Visit Colchester Zoo for a delightful family day out. Observe frolicking Patagonian Sea lions as you travel beneath them through an underwater tunnel. Board the Madagascar Road train to cross the lemur enclosure and catch one of the many daily feeding sessions and falconry exhibitions.
Opening its doors in 1963, the Colchester Zoo has long been a favourite of locals and is today considered one of the United Kingdom’s best zoos. With 24 hectares (60 acres) of space the zoo is able to host approximately 260 species of animals and most chose to spend a whole day at the zoo.
Begin your visit in the Kingdom of the Wild exhibit to see rhinos, giraffes and zebras walking freely across the plains. Arrive early in the day for a feeding of the giraffes, along with the elephants in the nearby Elephant Kingdom. See the rare Amur tigers in the Tiger Taiga enclosure along with other wild cats.
Follow the path through the zoo to reach the Walking Giants area, home to the four largest species of tortoise in the world. Continue on to reach the Playa Patagonia tunnel, which carries you beneath the sea lion pool for spectacular underwater views.
Stop by the Wilds of Asia exhibit to see the red pandas, hornbills and gibbons swinging between trees. Look out for the playful otters and the colourful koi. One of the zoos star attractions are the enormous Komodo dragons. Extremely rare in the wild, the huge reptiles are a sight to behold.
Be sure to check the daily schedule to organise your visit as there are some 40 shows each day. Along with the morning giraffe and elephant feedings you can also watch as the orangutans, penguins and tigers feed over lunchtime. There are plenty of options to feed yourself at the zoo, also.
Just 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the center of Colchester, the zoo can easily be reached by bus or car, with free parking available on site. The zoo is open daily and an admission fee contributes towards wildlife conservation.
