Whipsnade Zoo
Christmas at Whipsnade Zoo..... don't miss it! Lots of eco-friendly festivities and magical experiences from 23 November to 6 January Find out what's going on here |
Whipsnade Zoo has lots to see and do with animals, habitats and events! It’s located on the Chiltern Hills near Hertfordshire in 600 acres of stunning parkland. Over 10,000 animals have their home there, and many of these are endangered in the wild. Each and every animal at Whipsnade Zoo matters.
This adorable baby Southern white rhino was born in October 2024 to Fahari and Sizzle.
This rhino is really rare - according to the IUCN, there are only 10,000 mature southern white rhinos
left in the wild, and their numbers are falling.
They are threatened by illegal hunting, which supplies the international rhino horn trade.
ZSL is working wildwide to stop the illegal trade.
Hear all about this little rhino here
and the birth here
What animals are at Whipsnade?
There’s a full species register document available so that you can see who’s there. The animals include the African dwarf crocodile, the stunning Amur tiger, Boreray sheep (the rarest breed of sheep in the UK), the Bagot goat (the oldest breed of goat in the UK), Dartmoor ponies, the gorgeous European brown bear, the Grevy’s Zebra (one of the rarest animals at the zoo, with just 2,000 left in the wild), the greater one-horned rhino, hippos, red pandas, reticulated giraffe, Rockhopper penguins, the Royal Golden Guernsey goats, yaks and others.
There are animal talks throughout the day (not given by the animals themselves!)
There’s the Whipnsade Railway! - you need to check the times it's running as it does close from 3 November to February 2025. You can take a journey on one of the two steam engines, Excelsior and Superior, as they make their way through the territories of some of the world's most inspiring animals - elephants, rhinos, camels and deer! A safari adventure with a bit of a difference, if you like!
And there are plenty of events, too!
Join in on a Walk of the Week from 7th November to the 19th December and take a relaxing guided walk around the Zoo. Each walk has a different theme, such as From Russia with Doves (14 November), 28 November (For animals, we are truly thankful), 12 December is International Animal Rights Day and so on. These 90 minute walk and talks give you the chance to spend time with the zoo’s experts, getting behind-the-scenes info and occasionally strolling off the beaten track of the zoo. These walks on on Thursdays at 10:30am.
From the 23rd November to 24th December, it’s time to celebrate Christmas, and Santa returns to the zoo. There are a number of Meet Santa sessions, including Meet Santa Relaxed (these have dimmed lighting, quieter sounds and other reduced sensory stimulation so that the area is more relaxed – this is for those with additional needs).
All the information you need to plan your visit to Whipsnade Zoo is here: opening times, accessibility, how to get there, what’s available to eat and drink at the zoo, events taking place, even experiences you can have. There's a Plan Your Visit page with even more information, such as a map of the zoo, information on car parking, membership, universal credit tickets, the Community Access Scheme, and lots more. And there are Frequently Asked Questions here. And the Whipsnade App will help you plan your day so that you can find the animals you want to see, and the habitats, take a look at dining options with the GPS enabled map.
If you want to visit on a number of occasions, why not take out a membership? or give a membership? It gives you free, unlimited entry to both Whipsnade AND London Zoos all year round, so there’s plenty to see and do. The other nice thing is that you can watch the animals from their arrival at the zoos, over a period of time. And the other really nice thing is that by becoming a Zoo member, you’re supporting the zoos’ global conservation work, creating a world where wildlife thrives!
Back in July, Whipsnade welcomed a second reticulated giraffe, an endangered species.
The baby boy,'s Mum and Dad are Luna and dad Bashu on Monday 15 July,
and the little one (!) arrived only three weeks after another Mum, Ijuma, had had a baby girl!
Find out all about it here.
Visit Whipsnade Zoo's website here.