Colchester Zoo
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Overview
During your visit to Colchester Zoo, you will see many species from around the world and can learn more about them at our fantastic daily encounters, giving you the chance to see our animals being fed, watch a training session or perhaps just quiz their keepers! As you navigate your way around Colchester Zoo you'll visit many different habitats, from the humid home of our Komodo Dragons to our very own Africa plain, Kingdom of the Wild, home to white rhino, giraffes, ostrich, zebra and kudu. You can also take part in some fantastic activities with the opportunity to hand feed our elephants and giraffes at daily public feeding sessions, and walk through our 24m tunnel as sealions swim overhead.
Contact details
Maldon Road Stanway Colchester Essex East of England CO3 0SL United Kingdom
Access Card notes
Access Card Accepted as proof of disability
Access guidance
- Because of the steep hills in the zoo, we recommend that anyone with a pushchair, wheelchair, electric scooter, or reduced mobility follow the 'Easier Route'. This route has been developed to give you the simplest route possible around the zoo and avoids the steepest hills. This is a solid yellow line to follow around the zoo's pathways, which sometimes branches off to a dotted yellow line. The dotted yellow line indicates other enclosures or points of interest in that direction away from the main route. If you follow the dotted yellow line, please remember to return to the solid line when continuing your journey. When following this route, a few enclosures are inaccessible or difficult to view for wheelchair users so there is a greatly reduced rate for those with disabilty and their assistants. Those who are more mobile can use the route for orientation around the zoo, and leave the route to visit other enclosures. Please note that there are areas of the route that are on block paving. Some small bumps may be experienced, and individuals with certain medical conditions may need to be aware that there may be bumps and uneven, undulating ground. Please ask a staff member for assistance if required.Because of the steep hills in the zoo, we recommend that anyone with a pushchair, wheelchair, electric scooter, or reduced mobility follow the 'Easier Route'. This route has been developed to give you the simplest route possible around the zoo and avoids the steepest hills. This is a solid yellow line to follow around the zoo's pathways, which sometimes branches off to a dotted yellow line. The dotted yellow line indicates other enclosures or points of interest in that direction away from the main route. If you follow the dotted yellow line, please remember to return to the solid line when continuing your journey. When following this route, a few enclosures are inaccessible or difficult to view for wheelchair users so there is a greatly reduced rate for those with disabilty and their assistants. Those who are more mobile can use the route for orientation around the zoo, and leave the route to visit other enclosures. Please note that there are areas of the route that are on block paving. Some small bumps may be experienced, and individuals with certain medical conditions may need to be aware that there may be bumps and uneven, undulating ground. Please ask a staff member for assistance if required.
- * All displays / keeper talks are accessible for wheelchair users with space available at the front of tiered seating if required. Please ask a member of staff for assistance. * Manual wheelchair hire is available – Please phone 01206 331292 ext 227 to check availability and to reserve one if essential for your visit. They can be booked on a first come, first served basis in return for a refundable deposit of £20.00 and a small hire charge of £5.00 to contribute towards the upkeep and maintenance of the chairs. * Due to the steep hills it is not possible to hire electric scooters. However, you are allowed to use your own electric scooter at your own risk. You will need to sign a disclaimer at the zoo entrance and be sure to follow the Easier Route. * We recommend anyone with reduced mobility follow the suggested 'easier route' around the zoo (see the next section for details). Because of the steep hills in the zoo, we recommend that anyone with a pushchair, wheelchair, electric scooter, or reduced mobility follow the 'Easier Route'.
- Accessible Toilet Facilities Toilets for those with disability All 13 sets of toilets around Colchester Zoo and at our cafes have toilet facilities for those with disability. changing roomChanging Places Facility A registered Changing Places changing facility is available for those with additional needs at the toilet facilities near the meerkat enclosure. The key features of a Changing Places facility are: - It can be accessed using a radar key - A height adjustable changing bench - Ceiling track hoist (a sling is NOT provided and will need to be brought with you on your visit) - Space for more than one assistant This facility is intended for radar key holders only. If you do not have a key but require use of this facility please ask a member of staff at the Meerkat Hangout catering facility or Guest Services for assistance.
- Although we love dogs, unfortunately we can only allow assistance dogs on site, in the interest of the welfare of our animals and general safety. Dogs that are allowed are fully trained certified Registered Assistance Dogs: Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Guide Dogs for blind people, Disability Assistance Dogs, Medical Assistance Dogs and Seizure Alert Dogs. Please observe our Code of Conduct for visits with Registered Assistance Dogs: - On arrival you MUST report to the Ark Shop - ID and relevant Environmental Health Cards will be required at entrance - All Registered Assistance Dogs must be up to date with all inoculations - We regret that we are unable to allow puppies or training dogs on site. - Dogs must wear the relevant harness/jacket while on site - Dogs must be short lead at all times whilst under strict control - Dogs must not be allowed to defecate anywhere in the zoo grounds, and any faeces should be cleared away by their owners and taken away with them - We reserve the right to politely ask you to move away from areas in the zoo if we feel a welfare issue is being created for our animals or your dog - Dogs are not permitted in enclosed areas or walkthrough exhibits as this will threaten the welfare of our animals as well as your dog. Areas to be avoided include: * Walk-through enclosures with free-roaming animals including: Worlds Apart, Rainforest Walkthrough, Colenso Village, Sensation Station, Australian Rainbows, Butterfly Glade, Wallaby Walkabout, and Lost Madagascar. * Areas where animals are close to visitors including: the Elephant Feed, Giraffe Feed, and the Bird of Prey Displays. * Enclosures where the animals dislike the presence of dogs including: Chimpanzee Lookout, Orangutan Forest, Lions, Leopards, and Wolves.
- Any guest with disability requesting a ticket will be asked to provide documentation for verification. This could be in the form of a blue badge (the photograph part of the badge must be visible for staff), a letter from a recognised authority, a Nimbus Card, or a bank statement confirming the customer is in receipt of DLA. Please note that the latter two options must be supported by photo ID and Max cards are not accepted. Please note that if you plan to show your blue badge at the entrance, the blue badge will need to be taken back to the car afterwards to authenticate your parking in a disabled parking bay. Once verification has been received, the ticket will be processed in the normal manner. If the customer requests the need for assistance, as long as the above criteria has been met, an assistance ticket can be purchased alongside a ticket for a person with disability. Only 1 assistance ticket may be purchased per ticket for a person with disability and the tickets must be purchased together in the same transaction.
- * There is audio information around the park for the visually impaired. * The Entrance Kiosks and Guest Services are fitted with an induction loop hearing system. Please advise a member of staff and switch your hearing aid to T. * All commercial staff have a pad and pen with them to be able to assist with communicating with deaf people and the very hard of hearing. Please indicate to staff if you would like to use this option.