Manor Wildlife Park | Capture Unique Images Walking on the Wildside

Welcome to Manor Wildlife Park – A Photographer’s Paradise in Wales

Manor Wildlife Park. Close-up of a tiger with striking orange and black stripes, standing among green foliage.

Nestled within 52 acres of lush Pembrokeshire countryside, Manor Wildlife Park offers a rare opportunity for photographers to capture wildlife in a setting where nature feels expansive, uninhibited—and deeply photogenic.

The park traces its modern revival to 2008, when designer and television presenter Anna Ryder Richardson and her husband Colin took on a faded attraction with big ambition. Since then, extensive investment and a bold vision have transformed it into a modern wildlife park where photographic potential meets purpose. Wikipedia+2Manor Wildlife Park -+2

Manor Wildlife Park. A tiger cub in the long grass

Why Manor Wildlife Park Is a Unique Spot for Photographers

Undeniably scenic setting – With open pastureland, wooded towers and the gentle Pembrokeshire light, the backdrop is already “Instagram-worthy.”

Rich in endangered and charismatic species – From the large family of majestic Sumatran tiger to the striking red pandas, and from gentle wallabies to howler monkeys, there’s a wide variety of subjects and styles to shoot. Visit Wales+1

Light, space and freedom – With generous ground and multi-species enclosures, you’re not fighting for a sliver of frame: you can frame animals with generous negative space, show interaction, behaviour and habitat all at once.

Manor Wildlife Park A young tiger crouched low in grass, preparing to pounce, with another tiger's back featured prominently in the foreground.

What to Expect at Manor Wildlife Park and How to Make the Most of It

Arrive early for the best light. Soft morning sun slices through Welsh woodland beautifully and less-disruption means more natural behaviour from the animals.

Explore thoroughly. From wallaby walk-throughs to lemur enclosures and tiger viewing zones, variety is abundant. For example: this is one of Wales’s only “walking safari”-type experiences. Visit Wales+1

Respect the space. While the design invites you in, many enclosures are multi-species and open, so movement paths and boundaries may not always be obvious—stay aware and respectfully distant where required.

Use the landscape. In addition to close-ups of the animals, don’t miss the broader view: rolling fields, woodland patches and the Pembrokeshire coastline nearby offer context-rich compositions.

Play with interactions and moods. Whether a red panda in a tree’s dappled light, a tiger’s reflective gaze, or a wallaby up close—all these moments reward patience and attentiveness.

Plan for gear. A zoom lens (say 70–200 mm or more) can help with distance, while a prime could serve for low light. Consider a monopod or tripod for steadier shots and a polarising filter if there’s water or foliage reflections.

Connect with the wider story. The park is about more than animals: it’s about habitat, conservation, and aesthetic freedom. Capturing “animals + environment” together tells a richer story than just “animal portrait.”

NATURAL WILDLIFE PARK environments like Manor Park can be very inspiring photo locations.

They present photographers with a huge variety of animals and unique opportunities to get very close access to many of them.

Manor Wildlife Park. A male tiger walking in an enclosure

ANIMAL ENCLOSURES present all sorts of challenges which enable you to practice and master your art..

TIP! Check the enclosure for worn pathways. These tell you where the animals are likely to patrol, hide and play. Manor Park’s animals enclosures are well thought out and maximise the space available for their animals

Manor Wildlife Park. A tiger cub is ready to pounce and surprise his mother

The unpredictable behaviour of the animals can be very frustrating but its that very behaviour you want to capture:

Manor Wildlife Park. Three tiger cubs walk together in the long grass

It is all about patience and staying in the same spot long enough to capture a unique scene

Manor Wildlife Park. A male tiger is ready to pounce on a rabbit carcass left by the keepers

Feeding time is always guaranteed to provide interesting shots as the animals’ natural instinct to feed mean they know where, and how, food arrives and usually get excited and restless.

Manor Wildlife Park. A tigger stares through the wire fence

Animals will occasionally seem to be fascinated by the camera. If you do catch them looking directly at the lens there is an intimacy and connection between you and the animal in the resulting photo that is very satisfying and richly rewards you for your patience.

Manor Wildlife Park. A stares through the wire fence. Close-up of a tiger's face with striking yellow eyes, partially obscured by fencing.

When those eyes lock in – it is so intense !

Manor Wildlife Park. A Sumatran tiger and its cub playfully interacting in a lush green field, showcasing their natural behavior.

FENCES, BARBED WIRE, METAL BARS between you and the animals have to be there for safety reasons but their presence can inevitably spoil images and video clips.

There are ways, however, to make those barriers disappear so that there appears to be nothing between you and the growling beast! It can be tricky as the light can work for, or against you.

If you have a decent zoom lens the trick is to focus past the fence and zoom in gradually so that your camera fully focusses on the animal behind the fence. The camera is then tricked into thinking there is nothing between it and the subject it is focussing on. Any fence or metal work then magically disappears.

Practice, practice practice the technique and you will get it.

CHECK OUT OUR PHOTO GALLERIES

At Manor Wildlife Park there is a fabulous Lemur Walkthrough area where you can actually enter the enclosure and observe these beautiful fluffy creatures face to face with no barriers. We always take a stool and a small tripod and stay there for an hour or more to catch the best shots.

The tiger’s are hugely popular and have a large rustic enclosure which has paths around it which enable you to get a good shot of these majestic creatures wherever they are hanging out. The park has been blessed with cubs for two years now, a female last year named Tsar Tsar and 4 new cubs this year. The opportunities for footage and images have been a real gift as we watch them grow.

Next to the Lemur Walkthrough we have the Meercat Enclosure which has a very accessible viewing platform with a natural backdrop. Again is it easy to lose hours here watching them stand on sentry duty, fall over, fight and cuddle.