Animal Experiences

Book a guided tour of the Hemsley Conservation Centre and explore areas behind the scenes! You will get a closer view of our aardwolf* and echidna* receiving a meal, as well as  getting a first hand look at our animal feed preparation areas. Tours last approx 60 minutes and are one on one with a keeper and include General Entry. We can't guarantee you will see these species on the tour however our keepers will do their best!

Our junior zookeeper experience lets the younger generation get their hands dirty! Our junior zookeepers will join one of our keepers in helping care for a wide range of animals here at the centre, and learning about what it takes to look after them! Your experience kicks off by meeting some of our creepy crawlies, followed by cleaning our parma wallabies and giving them breakfast! After a short break you will head to the meerkats and spend time feeding them their lunch! After the excitement of the meerkats you will make enrichment (a toy/puzzle) for one of our species at the zoo and watch them enjoy it, then lastly perform a vital health check on our animals and learn how you can enrich and do a health check on animals you have at home. It is truly an experience to remember! Not only that, you’re helping us continue our work! Fancy an exclusive experience for just your party? Select an Exclusive Experience for 1 -4 participants for an experience with just your group. When not selecting an exclusive experience you may be taking part with other people from different families with up to 4 participants.  This experience lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes. Please Note : This itinerary is subject to change based on weather conditions and/or health/management of species on the day

Our Meet the Meerkats experience offers you the chance to get up close to these highly sociable and fascinating creatures whilst giving them some of their favourite snacks, making your day at the HCC a truly special one! After meeting your keeper and a quick briefing, you will head over to our meerkat enclosure where you will spend time with our meerkats and ask any burning questions! It is truly an experience to remember whether for you or a gift for a loved one! Not only that, you’re helping us continue our work! Experience Duration: 30 mins

Our Meet the Lemurs experience offers you the chance to get up close to these highly sociable primates , making your day at the HCC a truly special one! After meeting your keeper and a quick briefing, you will head over to our lemur enclosure where you will spend time with our lemurs and can ask any burning questions you might have! It is truly an experience to remember whether for you or a gift for a loved one! Not only that, you’re helping us continue our work! Experience Duration: 30 mins

Our Capybara and Tapir experience is truly unique, allowing you to get close to these amazingly beautiful animals, making your day at the HCC a truly special one! After meeting your keeper and a quick briefing, you will head over to an exclusive area where you will spend time with our tapir and capybara, and can ask any burning questions you might have! It is truly an experience to remember whether for you or a gift for a loved one! Not only that, you’re helping us continue our work! This experience will usually take place in the tapir paddock - Please ensure you bring appropriate footwear (welly boots) as the paddock can be wet and muddy at certain times of the year. Experience Duration: 30 mins

Spend some time with the playful and inquisitive spider monkeys here at the centre.  Whilst taking part in this experience you will have the opportunity to feed our spider monkeys and learn more about the social dynamics, behaviour, diet and threats to these amazing primates  Please note: This is a no contact feeding experience.  No stroking or 'selfies' are permitted. Experience Duration: 30 mins

Our Meet the kinkajous experience offers you the chance to get up close to these incredible animals , making your day at the HCC a truly special one! After meeting your keeper and a quick briefing, you will head over to our kinkajou enclosure where you will spend time with our kinkajous and can ask any burning questions you might have! It is truly an experience to remember whether for you or a gift for a loved one! Not only that, you’re helping us continue our work! Experience Duration: 30 mins

Our Maned Wolf VIP experience is truly unique, allowing you to get close to these amazingly beautiful animals , making your day at the HCC a truly special one! After meeting your keeper and a quick briefing, you will head over to an exclusive area where you will spend time with our maned wolves, feed them and can ask any burning questions you might have! It is truly an experience to remember whether for you or a gift for a loved one! Not only that, you’re helping us continue our work! Please note this is a no contact experience Experience Duration: 30 mins

Spend some time with the playful and inquisitive otters here at the centre. Otters need constant care, attention and stimulation - so what better way to treat that otter lover in your life! After meeting your keeper and a quick briefing, you will head on in to our feed room to prep the food for the otters. After that it's over to our otter enclosures where you will spend time with our otters and can ask any burning questions you might have! It is truly an experience to remember whether for you or a gift for a loved one! Not only that, you’re helping us continue our work! Please note this is a no contact experience Experience Duration: 30 mins

Our sloth experience offers you the chance to have a tour of our Fragile Forests, get up close to and have the chance of feeding some of our residents in Fragile Forests, including our sloth prehensile tailed porcupines, monkeys, and armadillos  - making your day at the HCC a truly special one! It is truly an experience to remember whether for you or a gift for a loved one! Not only that, you’re helping us continue our work! -- Your experience... Will last around 30 minutes and includes:  Free admission into the zoo for the participant. The chance to feed some of our Fragile Forests animals. This experience depends on the animals choosing to take part. You have the opportunity to learn about these amazing animals and ask our keepers any questions you may have. ​ Experiences are valid for 12 months from date of purchase and must be booked and completed before expiry. The encounter is available for adults and children over the age of 10 years old. Any other guests wishing to watch the experience will need to pay normal centre admission prices.

Armadillos are one of the world's strangest yet adorably cute looking animals. Come along and meet our six banded armadillos whilst giving them some of their favourite snacks, and learn what it takes to care for them! A must for any animal lover! Please scroll down for more details. After meeting your keeper and a quick briefing, you will head over to our armadillo enclosure where you will spend time with our armadillos and can ask any burning questions you might have! It is truly an experience to remember whether for you or a gift for a loved one! Not only that, you’re helping us continue our work! Experience Duration: 30 mins

Our shadow a keeper experience lets the adults get their hands dirty! Our shadow keepers will join a member of our team in helping care for a wide range of animals here at the centre, and learning about what it takes to look after them! What better way to experience the day to day running of the HCC?! You'll be helping with all aspects of being a zookeeper, trying your hand and making feeds, testing your cleaning skills and making enrichment and puzzles to name just a few things! Experience Duration: 2 hours 15 mins

Ever wondered what a porcupine's nose feels like? Or maybe fancy dining with our meerkats? Or sunning yourself with our lemurs? Why not book our VIP Meet & Greet, where you will get to do just that! Our Discovery VIP Tour Package lasts for 1hr 30 minutes, in which time after a  a refreshing drink of your choice and selection of sweet pastries, you will have a dedicated keeper introduce you to some of our amazing and endangered animals! You will get a chance to personally meet and feed our animals and learn a little bit more about them! Includes: Sweet pastries and a hot or cold drink of your choice Opportunity to meet our meerkats, lemurs and porcupines! Experience Duration: 1 hour 30 mins

Enjoy a 2 hour hosted birthday party at the HCC! Includes: Party Food and Soft Drinks - Cold buffet of ham and cheese sandwiches, crisps, veg sticks w/dip, pizza bites, sausage rolls and buscuits. Vegetarian and dairy free options available x2 adults included Animal enrichment making - make presents for the animals and watch them enjoy it Animal mask making or 'how to train an animal' workshop Piñata Bug encounter Additional adults priced at a discounted price of £9.99 which can be purchased on the day of the party.