Stunningly Beautiful...Tigers!

A Malayan Tiger, at home in the wild

Hamerton Zoo Park, in Cambridgeshire, hit the headlines a year ago when a zoo keeper was mauled to death by a Malayan tiger.  The tiger is still at Hamerton, after the zoo decided not to put the animal down.  When we visited we saw two Malayan tigers, one basking in the sun , the other pacing up and down, beside the fence.  It felt weird watching them with the realisation that one had caused a human death.  I couldn't help feeling that these stunningly beautiful creatures were in the wrong place and should not be held in a small zoo like Hamerton.

Hamerton Zoo Park is nearly thirty years old and has grown over time. I remember my children being taken there by their grandparents and having a lovely time.  It felt strange that I was now visiting all these years later as a grandma, with Soli and his mummy ( my eldest daughter)

Soli"s mummy and little sister, with grandad in charge at Hamerton in 1992

Soli had a great day out, even if we had chosen to go on the hottest day of the year.🌞

Hamerton is only a small zoo and I thought the entrance price was a bit steep at nearly sixteen pounds per adult, although Soli was free.  If you wanted to plan your visit using a map then this was extra. There is a fun road train that is also extra at two pounds per person, even for little people!

The fun, musical road train

The zoo is well laid out with undercover walkways which was great for heat wave weather, as well as rainy days!  There is a good selection of animals, although some were a bit elusive and they have animals that you might not even have heard of like Binturongs.

A Binturong

Currently there is building work going on for new enclosures and a walk through 'Outbeck Aviary'


Soli showed lots of enthusiasm and interest, racing from one enclosure to another, with mummy and grandma bringing up the rear!

The highlights for Soli were the "Tigers", pygmy goats and a very large ice lolly!

A hot and sleepy White Tiger

Making new friends

Soli loved the small toddler play area, particularly the slide.  Older children had a lot more choice though, including a zip wire thingymabob.

I saw that people in the know had taken picnics and sat in the undercover picnic area. There is a small, naff cafe! which definitely needs improving.  A decent food place can only be a good thing and add to your day out, especially if you forget your picnic. The coffee was nice though!

We arrived at Hamerton at 11:30 and left the park at 3:30, without seeing everything!  We were hot, sticky and shattered and it goes without saying that we all slept well that night!💤🌜