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Latest News
These are the latest news reports from Colchester Zoo; see the Colchester Zoo News Archive for all reports.
Death: 19 January 2010
Edmund the Giraffe has sadly died; he was found by his keepers to have passed away during the night. The cause of his death is yet to be determined. He was the oldest Giraffe at the zoo, having been born at Whipsnade Zoo in February 1999 and arrived at Colchester in February 2001.
Opening Times
Open every day except Christmas Day:
9:30am - 6:30pm Summer holidays
9:30am - 6:00pm Easter - September, except summer holidays
9:30am - 5:00pm October - March (or dusk if later)
Last admissions are one hour before closing.
Admission Prices
Peak Rates (1-18 April; 1-3, 29-31 May; 1-6 June; 1 July-31 Aug: 23-31 Oct): | |
Adults | £16.99 |
Child (3-14) | £9.99 |
(Under 3's: | Free) |
Senior (60+) | £12.99 |
Main Rates ( 13 Feb-22 Oct, except when Peak Rates apply): | |
Adults | £15.99 |
Child (3-14) | £9.50 |
(Under 3's: | Free) |
Senior (60+) | £11.99 |
Winter Rates (Until 12 Feb and from 1 Nov, except when Christmas Rates apply): | |
Adults | £13.99 |
Child (3-14) | £7.50 |
(Under 3's: | Free) |
Senior (60+) | £8.99 |
Christmas Rates: | |
2010 Dates and Prices TBD. | |
Disabled Rates (apply all year) | |
Adult | £8.99 |
Child | £6.99 |
Discounts available for online and group advanced bookings. | |
Note: prices do change, so visit the zoo's website for the latest information. | |
Official Website
(Opens in separate window)
Facilities
Car Park
Free. Car park closes 30 minutes max. after the zoo closes.
Eating
Cafe UmPhafa, Southern Fried Chicken, Playa Patagonia Coffee House, Rollover Hot Dogs, Kokopelli's Pizza Bar, Tiger Taiga Chip & Dip
For Kids
Baby changing facilities, Ladies' baby feeding areas, Meeting Point and Lost and Found.
Kids Jungle Safari Train
Kokopelli's Activity Centre (hands-on brass rubbing and other crafts)
Julie Ward Play Area
Ark Adventure Play Area
Kalahari Capers indoor soft play area
Pan for gold at `Gold Valley River'
Kilimanjaro Play Area
Note: some of these activities are subject to additional charges.
Special Needs
Manual wheelchairs hire, disabled toilets. The Zoo has got steep hills and therefore disabled visitors are advised to follow the `Easier Route'.
Other Facilities
Public telephones, First Aid Stations, Passes Out to enable you to re-enter the Zoo.
Attractions
Animal Collections
Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fish, Invertebrates
Note: The animal pictures on this page are merely representative of this type of attraction; they do not mean that the animals can be found at this specific attraction.
Star Animals
White Tiger, Giant Anteater, Komodo Dragons, Lions, Elephants, Chimps, Orang-utans, Sealions, Vultures, Giraffes, Hyenas, Aardvarks and many, many more.
Special Attractions
New for 2009: Orangutan Forest, with large undercover viewing area overlooking the outdoor climbing area, live camera link to the indoor area, and associated enclosures featuring a selection of Asian fish and reptiles.
New for 2009: Wallaby Walkabout.
White Tiger Valley, Lion Rock, Falconry Display, Seal Pool, Chimp World, KD Theatre including Bug Handling and Reptile Encounter, various displays and feeding times (see the Zoo's website for details)
Other Attractions
UmPhafa Road Train, Keeper for the day, Birthday Parties, Animal Adoptions, Acacia Shop (stocking a wide variety of high quality items from around the world including wooden tables and chairs, carvings and statues), Ark Shop.
Description
Colchester Zoo is situated in the grounds of Stanway Hall in a hilly woodland setting. The Zoo receives regular awards from the East of England Tourist Board and is committed to conservation both within the Zoo itself and with projects world wide. Although on a hilly site, the Zoo has designated an 'Easier Route' around its exhibits to allow less able visitors, such as those in wheelchairs or with buggies, avoid the steepest gradients.
The Zoo is divided into a series of themed `Zones'. The Beginning Zone features the Wilds of Asia, with Orang utans and Lar Gibbons, Parrot Rock with a variety of colourful and noisy birds, Desert Life with Sand Cats and a variety of reptiles, together with a number of other aviaries and other animals.
Stars of the Aquatic Zone are the Humboldt Penguins and Patagonian Sea Lions. Their enclosures also feature underwater viewing areas, including a tunnel under the Sea Lions' pool. Also in this zone is the Heart of the Amazon, with Squirrel Monkeys, Agoutis and South American fish and reptiles, and the Small Mammals house with Meerkats, Hyrax, Mongoose and Porcupines.
The Valley Zone features some of Colchester Zoo's best known animals. Lion Rock houses a pair of African Lions with several viewing points, White Tiger Valley contains the Zoo's Bengal White Tiger and Giant Anteater, and the Medellin Monkeys is home to a group of Spider Monkeys. Also in this zone is the Amur Leopard, Margays (Long Tailed Spotted Cat, similar to but smaller than the Ocelot), Dik Diks, and Lemur Islands.
