Planning Zoo Visits for 2023

pendraig_milnerae

pendraig_milnerae

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Potentially a little belated given we’re nine days into the new year, but with a new year always comes many grand ideas and much planning. On that note, what zoos are people planning on visiting for the first time this year, and where are people hoping to revisit or return to? Is anyone hoping to beat a personal best for number of visits or institutions? Or to see plenty of new species? And are these plans realistic, given the way New Year’s resolutions often seem to go?
 
pendraig_milnerae said:
Potentially a little belated given we’re nine days into the new year, but with a new year always comes many grand ideas and much planning. On that note, what zoos are people planning on visiting for the first time this year, and where are people hoping to revisit or return to? Is anyone hoping to beat a personal best for number of visits or institutions? Or to see plenty of new species? And are these plans realistic, given the way New Year’s resolutions often seem to go?
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I do hope to visit many zoos this year, and more than last year seems likely. There are some zoos that I have visited last year or post lockdown, and I hope to go again (Linton, Shepreth, Banham, Paradise Wildlife Park, Whipsnade), some that I have never been to and would like to go to for the first time (London, Edinburgh, Twycross, Marwell, Wild Place), and I am a regular to Colchester Zoo and would like to visit even more this year. However, I have one visit that has been thought about and planned for (obviously still subject to change), and that is a trip to Chester Zoo at Easter. This is not my first visit, as I have been once before 7 or 8 years ago, but I don't remember much at all, so this will still be a big deal for me and hopefully a great experience
 
I'm going on a trip to see a zoo, but which one I am not quite sure. I'm leaning towards either Omaha Zoo or Houston Zoo, but I am not sure yet. I know that Omaha is pretty much universally considered better than Houston but Houston has my favorite species, the mainland clouded leopard, which I have yet to see or photograph. I'm also lightly considering Oklahoma City Zoo, as their clouded leopard enclosure looks quite photography-friendly, at least for how I take photos. However, I am doubtful that there is much else at that zoo to make it worth the visit. The same can't be said about the other two.
 
I'm planning to re-visit a handful of zoos I went to in 2021 and 2022, ones that have had something new since my last visit, but I also hope to get to somewhere either completely new or where I haven't been for many, many years. The ones on my shortlist are:

- London Zoo - I haven't been here since I was a teenager in 2008, and have been wanting to revisit for a while, they're opening a new reptile house this year so my visit will be after that opens. I'm looking into hotels for London at the moment, and I'm trying to get one as close to Regent's Park as possible so I'm not travelling far.
- Five Sisters Zoo - I've never visited, but it's been on my radar for a couple of years. They have a really nice large carnivore line-up, including cheetahs, clouded leopards, brown bears and Arctic wolves, as well as a pretty nice looking reptile house.
- Colchester Zoo - I've never seen an African elephant before, and Colchester caught my eye while I was researching zoos in England that have them. It seems like a fantastic place, and I've never been to that part of the country before, do it'll be a new experience all round.
- Noah's Ark Zoo Farm - For the same reasons as Colchester.
- Flamingo Land - Another Zoo I haven't been to in a very, very long time, but from what I remember it was a nice enough place. The main issue here is travel, because it looks quite remote on Google Maps and I don't have a car.

It'll be either one or two of the above, I'm still deciding which ones to go for.

And the zoos I plan on re-visiting this year are:
- Safari Zoo Cumbria - Once the bird flu scare has passed and their walkthrough aviaries are back open.
- Chester Zoo - I didn't get around the whole site last time, so I'm arranging a re-visit to cover those areas I didn't see.
- Blackpool Zoo - Once their new lion and tiger enclosures are open.
- Lakeland Wildlife Oasis - Since my last visit in July they got a pair of snowy owls and a freshwater pufferfish that I'd like to see.
- Edinburgh Zoo - Not only to see the giant pandas one last time before they go back to China, but also because the building where they keep the reptiles and amphibians re-opened since my last visit in 2021.
 
