pedestrianised areas – please ensure they are wearing an identifiable harness or jacket denoting their working status. All of our staff are trained to approach guests with dogs to ask them to return to reception, so wearing a harness/high-vis will show our staff their working status.
Some of our animals can get spooked when they see a dog, even a trained assistance dog. For their health & safety, we ask that you do not enter into any of the animal exhibits in the walk-through areas, especially with the free roaming animals in Lorikeet Landing, Twilight Cave and Lemur Woods. A full list of all areas can be found below.
Unfortunately, they are not allowed in the Safari Drive-through for safety reasons and would constitute a breach of Zoo Licensing Regulations. Kennels are available a short distance from Reception, a £5 cash returnable deposit will be required. Please note that Emotional Support Animals will not be allowed access to the park, kennels are available for dogs for the duration of your visit, but all other animals will need to be left at home.
In all cases, the user must:
- Only access the Discovery Trail including Ice Age, Land of the Living Dinosaurs, Boj Giggly Park and Theme Park.
- Leave dogs in our purpose-built kennels, if accessing the Safari Drive-through. Bedding, food, bowls, any toys and a small padlock will need to provided by the animal’s owner. A key and padlock are available from Main Reception when checking the dog in, a £5 returnable cash deposit will be required. There is a water tap available to fill up water bowls.
- Leave dogs in our purpose-built kennels, if staying in our Safari Lodges. You must make your own adjustments to ensure their safety (such as have a companion with them) to meet their needs. We suggest, where possible, that dogs are left at home if staying overnight with us.
- Not allow dogs in the Discovery Zone buildings (Aquarium, Creepy Crawlies, Reptile World and Twilight Cave), Penguin Cove, Sea Lion Theatre, Lorikeet Landing, Red Panda Retreat, African Village (Meerkats and Lemur Woods), African Walking Trail, Tiger Tropics, or Lion Ridge.
- Not attend any VIP sessions, animal education talks or any other situations where the presence of the dog may distress animals or affect their behaviour.
- Always keep the dog on a lead and under control.
- If the assistance dog starts barking or growling, move their dog to an area where no safari park animals are present until the assistance dog stops vocalising.
- Only allow the dog to urinate or defecate on the grass car park next to the owner’s vehicle before entering the park and to clean up after.
If a guest struggles with queues, we do have limited provision to allow queuing at the ride exit. Please speak to a staff member at the wristband office. We will only consider guests for this service who have been assessed by Nimbus Disability as having Standing/Queuing requirements, you will need to show your access card or Nimbus account details for our staff to check your access requirements on your account.
If we are able to accommodate you at the ride exits, the supervisor will issue you with a sticker to pop on both wristbands. This will be on a 1:1 basis, on quieter days we may be able to allow the family group to go on together. Please note that there may still be an element of queuing and you may need to wait a cycle or two of the rides, the operator will load a number of guests who arrived before you onto the ride first where required.
If a guest is unable to wear their wristband, their adult companion can wear it on their wrist in their stead, our team will just write a brief clothing description on the band.
If a guest has loose articles they would like to wear on the rides, like ear defenders or a cap/hat, they must inform the Wristband Office, who will issue you with a sticker to denote the authorisation of the items on the ride. We cannot allow loose items on the ride unless you have been issued with this sticker.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL GUESTS MUST BE ABLE TO SIT UP AND HOLD ON UNAIDED ON ANY RIDE.
We’ve put together a Social Story document that we hope will be useful, to show to guests who may be anxious about their visit to the Safari Park. It explains more about what guests will see, smell and hear during their visit. Click to View Social Story.
Further information regarding accessibility can be found by downloading our Accessibility Statement where you will find more information about ride access and overall accessibility.
View Accessibility Statement
You may find our FAQ’s helpful – please click here.
If you require further information on our accessibility for questions now answered here or in our FAQ’s, please call us on 01299 402114 or email us at support@wmsp.co.uk
