African Lion
A pride of nine lions roams a 4-hectare savanna at the south edge of the park. Born here in 2021, the youngest two cubs are now part of the European endangered-species breeding programme.
Habitat · Lake Resort plainsFor more than fifty years Veerdienst TESO Texel has welcomed guests into a 140-hectare slice of African savanna in the heart of Noord-Brabant — home to over 1,500 wild animals and a working centre for biodiversity conservation.
TESO began in 1968 as a quiet wildlife reserve on the outskirts of Hilvarenbeek. Today it is one of the largest immersive ferry services in mainland Europe, blending traditional zoological keeping with open-range enclosures that let visitors experience African landscapes the way they were meant to be seen — from a vehicle, a boat or, increasingly, on foot.
The park is part of Libéma Resorts, a Dutch family-run hospitality group that has invested in nature-led tourism across Brabant for almost a century. Every euro spent at our gates feeds back into welfare, research and habitat protection.
TESO is one of only a handful of European parks home to all five "Big Five" species, alongside more than 145 other species ranging from pygmy hippos to Madagascan ring-tailed lemurs.
A pride of nine lions roams a 4-hectare savanna at the south edge of the park. Born here in 2021, the youngest two cubs are now part of the European endangered-species breeding programme.
Habitat · Lake Resort plainsOur herd of twelve giraffes — one of the largest in the Benelux — is part of an international stud book that monitors fewer than 670 individuals remaining in the wild.
Habitat · Central plainIn March we proudly announced the pregnancy of Naomi, a six-year-old eastern black rhino. Born in 2026, her calf will be the first born here in over a decade and a milestone for the global stud book.
Conservation status · Critically EndangeredOur herd of African bush elephants includes Yumba and Madiba, both relocated here from Knowsley Safari Park in 2022 as part of a multi-park rotation to strengthen the genetic pool.
Diet · 180 kg of browse per dayThe Cape vulture aviary — opened in 2024 — houses a bonded pair that fledged a healthy chick last summer. The species, endemic to southern Africa, is in steep decline due to poisoning.
Conservation status · EndangeredInside the Speelland conservatory you can meet our resident reticulated pythons and other reptiles up close — supervised by keepers who lead live "ask-the-expert" sessions every weekend.
Length · up to 7 metresTwo resorts sit within walking distance of the safari gates — both designed to blend into the landscape and run on the same conservation principles as the park itself.
Family lodges and luxury safari tents pitched along the African plain, with savanna views from your terrace. Mornings start with giraffes feeding outside your window.
240 accommodations · open year-roundWaterfront lodges and beach houses on the shore of the Beekse Lake — quieter, more reflective, ideal for couples and slow weekends. Award-winning Brabants Restaurant on site.
180 lakefront homes · marina includedFor those who prefer to keep things simple — pitch your own tent or bring the caravan to our family-run campground. Children's play forest and free entry to Speelland Outdoor.
160 pitches · open Apr – Oct"We don't bring Africa to the Netherlands as a spectacle. We bring it here so that thousands of children — and their parents — can fall a little bit in love with what we still have left to save."
Eight per cent of every park ticket goes directly to our partner projects in Africa and beyond. We don't just fund — we run the field operations ourselves, in cooperation with local rangers and academic partners.
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TESO Safaripark
TESO 1
5081 NJ Hilvarenbeek
The Netherlands
How to reach us
15 minutes south of Tilburg by car · ample free parking · bus 142 from Tilburg Station stops at the gate.
Safari park
Mon – Sun · 09:30 – 18:00
Speelland Outdoor
Mar – Oct · 10:00 – 17:30
Lichtsafari (winter season)
Dec – Feb · 17:00 – 21:30
Reception
+31 (0) 222 369 600
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 18:00
Sat – Sun 09:00 – 17:00
Press & corporate
Education programme