Great day out (Edinburgh Zoo)

Name: debzt112

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Product:	Edinburgh Zoo
Date:	31/07/08 (59 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Plenty of exhibits, information and fun for all

Disadvantages: On a Hill

Edinburgh zoo is one of my all time favourite attractions albeit a little out of the way (their website gives a list of buses and if you ask nicely the bus driver will give you a shout when you get there!). After moving to Scotland two and a half years ago I have probably been to the zoo ten times and will be going again (TOMORROW)! After the first visit my partner got the ultimate penguin gift and adopted me a King penguin! As a part of this gift we get regular tickets to adopter events which are usually evening trips to the zoo with keeper talks and on occasion the chance to meet some of the animals-how many people do you know that can say they have petted an armadillo who's name is Dillon!

On any day of the week the zoo is a fantastic place to visit with animals from all over the world. The zoo has improved so much since we first visited, new attractions include a big chimpanzee house called the Budongo trail which has plenty of space and different rooms with lots of things to do for both young and old and lots of conservation information. The Budongo trail even has a lecture theatre for talks and films.
Other interactive exhibits include the area called Living Links which houses small monkeys and lemurs- in this exhibit you have the opportunity to walk through an outside part of the animals enclosure and get really up-close and personal with some of the animals well if they decide to come out that is, other up-close and personal encounters include the Rainbow Landings- basically a warm room with birds of varying descriptions flying around- you can even buy pots of nectar to feed them with. In this enclosure there is also a pen where Dillon the aardvark lives, rumour has it he even has a girlfriend now.
The main attraction for me is of course the penguins (it's the walk that does it) and the zoo do daily penguin parades which is a real treat and proves very popular- the keepers open the gaits to the penguin enclosure and a few come out if they want to and go for a wander along a marked path that is usually lined with visitors- so get there early to get a good spot.
Every exhibit be it the koala bears or the hippos have something for everyone and keepers are always around, do talks and are very happy to answer any questions.
Every time we go we discover something new or that we had missed the time before, and the zoo is constantly trying to improve and increase its number of exhibits. If you are a first time visitor I would recommend getting the shuttle to the top of the hill and making your way from there. There are various places to get food and drink including a large cafeteria however as with many attractions they can be expensive. Entrance to the zoo can be expensive too however they do do a family ticket which reduces the price. Novelties and souvenirs are available in a couple of places but they are not as with some attractions everywhere and can be avoided if you so wish. Toilets are dotted around and even if you dont pick up a map on your way in signposts are at almost every corner.

Summary: On any day of the week the zoo is a fantastic place to visit