On Saturday we had our first family day trip of 2015......
We have visited Paradise Wildlife Park many times before, it's a family favourite. There is a good variety of animals and lots to keep the kids entertained for the whole day.
Going out-of-season, as we did, is brilliant. The whole park is virtually empty (and tickets are cheaper than in summer).
The Animals
There is a great mixture of over 400 animals, small and large. Our particular favourites are the zebras, penguins, meerkats & red pandas.
There is also a lovely little farm area. Where you can get up close to the animals, with chickens wandering around. There is also 'feed' available to buy for £1 for the goats, sheep and pigs.
Our favourite part of the day
Despite visiting the zoo so many times before, this time was our first go at feeding the Lorikeets. This was the most amazing experience for all of us. I really can't recommend it enough. It is a wonderful adventure to share with your family. The Tweedles were all so happy and excited going into the enclosure. It only costs £1 to purchase the little pot of nectar. There are two opportunities to do this each day at 11.30am & 3pm. The Lorikeets were absolutely beautiful and so friendly. They land on you, any where they can. Mainly your arms and head. My Princess (9) is slightly squeamish luckily she had a hat on so was un-phased by them being on her head. (I would definitely recommend taking a hat for your children as they do lick your hair, but don't worry they don't bite) The keeper is also with you throughout the whole experience, so if you feel uncomfortable, you just ask her to remove the Lorikeet from you. I am a little bit weary of birds flying around me, but I loved it. It was so calm & the birds were so gentle on us. It is also a great photo opportunity, I have some wonderful snaps of the Lorikeets on all the Tweedles heads. Definitely try this if you visit.
Shows & attractions
There are various shows running throughout the day. These take place undercover in the Jungle Theatre. They are educational and fun. My kids like them so much that even though they have seen some of them before, they always ask to see them again. There is also a wonderful Birds of Paradise Show in the arena, this is great, you see the birds fairly close up & in flight. There are also various meet the keepers & feeding times. Mine particularly like to see the feeding of the big cats, which Paradise has lots of, Lions, Tigers, Leopards, White Tigers & Snow Leopards. Feeding of the Red Pandas is also good to watch, as they are often quite hard to spot at other times.
Other things to do
Paradise Wildlife Park is so much more than a zoo. There is loads more to keep the children entertained. Some of our favourites are-
There is the most wonderful play area with a pirate ship, tree house, 'big shoe' and even a wooden obstacle course. My daughters are a big fan of the bouncy castle and helter-skelter. There are loads of hidden areas too, on the way to the Birds of Paradise area, there are some wonderful little playhouses, a full sized fire engine and a old fashioned beautiful Romani Wagon. There is also a lovely area with a large sandpit, giant Lego construction area & loads of ride on toys. There is a great tractor tour around the park. My youngest two love going on that. There is also a full size train to play on and pretend to drive. In the summer time there is a lovely outdoor paddling pool (so bring a towel & swimming things if its sunny). For those interested in Speedway there is a museum, it is small, but good to pop into as a little extra thing to do. At the end of the day we usually go into the indoor soft play area. The kids use up what is left of their energy whilst I have a relaxing hot chocolate. All of these fun things are included in the entry price! Its amazing how much there is to do.
Things you need to know before visiting....
Tickets
Children under two are free.
You can change your Tesco Clubcard vouchers for 'days out' vouchers, this is what I usually do, great for a free day out (anyone without a clubcard, find out about it HERE)
Going out-of-season saves a fortune if buying your tickets online, so if you aren't using clubcard vouchers I would definitely go online (HERE), its a waste to pay full price on the gate.
Getting there
If you are using public transport, there is a minibus service from Broxbourne train station. Simply ask in the ticket office of the station. There is a small charge of £1 per person.
If you are driving it is a few minutes from Junction 25 of the M25, there is plenty of parking spaces.
Eating
There are a variety of kiosks around the park selling ice creams, hotdogs, drinks, etc. We usually take a picnic in summer as there are lots of picnic tables and areas to eat. In winter we usually go into the Safari Sam's Diner, a children's meal is about £5 and there are options of pizza, chicken nuggets & spaghetti bolognaise, served with chips & a Capri Sun. Its more expensive than I would usually pay for a meal out, hence the fact of usually taking a picnic. The service is good though & the place is very clean & tidy.
Access
The whole zoo is pretty easy to get around with a pushchair or wheelchair. There is even a special play area suitable for children with disabilities. Some of the big cats have viewing areas which are accessible by stairs, however all these enclosures are also easily viewed at ground level.
Facilities
You are never far from a toilet whilst at the zoo, which is particularly helpful when you are with a toddler. I have always found the toilets extremely clean.
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