Wildlands Emmen with the kids: what works, what we skip

Wildlands is one of our most-requested family packages, and not by accident. Emmen sits in the northeast of the Netherlands, reachable from the UK via short flight to Amsterdam or Eindhoven plus around two hours by car. We at Favotrip have tested the park multiple times with our editorial team and we see that it offers exactly the mix of spectacle and manageability families with children look for. Three weeks ago I went with my sister and her two children (6 and 9) for our latest test round. Both children were comfortably worn out by the end of the day, in a good way. Below our observations, and how the package solves the logistics for you.

What Wildlands is, for those who do not know

Wildlands Adventure Zoo is not the old Emmen zoo, a widespread misunderstanding. It is a redesigned park that reopened in 2016, with three themed areas: Nortica (polar region), Jungola (rainforest) and Serenga (African savannah). No old concrete enclosures, animals in open spaces with natural planting. There is a whale gate where you walk under a glass tunnel with polar bears above, and a Serengeti bus that takes you across the savannah between giraffes and zebras. We consider it one of the strongest experience-led parks in the Netherlands, which is why Wildlands sits prominently in our family range. Fewer animals per hectare, more experience per animal, with children that approach works well.

What is in our Wildlands package

The Favotrip Wildlands package covers two nights at a 3- or 4-star hotel of your choice in or just outside Emmen, breakfast, and entry tickets for one day at Wildlands for two adults plus two children (4-12). The hotels we have picked are no more than ten minutes drive from the park, so you can have breakfast at half eight, be at opening by ten, and back at the hotel pool within fifteen minutes in the evening. We deliberately select hotels with a swimming pool, one of the details that for us makes the difference between "hotel next to a theme park" and "hotel where children can let off another hour of steam after a day at the park". Tickets are either at reception in your name or digital in your booking confirmation, no queue at the gate, no "sold out" surprise on a busy Wednesday.

Which ages work best

Our experience: the sweet spot is 5-11. Below that the distances between zones are too long for small feet; above 12 many kids start finding it "only animals". My nine-year-old nephew was most gripped by the gorillas in Jungola (he watched them for five minutes straight through the glass), my six-year-old niece lingered at Nortica because of the arctic foxes. For three- and four-year-olds we recommend bringing your own light wagon, Wildlands is large (22 hectares). The park does rent wagons but if you have your own, bring it. This type of detail goes into the welcome pack with our package, exactly why we believe a package is more than hotel plus ticket.

Animal route: what we do not skip

Three highlights you simply have to see, included in our editorial recommendation. One: the polar bears in Nortica around 10.30 for the first feed, two keepers throw fish into the pool and you see the bears in action, the most impressive moment of the day. Two: the gorillas in Jungola, an hour before or after feeding time, when they are more active. Three: the Serengeti bus, one ride lasts 45 minutes and you cross open savannah with around forty giraffes, zebras, antelope and ostriches. My niece tapped me every twenty seconds to point at something, one long ninety-minute tapping moment. What we skip: the Camel Farm on the west side. Nothing wrong with it, but the time-to-payoff ratio is low on a first visit.

With or without a guide

Wildlands offers ranger-led tours, ninety minutes. We have done it once, fun but not essential. For children aged 7 plus, pick up the "treasure hunt" leaflet at the entrance instead (free): six questions they have to find answers to around the park, ending with a small prize. My nephew was focused for two hours, he learned more from that than from a guide whose information was also online. For smaller children (3-5) a ranger tour adds more value. So we do not recommend it as standard in our package, with family packages the age of the child is too determining to make a single call.

Eating in the park: our advice

Honestly: catering inside Wildlands is mediocre. Better to say that straight than dance around it. What we do: hearty breakfast at the hotel (in the package), snack bag in a backpack (sandwiches, fruit, a sweet bun per child), and only later in the afternoon an ice cream in the park. Evening dinner at the hotel restaurant or in central Emmen: Restaurant De Slingerie on Hoofdstraat is a family-friendly spot with a children's menu. For parents who would rather have peace, the hotel restaurant is fine, a major advantage of the hotels in our package is that they usually have their own pool where the children can splash for another hour after dinner while you have a coffee.

Midweek or weekend

Our real recommendation: midweek in March-April or October-November. The park is then about 30 percent quieter than on a Saturday, no waits at the Serengeti bus, and the animals are more active because there is less commotion around them. My sister and I went on a Wednesday and even the sun terrace by Jungola had room to sit without fighting for a chair. Outside Dutch school holidays (dates easy to look up online) our Wildlands packages are also a bit better priced, same overnight, same day ticket, just booked on the right day. We deliberately left that price gap in rather than averaging it out, so guests can see for themselves which date is the smartest.

Which Wildlands package fits your family?

Two nights with breakfast and entry covers our standard weekend variant, perfect for a first visit. For those wanting an extra day: choose our three-night variant, you can spend a morning at the Veenpark (half an hour drive) or head towards the Lauwersmeer. We only include hotels we have personally vetted, for family deals we select extra strictly on pool and child facilities. Below you will find the packages this article refers to, take a look at which one fits your family.