"Free the animals"

Free the animals. Good day out.

"Covid aware???"

Visited the zoo this week for the first time since lockdown with kids and grandkids. Whilst the grandkids enjoyed it we were shocked at the apparent lack of covid awareness with many sanitiser stations empty and no apparent controls over the number of people entering the indoor enclosures resulting in cramped conditions- ideal for virus transmission. The zoo really needs to address these shortcomings asap or visitors will stay away.

"We visited the Colchester zoo yesterday…"

We visited the Colchester zoo yesterday and was very disappointed with their lack of covid awareness. Lots of hand sanitizers but most were empty, no one around to monitor the indoor spaces so lots of people without masks, people not social distancing also ignoring the no entry signs.
We were warned before we went that the zoo was very lax in their attitude as friends experienced this after lockdown. We should have listened.
Get a grip Colchester Zoo or lose your visitors! We won’t be back 😖

"We took our granddaughter to the zoo a…"

We took our granddaughter to the zoo a long awaited treat.
We found the route around the zoo so confusing wondering if we were missing bits of it keeping ending up where we had already been the social distancing was difficult.
I found the loos to be plentiful around the park and quite clean.
There seemed to be few animals but the best area was where the giraffes were mixed with other animals.
Sadly we were in awe of the beautiful tiger.but I found it quite distressing watching it circle continuously around its compound. We did have a good day but I do feel guilty for supporting the captured animals especially that poor tiger!

"Amazing sloth experience"

I visited Colchester Zoo for the first time yesterday with my family. I was lucky enough to have a sloth experience which was amazing. The keeper was incredibly knowledgeable about Gallina who I was feeding and the other sloths that they have. She did her upmost to make sure I have a perfect sloth experience which was really appreciated.
All the staff members we spoke to were very friendly which was nice, there seems to be a really high standard of customer service across the board.
It's a big site with a lot to do, the social distancing measures were a bit confusing but it's a very new situation and a hard thing to manage.
My children loved the big park near the entrance, the koi carp and the lorikeets. It was a lovely day out for them and we would love to visit again.

"Nice day out"

Myself, 2 adults and a child went to visit the zoo yesterday and I do not see what people on here are moaning about. It was very well run, considering what's going on in the Country. It looks to me as though they have put great effort in to try and keep to the social distancing guidelines. There were plenty of animals to see and many places to sit (in the shade) as it was 36 degrees. There were hand sanitisers everywhere, lots of hand washing places and masks had to be worn inside buildings, which looked like most people stuck to doing. We went on the little train, which had screens in place and a knowledgeable driver. Well done to the zoo. We had a nice day.

"Poorly thought out social distancing measures"

With they’re ‘social distancing’ in place you had no choice but to be all bundled together with the people that came in on the same time slot as you... the arrows were extremely confusing, you just couldn’t go where you wanted and you just couldn’t avoid groups of people. Other zoos allow you to go in and go where you like, then if you did see a big group at least you could choose to go the other way. Would not recommend this Zoo all the while social distancing is in place.

"Very disappointed"

Took my family for a treat. Cost £174.99 for the day! Wish I hadn’t offered to treat everyone! Unfortunately we were very disappointed with our day. After reading about timed entrance, I actually thought social distancing would be in place. Not at all. People were so confused as to which way to go, and at junctions you had no choice to come into close contact with others. Being in our 70s we certainly did not feel safe, and seemed to be the only ones wearing masks! As for the animals, I think they have all got used to being on their own and have gone into hiding. I won’t be visiting again.the only bit we really enjoyed and felt safe, was the African enclosure. So sad.

"Loyal passholders being treated poorly"

I have been a loyal passholder with the zoo for years. I recently renewed our family passes and waived the three months free we were entitled too, also the 15% renewal discount as we love this zoo and want to support it. After purchasing our passes I then realised there were no slots available for passholders. As a member of the general public purchasing a ticket I could choose any day, any time. I am incredibly disappointed that tickets slots have been so unfairly distributed that general public have an abundance of slots and passholders appear to be offer such a limited number that they are sold out immediately. The balance is not right. Both myself and my husband are keywords we've had no break during the covid restrictions, our children have been in childcare throughout. We have two weeks off work and are desperate for some family time with our two children wanted to take them on their favourite day out, but we can't. I put in a formal complaint but was told there is nothing they can do to help me other than suggest I attend after 3pm. This is not something we can do with two young children who have their tea at 4pm and get ready for bed between 5-6pm My only option now is to request my passes are cancelled and reimbursed (there is no guarantee this will be permitted). Then I can easily purchase my ticket as a member of the general public and convert my ticket into a pass again. Can't believe loyal supporters of the zoo are being treated like this, the zoo have really let down the people who guarantee their income.

"Really pissed off now, again"

Really pissed off now. Have been trying to go to Colchester Zoo now for couple of weeks on days that I am free to take my 2 and a half year old with no success, the reason for this is because I paid up front for a Gold Pass!!!!!! If I want to pay on the day, no problems, pick what day and go. I understand that things have changed but I have paid for something that I am not being allowed to use. Penalised for giving the zoo money up front, that is NOT GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, virus or no virus. DO NOT BUY A YEAR PASS.

UPDATE 27 July 2020
We gave up on trying to get tickets as Passholders and paid again full price to go to the zoo with family. So even if we could have used our passes there would have been 2 extra adult tickets, we all had ice creams, drinks and spent in the shop, so the Zoo would have got money out of us anyway even if we could have got in using our gold passes.
I have written, through the website complaining but had no response, no shock there then.
But what was a shock was the total lack of enforcement of the social distancing rules inside the zoo, i resorted to putting a mask on, one of the 0.5% who did so that day. What was the point of making everyone stand apart to get in when its a free for all inside!!! Shocking.

UPDATE 1st August 2020
Now received an email from the Zoo with a letter from the Zoo Director where he actually say " Gold passholders have not been mistreated" WHAT!!
He then goes on to say how well they are doing with passholders and encourages people to visit and upgrade to Gold passholder. Unbelievable.
And there was me thinking he was going to say to Gold passholders that if you have been unable to use your pass and have then paid again to get in anyway we will refund the entrance fee as you are a valued customer, i should have known better.