| Product: |
Colchester Zoo |
| Date: |
13/01/06 (1645 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Animals and visitors are well catered for.
Disadvantages: Hilly location is a problem for some.
I first went to Colchester Zoo about 30 years ago and hated it. About 15 years ago I went for a second time due to pressure from the young daughter I then had. By then it had changed owners and improved modesty for the animals and visitors. The improvements continued, and I now think it is a good place for animals and humans alike.
I know some people dislike all zoos, but keeping some animals in captivity is the only way of keeping some species safe from extinction. Colchester, like other responsible zoos, does a lot of conservation work by helping keep rare species safe and educating its visitors about the need for this work. They belong to the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme which co-ordinates the breeding of endangered species in European zoos.
Facilities for animals and visitors are obviously both important to those running the zoo, and plans for more improvements seem to be regularly updated.
** The Zones **
The Zoo is divided into Zones, which try to keep animals from the same region of the world together and help visitors navigate. The Zones are The Beginning Zone (includes the Wilds of Asia and Desert Life), The Aquatic Zone (includes Penguin Shores and Sealion Pool, both of which allow visitors to view from above and below the water level), The Valley Zone (includes South American World, Out of Africa and Tiger Valley), Lakelands (includes the seal pool, falconry centre, and lakes containing a wide variety of water birds), The Kids Zone (includes farm animals which you can feed), The Africa Zone (includes The Kingdom of the Wild, where as many of the animals from this region that can live together happily, have a large outdoor area to mix in), also scale The Heights to see The World of Wings (where many large birds are kept) and at the top of the hill you will find Chimp World at which point you are near to the entrance again.
The zoo is on hilly land. There is an "easier route" to follow, but the only flat part is the Beginning Zone.
** My Family's Favourites **
The variety of animals at the zoo is wide. For the general welfare of the animals, including breeding, not all of the animals are always on display to the public, but most are, most of the time. To tell you about this zoo in detail would take a whole book, rather than a review, so I will just tell you about my family's favourites.
My hubby likes the AFRICAN ELEPHANTS best. The zoo have done well with breeding these. Jambo is the Zoo's smallest jumbo sized celebrity. Born on 15 March 2004, baby Jamb was named after a Swahili greeting. He was born naturally and was soon feeding from mum Rosa.
He is the half brother of Kito who is just over a year older. Their dad Tembo also lives at the zoo. The other females and Kito accepted Jambo into their herd and he can mix freely with them, while mum Rosa keeps a close eye on him.
My daughter's favourites are the CHAMPANZEES, in The Heights Zone. Although this species is endangered in the wild, they have breed well in many zoos, including Colchester, so the last time I asked a chimp keeper about any breeding plans, he said that they had enough in captivity, for the time being. The youngest chimp they have was born here in December 2004.
Colchester's chimps entertain the visitors in either their outdoor, indoor or bedtime enclosure depending on the time of day and the weather. They have ropes and toys to play with, and they forage for food that the keepers hide. The main Chimps Feeding Time is late afternoon in their night time quarters. This is a good way of getting them to go into their bedrooms.
My favourite in Big Fella the EAGLE OWL who I have known for many years before the zoo had the African elephants. He has been at the zoo since being retired as a hunting owl by a local farmer. He is as tame as an Eagle Owl can get, although due to every body and every animal/bird having "bad" days, he should obviously be treated with respect, as he has a razor sharp beak, and strong sharp talons.
He lives at the Falcony Centre, in the Lakelands zone, and sometimes appears in displays. I have watched him appear uninterested in food, because the keepers want him to fly for it. He knows they love him and will feed him anyway. When I have seen him fly reasonably well in displays it has been in the cooler times of the year. He does very little when it is hot.
What he has always enjoyed doing, when I have seen him, is having a fuss made out of him. He has sat on his keeper's gloved hand, while they walk him round the zoo to see the people, instead of him sitting on a perch waiting for the people to visit him.
When visiting one cold winter's day, while it seemed the only visitors there were my family, I went to see Big Fella. Hubby took our then young daughter to play in the adventure playground, while I went to see the eagle owl I had visited so regularly that we were on first name terms.
"Hello, Big Fella!" I said. Big Fella squawked a greeting back. Then I saw a young man walking hastily out of the bird of prey centre blushing. I looked at Big Fella's label. All it said was Eagle Owl. It didn't mention his name. With hindsight, I'm sure the other visitor thought I was trying to chat him up.
Last time I went to the zoo Big Fella was the only Eagle Owl I saw at the Falconry Centre. They have tried to breed from him, but he didn't like the female eagle owl they found.
