Best Zoo for photography - UK

new2me

new2me

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I'm guessing some people here have a lot of experience of photography in zoos, so was wondering which are the best for variety of animals/birds and lack of obstructions to get pictures.

Having only been to Twycross and Whipsnade, I can only say I preferred the former, but only just. If the cats were a bit more active and the red panda visible, Whipsnade would have been much more rewarding.
 
Sorry if this is off... but I don't know why people go to the zoo to photograph when theres so many safari parks and no obstructions
 
Not off at all Tony.
I was thinking of going to Woburn, but don't know if a 300mm on a crop is long enough?
 
Personally I go to the zoo as our nearest one is dog-friendly, whereas I can't take the dog to a safari park, nor can I leave her for the day, so it is the zoo or nothing for me. Also, I am sure I am not alone in being the only driver in the family, making photography at safari parks challenging.

In reply to the OP, I have only been to the Cotswold Wildlife Park (for the reason above) but have always come away with some good photos, and the red pandas there are very easy to photograph.
 
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new2me said:
Not off at all Tony.
I was thinking of going to Woburn, but don't know if a 300mm on a crop is long enough?
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I got some brilliant photos at knowsley safary park using a 1.3 crop and a 300mm .. we got so close the 300 was too long sometimes :) one slavering camel stuck its head in the back window of the car.... :)
 
MadWoman said:
I am sure I am not alone in being the only driver in the family, making photography at safari parks challenging.
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you do stop the car.. you can even get out here and there..:)
 
MadWoman said:
only driver in the family, making photography at safari parks challenging..
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I also wondered about that. I dont even know whether it's safe to pull up and wind the windows down :shrug:
But I guess if a camel can poke it's head in, then you can :lol:


Ah, cheers Tony. Think i'll be going Woburn tomorrow then - sunny day forecast :)
 
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you cant open the windows near the lions ect.. but they where walking past the car :) in other areas you can open windows..

only commenting on knowsley and was a few years ago..
 
British Wildlife Centre Photography Day.
Cotswold Wildlife Park
 
Quotes not working for me!

The last time I went to a safari park (7 years ago, I think, before i had a DSLR), I was left with the impression that random and long stopping for photos would be inconvenient for other visitors as the roads were single track. I must have misremembered which i good to know.
 
Another really excellent safari park is Longleat, not only have you the safari park where you can drive through the Lion, Tiger, Wolves, monkey and deer/antelope enclosure but you have the house as well.

For some reason they won't let you get out the car in the Lion, Tiger and Wolf enclosure :lol:
 
MadWoman said:
I was left with the impression that random and long stopping for photos would be inconvenient for other visitors as the roads were single track.
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That's the impression I got from some 70's/80's sitcom :lol:
 
West midlands safari park used too be awesome as there were 2 car wide tracks and you could go around more than once - we usually went once, did the walking and the second time around would be very quiet.


I go to zoos though as I'm in Cornwall, I'm not even sure where the nearest safari park is!


As for south west though, Newquay Zoo, have lemurs and some some little monkeys on islands so with a 200mm zoom even you can get nice photos with no bars, you can lean over some enclosures too.

Dartmoor Zoo, some of the big cat enclosures and the bear enclosure are done so there's a large drop by the wall you stand by so again can get photos without bars in them.


Neither have elephants or anything though, need to go to Paignton for those, not been in years to say what the photography opportunities are like. If anyone wants to pay my expenses I'm sure I can oblige in checking though.. :D
 
I've been to Yorkshire Wildlife Park a couple of times now and you can get some great photos of the lions and tigers from above the fences so the view is unimpeded. You can also go into 3 of the pens and stroke some of the tamer animals like the wallaby's, sheep and goats etc. You can also go in with the lemurs too, but you can't touch them unless they jump on you. All together it's a great day out and I'll definitely go again.
 
Dartmoor Zoo is another option if you are down that way.
 
Cheers for the headsup on the Cotswolds Country Park Gramps. I got to see more of the red pandas than some of the regular visitors have from what I was hearing



:thumbs:
 
You were very fortunate indeed, only time I've seen the red panda he/she was sleeping ... certainly a lot more accommodating for you :thumbs:
 
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