| Product: |
Edinburgh Zoo |
| Date: |
17/08/08 (53 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Lots to see and do, with chances to get up close with the animals
Disadvantages: Lots of walking - wear comfortable shoes!
If you're looking for something to do in Edinburgh then a trip to the zoo is a must for locals and visitor alike.
Housing over 1000 animals Edinburgh Zoo is the largest animal attraction in Scotland.
The zoo is open every day of the year (yes, even Christmas day!) The opening times vary depending on the season but in 2008 the opening time is 9am and the earliest closing time is 4:30pm but I would advise you to check opening times before you go. Also some enclosures/attractions can close up to 30 mins before the closing time for the zoo so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to see everything!
There are many different attractions at the zoo. These include:
Rainbow Landings allows you to go inside the enclosure of the rainbow lorikeet birds. We bought a small tub of feed and while we were in there the birds landed on our arms to eat! Got some fantastic photos!
Bundongo Trail allows you to see up to 40 chimpanzees in an environment made to imitate their natural habitat.
Close Encounters where you get the chance to hold certain creatures takes place at various times throughout the afternoon with additional morning sessions at the weekends.
Hilltop Safari runs every day apart from Christmas day. This allows visitors to have a guided tour of the zoo in a safari vehicle. Since this means you are driven up the hill (which is quite a trek and can be quite steep in places!) this is great for people with mobility difficulties and families with small children who might get tired out quickly by the walk. The safari runs at various times throughout the day.
There are various other events and talks on throughout the day so please check the details so you don't miss anything. Although be sure to catch the penguin parade (currently on at 2:15pm) it's one of my favourites and definitely one not to be missed!!
Edinburgh Zoo is actually a charity and the entry fee includes a donation in the price (although this is optional). If you do give a donation, be sure to fill out the form so they can claim gift aid to make your donation go even further!
The best way to get there from the city centre is probably by bus. The best and cheapest buses are numbers 12, 26, 31 and X48 which all stop at the zoo.
Parking is also available (currently priced £3.50) if you choose to go by car.
Although some people find the entry price quite expensive (currently £11.50 for adults, £7 for kids - cheaper family tickets available) I think that it's definitely worth the money. There are so many different things to see and do that you could spend the entire day there and not get bored!
The only downside is that there is a lot of uphill walking required and that on cold days some animals are likely to stay in their enclosures. But despite this the zoo is fantastic and I would highly recommend it!
Summary: A great day out for the entire family
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