Zambi Wildlife Retreat

Love the thought of getting up close to a top-of-the-food-chain predator? Watching the twitch of a tail, or listening to the rasp of a rough tongue on fur?

You can experience that, and more, at Zambi Wildlife Retreat, set on 20 hectares in Wallacia in western Sydney.

The retreat is the work of the Zambi Wildlife Foundation, an animal welfare charity established in 2012, whose main focus is caring for exotic animals retired from the circus and entertainment industries. Its vision includes creating a safe home for all species that need one, including domestic, farm and native animals – everything from primates and meerkats to parrots and wolfdogs.

Translated, that means Zambi’s big cats, including lions, tigers and a puma, are the headline attraction. You can also encounter a wide range of other animals, from dingoes to marmosets.

Opt for one of the special experiences, perhaps getting cosy with a meerkat or hand-feeding a tiger.