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Jambi said:
I'm planning to re-visit a handful of zoos I went to in 2021 and 2022, ones that have had something new since my last visit, but I also hope to get to somewhere either completely new or where I haven't been for many, many years. The ones on my shortlist are:

- London Zoo - I haven't been here since I was a teenager in 2008, and have been wanting to revisit for a while, they're opening a new reptile house this year so my visit will be after that opens. I'm looking into hotels for London at the moment, and I'm trying to get one as close to Regent's Park as possible so I'm not travelling far.
- Five Sisters Zoo - I've never visited, but it's been on my radar for a couple of years. They have a really nice large carnivore line-up, including cheetahs, clouded leopards, brown bears and Arctic wolves, as well as a pretty nice looking reptile house.
- Colchester Zoo - I've never seen an African elephant before, and Colchester caught my eye while I was researching zoos in England that have them. It seems like a fantastic place, and I've never been to that part of the country before, do it'll be a new experience all round.
- Noah's Ark Zoo Farm - For the same reasons as Colchester.
- Flamingo Land - Another Zoo I haven't been to in a very, very long time, but from what I remember it was a nice enough place. The main issue here is travel, because it looks quite remote on Google Maps and I don't have a car.

It'll be either one or two of the above, I'm still deciding which ones to go for.

And the zoos I plan on re-visiting this year are:
- Safari Zoo Cumbria - Once the bird flu scare has passed and their walkthrough aviaries are back open.
- Chester Zoo - I didn't get around the whole site last time, so I'm arranging a re-visit to cover those areas I didn't see.
- Blackpool Zoo - Once their new lion and tiger enclosures are open.
- Lakeland Wildlife Oasis - Since my last visit in July they got a pair of snowy owls and a freshwater pufferfish that I'd like to see.
- Edinburgh Zoo - Not only to see the giant pandas one last time before they go back to China, but also because the building where they keep the reptiles and amphibians re-opened since my last visit in 2021.
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Hotels near London Zoo itself will probably be quite expensive - but the Tube will get you there easily from wherever you choose to stay. Regent's Park tube station is at the very southern tip of the park and is a slightly longer walk to the zoo than from Camden Town tube station, incidentally. Have fun!
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
I do hope to visit many zoos this year, and more than last year seems likely. There are some zoos that I have visited last year or post lockdown, and I hope to go again (Linton, Shepreth, Banham, Paradise Wildlife Park, Whipsnade), some that I have never been to and would like to go to for the first time (London, Edinburgh, Twycross, Marwell, Wild Place), and I am a regular to Colchester Zoo and would like to visit even more this year. However, I have one visit that has been thought about and planned for (obviously still subject to change), and that is a trip to Chester Zoo at Easter. This is not my first visit, as I have been once before 7 or 8 years ago, but I don't remember much at all, so this will still be a big deal for me and hopefully a great experience
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cloudedleopard611 said:
I'm going on a trip to see a zoo, but which one I am not quite sure. I'm leaning towards either Omaha Zoo or Houston Zoo, but I am not sure yet. I know that Omaha is pretty much universally considered better than Houston but Houston has my favorite species, the mainland clouded leopard, which I have yet to see or photograph. I'm also lightly considering Oklahoma City Zoo, as their clouded leopard enclosure looks quite photography-friendly, at least for how I take photos. However, I am doubtful that there is much else at that zoo to make it worth the visit. The same can't be said about the other two.
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Jambi said:
I'm planning to re-visit a handful of zoos I went to in 2021 and 2022, ones that have had something new since my last visit, but I also hope to get to somewhere either completely new or where I haven't been for many, many years. The ones on my shortlist are:

- London Zoo - I haven't been here since I was a teenager in 2008, and have been wanting to revisit for a while, they're opening a new reptile house this year so my visit will be after that opens. I'm looking into hotels for London at the moment, and I'm trying to get one as close to Regent's Park as possible so I'm not travelling far.
- Five Sisters Zoo - I've never visited, but it's been on my radar for a couple of years. They have a really nice large carnivore line-up, including cheetahs, clouded leopards, brown bears and Arctic wolves, as well as a pretty nice looking reptile house.
- Colchester Zoo - I've never seen an African elephant before, and Colchester caught my eye while I was researching zoos in England that have them. It seems like a fantastic place, and I've never been to that part of the country before, do it'll be a new experience all round.
- Noah's Ark Zoo Farm - For the same reasons as Colchester.
- Flamingo Land - Another Zoo I haven't been to in a very, very long time, but from what I remember it was a nice enough place. The main issue here is travel, because it looks quite remote on Google Maps and I don't have a car.

