Book an Extra-ordinary Experience for a day like no other…

Be VIPs as you are guided by an experienced host and taken on the adventure of a lifetime. Exploring the very heart of Colchester Zoo, you will stop off to see a whole variety of amazing animals! As well as the ULTIMATE full day Extra-ordinary Animal Experience, we also offer a half day option both for the morning and afternoon.

Price – Full Day Experience: £700 for FOUR participants
Add up to 4 additional participants for £175 per person

Price – Half Day Experience: £380 for FOUR participants
Add up to 4 additional participants for £95 per person

What’s Included – Full Day Experience:
• Exclusive access behind the scenes for the day and close up encounters with a variety of species
• Breakfast, lunch and refreshments
• Guided by an experienced host for the day
• Complimentary entry to the zoo for the whole day
• A souvenir gift

What’s Included – Half Day Experience:
• Exclusive access behind the scenes and close up encounters with a variety of species
• Breakfast or lunch (dependent on session booked)
• Guided by an experienced host
• Complimentary entry to the zoo for the whole day
• A souvenir gift

This experience is not bookable online at the moment please call our Experiences team on 01206 331292 Ext. 462 or alternatively please email: experiences@colchesterzoo.org

Please allow at least 48 hours for processing of online application and confirmation before you wish to visit. Once the experience has been booked it cannot rescheduled less than 8 weeks prior to the date of the experience taking place, 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.

Please advise at the time of booking if activities or menus need to be varied for anyone that has additional requirements including access, pregnancy, diet or immuno-suppression. 


Choose From:

Full Day Experience: 9:00am – 3:30pm
• Animal Encounters – Giraffes, Ring-tailed Lemurs, Elephants, Sea Lions, Meerkats, Tigers, Otters and Penguins
• Cooked breakfast, two-course lunch at Penguini’s Restaurant and afternoon refreshments

Half Day Experience (Morning): 9:00am – 11:45am
• Animal Encounters – Otters, Ring-tailed Lemurs, Penguins and Giraffes
• A cooked breakfast

Half Day Experience (Afternoon): 12:00pm – 3:30pm
• Animal Encounters – Ring-tailed Lemurs, Tigers, Giraffes, Gelada Baboons and Meerkats
• A delicious lunch


There is no age restriction for this experience, however participants under 18yrs must be accompanied by an adult aged 18yrs or over who are also paying to participate in the same experience.

PLEASE NOTE: There are restrictions when going behind the scenes to meet the Tigers and children under the age of 8 years old will not be able to access all areas.
Both the Full Day and Half Day Extra-Ordinary experiences are for a minimum of 4 participants. Up to 4 additional participants can also be added to the experience at an additional cost per person. See costs for additional guests above.
Full Day – consists of a full day experience from 9:00am until 3:30pm

Half Day (Morning) – consists of a morning experience from 9:00am until 11:45am

Half Day (Afternoon) – consists of an afternoon experience from 12:00pm until 3:30pm

Reviews

Hi, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Colchester Zoo especially Lisa for making our VIP zoo experience on Friday amazing. We booked for our daughter's 9th birthday and it was a truly memorable experience. Lisa spoke with so much knowledge and passion about all the animals and wider environmental challenges which captivated us all but especially Emelia. The whole day was planned to perfection and each interaction with the animals was amazing and their welfare was rightly always a priority. The food, private room and catering staff were fantastic and every detail was considered. It really was an amazing day for us all. Please say thank you to Lisa from us. - Stephanie French, February 2023

Just like to congratulate your staff yesterday as we had such a fantastic time on the extraordinary animal experience. We were warmly greeted at the animal experience entrance and met our host, Kelly, who took us to breakfast. It was a great way to start the day an excellent breakfast, Charlotte from catering was brilliant! Our close up encounters with the animals was so good, Kelly did a great job in entertaining us and telling us so much about the zoo and the animals. We even saw the baby rhino and the sea lions. The morning flew by, what a great experience! Thank you! - Amanda Stopps, February 2023

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