Natura Viva Park

Near the town of Bussolengo, not far from Lake Garda, is the Natura Viva Park, a wildlife area that has been working for years to safeguard endangered species of flora and fauna. In addition to carrying out programmes for the survival of endangered species, the Park is also committed to making visitors aware of the importance of respecting the environment and safeguarding biodiversity.

The history of the Park gives an insight into why Natura Viva is a place worth visiting to learn more about the fauna of our planet. In the 1960s, Alberto Avesani and his wife Giorgia began transforming part of their farm into a wildlife area housing specimens of the local fauna to make them better known to the public. Inaugurated on 25 June 1969, the park initially extended over about 10 hectares and featured a special wildlife trail. The first special guest during those years was Pippo, a hippo that a circus wanted to discard and who was the Park’s mascot until 2009.

Over time, the Park expanded and welcomed other animal species. Today, the Park boasts 42 hectares of wooded greenery and is home to 1,500 animals of 200 different species. There are two sections within the park: a walking trail within the wildlife area and a safari trail that you can take in your own car.

When to go to Natura Viva Park

There is no best time to visit the Natura Viva Park because every season allows you to admire the animals in their daily routine. In summer the long days allow you to fully enjoy all the beauty of the Park, while the intermediate seasons may be more appropriate due to the milder temperatures and the wonderful colours of nature.

Things to do at the Natura Viva Park

Being very extensive, the Natura Viva Park offers several points of interest, so we advise you to plan your day so as to optimise your time. In particular, as we have already mentioned, the park is divided into a walking section and a safari park.

Wildlife Park

The Fauna Section, which used to be known as the Wildlife Park, includes a walking trail of about 5 km that is home to numerous animal species from the five continents. The beginning of the itinerary allows you to visit the African and Madagascar Trails sections, which are home to some of the most famous African species such as hippos, rhinoceroses, nyala, chimpanzees, bertucas, crowned cranes, lemurs and two specimens of fossa. We then continue to the Oceania area, which is one of the smallest in the park and is home to mainly mammals and birds from Australia and New Zealand.

Continuing on, you arrive at the Asia area, which is home to endangered Eurasian species and the Extinction park where you can admire life-size reproductions of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. This is followed by the Greenhouse House of Giants, which is devoted to the theme of gigantism and dwarfism in nature and houses Komodo dragons, giant otters, anacondas and giant butterflies, among others. The last three sections are dedicated to America, Europe and the Farm. Most of these specimens are endangered and the Park is continuously developing international projects for the preservation of these rare animals.

Safari Park

The Safari Park is considered by many to be the most exciting part of the visit. Here, in your own vehicle (car, camper van or coach), you can go on a real safari through nature to see some of the most exciting animal species such as lions, cheetahs and antelopes. All animals are found within areas adapted to the needs of the species and live in areas that evoke the peculiarities of their natural habitats.

The tour by car takes about 40 minutes and allows you to visit the savannah, hill and carnivore area. Those without a car can join the Jeep Safari service.

Entrance tickets for Natura Viva Park

The Natura Viva Park is a very popular attraction, especially at weekends. We recommend that you book your tickets in advance directly online. By purchasing your ticket online, you can avoid the queues that form every day at the ticket offices.

Opening Hours

The Park is open every day from the beginning of March to Epiphany, with the exception of 25 December. From 9 December to 6 January, however, only the Wildlife Section is open.

The Wildlife Section is usually open from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., while the safari park is open from 10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.

The complete visit takes more than half a day, as it is estimated to take approximately forty minutes for the safari and four to five hours for the wildlife trail. Within the wildlife area, refreshment stations, kiosks and various services can be found, while there are no refreshment stations in the safari park area.