IF YOU fancy getting up close and personal with some of the world's most exotic animals, Knowsley Safari Park is definitely the place for you.

From roaming lions to mischievous baboons, the 1970s-built park provides a great afternoon of entertainment for all ages, and there are plenty of other attractions to sample when the animal adventure is over.

Based just off junction two of the M57, the park is well-signposted and very easy to get to, with a family ticket of two adults and two children costing a good-value £28.

The 3.5-mile safari adventure takes just over an hour to complete if you take your time, and with three lanes for traffic on most of the route, there is ample opportunity to stop and take a good look at the animals close up.

And the animals do come very close. The first we came across was a rather over-friendly ostrich, who took great pleasure in introducing himself by tapping his beak on the window.

Next up, the herds of deer and buffalo lazing on the grass are a nice prelude to the Kings of the jungle, the lions and tigers.

The tigers are kept in enclosures, presumably because they are considered too temperamental to roam around your car, but the lions are out in the open, free to come within feet of you.

The park makes it clear when you can open your windows and when to keep them shut, and this was definitely one of those times, although the lions were much more interested in strolling about in the afternoon sun than trying to get their paws on the human visitors.

Next up, excitable wallabies skip their way between more herds of deer, cattle and antelope, not to mention your car, and the occasional emu pops up every now and again to say hello.

Plenty of the larger animals are very tame, and a herd of rather devious-looking camels take great pleasure in licking and sniffing all over your car - one even scratched his head on my wing mirror - before you come to the infamous baboons.

Regular visitors to Safari Parks will understand what I mean when I call the baboons infamous. One minute, you can be driving along without a care in the world, and the next you have got four or five primates clambering all over your windscreen.

It is all very exciting, but if you want to leave with your wing mirrors, windscreen wipers and radio aerials intact, the 'safe' route might be the better option. From there, you get to watch the baboons in safety, while laughing at the unfortunate motorists watching their car number plates being ripped off.

Coming towards the end of the trail is an impressive collection of doleful rhinos, and the beasts are every bit as impressive as you would imagine.

It's hard to describe quite what it is like seeing these animals at such close quarters and in complete safety. It certainly beats any zoo hands down, and the only slight disadvantage is the smaller range of different species on view.

After the trail, there is a good selection of food available at decent prices in the restaurant, and the park shop will keep youngsters well stocked up with toys.

There is also an impressive array of rides, including a pirate ship and a couple of rollercoasters, at a mini theme park, although the rides cost extra and the prices are quite steep.

And people looking for even more animal fun could do worse than take a look at the entertaining parrot and sealion show, the reptile house, and the giraffe and elephant enclosures.

Overall, Knowsley Safari Park is a great, value-for-money day out that is fun for all ages, especially young children.

Here's what other visitors had to say:

Danielle Massie, who travelled from the Wirral to visit the park, said: "I thought the whole experience was very exciting and entertaining.

"The best bit was the close proximity to the animals, especially the baboons, the whole atmosphere was friendly and relaxing, and the facilities were lovely."

Fellow Wirral resident Alison Davies added: "I loved the closeness of the animals.

"The monkeys were on everybody's cars, and it was quite funny to watch.

"The restaurant was really nice, and it's just a pity there weren't more animals of different species to see."

Nursery nurse Emma McGrady, who visited with her brother Paul, said: "The food was lovely but if you've got a big family, it could be a bit expensive.

"The picnic areas are very big and there are plenty of things to do after the animals, which are great."

By Andrew Morrison