ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2024

Kalaw said:
The implementation of new viewing areas for Passage through Asia in Monkey Forest definitely argues against the very heavy (£30) fee to bring a car into the zoo.

That said, I would still recommend it as Whipsnade is huge and managing to return to areas multiple times in a day is all but impossible by foot, yet with a car, staying until late and performing one last 'lap' of the zoo, stopping for any animals you missed earlier in the day, can work great. This is particularly effective for the cheetahs, lions and aardvarks, which from experience tend to be more active later in the day. And the whole Africa zone is much nicer as the sun begins to set and crowds begin to calm down. It is also very useful to allow you to make shows on time (the bird show is a must-see) without having to plan your whole route around it.

It is worth knowing that the zoo's reindeer are not domestic, but wild of the European Forest species, which can only be found at one other UK zoo. One of the penguin enclosures features Northern Rockhoppers kept at just five other European zoos. Another exhibit that is easily missed (it indeed took me many visits to discover it) is 'Owl Wood,' which is in a woodland between the entrance and the Butterfly House. No rare species or notable exhibitry, but necessary for completeness and a lovely setting for some aviaries. And of course, don't miss the gaur.
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Thank you :D
 
Lafone said:
Probably the main decision to make before you enter the zoo is if you want to pay extra to take your car in to drive through A Passage through Asia. You can see some of it from the new Monkey Forest and also part of it if you take the train but it is only open to cars in terms of going in, so something to think about. Apart from that have a lovely day! It'll be busy but people will spread out and if you can arrive at opening and stay until closing there will be quiet times in the day.
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Kalaw said:
The implementation of new viewing areas for Passage through Asia in Monkey Forest definitely argues against the very heavy (£30) fee to bring a car into the zoo.
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2 questions:
1. Can you pay to take your car in the zoo at the entrance or does it have to be online?
2. What species are on passage through asia?
 
Yes you can pay as you enter to take you car around or you can park in the free car park but it’s a huge huge zoo so expect to walk miles if you don’t take the car around
This is what in passage through Asia
I enjoy seeing the camels and the newest baby you don’t see any other way Passage through Asia | Whipsnade Zoo
 
Olek said:
2 questions:
1. Can you pay to take your car in the zoo at the entrance or does it have to be online?
2. What species are on passage through asia?
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You can see Sika deer, Père David’s deer, barasingha, Hog deer, Chinese water deer, blackbuck (good luck spotting!) and banteng at the entrance. The second part has Bactrian Camel and Przewalski’s Horse
 
Passage through Asia is also visible from the Whipsnade Express, which is well worth the rather inexpensive fee to ride and also gives you a fantastic view of both the bull elephant paddock and the Indian rhinos

Personally I walk the zoo, it's a big day but doable and I prefer the freedom of being able to freely flitter between seeing the elephants in the morning, then seeing say the bears, then back to the elephants, then maybe eventually making it to the hippos, then back to the elephants...

...I like the elephants, alright?

Also - not really zoo-related directly, but spending some time up on the hill by the lion is an absolute must on a nice day
 
cerperal said:
Passage through Asia is also visible from the Whipsnade Express, which is well worth the rather inexpensive fee to ride and also gives you a fantastic view of both the bull elephant paddock and the Indian rhinos

Personally I walk the zoo, it's a big day but doable and I prefer the freedom of being able to freely flitter between seeing the elephants in the morning, then seeing say the bears, then back to the elephants, then maybe eventually making it to the hippos, then back to the elephants...

...I like the elephants, alright?

Also - not really zoo-related directly, but spending some time up on the hill by the lion is an absolute must on a nice day
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the main animals i wanna see are the gaur and wolverine cuz ive never seen them, also hippos bcuz yes
 
Olek said:
the main animals i wanna see are the gaur and wolverine cuz ive never seen them, also hippos bcuz yes
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I haven't been since the legendary Puff passed but I never had any trouble seeing the wolverines just before midday, usually after popping to the elephants quickly on opening. They should have feed enrichment in the morning in the trees, with the bears similarly behind. Hippos you will have absolutely no issue seeing, highly recommend the hippo talk as well.

The gaur are on a lovely main path that connects the African and Asian parts of the zoo, so you'll probably pass them quite often.
 
Olek said:
Hello Everyone,
Visiting ZSL Whipsnade Zoo for the 1st time on August 29th!
Is there anything I should know beforehand?
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Make sure you walk between the reindeer and the turning for the lions so that you don’t miss the stunning views from the top of the Downs. Also a great place for your picnic or a bite to eat from the cafe above the White Lion. Sticking to the road will give you glimpses, but walking on the Downs gives you the best views. You’ll then also get to appreciate the settings for the old polar bear, tiger and lion enclosures (now filled in) and hopefully spot a wallaby or two.
 
cerperal said:
Passage through Asia is also visible from the Whipsnade Express, which is well worth the rather inexpensive fee to ride and also gives you a fantastic view of both the bull elephant paddock and the Indian rhinos

Personally I walk the zoo, it's a big day but doable and I prefer the freedom of being able to freely flitter between seeing the elephants in the morning, then seeing say the bears, then back to the elephants, then maybe eventually making it to the hippos, then back to the elephants...

