Spirits Of The South Americas
Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion and questions 2023
- Thread starter bongorob
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- baby chester zoo island orangutans
Sun Bears Maybe?
Good call, forgot about them
Or Fossa, but i wouldn’t really call them a big animal that draws crowds in.
Definitely the sun bears, there was a lot of hype around their arrival... I imagine the snow leopards will be even bigger to be honest.
I wonder if Chester would ever go into leopards? It would be pretty impressive to have all 5 Panthera species at the zoo.
I wonder if Chester would ever go into leopards? It would be pretty impressive to have all 5 Panthera species at the zoo.
Is that, Leopards Snow Leopards, Cheetah, Jaguar And What Else, Lions?
Close, tigers not cheetahs.
For a first-time visitor, does Chester require more than a single day to do properly? Am looking at travelling up for a few days, and the way trains are the first day would be a half-day (using one of their half-day tickets) and then a full day the next. Would that be enough to see everything/revisit areas?
For the record, Paignton took two days on my first trip, and Cologne very much needed a second day (which didn't happen), so am guessing Chester needs at least 1.5 days
For the record, Paignton took two days on my first trip, and Cologne very much needed a second day (which didn't happen), so am guessing Chester needs at least 1.5 days
Moorhunhe
Well-Known Member
For a first-time visitor, does Chester require more than a single day to do properly? Am looking at travelling up for a few days, and the way trains are the first day would be a half-day (using one of their half-day tickets) and then a full day the next. Would that be enough to see everything/revisit areas?
For the record, Paignton took two days on my first trip, and Cologne very much needed a second day (which didn't happen), so am guessing Chester needs at least 1.5 days
As someone who has just been the first time 3 weeks ago, I'd say yes, 2 days.
We've been twice now in the meantime, both days for 6-7 hours, and still kind of had to rush around the second time. There's still bits we haven't seen now after been twice.
As a local, yes I would say you need more than one day for a first time visit. The zoo is very big and you very well might want to re-tread to see certain species. Also with it being school holidays there is a good chance you might get stuck in lines in the aquarium, Realm of the Red Ape and maybe Islands as well. Hope you have a good first visit!For a first-time visitor, does Chester require more than a single day to do properly? Am looking at travelling up for a few days, and the way trains are the first day would be a half-day (using one of their half-day tickets) and then a full day the next. Would that be enough to see everything/revisit areas?
For the record, Paignton took two days on my first trip, and Cologne very much needed a second day (which didn't happen), so am guessing Chester needs at least 1.5 days
Thank you both 
will try and spend my 1.5 days at the zoo wisely and try and avoid the crowds!
will try and spend my 1.5 days at the zoo wisely and try and avoid the crowds!
Moorhunhe
Well-Known Member
Thank you both
The app works nice though, where you can check all the things you really want to see, and it'll give you walking instructions too. For us it worked, as I'm not good walking for so many hours, so it did help to not walk around "endlessly" and see as much as possible.
Moorhunhe
Well-Known Member
Can someone please explain to me where I can find the Pudu?
We went 3 days ago, and I could not see it anywhere. Took directions from the app, but could not see it? (it's probably me, don't worry, haha)
And didn't see any staff around the area to ask.
It was pleasantly busy I'd say, not surprising with the amazing weather that day. But my God, some people really need some new lessons in being respectful, I just do not understand at all.
Anyways ...
Still no baby Okapi to be seen? Unless it's all grown up already, I'm a little confused. I did see 3, of which 1 was the mother in the right outside enclosure (I looked at their video they posted on FB to see which one was the mother). In the left outside enclosure where 2 other what seemed like both adults.
There is now 1 Red Bellied Lemur in the lemur walkthrough, as it was being bullied by others on the island, but I didn't see it in the walkthrough, all were mainly up the trees most of the day it seemed (I went in twice during the day).
Been 3 times now and we've yet to see the Lowland Anoa.
We did the boat ride this time too, first thing in the morning, with hot weather like that, it's a nice thing to do as it was a bit breezy and cooler, the line when we got off was massively growing.
When passing The Oakfield, there was a little bar outside that had an amazing cider, which we tried. Forgot to take a picture of the entire name, something with "cornish raspberry apple", and you get to keep the nice Chester Zoo cup too.
