The Broads National Park has an overwhelming variety of exclusive wildlife to see, from the elusive otter to one of Britain’s largest spiders, the fen raft spider. Norfolk is also home to a range of animal attractions and zoos in the Broads, from Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens in Thrigby to animal adventure park Pettitts in Reedham.
Top Animal Attractions and Zoos in the Broads National Park
Africa Alive!
Moor at: Oulton Broad Yacht Station*
Africa Alive! is a walking safari set across 100 acres of Suffolk’s spectacular countryside, just a short 10-minute taxi ride from Oulton Broad Yacht Station. The African themed park is part of vital work to animal care and welfare, education, and conservation, and is a registered charity. The park is home to 5 species from Africa’s savannah, with an indoor and outdoor adventure play areas, as well as restaurants. A fun day out when looking for zoos in the Broads National Park!
Pettitts Animal Adventure Park
Moor at: Reedham*
Pettitts Animal Adventure Park is great for younger children, with gentle rides, adventure play, and a selection of animals for the animals to see and sometimes hold. From domestic animals like rabbits and guinea pigs to Marmoset monkeys, ferrets to ring-railed lemurs, there’s plenty to see and experience on your adventure around the park. Some of the animals are even visible from the park’s half-mile miniature railway!
Redwings Caldecott, Beccles
Moor at: Beccles Yacht Station*
Redwings’ largest visitor centre, 120 horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules call Redwings Caldecott home. Here you can visit Redwing’s rescued residents and hear their stories whilst getting close and cuddly with some of the sanctuary’s horses and donkeys. You can also learn about the work Redwings does across the country in Essex, Scotland, and Warwickshire.
Sea Life Centre, Great Yarmouth
Moor at: Great Yarmouth Yacht Station*
Along the Great Yarmouth seafront is the Sea Life Centre. With penguins, a Tropical Ocean Display complete with sharks and Ocean Tunnel, as well as their Pirate Reef section which features octopi, seahorses, and coral reef, there’s plenty of marine-life to see! There’s also the opportunity to get close to sea-life with the centre’s Rockpools, as well as see different creatures be fed along with a talk!
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens
Moor at: Acle*
Strong supporters of conservation, Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens house a number of different animals within their gardens, from the rarest and most endangered Sumatran Tigers to the little-known Amur Leopard from Korea and Russia. The gardens also feature a Reptile and Swamp House, a variety of primates, and more. There are also special attractions inside the gardens, including the Willow Pattern Garden which takes you through a Chinese legend, the tiger tree walk, and the Lime Tree Lookout.
Wroxham Barns, Hoveton
Moor at: Wroxham*
Wroxham Barn’s junior farm is just that – farm yard animals for the kids to see and interact with! At the Junior Farms the kids can feed orphaned lambs, cuddle rabbits, guinea pigs, and chicks, and groom the farm’s ponies! An especially great way for kids to learn about farm animals and give them a cuddle.
