Please note the following points when booking an Animal Experience at Colchester Zoo:
Availability
- To redeem your experience voucher, please call our Experiences Reception team on 01206 331292 ext 462 during office hours (zoo opening times) or email experiences@colchesterzoo.org and a member of our team will be in contact.
- We have different experiences available throughout the week, except Christmas Day.
- Please book well in advance and have a second choice of date available just in case. You will receive an acknowledgement of your order but the date of your booking is not confirmed until you receive your confirmation email/letter.
- Colchester Zoo cannot guarantee that individual animals will be available to meet during an experience when you select their species or scheme.
- Please advise at time of booking if anyone taking part has additional requirements including a disability, pregnancy, diet or immuno suppression which may require an experience to be varied or changed.
- Personal assistants can book experiences on behalf of a guest with disability with their permission. The Passholders discount will then be applied to the booking. The assistant will be admitted as support for the Passholder during the experience but the assistant will not be ‘participating’ in the experience unless full price is paid to participate.
- Colchester Zoo does not allow pregnant women to take part in an animal experience without first seeking advice from their doctor.
- When using a Gift Voucher, bookings must be made within 3 months and experiences taken within 1 year of the date on a the voucher.
- It may be necessary to share some activities with others when taking part in a Keeper for the Day, Fledgling Keeper or Zoo Cadet. Keeper Shadowing, Perfect Partners, Extra-ordinary, Team Building and Hen Parties are all private experiences, unless otherwise stated by Colchester Zoo.
- All participants under the age of 18yrs must be supervised by a responsible adult over the age of 18yrs old throughout their experience and visit. Please see individual experience information for age limits.
- If you are a supervising adult attending an Animal Experience with a participant under the age of 18yrs, any additional children under the age of 15yrs in attendance on the day who are not participating in the experience, must have a separate supervising adult to remain with them whilst the Animal Experience is taking place.
- We are committed to safe guarding and the protection of children whilst they enjoy their visit around Colchester Zoo. As part of Colchester Zoo’s safeguarding policy towards children, the zoo as the employer, along with our employees, make a commitment to safeguarding young people’s welfare. We fully support the current government policy in their goal to protect young people; to prevent physical, sexual or emotional abuse. As employers, we do not believe our animal experiences are deemed as regulated activity as governed by the Secretary of State’s statutory guidance on supervision of activity by workers with children. Despite this, Colchester Zoo does request that all children under the age of 18 are supervised whilst undertaking animal experiences, as part of our own Safeguarding Policy ensuring adequate supervision at all times.
Cancellations and changes
- Payment will be taken when you make your booking.
- All experiences are non-refundable
- Once the experience has been booked it can be only rescheduled up to 8 weeks before the date of the experience and a £20 fee (inc 20% VAT) will be charged for alterations and rescheduling to your booking at any time. An experience can only be rescheduled once.
- Colchester Zoo reserves the right to reschedule or cancel an experience at any time if necessary.
- Those taking part in a Team Building experience who wish to have their experience invoiced will be charged a fee of £10 for any additional invoices that need to be raised for this experience.
On the day
Please read our Essential Information for more ‘On the Day’ information.
- Please wear clothing suitable for working with the animals and for all weathers including long trousers and closed toe shoes such as trainers, walking boots or wellingtons. Colchester Zoo reserves the right to refuse those who do not wear suitable clothing without offering a refund.
- The experience is for the recipient only and accompanying guests must pay to enter the Zoo. Accompanying guests may receive a discounted rate to enter the Zoo, which must be booked at the same time as the experience through our Experiences Team.
- All animal experiences are subject to change without notice. Including if circumstances dictate, bad weather or a particular animal being unwell, it may be necessary to change your activities without notice. We will always do our best to offer an alternative.
- Direct contact with animals is not guaranteed on any of the animal experiences.
- Colchester Zoo reserves the right to close all or parts of the Zoo as necessary. Refunds cannot be given in these circumstances.
- Colchester Zoo reserves the right to ask any participant to leave the zoo should they behave in an inappropriate or unsafe manner.