Both Aye-Aye's where very visible.
The Jaguars ... I felt like going to a concert, people running to get up front and pushing and shoving everyone else out the way.
The male was outside, but mainly in the back, so you'd get a glimpse of him for 2 seconds every 5 minutes.
The female was inside, boyfriend went back later in the day to spot her (which he did), while I was beat and stayed near the entrance and sat down for a while.
He said it was manic inside!
Like, honestly, people, behave ...
And we managed to see some other bits this time we hadn't seen the previous 2 times (been 3 times in 4 weeks now). And there's still a few bits we haven't seen, mainly indoor things, but we avoided those on purpose now, too hot & too busy, we'll get to those bits during fall/winter time.
We went 3 days ago, and I could not see it anywhere. Took directions from the app, but could not see it? (it's probably me, don't worry, haha)
And didn't see any staff around the area to ask.
It was pleasantly busy I'd say, not surprising with the amazing weather that day. But my God, some people really need some new lessons in being respectful, I just do not understand at all.
Anyways ...
Still no baby Okapi to be seen? Unless it's all grown up already, I'm a little confused. I did see 3, of which 1 was the mother in the right outside enclosure (I looked at their video they posted on FB to see which one was the mother). In the left outside enclosure where 2 other what seemed like both adults.
There is now 1 Red Bellied Lemur in the lemur walkthrough, as it was being bullied by others on the island, but I didn't see it in the walkthrough, all were mainly up the trees most of the day it seemed (I went in twice during the day).
Been 3 times now and we've yet to see the Lowland Anoa.
We did the boat ride this time too, first thing in the morning, with hot weather like that, it's a nice thing to do as it was a bit breezy and cooler, the line when we got off was massively growing.
When passing The Oakfield, there was a little bar outside that had an amazing cider, which we tried. Forgot to take a picture of the entire name, something with "cornish raspberry apple", and you get to keep the nice Chester Zoo cup too.
Both Aye-Aye's where very visible.
The Jaguars ... I felt like going to a concert, people running to get up front and pushing and shoving everyone else out the way.
The male was outside, but mainly in the back, so you'd get a glimpse of him for 2 seconds every 5 minutes.
The female was inside, boyfriend went back later in the day to spot her (which he did), while I was beat and stayed near the entrance and sat down for a while.
He said it was manic inside!
Like, honestly, people, behave ...
And we managed to see some other bits this time we hadn't seen the previous 2 times (been 3 times in 4 weeks now). And there's still a few bits we haven't seen, mainly indoor things, but we avoided those on purpose now, too hot & too busy, we'll get to those bits during fall/winter time.
Moorhunhe
Well-Known Member
Thanks! Makes sense then I couldn't find it at all, lol.
Jambi
Well-Known Member
For those who visit regularly, how is construction on the snow leopard enclosure coming along? I've thought about re-visiting Chester in either May or June next year, but only going around half of the zoo, the blue and green sections on the map, then going back in 2025 to do the other half once Heart of Africa opens. If I do this, I'll probably wait until after the snow leopard enclosure opens.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Have a week off coming up and am planning my zoo and wildlife itinerary. Have 10 days in total inc weekend and it’s a trip a day job!
How busy / grim is Chester in the school holidays? Was thinking of going but a packed zoo is not my favourite thing and can always use another day off instead so thought I would ask those in the know.
I haven’t been for a long time but am not concerned about going a couple of times.
I have BH week off but clearly not planning to go on the BH, but wondering how it is usually in August and whether post peak is better? If too rammed I’ll just go later in the year but I do quite fancy it.
How busy / grim is Chester in the school holidays? Was thinking of going but a packed zoo is not my favourite thing and can always use another day off instead so thought I would ask those in the know.
I haven’t been for a long time but am not concerned about going a couple of times.
I have BH week off but clearly not planning to go on the BH, but wondering how it is usually in August and whether post peak is better? If too rammed I’ll just go later in the year but I do quite fancy it.
I have regularly taken my great nephew in August and it's been ok. Usually gone on a Wednesday or Thursday, away from weekend. I advise arriving at opening time. Do the pinch points first, like Islands and Lemur walkthrough. It only started to feel busy to us by 2-3pm. Many people seem to arrive for an afternoon out, not realising the size of the zoo.