Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura – Where the Desert Comes to Life
It begins with a contrast that almost takes your breath away. You drive through the barren, sun-scorched landscape of southern Fuerteventura, past ochre-coloured volcanic hills and dry lava fields – and then it appears: a band of lush green, as unexpected as a vision. The Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura, formerly known as Oasis Park Fuerteventura or La Lajita Oasis Park, lies near La Lajita, around 30 kilometres north of Morro Jable, and is one of the most impressive nature and wildlife parks in the whole of Europe. Across more than 800,000 square metres it combines a sprawling Botanical Garden with a zoological experience in a class of its own – and all of it in the middle of one of Europe’s driest desert landscapes.
Those who come here are not simply ‘going to the zoo’.
You step into another world.
The only zoo in the Canary Islands with elephants and hippos
It is called the largest wildlife park in the Canary Islands – and that is no exaggeration. Around 3,000 animals from over 250 species live at Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura, including representatives of every continent. But what makes the park truly unique: it is the only zoo in the Canary Islands to keep African elephants and hippos.
The heart of the wildlife park is the Great African Valley – a vast savannah landscape in which zebras, giraffes, antelopes and wildebeest seem as free as if a piece of the Serengeti had simply been transplanted here. The wildebeest, for instance – sometimes called the ‘clown of the prairie’ by locals – stalks across the red earth with its peculiar body, as if it were assembled from spare parts: the head of an ox, the body of a horse, the tail of a donkey. You cannot help but laugh.
Towering above it all is the giraffe. And if you wish, you can literally look it in the eye: on a five-metre-high platform you stand at eye level with these gentle giants. Buy a bag of feed (approx. €2.00) at the ticket office and you may feed them from your hand – experiencing the incredibly long, deep-blue tongues that gently grasp the treats. A moment you will not forget in a hurry.
Continuing through the park, you encounter cheetahs, gorillas, chimpanzees and lemurs, flamingos, marabou storks and ibises, Galapagos giant tortoises and pythons. The reptile area, with its almost motionless crocodiles and snakes, is just as captivating as the colourful macaws in the generously sized free-flight aviaries. With every step you notice: the enclosures here were designed with great respect for the needs of the animals.
Europe’s largest camel reserve
Fuerteventura and the camel – that is an old story. For centuries, dromedaries were indispensable working animals on the island. The native breed, the Canarian camel (Camello Canario), had almost disappeared by the early 20th century. Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura has dedicated itself to its rescue – and with success: today the park’s camel reserve is home to around 450 animals across an area of 20,000 square metres. That makes it the largest camel reserve in Europe.
Camel safari: on the back of history
If you want to dive even deeper into this connection, book one of the coveted camel safaris at Oasis Wildlife. There are two options:
Two people ride together in special side saddles; the staff pay meticulous attention to weight distribution (maximum weight: approx. 110–120 kg per person). The camel rides cost around €15–20 per person on top of the admission fee; reduced rates are available for children (aged 4–11). Combination tickets from the ticket office are worthwhile. Important: be sure to reserve places at the safari desk immediately after arrival – they are in high demand.
A note for people with back or neck problems and for pregnant women: the camel’s abrupt standing up and lying down is physically noticeable and should be taken into account.
The Botanical Garden – a jungle in the desert
In 2000 the Jardín Botánico of the Oasis Park opened its gates – and it has since been regarded as one of the largest botanical gardens in Europe, covering an area of around 150,000 square metres. It lies on the hillside west of the wildlife park and is easily reached via the free Jungle Bus.
Take the bus and get off at the top, and you are immersed in a different kind of stillness. Up here it is not the sounds of the animals that dominate – it is the silence of the plants, their tremendous geometric variety, their defiant growth in a climate that should really forbid life.
Europe’s largest cactus collection
The centrepiece is the Cactarium – and it houses nothing less than the largest cactus collection in Europe: 28,000 specimens from 2,300 species, from tiny ball cacti to metre-high columnar cacti that rise into the steel-blue sky like upright sentinels. Some already reach four metres in height. A reminder: the cactus is not a native Fuerteventura plant – it comes from South America. And yet it thrives here as naturally as if it had never been anywhere else.
