Jersey Zoo
Jersey Zoo things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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This is the best zoo in the world, and nothing will ever come close. If you are unfamiliar with the life of Gerald Durrell, or any of his literature, this place represents the culmination of his ambitions for wildlife conservation. It places conservation work at the forefront of its reason for existence, which never detracts from the enjoyment a visitor will experience. By focusing resources on conservation areas with a high risk of potential damage to wild populations/habitat, a visitor may see animals they would never have seen before in a regular zoo. Examples that come to mind would be the ‘Aye-Aye’ and the ‘Mountain Chicken Frog’, species that one would never see elsewhere and add to the overall uniqueness of visiting this zoo, yet they require no less help than any other species, perhaps even more. When you visit, you will see animals you haven’t even heard of, let alone seen in photographs. Highlights for me include (but are not limited to) the ‘Jewels of the Forest’ and ‘Butterfly Kaleidoscope’ (where you step into their habitat with the animals, as opposed to observing them behind glass), the Tamarin Woods (named so because they swing right past you as you walk around the zoo!), and the Aye-ayes (make sure you stay to adjust your eyes to the dark). There are also multiple keeper led activities throughout the day you can attend, usually based around feeding the animals. For this I would recommend the bats and otters! You can also visit the ‘Gerald Durrell story’, and learn about the founder of the zoo and his life. There is plenty of free parking at the entrance. There are 2 cafes, as well as a children’s play area, a gift shop, a camp ground and even a hostel. There are also gardens and an orchard, where keepers grow food for the animals. As long as I visit Jersey I will visit this place. I hope it exists as long as there are species in need of it. 5 Stars!
Lorne InglisLorne Inglis
00
Reviews are highly subjective by nature, but I must admit, as an animal lover this one will be inherently biased. Located in the north east of Jersey a bus journey was all that was required to get to the zoo from Saint Helier. Car parking was there for those travelling via car. At reception we was greeted by a very friendly advisor who gave us the tickets, the map and the run down of the place. Upon leaving reception it's really up to you what path you decide to take. The animals are located all around the Zoo and you can view them in the order you please. There really is a variety of animals to view. From Gorillas to Butterflies, from Bears to lizards, from Meerkats to Aye-Ayes. It really is quite an eclectic collection. The Gorillas were fascinating to observe and so were the orangutans. In addition, the animal talks we attended were fun and informative. There was even a chance to ask the workers questions at the end of the talk. Also, the enclosures for all the animals were all very aesthetically pleasing. In particular I enjoyed the immersive experience of the Butterfly Den. Although, I must admit my glasses did not appreciate the humidity... However, the whole concept of it was brilliant. There are two cafes located in the zoo. One is along the trail and the other is located at the entrance, by the gift shop. We visited the one along the trail and it hit the spot. A light lunch and drinks for a fairly reasonable price. To conclude, I have a lot of fond memories from my trip to Jersey Zoo. The keepers were all friendly, the animals were all clearly well looked after and the whole experience was informative, yet entertaining. A great day out for all age ranges.
Lee FoxLee Fox
00
Absolutely loved this zoo. It is well thought out and carefully designed to make the most of existing resources while producing an environment that attempts to provide the essential elements of an animal's original environment. If your future is to be a zoo animal you would want this to be your zoo. The animals look healthy and well cared for. There is an emphasis on animals from places such as Mauritius, Madagascar and Asia so don't be disappointed that you will not see zebra, giraffes, elephants or lions. But they do have gorillas and various monkeys that you do not see in most places. And many critically endangered critters for which they are running breeding programs. Humans are also well catered for being able to see animals well. There is a reason that this is one of Jersey's top attractions. My partner is a zoo addict so we have seen a few zoos. This one is world class and in my top 3. Well done!
Donna SchakelaarDonna Schakelaar
00
This is an amazing zoo, for one reason only 👍. You get a sense that the animals are very well looked after🙏. Their individual habitats really are tailor made for them, and the habitats are all so lush. The whole zoo is very lush and enjoyable to walk through. Some comments here suggest you can't see some of the animals very often, and I agree. However, we have to remind ourselves it's all about keeping them in a natural habitat as possible, and that sometimes means, the animals keep themselves out of sight of predators, us human beings 😰. Overall a great lovely zoo where the No1 priority is the welfare of the animals 👍👍. The staff are all excellent especially the volunteers wandering around answering visitors questions 👍👍. Plenty of toilets on the routes and very clean. Highly Recommend with 5stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chris BoyceChris Boyce
00
If your feeling fit and love animals Jersey zoo is great.The main entrance has the usual toys,café etc and then your in.A lot of meandering pathways going in all directions leads you to somewhere special.A good variety of animals,all shapes and sizes are here. Don't expect to see tigers and elephants though.Monkeys , orangutans,birds and reptiles seem to be the thing. A lot of openness and decking lead you closer into the animals enclosure and the sparsity of animals mean you have to really look for them.I think maybe a free map of the zoo would help.Obviously a sunny day helps too but you do have a couple of great cafes serving food and drink for you to take shade .You certainly know youve walked around the place by the end of the day.
Michael SoanesMichael Soanes
00
Our trip to Jersey was centred around visiting this zoo as I love Gerald’s books and the representation of his life on the tv series The Durrells. We allowed plenty of time for exploring and loved all the exhibits. We went in reverse and started in an aviary filled with exciting birds. We loved the open style enclosures and spent ages staring at the bats. We ate at the restaurant, sharing a pizza and chips between two (hungry) adults. We sat outside where the team have done a good job to prevent local birds from begging or diving. Overall the trip was marvellous, well worth it! Enjoyed the shop, and the large charity superstore found within the car park too.
Thalia GallowayThalia Galloway
00
Nearby Attractions Of Jersey Zoo
Durrell Wildlife Camp
Jardin d'Olivet
Durrell Wildlife Camp
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(713)Click for details
Jardin d'Olivet
4.6
(12)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Jersey Zoo
Café Firefly
Cafè Dodo
Café Firefly
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Click for details
Cafè Dodo
3.8
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
Jersey Zoo, La Profonde Rue, Jersey JE3 5BP, Jersey
Map
Phone
+44 1534 860000
Call
Website
durrell.org
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.7
(1.5K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Jersey Zoo is a zoological park established in 1959 on the island of Jersey in the English Channel by naturalist and writer Gerald Durrell. It is operated by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. It has approximately 169,000 visitors per year; visitor numbers tend to vary with the tourist trade to Jersey.
attractions: Durrell Wildlife Camp, Jardin d'Olivet, restaurants: Café Firefly, Cafè Dodo