At the heart of the Lakelands Zone are several lakes stocked with many birds, including flamingos. This zone also contains the Seal Pool and the regular falconry displays.
Highlights of the African Zone include the Spirit of Africa, which features the Zoo's seven Elephants (1 bull, 4 cows, and 2 babies), Kingdom of the Wild, which houses the Giraffes, White Rhino, Pygmy Hippo, Zebra and Ostrich, Cheetah Country, and Edge of Africa with Warthogs, Hyenas and the largest breeding group of Mandrills in the country. In this area you may get the chance to help feed the Elephants and Giraffes. Also in this area is a walkthrough aviary with vultures and spoonbills.
The Heights Zone features Tiger Taiga, with a pair of Amur Tigers, Call of the Wild, with Timber Wolves, and World of Wings, with a wide variety of birds from around the world. In this Zone you will also find Wilds of Asia, with Red Pandas, Pallas Cats, and Lion Tailed Macaques, Chimp World, with the Zoo's large group of Chimpanzees, and the new Dragons of Komodo.
Finally, the Kidz Zone contains the Familiar Friends area, where you can get close to, and even feed, a range of friendly farm animals, the KD Theatre, which hosts a series of animal shows and handling sessions throughout the day, the Activity Centre, and the Jungle Safari Train ride. Several of the other Zones also contain various types of play areas. Also spread around the Zoo are a variety of restaurants, cafes, refreshments kiosks, and picnic areas.
How To Get There:
By Car
Colchester Zoo is located just south of Colchester, on the B1022. Take the A1124 exit off the main A12, then follow the elephant signs:
Take the A1124 south towards Stanway. At the next roundabout, take the 3rd exit (approximately straight on) onto the unclassified Tollgate Road. Continue over next roundabout and along Tollgate Road for about 0.5 mile. Then turn left then right onto Warren Lane. Continue south on Warren Lane for just over 1 mile, to junction with B1022 Maldon Road. Turn left onto B1022, and Colchester Zoo will then be on the right after about 0.5 mile.
From London (M25 J28):
Follow the A12 north-east around Chelmsford and on towards Colchester. Leave the A12 at the A1124 junction, as described above.
From Southend-On-Sea:
Follow the A127 west towards Basildon, then turn right onto A130 and continue to Chelmsford. Turn right onto the A12, and continue to Colchester as described above.
From Cambridge:
Follow the M11 south to junction 8, Bishop's Stortford. Turn left onto A120 towards Colchester. Continue on A120 past Braintree, and merge with A12 from Chelmsford. Continue on A12 to next junction (A1124), then follow the signs to the Zoo as described above.
From Bury St. Edmunds:
Follow the A134 south to Sudbury. Continue onto the A131 through Sudbury and towards Braintree. At Halstead, turn left onto the A1124 towards Colchester. Continue on A1124 to and across the A12, then follow the signs to the Zoo, as described above.
From Norwich:
Follow the A140 south towards Ipswich. Turn left onto A14 and continue around Ipswich to junction with A12. Turn right onto A12 towards Colchester. Continue on A12 around Colchester to junction with A1124, then follow the signs to the Zoo, as described above.
From Lowestoft:
Follow the A12 south towards Ipswich and Felixstowe. Turn right onto A14 and follow it west around Ipswich then turn left back onto the A12. Continue on A12 to and around Colchester, to junction with A1124, then follow the signs to the Zoo, as described above.
From Harwich:
Follow the A120 towards and past Colchester. Turn left onto A12 and continue around Colchester to junction with A1124, then follow the signs to the Zoo, as described above.
From Clacton-On-Sea:
Follow the A133 towards Colchester and Harwich. Turn left onto A120 towards Colchester, and continue as described above (from Harwich).
By Public Transport
By train:
Colchester has two railway stations: North and Town. Colchester North (also referred to as simply Colchester) is on the main line between London Liverpool Street and Ipswich, and is served by express trains between London (approx. 50 mins.), and Ipswich, Norwich, Lowestoft, and Harwich. Colchester Town Station is located nearer to the town centre and bus and coach station, but receives less frequent services. Mainly those to/from Clacton and Walton-on-Naze. At least some of these services also serve Colchester North, and provide a way of travelling between the two Colchester stations.
Colchester Zoo is just 10 minutes by taxi or can be reached by bus; the bus station is a short walk (less than 500m) from the Town station, or can be reached by bus numbers 61, 65, 66, 67, 67A, 78, or 78A from the North station (approx. 10 mins.). These services run from the bus lay by across the main road outside the exit from platform 4.
By bus:
National Express operates many coach services to/from Colchester bus station.
All bus services to Colchester Bus Station regularly connect with the Eastern National 75 for Maldon or Tiptree and Colchester Zoo. On arrival at Colchester Bus Station look for Stand 9. Departures are on the hour, with an approx. 15 minute journey to Colchester Zoo. Return services mostly depart from the Zoo at 39 mins. past the hour. To return to the North train station, you should alight in Head Street and catch one of the services listed above from the front bus stop in Head Street (near the traffic lights).
A First Day ticket, priced at £2.80 for adults or £1.60 for children is also available, that allows unlimited travel within the Colchester area.
Colchester Zoo may also be reached using the Colchester City Sightseeing Tour bus, which also stops at the North station. See zoo's website for more details.
Data on this page last updated: Mar 11 2010
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