** Facilities **
The best of the food outlets and toilets are to be found in the Beginning Zone. The Inn at the Zoo is a licensed self-service restaurant, and is a good place refuel and warm up on a winter's visit. The menu varies here, but usually has food to suit most families' tastes. This is the only food outlet that is usually open when they are expecting few visitors. For a more economical warm meal try The Southern Fried Chicken outlet. We have had a "meal deal" here for about £4. There is seating inside and out at both locations. At peak times, food and toilet facilities can be found open throughout the zoo.
There are DISABLED persons toilet facilities in each block and the food outlets have been made easily accessible. Get a copy of the Easier Route at the Visitor Reception. Manuel wheelchairs and electric scooters are available for hire, but book in advance to be sure of getting one. Some disabled people I know say that all but the Beginning Zone is too hilly for them, while others have enjoyed a day out here with a strong helper. Call customer Services for assistance on 01206 331292 ext 227 or 237.
Readmission is allowed, so you can go back to your car to collect a picnic, if you don't want to carry it round the zoo with you. Tell the staff before you leave the zoo that you would like to be readmitted. (Sometimes they have wanted to stamp our hands.)
There are many playgrounds for children to let off steam, while parents have a sit down. Children big and small like the interactive displays, which help them learn about the animals they can see, and the Tanganyika Road Train will take you for a ride about the Lakes with a commentary.
** How to Get There **
By Road turn off the A12 just south of Colchester town centre, and take the A1124. There are brown zoo signs with a white elephant on from this junction and a large free car park at the zoo.
There is a bus service from Colchester town centre which the zoo website says runs hourly.
If you don't drive try your local coach tour operator who does day trips. If you live in the south east of England and they don't already go to Colchester Zoo you could suggest it to them.
** Best Times to Go **
If you are hardy, and dressed in warm clothes, I think the winter months are the best time to go. The animals need looking after every day of the year, so the keepers have to be there, and you get to see a lot more animals if you don't have to look between the crowds that are there at more popular times.
I have been here on a warm bank holiday once, but never again. The zoo was so packed the keepers couldn't be at the places they were supposed to be anywhere near the time advertised, and all facilities were overloaded, despite them having extra staff in and putting them on overtime at the end of the day, to allow them to look after the animals and visitors properly. Don't expect the zoo to stay open later than advertised but it has done on days like this. I still don't recommend going when the weather is good on Bank Holiday Mondays, or any Sunday. With Sunday being the day most families can go out together and it being a very family orientated attraction, it is bound to be busier then. Saturdays are usually better.
As the Beginning Zone is often the busiest part of the zoo, you may want to leave looking at this part until the end of your day, when it is likely to be quieter.
Mid week, especially during term time, is obviously even more comfortable. Do note that mid week you will get local families, who have season tickets, come to give the children a short outing. A lot of mums with pre-school children will leave in time to pick up school age brothers or sisters, and the next batch leave in time to prepare a family meal in time for dad to come home from work.
** Prices & Opening Times**
The zoo is open every day of the year, except Christmas Day. It opens at 9.30 am. Closing time depends on season.
On the door prices are:
Adults - £12.99
Child - £6.99 (3-14 yrs, children must be accompanied at all times)
Senior Citizen - £8.99 (Over 60s)
Disabled - £4.99
Carer - £4.99 (one carer admitted per disabled person)
Under 3's Free
A discount is available by booking on-line and printing out your own numbered ticket, which they will email to you, once the on-line payment has been authorised. As well a discount, I have found that getting a ticket this way can save a lot of queuing time at the entrance on busy days, as prepaid ticket holder are often fast tracked through a different gate. To buy on line go to http://www.colchester-zoo.com/index.cfm?fa=info.ti ckets
** Plan Your Day **
It is impossible to enjoy everything the zoo has to offer in one day. I would advise you to visit their web site before the day of your visit to try to prioritise what will most interest you, including display and feeding times. There are currently twenty-one different timed activities featuring on the web-site at http://www.colchester-zoo.com/index.cfm?fa=info.fe eding
Contact the zoo before going if you are organising a group outing, and they will help you get the best from your day. Children's birthday outings and school visits are regularly catered for. A more rare kind of group visit was organised for the Chartered Institute of Taxation. I was there when they celebrated their anniversary by sponsoring the Falconry Centre, which is where the food and drinks were laid on for them. I wasn't directly involved, but it would have been hard not to notice an unusually large number of "suits" at the zoo. Hubby and me were welcome to watch their special bird display, though.
I hope you enjoy the zoo as much as my family has.
More information can be found at http://www.colchester-zoo.com/index.cfm.
Summary: A great day out if you like seeing and learning about animals.
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