A lovely family day out (Whipsnade Wild Animal Park)

Member Name: dee778

Product:	Whipsnade Wild Animal Park
Date:	03/07/09 (190 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Education, fun, countryside,

Disadvantages: A bit pricey, but worth it

I am not a great fan of zoos generally, but Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire has won me over and has become an important part of family life over the past few years.

Whipsnade is one of two Zoological Society of London zoos, the other one being London Zoo. ZSL is committed to conservation and research, and not only has the welfare of the animals genuinely at heart, but has contributed enormously to the world of scientific research through its' zoos.

~~The Animals~~
There are obviously far too many animals for me to talk about in this review, but I will mention some of the sights that we have loved over the years. All the animals look very well cared for, and are in very, very large enclosures. I have always been wary of zoos because fo welfare issues, but I have been convinced that Whipsnade really does have the welfare of its' animals at the centre of its policies. The knowledge that they have, and their dedication to conservation and research, makes it obvious that they would not abuse or harm the animals.

Sea Lions
One of the animal events that children and adults love is the Sea lion Show. There are usually three sea lions in this show, although occasionally one of the female sea lions will have her cub with her. Salt, Barclay and Liz provide a fun show three times a day, jumping though hoops, having races, and balancing things. Children learn where to stand so that they get the maximum splashes as Barclay jumps! We often use this show to sit down and eat our packed lunch - get there early to get a good seat, and you can sit in the sunshine while you wait, listening to soothing aquatic type music before shouting "Come on Barclay" in the race. (Hot tip - always shout for Barclay).

The Discovery Centre
On a cold day the Discovery Centre is a must! Kids usually love the weird, fusty smell, the huge spiders and scorpions, walking through the crocodile enclosure, filled with butterflies, looking at the leaf cutter ants marching along ropes, and the enormous python sleeping in the corner. There is too many exhibits to describe, and it is definitely one not to miss.

Elephants
The elephants are a lovely presence all around the zoo, often walking around with their keepers in a line, each one holding onto the tail of the elephant in front. There are often elephant calves to see, as well as the elephant talk, which demonstrates elephants moving logs and balancing.

Red Panda
A personal favourite here! All of the family love staring into a small enclosure with a very large tree in the middle. The very shy and very pretty red Panda lives in this enclosure - often hiding away in the tree. There have been many times that we have been watching the red panda, while other people come up, have a quick look and go away saying "empty enclosure". We feel that it is a special secret.

~~Education~~
The zoo keepers are all very knowledgeable, and as well as the displays, there are also information talks throughout the day. These talks are funny and interesting, and I have really learnt a lot over the years. Keepers are also more than willing to answer any questions as you pass through, and the signs around the zoo are really informative. There is a childrens' activity room in the Discovery Centre which has skulls, information, colouring activities and helpers.

~~The Park in General~~
Whipsnade is huge! Covering 600 acres, it contains 6,405 animals, many of which are endangered in the wild. You really have to spend the whole day there to see most of it, and it will be a day well spent. As you walk in, the first thing that you notice is the free-roaming animals - Muntjac Deer, Wallabies, Mara, and Indian Peafowl walk around amongst the visitors.

You can take the car in, but I recommend a visit on foot, finding your way down small tracks and main paths from the map make it more like an adventure. When you get tired, you can jump on the vintage bus that drives round and round the park. The kids love to sit on the top deck to get a good view of the animals, and the drivers usually provide an amusing and informative commentary as they drive. In the summer this bus is open topped.

The zoo is set in beautiful countryside, and you can see the beautiful Dunstable Downs stretching out on every side. There are plenty of picnic tables, but I always like to take a picnic rug in the summer and settle down somewhere with a great view, away from the crowds.

Facilities are excellent, with very clean toilets, two nice cafés, and many kiosks around the site.

~~Other attractions~~

Train
Apart from the thrill of riding the vintage bus, there is also a steam train that runs though an area called Passage through Asia, containing deer and other gentler Asian animals. The Great Whipsnade railway is good fun, but does cost extra. If you do not ride on the train, children still get a lot of fun by standing on the bridge as the train passes underneath them, and getting swallowed in the smoke!

Play Area
The childrens' play area is a huge hit with the kids, if a bit tedious for the adults. At least there are lots of benches so that parents can rest their aching feet for a while!

There are three covered tubular slides that seem to generate endless excitement, there are also various climbing frames, and rope climbing networks. I usually have to drag my children away, back to the main point of coming to the zoo - the animals!

There is an old fashioned merry-go-round that works in the summer. Again, you have to pay extra for this.

Farm
The Childrens' Farm aims to teach the children about domestic farm animals, but also has ostriches, camels and llamas. We have never spent much time here, but have found more exciting things to do with the day.

~~Cost~~
There are often discount voucher available, so it is a good idea to do a quick Google search before you to see if you can print one off.

I live very close to Whipsnade, and for several years I invested in an annual season ticket. This allowed me to take the car in for free during the winter months, and gave me free car parking outside the zoo during the summer. It was incredibly good value and we more than got our money back.

Entrance prices are: Adult £16.30, Child (3-15) £12.80, Under 3s free. Saver ticket (2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children £52.50

The car park is £4, or you can pay an extra £15 to take your car into the zoo.

I have some lovely memories of Whipsnade - it is like a day out in the countryside, with a bit of education and a lot of fun. Everything I have listed above is free, except for the train and the merry-go-round, so it is fairly good value. Make sure that you get there as early as possible so that you can get the most out of your day.

Summary: Make a day of it