It'll be either one or two of the above, I'm still deciding which ones to go for.

And the zoos I plan on re-visiting this year are:
- Safari Zoo Cumbria - Once the bird flu scare has passed and their walkthrough aviaries are back open.
- Chester Zoo - I didn't get around the whole site last time, so I'm arranging a re-visit to cover those areas I didn't see.
- Blackpool Zoo - Once their new lion and tiger enclosures are open.
- Lakeland Wildlife Oasis - Since my last visit in July they got a pair of snowy owls and a freshwater pufferfish that I'd like to see.
- Edinburgh Zoo - Not only to see the giant pandas one last time before they go back to China, but also because the building where they keep the reptiles and amphibians re-opened since my last visit in 2021.
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All pretty interesting and extensive lineups for the year, hopefully everyone’s able to get to all of them. It certainly doesn’t hurt to be ambitious!

My own lineup for the year is as follows:
Revisits
  • Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park - Given it’s less than half an hour’s walk to get there and is cheap to get in (I guess that makes it my new local)
  • SEALIFE Birmingham - For the same reasons as BWCP, minus the bit about being cheap
  • Dudley Zoo - Not particularly far away or hard to get to by public transport, and I’d also like to see the new orangutan and giraffe exhibits plus the continued renovations on the tectons
  • West Midlands Safari Park - I have relatives nearby so it’s certainly on the cards
  • Port Lympne Reserve - I’m not in a particular hurry to return to PL given their track record of development, but it might be worth a look when I’m back down south
  • Chester Zoo - A slightly more ambitious visit (though that may be largely due to the train strikes) but certainly somewhere I’d like to revisit and spend a full day at
  • London Zoo - Not especially high on my list at the moment, however if I get the chance it’s pretty easy to get to and definitely worth a visit
New Zoos
  • Edinburgh Zoo - Somewhere I’ve been hoping to get to for a while but has been out of reach, I’m hoping to go in the spring for the same reasons as @Jambi
  • Twycross Zoo - Not particular hard to get to distance-wise, but given it’s essentially in the middle of nowhere it’s a bit of a logistical conundrum
  • Hamerton Zoo Park - Entirely ambitious, I’m hoping 2023 can be the year I finally get to this fabled zoo
 
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Tierpark Hagenbeck and Zoo Magdeburg are the only two that I know for certain, and I am planning to visit both in April. They are certainly not Germany's best, but coincide best with our plans, and have a lot of interest to me (Hagenbeck's walrus and fascinating history, while Magdeburg's polecats and quality).

Back in England, I should be visiting Wildheart Animal Sanctuary (formerly known by the decidedly less frustrating name of 'Isle of Wight Zoo'), Cotswold Wildlife Park, and possibly Shaldon Zoo, all of which are relatively near to family members of mine, and yet are places that I have never visited prior. Slightly more ambitious would be a trip to Hamerton, something which I have wanted to embark on since I first heard of its existence.

Of course, many return visits are also likely.
 
I have a trip planned for Dallas at the beginning of March. I will be visiting both the Dallas Zoo and Dallas World Aquarium. My plans for the summer are very uncertain as a plan on doing an internship at either a zoo or an aquarium. When it comes to revisits I will be going to both the Potter Park Zoo and Detroit Zoo. Maybe Toledo too if I'm able to squeeze it in.
 
We will be revisiting Hamerton, Dudley and Birmingham in the UK as we have annual passes for these 3.
When our Hamerton pass is done, we are thinking of taking a Hoo Zoo pass, which will then be a revisit too, and we'd like to go to Cotswold again.

As for new zoo's this year, my boyfriend really wants to go to Whipsnade, and I want to go to Shepreth, and Wildlife Park (from One Zoo Three).
And if he can get the time off, going up to Lincoln and booking a hotel, as there are a few that are fairly close together.

