Moorhunhe
Well-Known Member
To start off with, a bit of news first.
They are wanting to update/upgrade their Snow Leopard enclosure, as they have been given the go-ahead for breeding, but the enclosures they are in now, just aren't quite up to that.
It was really nice to read this around the zoo too that it's their plans for now, as upon seeing the actual enclosure, it can definately use an update.
We've been wanting to go here for a while, beginning of February, but we then decided to go to Paradise Wildlife instead (for the Red Panda cub before he wasn't a cub anymore).
And then I got very ill for the next 8-10 weeks and couldn't go anywhere *sigh* (I somehow caught glandular fever), but we managed to go last Sunday (Easter) finally.
Big must-see, the Eastern Quoll, and kind of more the reason we wanted to visit here, as we've never seen a Quoll before.
For us it's about 1h20 drive, so not that bad overall.
We booked our tickets the evening before and the next available slot was 10h45 (opens at 10h30).
Upon getting there, the gates were still closed, and a few cars were already waiting on the little piece they could stand, so they wouldn't be on the road.
As we're on a motorbike, we managed to squeeze in next to a car, so we wouldn't be on the road, but then noticed at least 2 cars behind us wanting to get in too, so other cars had to pass them by.
I don't know how it usually goes over there, but it might not seem as safe, if they only open the gates on the dot.
Even if we would have a 10h30 slot, we didn't actually get into the zoo until about 10h50, due to every car needing to show their ticket/say name and they check you on their list.
We did get a map, which is always nice! I don't actually remember seeing maps around the zoo itself, but that could have been, I may just not have really noticed.
The looks overall, it's like walking in a forest.
We got very lucky with the weather, but if it would have rained before or during, you might want to consider keeping Wellies in the car, just in case, I can imagine it getting very muddy.
Me and the boyfriend both love cats, small and big, and I have found a new love for Lemurs, and this place had enough of both for us, so we were very happy!
We went round the entire site first, without standing still too long anywhere, just to get a feel of the place, how big it is, and where we want to go to again after.
It isn't big at all, but there are lots of animals to see. I think we did a full round in about 30-45 minutes at the very end near closing time, when we decided to go round one last time.
The Quolls, White Collored Lemurs and Snow Leopards are basically at the start.
The Quolls were nowhere to be seen, while the Lemurs were jumping around all day so very visible. Both Snow Leopards were very visible during the day too. And as mentioned in the start of this post, it's great to see they are updating the enclosure, as it just doesn't look like a right fit anymore in these days at all.
There's 2 Binturong, who came out later in the day for a bit, but mainly sleeping in their houses.
The Tiger and Lions are accross from each other, so later in the day it was nice and easy for us to see all of them, as they were all visible in the afternoon.
I really wanted to see the little Tapir, as I find it fascinating how it's colors are when little.
It's definately starting to look more mature, but you could still see some stripes and spots coming through. I think he's 6 months old?
They have a few hornbills (really big ones), and lots of birds, which, I have to be honest, don't always pay that much attention too, but some had very pretty colors, and when you came close to the enclosure, they would fly up to you and come and say hello ^^
We then came accross the Crowned and Mongoose Lemurs, who were all very playful and super cute with each other.
We went around twice, before we had something to eat, and you must leave the zoo and go to the picnic area, since the place isn't too big that eventually wasn't an issue as much to go in and out.
I went back and forth to the Quolls many times, but sadly, didn't see any throughout the day.
On a whim, we thought "hey, we really like this place, has lots of animals we love to see, how much is the season pass?"
So we upgraded our day ticket, to a family season pass, which is 2 adults, and will save you 5£ in total (40£ per adult, but a season pass for 2 adults was 75£).
Also gives you discount to some other zoo's/parks in the "area".
We only have to go back twice now, and got our money's worth.
And, we can combine a day out with Hamerton zoo on the way back home.
All in all, a very enjoyable day, and I would definately recommend.
They are wanting to update/upgrade their Snow Leopard enclosure, as they have been given the go-ahead for breeding, but the enclosures they are in now, just aren't quite up to that.
It was really nice to read this around the zoo too that it's their plans for now, as upon seeing the actual enclosure, it can definately use an update.
We've been wanting to go here for a while, beginning of February, but we then decided to go to Paradise Wildlife instead (for the Red Panda cub before he wasn't a cub anymore).
And then I got very ill for the next 8-10 weeks and couldn't go anywhere *sigh* (I somehow caught glandular fever), but we managed to go last Sunday (Easter) finally.
Big must-see, the Eastern Quoll, and kind of more the reason we wanted to visit here, as we've never seen a Quoll before.
For us it's about 1h20 drive, so not that bad overall.
We booked our tickets the evening before and the next available slot was 10h45 (opens at 10h30).
Upon getting there, the gates were still closed, and a few cars were already waiting on the little piece they could stand, so they wouldn't be on the road.
As we're on a motorbike, we managed to squeeze in next to a car, so we wouldn't be on the road, but then noticed at least 2 cars behind us wanting to get in too, so other cars had to pass them by.
I don't know how it usually goes over there, but it might not seem as safe, if they only open the gates on the dot.
Even if we would have a 10h30 slot, we didn't actually get into the zoo until about 10h50, due to every car needing to show their ticket/say name and they check you on their list.
We did get a map, which is always nice! I don't actually remember seeing maps around the zoo itself, but that could have been, I may just not have really noticed.
The looks overall, it's like walking in a forest.
We got very lucky with the weather, but if it would have rained before or during, you might want to consider keeping Wellies in the car, just in case, I can imagine it getting very muddy.
Me and the boyfriend both love cats, small and big, and I have found a new love for Lemurs, and this place had enough of both for us, so we were very happy!
We went round the entire site first, without standing still too long anywhere, just to get a feel of the place, how big it is, and where we want to go to again after.
It isn't big at all, but there are lots of animals to see. I think we did a full round in about 30-45 minutes at the very end near closing time, when we decided to go round one last time.
The Quolls, White Collored Lemurs and Snow Leopards are basically at the start.
The Quolls were nowhere to be seen, while the Lemurs were jumping around all day so very visible. Both Snow Leopards were very visible during the day too. And as mentioned in the start of this post, it's great to see they are updating the enclosure, as it just doesn't look like a right fit anymore in these days at all.
There's 2 Binturong, who came out later in the day for a bit, but mainly sleeping in their houses.
The Tiger and Lions are accross from each other, so later in the day it was nice and easy for us to see all of them, as they were all visible in the afternoon.
I really wanted to see the little Tapir, as I find it fascinating how it's colors are when little.
It's definately starting to look more mature, but you could still see some stripes and spots coming through. I think he's 6 months old?
They have a few hornbills (really big ones), and lots of birds, which, I have to be honest, don't always pay that much attention too, but some had very pretty colors, and when you came close to the enclosure, they would fly up to you and come and say hello ^^
We then came accross the Crowned and Mongoose Lemurs, who were all very playful and super cute with each other.
We went around twice, before we had something to eat, and you must leave the zoo and go to the picnic area, since the place isn't too big that eventually wasn't an issue as much to go in and out.
I went back and forth to the Quolls many times, but sadly, didn't see any throughout the day.
On a whim, we thought "hey, we really like this place, has lots of animals we love to see, how much is the season pass?"
So we upgraded our day ticket, to a family season pass, which is 2 adults, and will save you 5£ in total (40£ per adult, but a season pass for 2 adults was 75£).
Also gives you discount to some other zoo's/parks in the "area".
We only have to go back twice now, and got our money's worth.
And, we can combine a day out with Hamerton zoo on the way back home.
All in all, a very enjoyable day, and I would definately recommend.
