| Product: |
Edinburgh Zoo |
| Date: |
02/08/07 (320 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Great Animals
Disadvantages: Expensive shops
Have you ever looked a Jaguar in the eyes? Heard the thundering roar of a lion? Or been arms length away from a mighty Polar Bear? Edinburgh Zoo gives you the chance to do all that and more.
Opened in 1913, Edinburgh zoo is one of Europe’s leading zoos in conservation and their mission is: ‘To inspire and excite our visitors with the wonder of living animals...’ And that is just what they do. There is a wide array of animals from the cute and cuddly to the mighty and majestic; there is no shortage of amazing animals in Edinburgh Zoo. There is the traditional favourites (Tiger, Lion, Polar Bear, Rhino, Koala, Chimps Penguins etc.) and the lesser known ones (Pallas Cat, Painted Hunting Dog, Ratel, Sea Eagle, Tapir, Asiatic golden cat etc.).
I would try and say some of my favourites but I love most of them. However I’m going to name some you must see. Firstly are the Chimpanzees, although they appear they’re just lazing around, chimps have been known for there irrational mood swings and can turn into a frenzy of screaming, lively chimps, but then it will all quickly settle back down. Next are the monkeys, otters and penguins, unlike a lot of the animals who may not appear no matter how long you wait, the playful otters and comical penguins have not failed so far to appear and amuse me with their antics. Finally are the big cats and dogs, although some may not appear at first, and some you may not see at all, do not lose hope. They are only a short distance between each of them (except the hunting dogs), if you are patient it will not be long before you get a close up view of some of them, for example today a black jaguar came up to the glass and looked me dead in the eyes, and remained patrolling the viewing glass for some time after that. Of course there are a lot more animals you have to see, they are the main three that have not failed to appear and let me leave the zoo happy. Plus a lot of the animals I haven’t mentioned that people always want to see, i.e. polar bear, koala etc. they can sleep for the majority of the day.
I love the animals at the zoo, however when you go in the holidays you run the risk of going to what seems to be more like a children’s play area. Although I am not against children going, because that would be slightly hypocritical as I went with my 6 year old sister, but many of the children grew easily bored of the animals asleep so resorted to either shouting at the animals and banging on the glass. Edinburgh Zoo is built on a steep bank, and I see a lot of parents struggling with pushchairs and a number of bags, especially in the summer heat. I also recommend you bring your own meals or other necessities from outside the zoo, although there are many shops and kiosks throughout the zoo, it is all very expensive. For example a small bottle of water is £1.30, but you can get the same drink in any other shop for less than half the price. Also even if you have forgot to bring a camera for example, the zoo is only a short walk from shops thats will cater for all your needs and could save you a lot of money.
Although I have not made it to the zoo early, so I cannot comment on it, but I have noticed that many of the animals seem to become a lot more lively within the last our of closing, plus it is a lot quieter due to most of the children leaving, and you don’t have a people rushing around the viewing window trying to get a good picture. I suggest you do go to the zoo early, so you have enough time to see all the animals and some events, especially the penguin parade, it’s a must see, but I recommend you try and stay as late as possible when a lot of animals are being fed or simply just more lively.
Day to Day Events
Every day talks and demonstrations are given to help people learn and get close to some of the most exotic animals on the face of the earth. These events change through time however the most famous of them has remained there years, the penguin parade. For those who has not heard of the penguin parade, the gates of the penguin enclosure are opened and some penguins, who voluntarily, follow the keepers out and around a small circuit past all the visitors and back into their enclosures. Too get a good spot I recommend that you try and go their a couple minutes early and do not expect they will get around the circuit fast, they are especially slow and prefer to take their time, and sometimes no penguins come out of their enclosure.
However that is not the only chance you have to get close to animals, after visiting the zoo today I found a small lemur enclosure which you can walk through and see the lemurs walk and climb around you, however the lemurs did not want to show themselves when I walked through. Although I have not been to them personally there are two other demonstrations that are popular among other visitors, ‘Close Encounters’ gives you the chance to handle small animals and ‘Animal Antics’, which consists of various shows at the hilltop area.
Membership
I suggest you visit the zoo first before becoming a member of the zoo, and if you can see yourself returning to the zoo a few more times I recommend you become a member. I am personally a member and when I visit the zoo with another person who is not a member we save £15, on parking, members guest reductions and my free admission, and the membership itself only cost me £21 for a year.
Although I have not participated in a lot of the opportunities available you may also get discounts or free entry to special events, you can have lunch and even weddings within the mansion house and you have free entry to a number of zoos across Europe: Artis Zoo, Belfast Zoo, Bristol Zoo, Chester Zoo, Copenhagen Zoo, Dublin Zoo, Forta Animal Park, Marwell Zoological gardens, Paignton Zoo, Rotterdam Zoo, Twycross Zoo and Woburn Safari Park.
Single Adult Membership £48.00
Joint Adult Membership £72.00
Wild Thing (3-17 years) £21.00
Concession £27.00
Opening Times:
Open every day of the Year.
April-September 9:00-18:00
October and March 9:00-17:00
November-February 9:00-16:30
Admission Prices:
Adult £10.50
Child 3-14 years £7.50
Child Under 3 FREE
Concession £8.00
Family Tickets:
2 Adults + 2 Children £34.00
2 Adults + 3 Children £38.00
Discount Party (10 or more paying visitors):
Adults £8.40
Child 3-14 £6.00
Child Under 3 FREE
Concession £6.40
Member’s Guests:
Adults £8.00
Child £6.00
Parking:
Car Park £2.50
Members FREE
Coaches £20.00
However a percentage of these fares go towards building a new and larger enclosure for the chimpanzees.
Contact Information:
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh
EH12 6TS
Tel. 0131 334 9171
Fax. 0131 314 0384
Email. info@rzss.org.uk
Getting There
We have tried various ways to find our way around Edinburgh so we don’t have to go through the busy City Centre; however we have found it all very confusing because we do not know the area well. If you visit the website- www.edinburghzoo.org.uk or http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main, so you can find directions to get there by car. However you can also get the train to either Edinburgh Waverly or Edinburgh Haymarket stations and then a short bus journey will take you strait there, however prices can be expensive.
Summary: A British Zoo
|
|
