Exmoor Zoological and Conservation Centre — Attraction in North Devon

I booked a ‘Walk on the Wildside’ experience at Exmoor Zoo in April 2023 for myself and my partner as a treat. We’d never been to Exmoor Zoo but had done several animal experiences at other wildlife parks, so we had a good idea of what to expect.

We were greeted warmly and talked through all the safety before being handed to Alex and his lovely pink camera to take us around. All the staff was amazing right away, being considerate about my disability and concerns as well as laying out everything we’d be doing and where we’d be going.

What made Exmoor Zoo stand out compared to all the other experiences we’ve done is that it didn’t feel rushed, or like we were on a time limit at all. Alex was friendly, fun, and engaging and we saw so many animals it felt like we got a huge bargain for the price they charge for the experience! We tickled a very sleepy Armadillo, sniffed a Binturong, and fed otters, meerkats, cheetahs, lemurs, wolves, and bush dogs. We also got to be competitive and see who could make some very dignified and friendly Tapirs sit down first while we brushed them.

All the while we had a cameo from Steve, who is amazing and an endless encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to all creatures great and small, as well as being the ultimate comedy duo with Alex. The staff made the experience absolutely amazing just as much as the beautiful creatures we got to interact with.

On top of all that time spent making unforgettable memories, a week later we received a USB stick in the post with an oodle of awesome photos Alex took of us! They are more than happy for you to take your own during the experience too, but it was great to see Alex's action shots and it’s something we’ll treasure.

The cafe and reception staff were also very friendly and clearly love the Zoo too. The enclosures for a smaller zoo were really spacious and well kept and the animals all looked happy and content. You can tell the zoo puts the animals as the priority, plus they are building new enclosures and upgrading others so it’s great to see ongoing care and work going into making it the best place for the animals they care for as well as for us to enjoy. I can’t wait to see the Snow Leopard when it arrives!

The cafe food was very reasonably priced and delicious and there is a gift shop as well to grab souvenirs. We did get a bit lost walking around, but that's more about our terrible map-reading skills and a testament to how big it actually is inside!

I could keep going on for ages about how amazing Exmoor Zoo is, as well as all the staff and the animals, if I could give it a zillion-star rating I would! But if you’re considering booking an experience or visiting, don’t hesitate! Honestly, it’s the best we’ve done and you won’t regret it.

Thanks, Alex, Steve, and co for making our...

Really love it at Exmoor Zoo and was excited to take our sons there, the last time being when our eldest was 1 years old, and he is now 8.

It was a rainy day and as expected some of the animals were hiding.

Unfortunately many of the enclosure windows were so filthy you couldn’t see anything. The famous (and very cute) Exmoor Beast could barely be seen, though was entertaining playing through the window.

Its clear improvements and modernisation are in progress.

I felt concerned about one of the cats which was constantly pacing up and down in a short line, though a keeper did go in to feed it the first time we saw it.

The animals all looked well cared for and the enclosures were clean.

We attended animal encounters, which was excellent. Very engaging and the children enjoyed holding the animals and asking questions.

The playground is great, and the children had fun despite the wet and muddy area. Definitely take wellies!

The entrance price is reasonable and in line with similar attractions, proportionate with its size.

The cafe was small but had quite a few tables, and was generally clean. We didn’t eat, but did have a coffee. I queued for around 20 minutes which really is too long.

The shop was not well stocked on the day we visited and had soft toys of some zoo animals but also other animals that were not at the zoo. They could do with stocking a greater selection of soft toys representing animals at the zoo. My son was looking for a wolverine, but unfortunately there was none to be found.

We would visit again in the future. It’s a...

Booked a 2 hour carnivore experience for myself. Started when the zoo opened at 10am, where I was treated by Derek, welcomed and given a safety talk before immediately going with a keeper called Tina to interact with a variety of carnivores. We started by tong feeding the Cheetahs, then got cuddled by Dingos, then scatter fed a Binturong, the Bush Dogs, the Otters and the Bat Eared foxes. We scent lured Bagheera the black leopard for up close experience with her and fed the grey wolf Flea over the fence. It was incredible. Tina was so friendly and knowledgeable and so clearly loved everything she was doing she made the whole thing wonderful. The animals were clearly happy and well enriched. I then spend the rest of the day exploring the zoo at my own pace as general admission was included in the price, which was well worth it by a long way. I did not expect to get so up close and personal with such a variety of species. An incredible day. I'd recommend it as a birthday or Christmas gift for any animal lover.

The staff were so friendly, I've mentioned Derek and Tina as both welcoming, knowledgeable and lovely. But one lady, the receptionist when I entered the park who's name I did not catch also stood out to be. She saw me briefly at 10am when I showed for my pre-booked carnivore experience and then again at 3:30pm when I left the park, and remember who I was and stopped to take the time to ask how I found it and whether I had a good time. Incredible staff. Incredible zoo. Incredible experience. Thank you...