Being a zoo member comes with some amazing perks, including a discount on our unique animal experiences!
Our animal experiences allow you to get up close and personal with some of our most popular animals, such as lions, giraffes and more.
As part of your experience, you will meet and chat with the keepers – a great opportunity to learn about the animals from the people that know them best.
Depending on the experience, you may also get to help out with feeding time!
To find out if an experience is available for a specific date, please call our experience coordinator on 01803 697500 before completing your online booking.
If you require a carer, please let our experience coordinator know at the time of confirming booking. Please note that many of our exhibits do not have suitable wheelchair or mobility scooter access.
Animal experiences
Get up close with the giraffes and help out with their feeding time.
Age limit: 7+
Duration: 20 minutes
Price (Members): £69 (single) or £105 (joint)
Available days: Daily
Terms & conditions
Please take a moment to read our Animal Experience terms and conditions.
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- All experiences must be booked and paid for at least one week in advance.
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- If you cancel or change your experience within a week of it taking place you will be charged a £10 administration fee.
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- All experiences are booked on a first come first served basis. Please do not assume your experience is booked until you have received your experience pack for the date stated, or you have had confirmation by telephone or email.
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- You will be entering working environments; from time to time things may happen beyond our control and we may need to cancel your experience at short notice. If this happens you will be contacted via email or telephone at least 24 hours before your experience is due to take place. We recommend that you check your messages and emails before your visit in case we have contacted you.
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- Minimum age limits apply to all experiences: Echidna Experience – 5 years and older. Giraffe Experience and Giant Tortoise Experience – 7 years or over. Junior Keeper – 7 years or over. Zoo Keeper for a day – 15 years or over. Lion experience – over 16 years.
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- For any children under the age of 16 or anyone requiring a carer, one adult is allowed entry behind the scenes for supervising purposes only.
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- Full admission price must be paid for any guests including the supervising adult.
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- Behind the scenes can be muddy and messy so please dress appropriately. Suitable clothing includes full length trousers and a lightweight coat in case of rain. For your safety closed toe shoes must be worn.
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- Giraffe experience – the Giraffe yard is suitable for wheelchairs but the house is not accessible
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- Lion experience – this experience is for a maximum of one person only – with only one available slot on bookable days (Tuesdays & Sundays)
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- Paignton Zoo reserves the right to cancel your experience if you arrive more than 10 minutes late without prior agreement and unfortunately your experience can not be rescheduled.
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- For anyone requiring a carer, please provide eligibility in the form of PIP, DLA letter, Access card or blue badge. All carers must be over the age of 12 (if accompanying an adult) or 18 (if accompanying a child), and capable of assisting the participant for the duration of the experience and zoo visit.
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- Our members only price is valid for our Joint site members only, and when a member is
participating in the experience. A member can buy as a gift for another member.
- Our members only price is valid for our Joint site members only, and when a member is
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- A valid membership card will need to be produced on the day of the experience. If there is no valid membership, an additional £20 per person will be payable before we can facilitate the experience