Belfast Zoo — Attraction in Ballygolan

Absolutely love the zoo, but not today. Unfortunately the hedges are too high for any view of the lions. Yes someone was cutting hedges today but for children under a metre tall cannot see. The first hedge was around the lions. All children consider the lions to be 'the zoo'and also the gorillas. The sculptures of the gorilla builds up to the expectations of a great sight when you walk (or push a buggy, or carry small children) the whole way up the hill. When you get there, the gorillas were indoors, great opportunity for small children to see the animals up close. You'd think! No ! The windows were filled in with painting of camouflage. Now I understand that animals need an environment as close to their natural environment as possible but painting out the windows is as far from a natural environment as you could get. Now as for it as an attraction. How wonderful for little children to see the gorillas swinging and eating up their vegetables, but no, how can they see in the windows. Yes if you're 5'5" or over you can look through the thinning out green painted leaves, which apparently, a study by Queens University researchers recommended. I'm quite sure this was not that they ment. I could ofcourse be wrong maybe we aren't supposed to view the animals indoors but why then would we have a gorilla house with a 'viewing' gallery. My small grandson and others I observed including not very tall Chinese teenagers were unable to see anything. So hardly an attraction. The balance of animal protection and comfort v public attraction and education of our small people has not met the needs of both sides. The attraction of the animals and ability to view them surely go hand in hand. The enclosure for elephants, giraffes, and zebras in comparison was wonderful. The hedges were suitably low and the viewing gallery was good. But accessibility to all would definitely assist in the increase of visitors to the zoo. I'm lucky I can go often to the zoo as I live in Belfast. But I met people today who had travelled from Omagh and Derry who had grandchildren under five who were disappointed with the accessibility of the viewing experience. And as older people were unable to lift children up and hold a buggy and coats etc. I think it's time to consider reintroducing the train, and better viewing access for smaller customers. Remember if they like it at that age you have them for life, they will bring their children and grandchildren as I have. I was absolutely disgusted to pay £4.80 for 2 ice lollies that cos under £1 in my local shop. To attract customers especially with children they MUST feel they are not getting ripped off. I normally buy season tickets to the zoo for xmas presents. But I think very little would put these things...

Really Disappointed! I’m really sad to write this review as for someone who is not a local but has lived in Belfast for almost 6 years, I thought today was a great opportunity to finally visit the zoo but to also bring my niece to the zoo for her first visit. However this trip was not all that was expected and having been to many zoo’s around the world this is the first time I have left one feeling short changed and with the need to want to go back and offer my services as a volunteer, specifically with the elephants to try and bring some life back to the enclosure and assist the poor elephants. I’m no zoologist, nor do I have a degree in zoo management but from the initial 5 minute walk into the grounds you can tell that the city council does not spend a lot of money on this park and it’s up keep. One of the first buildings you come across has been left dilapidated and now in ruin and just has a bit of fencing around it to stop anyone entering it. Not a great first impression! Walking around the grounds and visiting the enclosures, the biggest disappointment was the lack of animals actually being on show and how if they weren’t outside there wasn’t a viewing window into their shelters. This meant that we only really saw half the animals today. There was 2 exhibits that were closed which is fine and we were warned about, but there could be a bit of money spent on the viewing enclosures. The biggest scare of the day was the lack of entertainment for both the giraffes and the elephants. The giraffes were just huddled in a corner with each other whilst another 2 did the exact same lap of their paddock. The elephants were more unnerving as both seemed to be distressed, 1 was bashing its head off the door into its shelter and the other stood in the paddock on the same spot and was swaying which I believe is a sign of mental distress. We left quite sad about our visit to the zoo. Unless this is rectified we won’t be back. Ps. I would 100% give up some weekend time to volunteer with the elephants and giraffes if...

Belfast Zoo offers a delightful day out for visitors of all ages. The setting of the zoo on the slopes of Cave Hill provides breathtaking views over the city and beyond, adding to the charm of exploring the well-maintained enclosures and lush surroundings. The staff were passionate about the animals and their welfare, always ready to share interesting facts and answer questions with enthusiasm. Highlights of our visit included the playful antics of the monkeys, the elegance of the giraffes, and the serene beauty of the sea lion habitat.

However, there are a few areas for improvement that could elevate the overall experience. One notable issue is the lack of an official app for the zoo. Instead, visitors are directed to download the Cloud Guide, which unfortunately falls short in several areas. The audio guide had poor sound quality, and some sections were missing or didn’t align with the signage around the zoo. Additionally, the printed map proved challenging to follow, which made navigating the grounds a bit frustrating at times.

It was also a little disappointing that some of the animals were not visible during our visit (I get it that the weather and time of day makes a difference.), including the elephants, which we had particularly hoped to see. It would be wonderful if the zoo could provide clearer updates or interactive displays to inform visitors about the animals' schedules or activities.

Despite these setbacks, Belfast Zoo remains a fantastic destination for families and wildlife enthusiasts. The beautiful setting, dedicated staff, and opportunities to connect with nature make it a worthwhile visit. With some improvements to the visitor experience, such as developing a dedicated app with user-friendly features and enhancing communication about the animals, Belfast Zoo could truly shine as one of the top attractions in...