For a long time I’ve wanted to visit the most northern and quite famous wildlife park in Ranua. It is open every day of the year, so it is possible to see the seasonal impact on the animals as well. I was a bit turned off when I saw the entrance price, 16e for an adulta an 14e for 4-14 year old children. There is a family price too, which would have been worth if we had had two children that cost. I was wondering what zoo could be worth the money but we decided to go anyway because we were now “in the neighbourhood” and we had heard so much good about it. And it totally was worth the entrance fee!
As we at this point of our “camping trip” had only stayed one of four nights in a tent, we decided to pitch our tent at the camping ground right next to the zoo. The camping was well maintained, had clean and practical facilities and a good playground right in the middle of the area. Spending a night in any type of accommodation related to the wildlife park, and there is everything to choose from ranging from this camping ground to luxury hotel rooms, gives you the added bonus of your ticket to the wildlife park being valid for the whole duration of the stay. So we went in both the afternoon we arrived and then the following morning again, so already that gave us good value for the money we paid. Also, as this is the most famous family attraction in Lapland, there where loads of children camping and they had sooooo much fun there together.
One of the best parts of the trip for our boy was the micro car track before the park entrance. I think we paid 5 e for 3 laps/each but then the 5 yo was allowed to drive herself using gas and break pedals and steering (I ran after her for the first lap but she did so well, even waving to others, that I then relaxed), the 3 yo was allowed to steer but had one of us to push the pedals. It was such a highlight to be allowed to drive real cars!!!
The wildlife park itself had a fair bit of animals typical for the north, and it was built in such a way that even our kids were able to spot most of the animals. It was a fair walk though following the plank laid path, maybe 2-3 kilometres, so at the end our kids got a bit tired. There are strollers that one can borrow too.
Me and my husband quite enjoyed the animals and the birds but our kids enjoyed more the Fairytail park, which was pretty much a big outdoor playground with quite different features inviting the kids to climb. They also enjoyed the domestic animal park but chose to rather drive another lap than ride a horse or a donkey.
We also used the barbecue shelters in the zoo, which also where clean and pleasant to use.
Free But Fun 
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