Zoo Status - Open
Colchester Zoo is the one of the most successful modern zoos in Britain. The zoo used to be prominently for big cats and primates but now it houses a wider range of animals, from big to small! The zoo is split into five zones.
The first of these zones is the Beginning Zone, which awaits visitors upon leaving the extravagant African themed entrance plaza. There are two exhibits in the Beginning Zone; South American World is a tropical environment featuring exhibits for sloths, mongooses & macaws before ending in a walk-through iguana enclosure. Also in this area is Orangutan Forest, a large exhibit for orangutans.
Next up is the Aquatic Zone. The main stars in this area are sealions and penguins, each with a specially built pool with underwater viewing! However, there are also meerkat, hyraxes, porcupines & spider monkeys in the Aquatic Zone.
Continuing on, you should find yourself in the Heights Zone, the Heights Zone have two Amur tigers and a large pack of grey wolves. Also in this area is a large aviary, which is home to vultures, a pair of Komodo dragons, a pack of African wild dogs and chimpanzees on their own purpose-built island.
Next is the smallest area, under the name of Kidz Zone. It is mainly home to smaller, more commonly domestic, animals for children to pet. These include pigs, goats and cattle. Also in this area is an enclosed mammal house, which is the home of rabbits, rats, mongoose and a nocturnal exhibit for pygmy gliders. At the end of the area, there is an exhibit, which is home to alpacas and camels. These animals are known to bite, so are not part of the petting zoo.
Next is the smallest area, but is known to most as the zoo’s picnic area. It is the Lakeside Zone, and is home to pelicans, seals and flamingos. This leads almost immediately into Valley Zone. This area is the most bizarre, as most of it is a walkway above the animal’s enclosures! This area is home to jackals, lemurs, anteaters, lions and white tigers.
The final area, which is also othought to be the most popular area, is the Edge Of Africa. It starts with a small trail of enclosures, which include hyenas, cheetahs, warthogs and drills. You then pass the African elephant and giraffe enclosures. The main section of the Edge Of Africa area is indoors, with indoor exhibits containing pygmy hippos, baboons, elephants, giraffe, zebra and black rhinos!
Rain or shine, Colchester Zoo guarantees a fantastic day out for all who visit!
