About two weeks ago now, I surprised my partner my a Zoo Venture Tour at the National Zoo and Aquarium for your 2 year anniversary/Valentine's Day. We both love animals, and while I dream of going on a Safari in Africa, this is probably all I can afford at the moment.
A Zoo Venture Tour is a two hour experience run at the Zoo and Aquarium where you can get up close and personal with the animals. The award winning Zooventure Tour is one of the most hands-on zoo experiences available in Australia, and possibly the world. If you're an animal lover looking for the thrill of a lifetime, then a ZooVenture tour at the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra is just the thing. The Zooventure is a 2 hour behind the scenes guided tour that offers participants the opportunity to learn about a variety of amazing animals and experience a bounty of rare and close-up encounters.
I chose this tour over some of the other experiences the National Zoo and Aquarium has to offer, because while its $145 each, an experience with one animal is at least $100 each. So I thought it was way better value for money. The tour itself is run from 3.30-5.30pm each day, meaning you get the day to explore the zoo (entry included in your ticket) if you wish, and then you get to hang out for a little while after hours, going 'behind the scenes' to hand feed and experience animals up close an personal.
So what did our tour have to offer? We got to see and experience so much. We first started with the beautiful Brown Bear where we got to 'hand feed' her. Well more like spoon feed her and gosh was she excited. I was so surprised by how gently she took each mouthful that we fed her. There was no rush, just sheer enjoyment of being fed.
We then went over to the Giraffes, who sadly weren't too interested in eating our food, so instead we got to have a wonder through the new enclosures and see some of the animals that were not yet open to public! The new part of the zoo is going to be an amazing addition to what the National Zoo and Aquarium already has to offer, and is a lot more spacious. It is going to be so beautiful when it is finished.
Wondering back to the old part of the zoo we visited the White Lions, where we got to feed them as well. Now while they look cute and soft and cuddly, these lions are not tame at all. While we got to feed them (through the fence) the handlers never enter the enclosure of these animals, because well...that would be the end of them... They are such gorgeous, majestic animals though. Hearing them roar up close and personal was absolutely incredible!!
We were meant to go on to feed the adorable Otter next, but she didn't really want anything we had to offer her. So we moved on to our final animal - the Python. We got to hold the HUGE, and quite heavy, Python. While it wasn't poisonous, it was still slightly terrifying. My partner, absolutely loved the Python and they got on like a house on fire. I wouldn't voluntarily hold a snake again though...
All in all I was so impressed and pleased with our tour. It was raining when we got there, and despite the tickets being non-refundable, they did offer to reschedule our tour, but we decided to go through with it anyway. We were in a group eight people, but our tour guide was fantastic and made sure we all got an good turn at feeding the animals. One thing to keep in mind if taking the family that all children do have to be 12 years or older. You do get discounts for booking more than one ticket, and also for booking tickets during the week!
I absolutely loved the experience, it was definitely nothing I every imagined doing and was both informative and so much fun! I highly recommend this experience for anyone, it would also make the perfect gift as well!
What animals would you most want to see on the Zoo Venture Tour?
WOW this is epic ... thanks for sharing this
ReplyDeleteNo worries! Glad you enjoyed xx
DeleteI'm usually not a big zoo person but this actually looks really fun, I loved seeing photos of that bear and the lion!
ReplyDeleteJulia // The Sunday Mode
I saw the same white lion when I was at Canberra Zoo! Absolutely gorgeous and majestic! It might sound weird but it's so humbling to be around such powerful animals. Still cannot believe we exist in a world with such beautiful creatures!
ReplyDeleteSharni // www.agirlandgrey.com
OMG! This is epic, I had no idea Canberra had this! I have never been to Canberra before.
ReplyDeleteShannon x
www.shannongibb.blogspot.com
That lion is majestic AF. This actually looks like a really cool experience. I couldn't do the snake holding though :/
ReplyDeleteEmma | Rosy Disposition
This looks like so much fun! I wonder if they offer something like this at my state's Zoo? What an amazing experience :)
ReplyDeleteDi from Max The Unicorn
You looked like you had a great visit. I definitely don't think I could have had the guts to pick up that huge python.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing pics from your future safari trip too? Potential honeymoon ideas?
Rochelle || www.simplesocialsister.com
Sounds like a fun experience :) I was just in canberra visiting friends so I'll have to do this next time I'm down there :)
ReplyDeleteAmy // www.thenoiseinwonderland.com
I nearly died!! You fed a bear!! So cute!
ReplyDeleteFeeding a lion would be increadible, I wonder if Perth zoo has tours like this.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea the ACT even had a zoo.
ReplyDeleteAnge | Diary-of-Ange.com
Brilliant photos! When I was younger my family lived in Dubbo and we had a yearly pass to Western Plains Zoo but we never did any Safari's that I can remember. Zoo's are the best fun! Last year I went to Singapore Zoo and it was fantastic : )
ReplyDeleteMaddie | www.maddiesbeautyspot.com
Wow! What an experience! I can't believe that let you feed the animals too. Your photos of the trip look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBec | Beauty With Bec
I love the photos!! The python.... not so much 😟
ReplyDelete