Family day out: Amazon World Zoo Park, Isle of Wight
A bird flitted overhead in the lush green plants, two scarlet macaws squawked in the background and not far away, monkeys roamed. Well, roamed their enclosures at least. But for a taste of the Amazon (without the 90% humidity of my visit to Brazil), our day at Amazon World Zoo Park on the Isle of Wight was definitely a good start.
review visit*
With around 200 different species, many endangered and some which can’t be seen anywhere else in Europe, the emphasis at this zoo is on conservation as well as being able to spot some wonderful animals.
The rainforest theme starts as soon as you arrive at the entrance, with Amazonian carvings over the doors and dotted around the grounds.
Then you’re directed around different animal areas, some inside (great on an intermittently rainy day like our visit), some outside and a few further-flung options beyond the picnic area.
Within them, there’s a chance to see everything from tiny brightly coloured frogs and insects through a variety of birds, meerkats and monkeys of all sizes, penguins, lemurs, red pandas, armadillos in a special nocturnal habitat, inquisitive terrapins, a toucan, ring-tailed coati – the list is impressively long.
One of my favourite aspects is the way it’s more of a living environment than a succession of enclosures.
Wander through the lemurs’ home and they could well decide to hop onto your head if they’re in the mood – seeing the size of the red-ruffed lemurs (chilli and pepper), despite my love of lemurs I’m quite glad they were more intent on kicking back.
Walk through the rainforest and there’ll be birds wandering along at the same time to Minnie’s mild astonishment. The ocelot and crocodiles are obviously not so free range…
This variety of habitats also means that whatever the weather, there’ll be something to entertain – those sunbathing lemurs, red pandas which actively enjoy the cooler spells, inquisitive terrapins and monkeys looking right back, including our second meeting with some curious cotton topped tamarins on the Isle of Wight.
It’s no accident either. Plenty of thought has gone into the layout and there are plans to keep expanding and updating – the penguins are off to a new home at the zoo as soon as their chicks are old enough, another area is currently being constructed and the new armadillo section is a great way to see creatures who’d otherwise be tucked away in their burrows.
Time your visit right and there’s also the chance to meet the animals or see feeding sessions, although frankly there’s plenty to do even if you manage to walk past the meerkats’ breakfast by accident, as we did.
It’s well set up for a day out with a toddler or younger kids too. There’s a cafe and toilets/baby changing inside the zoo itself as well as by the entrance – get a stamp if you want to pop out – plus a Jurassic-themed adventure playground by the car park.
Helpfully there’s a downloadable map online which is useful for advance planning – I hadn’t realised, and we managed to miss one or two things on our first trip round, until they were pointed out by one of the friendly and helpful staff.
Definitely one of my favourite stops on the island. Who can argue with a mini Amazon without the long-haul flight, after all?
Need to know: Amazon World, Isle of Wight
Amazon World opening hours are from 10am year-round apart from Christmas Day, so it’s great if you’re visiting out of season or for rainier days. It closes at 5.30pm with last entry at 4.30pm during British Summer Time.Â
Outside those months, from November to March, you’re advised to phone 01983 867122 to check last admission and closing times.
Amazon World, Isle of Wight prices – adult tickets cost £18.95, children aged three to 14 are £16.95, under three go free. There are also family tickets from £68.
You can use Tesco clubcard vouchers to pay for tickets in to the zoo, although not for family passes.
The zoo is not far from Shanklin and Sandown and there’s a free car park.
One word of warning if you’re trusting a satnav – it’s on Watery Lane, but try to avoid taking that until the last minute as it’s a narrow twisty bumpy lane until you cross the main road.
If you’re not driving, the No 8 bus will take you to the zoo, while from April to September, the Island Breezer Downs Tour also passes the entrance.
PIN FOR LATER: AMAZON WORLD, ISLE OF WIGHT
Disclosure: Entry to the zoo was courtesy of Isle of Wight Tourism and Amazon World Zoo Park. My trip to the Isle of Wight was courtesy of Wightlink Ferries. All opinions and minor lemur obsession remain my own.
Images copyright MummyTravels
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Ive visited this place with the family and have to say it is brilliant. A lovely day out for the kids and the adults! They let you into some of the enclosures to feed some of the animals, brilliant fun.
Lovely, isn’t it – especially being able to get close to some of the animals.
Ooh it looks fantastic, my son is learning about the rainforest at the moments and is so into it, so this is a great activity xx
Was really fun – especially the lemurs! Just really well done, I thought, definitely worth a look if you’re visiting.
Gosh, I’ve not been to the Isle of Wight since my own childhood – I was beyond obsessed with those little souvenirs you could get with all the coloured sand, haha.
This looks really good fun, I don’t even have kids of my own – I just think it looks brilliant!
#traveltales
I know, it’s such a lovely family place but actually I’d head back very happily without my daughter too! And not just for the lemurs 🙂
This looks like a wonderful place to visit (and without the air miles) – I love the variety of animals (especially chilli and pepper the charismatic lemurs!). It’s always handy being able to plan your route in advance too so fab that they have a downloadable map. Thanks for linking to #traveltales
My pleasure – and absolutely, I thought it was a clever theme for the zoo and they’ve obviously thought a lot about habitats for the animals. Plus – lemurs! 😀