Into Africa!

You'll spot Into Africa! long before you reach it - a sprawling sculpture park that doesn't try to blend into the South Yorkshire landscape. It's exactly what the name promises: a collection of life-sized animal statues and African-themed installations spread across open ground near Doncaster.

The appeal is straightforward. Kids love it - there's something about walking past enormous painted giraffes and zebras that hits differently than seeing them in a book. Adults tend to find it either delightfully kitsch or a bit much, depending on their tolerance for bright colours and oversized fibreglass. The sculptures are well-maintained and the site's laid out so you can wander through at your own pace.

It's free to have a look around, which keeps expectations realistic. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you've got young children who want to examine every animal and take photos. You won't need longer. Go midweek if possible - weekends get busy with school groups.

If you're based at Bawtry Caravan Park or Sunnyview Touring Park (both are close by), Into Africa! makes a decent rainy-day stop or a casual afternoon activity rather than a planned destination. It's the sort of place that works better as part of something else - a wider drive around Doncaster, perhaps, rather than a trip in itself. Worth twenty minutes if you're passing. Less worth a dedicated journey.