The Bakers and their two young children enjoy a day out at Paradise Wildlife Park, and it’s not just the big cats that get their attention.
Two kids under five, raincoats to the ready and wellies packed, we were off to Paradise – the Wildlife Park variety. Despite the classic British weather, nothing could dampen our spirits in this child-centric Mecca.
From Lions to Lemurs, Gibbons to Geckos there is an amazing array of animals to discover and encounter from all corners of the world. One of our son’s highlights was getting close and personal to the lions, all while sitting atop a stationary jeep on the other side of the viewing glass – cars and cats combined, could anything be better when you are four?
Having said that, the penguins fared pretty well on the excitement meter too. Climbing through a kids-sized tunnel to get close and personal to these entertaining little guys created the perfect distraction from the still-pouring rain.
But, this is no ordinary Zoo – while animals are quite rightly the stars of the show, there are so many more things to experience at Paradise that you will be hard-pressed to fit it all in on one day.
World of Dinosaurs, one of the Paradise Wildlife Park’s newest attractions is home to some of the UK’s largest and most impressive animatronic prehistoric creatures.
Set within acres of woodland, it features 30 life-size, moving and roaring dinosaurs from the Spinosaurus to the T-Rex as well as a train experience – the Rex Express. The ideal spot for any keen Jurassic explorers and of course the perfect opportunity to brush up on your dino-trivia. For any budding palaeontologist, there is even a Dino Dig area – a giant sandpit – where you can try your hand at uncovering dinosaur bones.
A welcome break for us from the rain and our 1-year-old had a ball!
All that action will work up your appetite, so the Safari Diner is the perfect spot to rest and recharge. Offering a simple selection of really well-priced hot food, sandwiches and snacks, the Diner is a great option for a family day out lunchtime feast.
Unfortunately, the rain got the better of us, so we didn’t have the opportunity to explore the other attractions on offer but our day in Paradise Wildlife Park certainly left us wanting more. We can’t wait to head back and check out the splash park – Paradise Lagoon, Mini-golf, and the animal shows too.
For a family of four with two small children, it really was as close as we can imagine to Paradise.
Tell me more about Paradise Wildlife Park
Paradise Wildlife Park, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire EN10 7QA
Open 9:30 am – 5 pm daily T: 01992470490
Child tickets: £20.00 and Adults: £22.00, all tickets must be pre-booked in advance
The Zoological Society of Hertfordshire (ZSH) is a registered charity (no.1108609). The knowledgeable and passionate team cares for their own animals and raises funds to support wildlife conservation projects in the UK and around the world.