Also, we will be going to Belgium, to visit my family (as I am Belgian, living in the UK), and hoping to revisit Antwerp, Planckendael and Olmense Zoo.
As for new zoo's while we are there, I have been looking into a few that are not too far away of a drive, and since my parents live near the Dutch & German border, it's very easy to go abroad.
I've got 3 for The Netherlands, and 4 for Germany. But I just need to plan a bit better when the time comes, because I also want to do some other things while there, so need to make sure there's enough days with also some "doing nothing at all" inbetween and just hang around the house with family, as I haven't seen them in 3,5 years by then due to the pandemic.
 
I haven't planned any 2-3 day stays away yet, but one definite 2-3 day trip will be my now annual west country tour (last year I did 2 of 3 and 4 days) which as always will include one of the best zoos in the UK - Exmoor. Maybe Paignton after a few years gap.
I want to visit some new UK zoos this year so that will mean either a trip to South Wales or the lake District, I have not been to zoos in either area!

I would like to get to overseas zoos again this year, Prague was planned in 2020 and is the main priority combined with Plzen. I will wait to return to Berlin so otherwise I may aim for Belgium.
 
I am booked for a Walsrode and Hamburg visit, as well as a trip to Mexico City, where I will visit all three zoos, plus spend time birding (both there and in Oaxaca).

I'm also going to Amsterdam and Madrid, where I'll visit Artis, Madrid Zoo, and Faunia respectively.

Plotting another Prague/Plzen trip and a Berlin/Magdeburg trip. As well as a quick jaunt to Weymouth to see the blue penguins. I'll also presumably carry on spending lunch breaks in London Zoo...
 
I’m off to a flying start this year: I’ve already been to Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo (both in Melbourne, Australia) as well as Wellington Zoo (New Zealand).

We have a trip planned for Southern India - but that will be for national parks rather than zoos. That said, hopefully we get a chance to visit Thiruvananthapuram Zoo after the national parks.

We are also hoping to head back to New Zealand later in the year for a week - if so (it’s a 50% chance atm) we can see Auckland Zoo and Hamilton Zoo (never been to either zoo) and another visit to Wellington - as they will have the snow leopards by then.

In Australia, we will almost certainly do our annual visit to Healesville (we never got there in 2022) and our annual visit to Mogo (near Batemans Bay).

We would also like to visit one of Adelaide, Sydney or Perth this year - and if so, then we can go to the zoos there.

So hopefully I get to visit at least 7-8 zoos this year. 10 would be a huge year but I doubt I will make it to 10….
 
After being stuck in hong kong for 3 whole years i would take any zoo i can get :D
would like to make it to japan (SCZ being one of the zoos i want to go)when flight price went down a bit, or somewhere even further out(~
 
I managed three zoos last year, and I am 100% expecting to beat that this year, though nothing is definitive.

Brookfield and Lincoln Park are always on the table. The latter is easy to reach via public transportation and the former has always been close for my family. The Shedd is also on the table.

I have been hoping to return to Milwaukee for eight years and there are several zoos in Illinois that still deserve a visit. I'd like to visit Miller Park after the new South America exhibit opens, and Phillips Park is on the agenda as well. Niabi and Peoria have some interest, too.

Potawotami has come up in discussion.

Me and some friends have discussed a trip to Minnesota which could include Como Park, Minnesota Zoo, possibly Hemker Park and Snake Discovery. I'm really hopeful this one happens as it was actually my friends' idea and not mine.

St. Louis is also on my bucket list this year and I am trying to figure out some plans to make it happen and who I may go with.

Cincinnati is the least likely visit in this post but it's my 'stretch goal' so to speak. Night Hunters is one of the individual exhibits I'd most like to see in the midwest.

I am hoping to make a return trip to Denver, both the city itself and the zoo. This one is actually one of the most likely as I have likely travel buddies arranged. Funds will be the primary concern here.
 
My plan is a little poorer than other peoples - I’ve mapped all the eventing horse stuff I am planning attending this year out and the rest of it is zoos / nature reserves etc with the camera depending on weather forecasts. There’s a couple of collections I’d like to see this year that are a bit further afield but I’ve got a good list and feel pretty lucky to have a fun way to spend my free time. Work to live as they say! I’m hoping to equal / exceed the overall number of visits though (I had 86 zoos and collections in 2022 though clearly lots of repeats as I enjoy that too) as having seen a lockdown I am determined to make the most of being outdoors. So I suppose my plan just consists of go on a lot of zoo / nature trips!
 
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