- A reasonable level of fitness is required to take part in all experiences.
- Experiences are not suitable for those allergic to dust or animal fur or bedding.
- We will do our best to accommodate late arrivals however this time may be deducted from your experience.
Keeper for the Day
- Keeper for the day is available to persons 14 years and over.
- Any Keeper for the Day participant aged between 14 – 17yrs must be accompanied by a supervising adult above the age of 18yrs. The supervising adult must also pay the full price to take part in the same experience with the person under 18yrs.
- If you are a supervising adult attending an Animal Experience with a participant under the age of 18yrs, any additional children under the age of 15yrs in attendance on the day who are not participating in the experience, must have a separate supervising adult to remain with them whilst the Animal Experience is taking place.
- The timetable for Keeper for the Day has been devised in order to allow as much time as possible with the keepers whilst not detracting from the running of the Zoo. It is not, therefore, possible to change any of the activities that are on offer.
- All animals featured in your chosen experience are subject to change without notice.
Keeper Shadowing
- Keeper shadowing is available to persons 8 years and over.
- Any Keeper Shadowing participant aged between 8 – 18yrs must be accompanied by a supervising adult above the age of 18yrs. The supervising adult must pay admission and is required as supervisory capacity only; they are not permitted to take part in the experience.
- If you are a supervising adult attending an Animal Experience with a participant under the age of 18yrs, any additional children under the age of 15yrs in attendance on the day who are not participating in the experience, must have a separate supervising adult to remain with them whilst the Animal Experience is taking place.
Zoo Academy
- Zoo Academy is available to children between 6 and 15 only. 6 to 9 year olds take part in Fledgling Keepers. 10 to 15 year olds take part in Zoo cadets.
- Children taking part in a Zoo Academy experience must be supervised by a responsible adult over the age of 18yrs at all times.
- If you are a supervising adult attending an Animal Experience with a participant under the age of 18yrs, any additional children under the age of 15yrs in attendance on the day who are not participating in the experience, must have a separate supervising adult to remain with them whilst the Animal Experience is taking place.
Hen Parties
- Hen parties require a compulsory non-refundable £90 deposit at the time of booking to secure your experience booking.
- Hen parties is available to persons 10 years and over.
- A minimum of 8 delegates are required.
Extra-ordinary Experience
- There is no minimum age for this experience however all children MUST be supervised by a participating, responsible adults over the age of 18yrs at all times.
- If your booking includes over 4 children, please be aware that a ratio of 1 supervisory adult to every 4 children is set due to health and safety – if this not followed we have the right to refuse entry to particular areas.
Team Building
- A minimum of 8 delegates are required.
- Those taking part in a Team Building experience who wish to have their experience invoiced will be charged a fee of £10 for any additional invoices that need to be raised for this experience.
Passholders
- Passholder price valid to current Passholders only.
- Passholder price not valid in conjunction with any other offer.
- Participant must hold a valid Zoo Pass to receive this offer.
- This offer may be withdrawn at any time.
Experience Gift Vouchers
- Experience Gift Vouchers can only be redeemed towards the Animal Experience detailed on the Gift Voucher and cannot be used for any other purchase.
- Please note that all gift vouchers are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged or refunded for cash/credit.
- Cash value is 0.000001p
- Colchester Zoo Ltd is under no liability to replace or refund vouchers that are lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed whether they have been redeemed or not.
- Vouchers re-sold or transferred for profit or commercial gain will be void.
- All gift vouchers are redeemable only at Colchester Zoo and cannot be used for online purchases.
- We cannot guarantee the availability of a particular animal or scheme as vouchers are not available to purchase for a particular species.
- Please book in your experience date within 3 months of purchasing your voucher. You must participant in the experience within 1 year of the purchase date.
- When sending vouchers by post please use recorded delivery; Colchester Zoo cannot be responsible for vouchers lost in the post.
- All terms and conditions are subject to change without notification.
Data protection
- The data you supply will only be used for the purpose intended and not passed to any third parties.