Big cats, a toucan, tarantulas and tapirs will make Half Term braziliant at Amazona Zoo!
One of Norfolk’s leading attractions, Amazona Zoo in Cromer offers a unique Half Term day out where families can explore and learn about a varied and fascinating selection of animals native to South America from big cats to resident creepy crawlies.
Amazona Zoo is home to over 200 tropical animals, including birds of prey, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, monkeys, snakes, caimans, flamingos, tapirs, parrots and Tic-Tac the toucan, the zoo is committed to helping visitors discover nature and providing on conservation issues set within 15 acres on the north Norfolk coast.
Head off on the Wildfowl Walk and spend time at the Flamingo Lagoon. Take a peek at the birds of prey and watch the cheeky Capuchin monkeys. The Tropical House is an area of caiman together with the scary Spider House.
Discover the wide variety of animals including the playful monkeys and otters, a cute South American guinea pig village and a bulb walk through seasonal snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells.
Rainforest Springs is a safe outdoor adventure play area which includes swings and lots of wooden structures to play, picnic beaches and two enormous jumping pillows for all the family to enjoy and bounce on together.
No worries if it’s raining, Jungle Tumbles is the indoor-soft play area that has slides, tunnels, interactive toys and climbing nets, providing under 12’s with a great indoor creative and active experience on sunny or rainy days.
The cafe and shop
There is also a lakeside cafe providing a wide range of hot and cold snacks, meals and drinks and is open from 10.30am. The well-stocked gift shop sells a variety of toys, games, stationery, jewellery, confectionary and books.
What Animals and Birds can you see?
There are at least four ‘feed the animal’ events a day, with jaguar and pumas on alternate days.
- Four species of tarantulas
- South American guinea pigs
- Feline Forest – Pumas, Jaguar, Jaguarundi and Ocelot
- Tropical House: Entering from the Capuchin walkway, visitors will encounter the Currasow and the Piping Guan. After the bridge, see the Spectacled Caiman and spot the Red-tailed Catfish or the Black Pacu. Follow the path into the shadows to find the Iguanas, the Anaconda and the Boa Constrictors.
- South American Wildfowl: See native migratory species such as Greylag Geese and Mallard, as well as Chiloe Wigeon, Brazilian Teal, Coscoroba Swan and the iridescent Comb Duck
- Chilean Flamingos
- Birds of Prey: Red-legged Seriema are South America’s nearest relation to birds, known in the rest of the world as cranes. Striated Caracara, also known as Johnny Rook, are found predominantly in the Falkland Islands and small islands off Tierra del Fuego. Once abundant in numbers there are approximately only 500 pairs left in the Falklands.
- Capybara – This is the world’s largest rodent. It is an excellent swimmer, with eyes, nostrils and ears set in alignment across the top of the head
- Brazilian Tapir– One of the largest of three species to be found in South America, this one has the widest distribution. Its closest relatives are the rhinoceros
and the horse. - Amazon Parrots, Macaws and a Toucan
- Squirrel Monkeys – This small monkey of Central and South America lives in troops of up to 30-40 animals from mangrove swamps to 3,000 feet above sea level
- Geoffrey’s Spider Monkeys – This species is distributed throughout Central America, from Mexico to Panama
- Ring-tailed Coati & American River Otters
- Marmosets – Capuchin Monkeys
- Mara – the Patagonian Hare
- The Rhea – the greater Rhea is one of South America’s largest birds
- Collared Peccary – Also known as the Javelina or the Musk Hog, this is the smallest of the peccary species.
For more information visit www.amazonazoo.co.uk call 01263 510741 or follow @AmazonaZoo on twitter and AmazonaZoo on Facebook.
Disclosure – whilst I have worked with Amazona in the past I have not been compensated for sharing this article, I just thought it may be useful for my local readers.