Mill Gate’s safari trail brings the wild to Bury this August

Monday, 11 August 2025 17:30

By David Murphy

Families visiting Mill Gate Shopping Centre this month can embark on a free safari-themed adventure, spotting life-sized animals and meeting lifelike animatronic creatures.

Bury’s Mill Gate Shopping Centre has transformed into an urban safari zone for August, with five life-sized animal installations dotted across the centre as part of its free Safari Trail. Running until Saturday 30 August, the trail invites shoppers and families to find a lion, elephant, zebra, giraffe and gorilla, each accompanied by educational wildlife facts. Hidden letters at each stop spell out a mystery word, with completed trail sheets entered into a prize draw for one of five wildlife tracking bracelets, donated by conservation brand Fahlo.

In addition to the trail, every Friday in August between 11am and 3pm the centre is hosting Live Ranger Days, where visitors can meet realistic animatronic animals including baby hippos, orangutans, crocodile hatchlings and chimps. The events, designed to be both entertaining and educational, have already proven popular with children and adults alike.

The initiative offers plenty of photo opportunities alongside hands-on learning, without the need for travel or tickets, and is part of Mill Gate’s ongoing programme of community-focused events. Located in the heart of Bury, the centre continues to combine shopping and leisure with activities that bring residents together.