...I like the elephants, alright?

Also - not really zoo-related directly, but spending some time up on the hill by the lion is an absolute must on a nice day
Click to expand...

I’m completely with you there about walking the zoo. I take the car in as it’s part of my Membership but usually park up straight away and walk everywhere until the very end when I have to drive around the zoo to get out.

Whipsnade to me is just so much more than the animals and walking gives you the chance to experience it fully. The train is a great option to see part of Passage Through Asia without the car, along with many other animals, and is a great Whipsnade experience. For your first visit, I’d say just walk.

Just don’t forget to pick up a map, or buy a guide book with one in, to help you fully explore and find your way around. A everyone has mentioned - it’s a big place. The largest UK zoo.
 
Olek said:
s:2 question
1. Can you pay to take your car in the zoo at the entrance or does it have to be online?
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From recent experience I think you can only pay for the car at the entrance, not with an online booking.

Car is free for Disabled Blue Badge holders too. Very kind of them I thought... I'm aware this won't help most people though.
 
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polarbear said:
I’m completely with you there about walking the zoo. I take the car in as it’s part of my Membership but usually park up straight away and walk everywhere until the very end when I have to drive around the zoo to get out.

Whipsnade to me is just so much more than the animals and walking gives you the chance to experience it fully. The train is a great option to see part of Passage Through Asia without the car, along with many other animals, and is a great Whipsnade experience. For your first visit, I’d say just walk.

Just don’t forget to pick up a map, or buy a guide book with one in, to help you fully explore and find your way around. A everyone has mentioned - it’s a big place. The largest UK zoo.
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I bought a guidebook online :cool:
 
polarbear said:
I’m completely with you there about walking the zoo. I take the car in as it’s part of my Membership but usually park up straight away and walk everywhere until the very end when I have to drive around the zoo to get out.

Whipsnade to me is just so much more than the animals and walking gives you the chance to experience it fully. The train is a great option to see part of Passage Through Asia without the car, along with many other animals, and is a great Whipsnade experience. For your first visit, I’d say just walk.

Just don’t forget to pick up a map, or buy a guide book with one in, to help you fully explore and find your way around. A everyone has mentioned - it’s a big place. The largest UK zoo.
Click to expand...

I agree it's a lovely walk around and the views across the top of the zoo from penguins all the way along the end of the rhino enclosure are lovely as mentioned. I also have a car pass, but I tend to leave the car somewhere different each time and circuit around it. It is handier in bad weather. And you can get out at the Whipsnade mound half way through a Passage through Asia.

I'd definitely echo the recommendation to take the train even if a car has been taken in on a first trip, it's a great way to appreciate the size and scale of the place.
 
polarbear said:
I’m completely with you there about walking the zoo. I take the car in as it’s part of my Membership but usually park up straight away and walk everywhere until the very end when I have to drive around the zoo to get out.

Whipsnade to me is just so much more than the animals and walking gives you the chance to experience it fully. The train is a great option to see part of Passage Through Asia without the car, along with many other animals, and is a great Whipsnade experience. For your first visit, I’d say just walk.

Just don’t forget to pick up a map, or buy a guide book with one in, to help you fully explore and find your way around. A everyone has mentioned - it’s a big place. The largest UK zoo.
Click to expand...
I tend to do the same, only that I use the car for one or two repeat laps at the end, because it is all but impossible to see the entire zoo more than once without a car from experience.

I would also like to say that Passage through Asia is a lot better than the deer-centric species list will make it sound, as some of the deers are kept in enormous herds that can be quite magnificent on the lakes and rolling hills. The huge Pere David's stags are always the highlights and don't ever seem afraid to approach cars from experience. The Przewalski's Horse foals are also a real treat, which can be appreciated without a car but are better enjoyed with one.

I will also say that 'Mount Whipsnade,' the hill between the two enclosures in Passage, is not only an excellent place for a picnic, but tends to offer some of the best views of the horses and camels who often congregate quite close to it, as well as the water deer and mara who are free-ranging but, by choice, linger here the most. Unfortunately, it is only accessible by car.
Olek said:
the main animals i wanna see are the gaur and wolverine cuz ive never seen them, also hippos bcuz yes
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In my ten visits to Whipsnade, I have only failed to see the wolverines and gaur once and that was on my first visit when I somehow missed their enclosure entirely, so you shouldn't have a problem there. The hippos do have a large offshow stable which they enjoy spending time in, but they are most often seen sunbathing at the top of their sloping enclosure. I will suggest that, even if they are at the top of the enclosure, taking the time to go down to the lower viewing area is a must, as it is teeming with wild dragonflies and wagtails, with hippos on one side and oryx on the other.
 
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