*Note: the following features a gifted experience. All opinions are my own*
What’s the Backstory?
When they lifted lockdown restrictions last June, Hollie and I went determined not to spend another weekend indoors. It had been sunny for months and we were going to use up every last drop of that sun to have fun with the kids. It meant that we went on an activity hunt throughout the Midlands searching for fun things to do with the little ones (then nearly 2 and 3.5). Among the many destinations we headed to was a familiar favourite, Twycross Zoo.
When we introduced the boys to this wildlife park last year, we just so happened to be there on one of the rainiest days we saw all summer. The boys were out there in their all-in-ones and the Covid guidance meant that all of the indoor areas were closed. Little did we know that it meant that we missed out on the majority of the good stuff.
The first time we went there, the kids weren’t all that engaged because there just wasn’t as much to see. Everything was so far away from them and they had more fun jumping in the puddles than trying to seek the ring-tailed lemurs. Looking back, it’s clear why we didn’t manage to see any of the gorillas or rhinos or bonobos last time – all of them would have been hiding inside!
This time was different though. We were invited down to Twycross on what I’m calling one of the first days of genuine summer weather of 2021, and we made up for what we missed out on last time.
The Highlights
Lorikeets – One of the first stops on the boys’ adventure trails was the lorikeets. All equipped with nectar, we went around an enclosed area filled with rainbow lorikeets. They would swoop down and tuck into the goodness we had for them. Although our youngest wasn’t too keen on these tiny birds fluttering into his personal space, Cameo loved how interactive the whole experience was. It set us up nicely for the rest of the day.
Lemurs – They have a lemur trail you can explore, giving you the chance ro up close and personal with the animals. Although the lemurs were being fed when we walked through, the boys loved that they could get so much closer to them than usual. It made it so much realer for them.
Chimpanzees – While lots of UK zoos have apes, Twycross is the only place you can find the four great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and bonobos) in one place. Let me tell you that we indulged. One of the chimps ended up identifying my two as the ideal audience to showcase all of their funny faces, so they were thrilled about it all.
Gorillas – While we saw lots of larger than life creatures at the zoo (like giraffes and rhinos), there’s something extra special about gorillas. When we found them, most were chilling, while the younger ones were practicing their wrestling skills on one another. Again, the boys couldn’t believe what they were seeing and that they were literally only a screen away from them.
Soft play – After we lunched, we ended the day at the soft play (found near the zoo’s entrance). The kids haven’t been to a soft play in absolutely ages (I’m pretty sure that February 2020 was their last taste). That said, they properly ran riot in that place and had no trouble with any of the equipment. Social distancing measures meant that they had to limit the numbers – massively benefitting us. The hour-long session was the ideal way to close things off for the day.
What Does the Future Hold?
Twycross Zoo is under an hour away from us and there’s really so much to do there. It’s for that reason we’ll most probably make it an annual summer kick-off tradition to head over there for a day of fun. With kids of this age, it’s absolutely perfect. However, I just don’t know how you can possibly get bored of seeing the great apes, so we’ll probably end up pulling them along with us when they’re teenagers.
Twycross Zoo is under an hour away from Nottingham, so ideal for those in the East Midlands. On a map, it’s between Birmingham and Leicester, so seems like a good idea for people anywhere in the Midlands.
The address is: Twycross Zoo, Burton Road, Atherstone. CV9 3PX.
