African Safari World facts for kids
| Previously known as Werribee Open Range Zoo | |
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| Location | Werribee, Victoria, Australia |
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| Coordinates | 37°55′22″S 144°40′02″E / 37.9229°S 144.6673°E |
| Opened | 2010 (Expected) Delayed Indefinitely |
| Owner | Village Roadshow |
| Operated by | Warner Village Theme Parks |
| Slogan | Animal adventure meets thrills and excitement |
| Attendance | 1.3 million (Expected) |
| Area | 40 hectares (99 acres) |
| Website | www.village.com.au/ |
African Safari World was a big idea for a new amusement park and zoo in Australia. It was planned to take the place of the Werribee Open Range Zoo, which is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Melbourne.
The company behind this idea was Warner Village Theme Parks. They already own and run several popular theme parks on the Gold Coast in Queensland. African Safari World was supposed to open in 2010. However, on June 1, 2008, the Victorian government decided not to go ahead with the plan. They said it would have cost too much money from the public.
What Was the Plan for the Park?
The proposed park would have covered 40 hectares (about 100 acres) of land. It was designed to have exciting roller coasters, thrilling rides, restaurants, and shops with an African theme.
The new park would have connected with the existing open-range zoo. They would both share an African safari theme. The zoo itself would also get a big upgrade.
This project was expected to cost around A$220 million. It was hoped that 1.3 million visitors would come to the park each year. This would have added a lot of money to the state's economy. The project also aimed to create many new jobs. It was marketed as a place where "animal adventure meets thrills and excitement."
Exciting Attractions Planned
Several cool attractions were suggested for African Safari World:
- Serengeti Safari: This would be an African animal tour. It was meant to be an improved version of the Werribee Open Range Zoo. This part would feature:
- Better homes and areas for the animals
- More animals to see
- A special center for learning about wildlife and protecting it
- An area to experience Australian animals too
- Thrilling Rides: There would be many different rides, including water rides. The plan also included what was called Australia's greatest roller coaster.
- Nature Features: The park would also have man-made lakes and mountains.
- 4D Movie Theatre: Visitors could enjoy a special Four Dimensional Theatre experience.
Why the Park Didn't Happen
Victorian Tourism Minister Tim Holding supported the idea of African Safari World. He thought it was a very exciting plan. He believed it would be great for families in Victoria who often had to travel all the way to Queensland to visit world-class theme parks. He said the government wanted to consider the proposal very seriously.
However, the main problem was the cost. The government expected it would need to spend over A$100 million of public money on the project. Also, the Werribee Open Range Zoo did not agree with the plan. Because of these reasons, the project was put on hold indefinitely.
In July 2013, there was a new idea from the Geelong City Council. They suggested building a theme park near Avalon Airport. They even started talking with Village Roadshow again about this new possibility.
