Brilliant zoo less than an hour from Cardiff that will be quieter this Easter holidays

Wales Online

23-04-2025

Brilliant zoo less than an hour from Cardiff that will be quieter this Easter holidays
The Bristol Zoo Project in the south west is a wildlife park that focuses on protecting threatened habitats on our doorsteps and around the globe, and it's a wonderful place to visit this Easter holidays
Two young male wolves at The Wild Place Project in Bristol
(Image: Getty Images )
While the iconic Bristol Zoo may be a thing of the past, there's still a fantastic place to visit across the Severn where you can see stunning animals and have a great time.
The Bristol Zoo Project, previously known as The Wild Place Project, was launched by the Bristol Zoological Society in 2013. It's a wildlife park with a mission to protect threatened habitats both locally and globally. Work is set to begin at the BZP at Blackhorse Hill in Bristol to transform it into a new conservation zoo featuring immersive animal habitats.
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This zoo safeguards endangered habitats close to home, like British woodland, as well as those further afield in places like Madagascar, Cameroon, and the Congo.
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It is worth the visit, especially during the Easter holiday and even more so this week as most pupils in England have now gone back to school and therefore the site will potentially be less busy than it has been over the last week and a bit quieter than Welsh attractions.
At the Project, you'll encounter European brown bears in the Bear Wood, cohabiting with European grey wolves, Eurasian lynxes, and wolverines.
You can also visit the Madagascan village, which houses mongoose lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs, white-belted ruffed lemurs, and our Alaotran gentle lemurs.
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A four-month-old Lynx kitten explores its home in the Bear Wood exhibit
(Image: PA )
The Benoue National Park, a replica of the wilds of Cameroon, Africa, is home to giraffes, cheetahs and zebras.
Last spring, Bristol Zoo Project welcomed a new addition - a male red panda named Nilo.
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Visitors can watch him acclimate to his custom-built habitat. During the spring and summer of 2024, a brand-new trail was introduced.
The We're Going on a Bear Hunt trail brings the award-winning animation to life.
Based on the beloved children's picture book, it features themed installations that invite visitors to follow the book's characters' journey, braving the elements and recreating the family's adventure at the story's core.
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We're Going on a Bear Hunt trail at the Bristol Zoo Project
(Image: Bristol Zoo Project )
The trail's launch coincided with the fifth anniversary of the opening of Bristol Zoo Project's award-winning Bear Wood. Here, four European brown bears coexist with wolves, lynxes and wolverines.
The exhibit narrates the history of British woodland from 8,000 BC to the present day. It meanders through 7.5 acres of ancient woodland on elevated treetop walkways.
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Visitors can step back in time and observe its inhabitants – all native British species lost over time, now reintroduced in one spectacular immersive experience.
The giraffes at the Wild Place Project
(Image: PA )
Aside from spotting wildlife, there's a plethora of activities to keep the whole family entertained.
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These include several outdoor play areas, a giant bird's nest, and the Barefoot Trail where children can experience different habitats under their feet.
There's also a climbing wall and a giant maze - plenty to enjoy.
The Bristol Zoo Project embarked on a new phase of redevelopment last spring, with the creation of a Central African Forest habitat.
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It became home to the zoo's existing troop of Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas, who were joined by Endangered cherry-crowned mangabeys, Critically Endangered slender-snouted crocodiles, Endangered African grey parrots and several extremely threatened species of West African freshwater fish.
The site went through renovations last year
(Image: Bristol Zoo Gardens )
For all the latest on the BZP and to book tickets, click here. The Bristol Zoological Society has plans for the site stretching to 2035.
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At the 136-acre Bristol Zoo Project site, they aim to create an immersive experience where visitors and animals are enveloped in the natural landscape.
In the coming years, Bristol Zoological Society plans to transform into an inspiring visitor attraction where approximately 80% of species will be connected to our global conservation efforts, living in environments that closely mirror their natural habitats.
The society's former site at Bristol Zoo Gardens in Clifton is set to be sold off to secure the future of the organisation.
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