Animal Attractions

Everyone knows that the great British public loves animals, and spotting a furry red panda high in the trees, or an exotic-looking shark gliding through the water is always really exciting. All our Great Yarmouth nature reserves and most of our local animal attractions can be visited all year round, so you can see the wildlife at all stages of the annual life cycle.

Local animal attractions to visit
Thrigby Wildlife Gardens to the north of Great Yarmouth near the flowery village of Filby hosts a rare collection of Asian mammals, well worth a visit at any time of the year. There are several species of monkey chattering away and some absolutely stunning leopards. You might even spot a new-born baby animal as like most zoos, Thrigby takes it's conservation role very seriously. You can find out more about the incredible man who set up the zoo in our short film below. 

Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre is also open all year round, and is a hugely popular place to visit with displays and exhibitions changing every year. The centre is also hugely into conservation and has several breeding programmes, including one for seahorses and special incubation units for sting rays. 

To the south of Great Yarmouth in Caldecott, Redwings Horse Sanctuary and the Fritton Owl Sanctuary just further along the A143 in nearby Fritton are well worth a visit, both are free to enter and are open all year round, but do check opening days and times before you set off. 

Set in the Norfolk countryside on the edge of the Broads, there are several nature reserves in and around Great Yarmouth, well worth a visit if you're a bird watcher or enjoy walking. There are some great walks in the area and in particular next to river banks and near the Trinity Broads, sites of special scientific interest where unique habitiats for wildlife exist.

More animal attractions in the nearby area
In nearby Kessingland to the south of Great Yarmouth, just as you arrive in Lowestoft, Africa Alive is a fabulous zoo with it's focus firmly on animals from the African savannahs. Lions, white rhinos, giraffes, hyenas and zebras can all be seen.

Pettitts Animal Adventure is a lovely petting zoo near Reepham, with the chance to get up close and personal with smaller animals, as well as see talks and displays.

Norfolk is a large county with many opportunities to explore the local nature, with RSPB, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and National Trust and Natural England reserves in several locations.

Hirsty's Family Fun Park is also well worth a visit at Easter, in high summer or during October half term with the chance to learn all about farm animals.

Many of the animal parks and aquariums have great value annual passes, perfect for presents and ideal if you're planning on coming back several times in the year.