Discover Exmoor Zoo: A Family Adventure
One of the best all year round attractions on Exmoor is the Exmoor Zoo. Open almost everyday come rain or shine the family that run the zoo are on hand to educate and entertain with fascinating talks about their wonderful collection of animals.
Exmoor Zoo, located near Barnstable, is a family-run charity that hosts a fantastic animal menagerie. Home to the infamous Exmoor Beast—a beautiful black leopard—the zoo also features other cat species like Lynx, Serval, and Clouded Leopards. With new animals around every corner, the zoo’s lush foliage and attention to habitat creation allow visitors to see animals displaying their natural behaviours.
Exploring the Zoo
The zoo is situated on a slope with a variety of paths to choose from. To the right, you will find a playground next to the kangaroos, wolverines, and alpacas. In the heart of the park, there’s a lake with Pelicans, Spoonbills, and Terrapins that you can walk over. With over 50 different enclosures, you’ll encounter a variety of animals, including the wonderfully vocal Gibbons, Singing Dogs, and Hornbills.
Unique and Wacky Animals
Exmoor Zoo is known for its weird and wonderful animals. The Shoebill, with its Latin name Balaeniceps rex, is a prime example. You’ll also see Bush Dogs, which perform handstands to pee, Servals with the longest legs of any cat, and Fennec Foxes with the largest ears in the animal kingdom. The zoo is part of a breeding program and shares its animals to help ensure the survival of threatened species.
Daily Talks and Animal Encounters
The zoo offers free talks throughout the day, including sessions on leopards and pumas, grey wolves, and meerkats. At 2 pm, there are animal encounters where you can stroke a snake or spider. Learn fun facts like how snakes can’t blink, why spiders are essential for controlling flies, and how spider webs make excellent plasters.
Animal Experiences
Exmoor Zoo offers several animal experiences, including “Junior Keeper for a Day,” “Mammal Experience,” and the “Walk on the Wild Side,” which we were lucky enough to experience with our group of five (ages 3 to adult).
We started by feeding the ring-tailed lemurs, whose cute little paws gently took sweet potato from our hands. Next, we fed the otters by putting fish in their balls, then entered the Bush Dogs’ enclosure to hide meat in various crevices. We also threw food for the bat-eared foxes and fed the grey wolf.
Using BBQ tongs, we gently fed the cheetahs through the fence, then enjoyed cuddles in the Dingo enclosure. We ended our experience by tickling a Tapir until it lay down with its tongue hanging out. This once-in-a-lifetime experience was surprisingly affordable at just £45 per person for our family of five, including zoo entry and a memory stick of photos.
Food and Amenities
There is a covered picnic area where you are welcome to bring your own food, and a café offering hot and cold food, including reasonably priced Exmoor burgers, chips, sandwiches, cakes, and ice creams.
Visitor Information
Capacity
The zoo rarely reaches capacity, so you can turn up on the day even during peak season and still find parking and entry available. The size and maze-like layout ensure it never feels crowded.
Accessibility
The zoo is wheelchair and pushchair friendly, though it is sloped with gradients up to 1 in 5. Sixty-five percent of the park is tarmacked. Mobility scooters are available to hire for just £5.
Opening Times
From 9th February 2024 to 2nd November 2024, the zoo is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (last entry at 3:30 pm).
Admission Prices
Adults: £18.95
Children (3-15): £14.95
Children under 3: Free
Discounts: Pre-book online for a 5% discount (must be made 24 hours in advance)
Concessions available
For the latest information and to plan your visit, check the Exmoor Zoo website.
Address
Exmoor Zoological Park, South Stowford, Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple, North Devon. EX31 4SG.
