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Animal Experience Terms & Conditions

Animal Experience Terms & Conditions

Please take a moment to read our Animal Experience terms and conditions.

  • All experiences must be booked and paid for at least one week in advance.
  • If you cancel or change your experience within a week of it taking place you will be charged a £10 administration fee. 
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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, Kiwi – 8 years and over. Zoo Keeper for a day – 15 years or over and Rhino Experience – 16 years or over. Lion experience – over 16 years. 
  • 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.
  • Full admission price must be paid for any guests including the supervising adult.
  • 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. 
  • Giraffe experience – the Giraffe yard is suitable for wheelchairs but the house is not accessible
  • Lion experience – this experience is for a maximum of one person only – with only one available slot on bookable days (Tuesdays & Sundays)
  • 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.  
  • For anyone requiring a carer, please provide eligibility in the form of PIP, DLA letter 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.
  • Members only prices apply when a member purchases and participates in the experience. A member can buy as a gift for another member.
  • 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.