Palm grove and endemic flora
Right next door stretches the Palmetum – a grove of around 8,000 specimens of the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) and a further 7,000 palms from 80 different species. Tropical trees, succulents from all over the world, native Fuerteventura plants perfectly adapted to drought – the garden tells a different story at every stage.
From the viewpoints in the upper section you look far out over the entire park, over the turquoise ribbon of the Atlantic and the coastline at La Lajita. It is a moment in which the sheer scale of the whole place first becomes truly tangible.
Tip: There is hardly any shade in the cactus area. If you want to take photographs – the geometric shapes of the cacti against the white sky are a classic – come early in the morning or during the golden hour. If you simply want to stroll: allow at least 1 to 1.5 hours for the botanical section.
The shows – theatrical nature in the open-air park
Visitors to the Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura do not experience static exhibitions. The park also sees itself as a stage – daily, and to a timetable.
Show times 2026 (at a glance):
| Time | Show | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 am | Parrot show | Teatro de Papagayos |
| 11:45 am | Sea lion show | Sea Lion Pool |
| 12:45 pm | Birds of prey show | Birds of prey arena |
| 1:30 pm | Reptile show | Reptilarium |
| 2:30 pm | Parrot show (2nd session) | Teatro de Papagayos |
| 3:15 pm | Sea lion show (2nd session) | Sea Lion Pool |
| 4:00 pm | Birds of prey show (2nd session) | Birds of prey arena |
All shows are included in the admission price and are timed so that you can stroll comfortably from one to the next.
The birds of prey show is especially popular with visitors: the birds fly within a radius of up to four kilometres – a breathtaking sight. The sea lion show impresses with the close human–animal bond that trainers and animals have built up over the years. And the parrot show is a treat for children and adults alike.
If you want something more intense: the Lemur Experience (approx. €18) offers direct encounters with the playful ring-tailed lemurs – places are strictly limited and should be booked at the entrance first thing in the morning.
Eating, resting, exploring – everyday life in the park
A full day at Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura is a marathon – a wonderful one. Three restaurants provide sustenance:
Lockers are available in the entrance area (approx. €2–5 per day plus deposit). Especially for the camel rides, it is advisable to lock away bulky rucksacks there.
A free shuttle service connects almost all the major hotels in Corralejo, Caleta de Fuste, Costa Calma and Jandia with the park. The bus costs are already included in the ‘Básico’ and ‘Completo’ rates.
By car, the park can be reached via the FV-2 heading south from Puerto del Rosario – after around 60 kilometres, an unmissable, colourful sign points the way to La Lajita.
Admission prices 2026 – what a visit costs
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (12–59 years) | approx. €41.50 |
| Children (4–11 years) | approx. €27.50 |
| Seniors (60 and over) | approx. €38.00 |
| Babies (0–3 years) | free |
| Combination ticket (admission + camel ride) | from approx. €59.50 |
| Camel ride only | approx. €15–20 |
| Lemur/sea lion interaction | approx. €18–45 |
| Shuttle transfer (south/north) | approx. €6.50 / 9.50 |
Online booking via portals such as GetYourGuide often offers slight discounts or ‘skip-the-line’ options.
Sunday tip: Every Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, the agricultural and craft market (Mercadillo / Mercado Agro-Artesanal) takes place right at the park entrance – free of charge, charming and stocked with local products from the south of Fuerteventura. A perfect start to a day at the park.
Contact & practical information
Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura Address: Museo del Campo – Ctra. Gral. Jandía, s/n, 35627 La Lajita, Pájara Phone: +34 928 16 11 02 Email: reservas@oasiswildlife.com Website: www.oasiswildlifefuerteventura.com Opening hours: daily 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
WhatsApp service for quick questions:
The park can also be reached via WhatsApp for ticket enquiries: +34 672 26 27 50.
A place that burns itself into your memory
You leave the Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura differently from how you entered it. Dustier perhaps, a little sun-weary, your feet aware of the long walk. But also fulfilled – with images that linger long afterwards: the giraffe gazing at you with big eyes and gently feeding from your hand. The birds of prey sweeping in wide arcs over people’s heads. The silence of the cacti in the midday heat. And the camels climbing the hills above the Atlantic at a calm pace, as though they had never known anything else.
This park is more than an attraction. It is proof that wilderness and care need not be opposites – and that Fuerteventura has more to offer than beach and wind.
