Turkey’s Gaziantep Safari Park has opened to the public, offering the second-largest safari experience in all of Europe.

Developed by the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality inside Gaziantep Zoo, visitors are now able to observe 200 animals from 70 different species in their own habitat, including camels, deer, kangaroos and lamas - which are all able to walk free within the park.

Opened on 23 April – National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Turkey – the 0.6sq km (150 acre) safari park addition to the zoo is second in size only to Germany’s Serengeti Park in Hodenhagen.

The municipality-financed park underwent an environmental observation period before opening and is a first for the country.

The zoo welcomes about 1,000,000 visitors annually and with the safari addition, that number is expected to rise significantly. Visitors will be able to drive their own cars around the park along a designated route before arriving at the zoo itself.

"With animals such as camels, deer, eagles and more living together, these animals teach people about living together,” said AK Party deputy chair, Abdul Hamid Gul.

“There is no need to use cages here. This collection of animals show us how happy they are with each other. This makes us strive for a more beautiful, more livable Gaziantep.”