Cotswold Wildlife Park is a great day out for the whole family. There’s a huge selection of animals here, many in open enclosures for great views. Here’s my guide to the best animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park.
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What is the best time of year to visit Cotswold Wildlife Park?
For great views of the best animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park, I’d recommend visiting in the spring, summer or autumn. The animals tend to be more active in the warmer months, and in winter it can be more difficult to see them. However, try to avoid the hottest days in the summer, as you’ll find most of the animals sleeping.
Cotswold Wildlife Park can get very busy in the summer holidays, especially at weekends. So if you’re able to visit outside of school holidays, you can enjoy a quieter visit. However, even in summer holidays you can still enjoy a family day out. There’s plenty of space to see all the animals.
Check out the opening times of Cotswold Wildlife Park throughout the year on the website here. You can also book tickets in advance for the reduced price of £16 for an adult, compared to £17.50 on the gate.
What are the best animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park?
Here are some of the best animals that you can see on a day out at Cotswold Wildlife Park.
1. Rhinos
The rhinos are on the lawn just outside the manor house. You can get a great view of them, as there’s just a ditch and no fences between you and them. You can walk all around the rhino enclosure so you’re almost guaranteed to get a good view.
2. Lions
A favourite of any zoo is always the lions. However, don’t ever expect lions in zoos to be doing much! The lions at Cotswold Wildlife Park are nearly always asleep on their platform. If you’re lucky, one of them might raise their head to look at you.
3. Clouded leopard
One of my favourite animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park is the Clouded Leopard. It can be really difficult to spot on amongst all the foliage in the enclosure. But if you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse, it will be worth the wait.
4. Giraffes
The giraffes are some of the best animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park. There’s a brilliant viewing area up the slope, so you can be almost at head height with the giraffes. You can also see the giraffes inside as well, and again you’ll be at head height of the giraffes so you can see their beautiful faces.
5. Zebras
You can also get really good open views of the zebras at Cotswold Wildlife Park. The zebras are beautiful, and the baby Zebra I saw was so cute.
6. Penguins
Another of the best animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park are the penguins. The Humboldt Penguins are really charismatic, and I love watching them interacting with each other. You can watch them swimming as well in their pool.
7. Prairie Dogs
Another super cute rodent is the Prairie Dogs. They live in burrows, and you might see one poking its head out to have a look around. Their bodies always look a bit too big for their heads, which just adds to their cuteness!
8. Meerkats
For more cute animals, make sure you check out the meerkats. Meerkats live in groups and always seem to be busy, on the lookout for predators or digging holes.
9. Red Pandas
One of the most beautiful animals here are the Red Pandas. They’re often asleep high in the trees, but if you’re patient you might get to see one walking around. I love their cute faces, tiny paws and bushy tails.
10. Cassowary
There are plenty of birds at Cotswold Wildlife Park, but my favourite is the Cassowary. This highly endangered Australian bird is smaller than an Emu or Ostrich, and has beautiful blue colours on its head.
11. Cotton-Top Tamarin
There are some great monkeys and lemurs at Cotswold Wildlife Park, including the endangered Cotton-Top Tamarins. These monkeys are really active so it can be difficult to get a good photo of their striking black and white fur.
12. Giant Tortoise
Finally, the Giant Tortoises are just so impressive. It’s amazing to think how long they live – they almost look prehistoric as they wander slowly around their enclosure.
Other attractions at Cotswold Wildlife Park
There are other fun things to do at Cotswold Wildlife Park. There’s a train that goes around the park, which is great fun for children. There’s also a big playground as well, just in case your child still has some more energy! You can buy food at various cafes in the park. And don’t forget to appreciate the manor house and beautiful gardens as well. It’s easy to overlook these when you’re having so much fun looking at the animals!
The Cotswolds is a beautiful part of England, so it’s worth taking some more time to explore the area after you’ve enjoyed seeing the best animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park. I’d recommend checking out this guide to the Cotswolds (affiliate) for more ideas for weekend trips in this area.
Enjoy the best animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park! The Cotswolds is a beautiful area, so make sure you take some time to visit more of this area. Check out my guide to the Cotswolds, especially the beautiful village of Bibury. Or visit nearby Oxford to enjoy the main sights in Oxford, as well as the top 10 alternative things to do in Oxford.
