Please read these terms and conditions carefully before making a booking for any of our close encounter animal experiences.
Terms and conditions
participants must be at least seven years old for capybara encounter, armadillo encounter, lemur encounter and zookeeper experience, and at least six years old for meet the meerkats and scales and shells
anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (who, if not a paying participant, can watch and take photos from outside the enclosure)
please advise us if any of the participants have additional needs that might require a modification to the experience. Any participant with special needs that requires specialist support must be accompanied by an appropriate carer
one parent or guardian accompanying a minor is admitted to the zoo free of charge (any additional members of the party not taking part in the experience can purchase an entry ticket at the zoo entrance or online)
family members, guardians or friends not participating in the experience are not allowed behind the scenes
for your safety, please wear appropriate clothing – outdoor attire, full length trousers, no open-toed sandals or flipflops
please ensure you have and up-to-date tetanus vaccination or doctor’s assurance that your last booster is sufficient to mitigate any inherent risks
handwashing before and after the experience is mandatory
if participants of the lemur encounter are displaying cold or other illness symptoms, they may be asked to wear gloves and / or a mask. Alternatively, the experience can be postponed
the animals are given autonomy and are at liberty to decline to participate in experiences if they choose. In this instance an alternative animal encounter will be offered for redemption at that time, or else the experience can be rebooked for a future date
Health and safety rules
please disclose if you have a known allergy to hay, straw or horses, you suffer from asthma or if you have a medical condition that puts you at increased risk during this experience
eating, drinking and smoking during the encounter are not permitted. Do not bring your own food into the enclosure
any exposed cuts or abrasions must be covered with a plaster or a waterproof dressing before participating in the experience
do not attempt to enter any enclosure unless directed by your host
disposable gloves and masks are available if you wish to wear them. These must be worn if directed by your host
do not attempt to touch any animal unless directed by your host
do not eat food intended for the animals
do not place your fingers or hands in your mouth during the experience and do not attempt to kiss the animals
do not sit, stand or climb on furnishings or fencing unless permitted by your host
do not wander off unaccompanied and remain close to your host
photos can be taken throughout the experience unless the host instructs otherwise. Flash photography is not permitted
bags and belongings must be left outside the enclosure
for your safety, your host has the right to terminate the experience without prior warning if you, as guests, do not follow their instruction
any accident or injury should be reported immediately to your host
if at any point the animals start showing any abnormal or undesirable behaviours, your host has the right to terminate the experience
in the event of an emergency, follow the instructions given by your host
Cancellation policy
no refunds will be issued regardless of notice given
to rearrange the date of an encounter, we require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice and the new date will be subject to availability
If you need any further information, please call us on 01293 521168 or email tilgatezoo@crawley.gov.uk.
