Best zoos/collections to see in Winter

Best zoos/collections to see in Winter
22-11-2008

Hi everyone,

Just wondering which zoos/animal collections people recommend for Winter visits. In particular I'm thinking indoor exhibits/tropical houses. I'm also keen to know about smaller collections, on the lines of butterfly houses, Stapeley, Leeds Tropical World.
Thanks
Susan

22-11-2008

Both Stapely and Tropical World Leeds are worth a visit will probaly take you a couple hours to go round Stapely TW a bit longer but not much.

23-11-2008

The Living Rainforest in Berkshire is totally a warm tropical house, and a cute little place for those afternoon visits.

23-11-2008

The main zoo's that spring to mind are Münster's AllWetterZoo (all-weather-zoo) but i've never been there...

The other is off-course Burgers' Zoo, with the Bush, Desert and Ocean a great zoo to visit in the winter. When you go around the 21st of December you can stay in the Bush untill it's dark, very atmospheric

23-11-2008

I suggest Berlin Zoo and Frankfurt Zoo for winter visits, both zoos have great collections and a lot of public animal houses.

23-11-2008

i think visiting a safari park dyring the winters a really good idea, my family and myself went to west midlands not long back and had a great time, none of the usually huge long ques to see the tigers and the lions, i could psend as long as i wanted in the exhibit i wanted. it was alot quieter and the car keeps you warm

23-11-2008

I wnet to Stapely about 2 weeks ago. There is a small reduction in the admission price because of all the building work which is taking place at the moment. Some areas were closed. The good thing is that it is all under cover and warm. The cotton-topped tamarins were very active, and also a skunk.

I did not see the small mammals I wanted to look at, they were all hiding away. There is a sign on the tenrec enclosure prohibiting the use of cameras with flash. Other than that, there seem to be no restructions.

The Burmese Python was stretching up towards the top of the vivarium. It was very impressive.

A keeper told me they have bred a lot of whip scorpions recently.

I stayed for about one hour, I had non zoo enthusiats with me.

23-11-2008

I think Whipsnade is excellent for a winter visit. It may sound mad, but waterfowl, deer, bison and Przewalski horses look their best in winter. The bears, Siberian tigers, penguins and sea lions are fine too. They all tend to be a bit more active in cold weather.
Of course if you're on foot, you have to keep moving to keep warm, but that's no bad thing. On the other hand, if you're as old and fat as I am, you can stay in your nice warm car most of the time The discovery centre (or whatever they call it) is also warm, and close to the restaurant too. What could be better?

Alan

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23-11-2008

I love going to Monkey World in winter - unless it's really cold all the primates are still outside, and it's a lot quieter, so you can spend as long as you want with each group.

23-11-2008

I'd rate Whipsnade strongly both winter and summer. I agree several species you mention above look better in the winter. The less hardy species are more likely to be indoors but nearly everything at Whipsnade nowadays has indoor viewing in nice heated houses (think Indian rhino,white rhino, antelope, elephant, giraffe etc) so you can see them close to.

Incidentally, I would love to see the Indian rhinos submerged in the heated bathing pools/moat in their new House. Has anybody seen/taken photos of that?

24-11-2008

I love any zoo in the winter, nothing better than wrapping up and seeing the animals, especially if there is snow! Also only the keen visitors attend so much emptier and there is always a lovely hot chocolate in a cofee shop to warm you up!

We usually go to the drive thro zoos in the winter mainly due to the fact it is less busier, the animals are more active, your not boiling with all the windows closed and that they do reduced rates.

Woburn winter rates is very good value and whipsnade it is free to take the car in (saving £14! check website first their winter season difers from Woburn) hotels are also cheaper (obviously not including christmas) so you can make it a weekend of zooing!

24-11-2008

the zoo at chessinton is open this year every day except christmas, they have had zoo only periods lately but this is the first time its been open all winter for many moons, and there is the sealife centre if its cold and wet

Opening Times for Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo