It's probably the most balanced zoo collection in the UK, with only a few large mammals (lions, gorillas, tapirs, pygmy hippos, fur seals... then ruffed lemurs, pudu and Aye-Aye are the next biggest) but with a nice collection of small mammals, a not vast but diverse bird collection, and three excellent more-or-less adjacent houses - Reptile House, Aquarium and Invertebrates - for other groups.
The Invertebrate House in particular is superb and the zoo is one of the major bases for the Partula snail project.
It's also (I believe) the second oldest extant UK zoo, after London, so there are some nice historical features. In particular, the Aquarium is converted from the bear dens, with what used to be the central pit as an Amazon tank with walkthrough tunnel.
I like Bristol, it has a well-rounded collection with many interesting species. As I have to drive through Bristol several times a year now, I can take more opportunities for visits and photography (warning, there are more shots in the can ). Some of the older housing is not so good, but there are great plans for an entirely new zoo on a greenfield site just outside the city (but next to a motorway) which will complement the zoo, where a major development has also been planned.
Everyone hopes that these plans will go ahead as soon as possible to become a 21st century version of Regents Park & Whipsnade (or San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park). More details available from the Bristol threads.
As I said above, arrive as the zoo opens (9am) and head straight into the nocturnal house. The lights dim as the staff work in the enclosures and by about 9.45 they are down to 'daytime' levels. Of course nothing is guaranteed and the aye-ayes in particular are capricious, they may not be active at all but occasionally one may be impossibly active: but there will be enough light to photograph something, without using silly ISO settings or flash (of course).
I happened to visit again today. I arrived at 9 and got some shots as described but the aye-aye enclosure was pretty dark even then and all the main lights went out at 9.30 exactly.
