Knuthenborg Safaripark sits on the island of Lolland in southeastern Denmark, near the small harbor town of Bandholm. What began in 1950 as a quiet deer park on the grounds of Knuthenborg manor grew into something far bigger in 1969, when exotic species were introduced and the drive-through safari concept took hold.
Today Knuthenborg is the largest safari park in Northern Europe, home to about 500 wild animals across more than 40 species spread over a 660-hectare estate. Visitors wind their own cars through a roughly 400-hectare safari zone where giraffes, camels, and antelope roam freely, before exploring walk-through areas built for predators like tigers and elephants.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Bandholm, Lolland, Denmark
- Opened: 1950 (deer park); exotic animals added in 1969
- Size: About 660 hectares (1,600 acres) total, including a roughly 400-hectare (990-acre) drive-through safari zone
- Species/animal count: About 500 wild animals across 40+ species
- Annual visitors: About 300,000 (2019)
- Famous for: Largest safari park in Northern Europe
A Drive-Through Safari on Danish Soil
The heart of Knuthenborg is its self-drive safari zone, where Rothschild’s giraffes, Bactrian camels, and various antelope species wander freely alongside visitors’ own vehicles. It’s an unusual sight in Denmark: open grassland dotted with African and Asian wildlife instead of the forests and farmland typical of Lolland.
Beyond the driving loop, the park built dedicated areas for animals that need more containment. A tiger forest with an elevated walkway opened in June 2021 to house retired circus tigers, and the park maintains what it describes as the largest elephant enclosure in Northern Europe, a roughly 140,000-square-meter savannah-style space for four retired circus elephants that arrived in 2020.
From Deer Park to Dinosaur Forest
Knuthenborg has expanded well beyond its original animal collection. A Dinosaur Forest featuring life-size models opened in 2018, and the Museum of Evolution followed in June 2023, giving the park an educational angle alongside its wildlife displays.
The estate also offers overnight stays, with holiday houses and safari tents positioned to overlook some of the animal enclosures, letting guests extend their visit well past a single day trip.
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Knuthenborg Safaripark FAQs
Where is Knuthenborg Safaripark located?
It’s on the island of Lolland in southeastern Denmark, near the town of Bandholm, north of Maribo.
How big is Knuthenborg Safaripark?
The full estate covers about 660 hectares (1,600 acres), including a roughly 400-hectare (990-acre) drive-through safari section.
What animals can visitors see at Knuthenborg?
The park is home to about 500 wild animals across more than 40 species, including giraffes, camels, antelope, Siberian tigers, and African elephants.
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Photo: René Blumensaadt (Blumensaadt at da.wikipedia) / CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.