Noahs Ark Zoo farm provides a fantastic day out for people of all ages, with a wide range of animal species from Tamarins to Tapirs, and Gibbons to Giraffes. There are handling sessions for the children (and the grown up children) with rabbits, guinea pigs and chicks.
The Play areas are numerous and cater for all ages and in all weathers. The keepers are friendly and always have time to answer questions with a smile and it is obvious that they are all passionate about their animals.
People need to ignore all the negative publicity of recent times and go and see for themselves what a great place this is. I would be very surprised if you didn’t enjoy a full action packed day out.
For mealtimes you can either eat a picnic on one of the many picnic tables (inside and out) or you can buy lunch in the café, which is reasonably priced and serves good quality lunches and snacks.
I would recommend a visit to Noahs Ark for anyone that enjoys family days out in the fresh air, and is interested in animals of all shapes and sizes.
Rating: 
Review by: looby lou
Date: 17th October 2010 - 18:09
Very enjoyable day out - amazed at the range of activities to do!
The kids LOVED the 11 huge adventure playgrounds. I loved seeing the tigers in their massive enclosure. They were really active unlike some big cats I've seen in other zoos. They seemed healthy and thriving.
The daily events are diverse and very hands on so I got to touch a lot of animals I never have before. Really good value for money for entertaining my family the whole day!
Would definitely go back. There are good baby changing facilities, a massive indoor soft play, loads of high chairs for use in the cafe. My littlest one is 15 months and he was just as entertained at Noah's Ark as my older ones.
Rating:
Review by: Mandy Patch
Date: 11th October 2010 - 13:55
Noah's Ark is a really great fun day out!
We've been 5 or 6 times now as the kids really enjoy it, there's lots of do, and lots of big, safe play areas.
Last time we were there we saw the tigers being fed, and one was swimming around in its outdoor pool playing with a ball, which was gorgeous. You can feed the goats and the camels with food from the shop, which we loved doing.
The best part of the day was the big tractor ride, out across the fields on the farm. It was very bumpy and we saw a wild deer and some buzzards.
The cafe is a bit busy, but you're allowed to take your own picnics, which is what we do, and there are plenty of places to sit down on the grass to enjoy.
Overall, a fantastic day, highly recommended!
Rating:
Review by: Sally
Date: 4th October 2010 - 15:19
A wonderful place to take kids of any age there isn’t a better zoo for getting up close to the animals and the petting area and farm animals are very hands on. There are play areas all around inside and out. The staff is friendly and there is a family feel to the place. Probably because it’s part of a family run working farm. They have Rhino, Giffaffe, and lots of other big animals. If you take the free parking into consideration it’s not expensive either. They have come under attack (particularly on the internet) from animal rights who just don’t believe in zoo’s and are prepared to lie to further their cause. Go and see for yourself, you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Review by: Barry
Date: 22nd September 2010 - 05:12
I found this on the internet regarding the zoo -
"This zoo was exposed in October 2009 after one of their deceased tigers was illegally buried on land belonging to the zoo. The tiger in question, whose name was Tira, was on loan from the Great British Circus, one of the few remaining circuses in the UK who still use performing animals in their shows, and the only one still to use tigers. Tira died 10 days after giving birth to four cubs. All four of her cubs also died."
"After receiving information that Noah’s Ark Zoo had been using Tira to run a breeding programme for the circus owner, the Captive Animals’ Protection Society (CAPS) arranged for one of their investigators to work undercover at the zoo. The findings of this investigation were particularly shocking and were televised in a report by the BBC’s Inside Out West on 19th October 2009.
The investigation revealed that several tigers and camels were on loan from the owner of the circus for breeding purposes. When questioned by the press and public as to where these tigers had come from the owner of the zoo had claimed they were from a private collector in the north. It was discovered that this ‘collector’ was Martin Lacey, owner of the Great British Circus, a fact that had also been withheld from the zoo trade body, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). After carrying out its own investigations, BIAZA terminated Noah’s Ark ’s membership for bringing the organisation into disrepute and deliberately keeping it’s dealings with the circus hidden. This is a highly unusual course of action by BIAZA and illustrates the severity of the situation."
"North Somerset Council, the body responsible for licensing the zoo, was so concerned about the findings of the CAPS investigation that it launched a full investigation of its own, and has since attached seven conditions to the zoo’s licence to prevent further breaches of regulations. These include more regular visits by the zoo’s vet and ending displays where non-domesticated animals are handled for the benefit of the public."
You may find more information about the CAPS investigation on their website:
http://www.captiveanimals.org/...ah.html and the Council investigation at http://www.captiveanimals.org/...ah.html
Noah’s Ark has also attracted a great deal of recent criticism for its excessive use of creationist propaganda throughout the zoo, a fact which its owner, Anthony Bush, is happy to admit. In January last year he told the Church Times, “From the outside, our farm is not overtly Christian, but, from the inside, we are very strongly Christian. I am a Creationist, and we see the farm as a mission station to give people scientific permission to believe in God”
Examples of this at work include a large poster on the gibbons enclosure listing ‘30 reasons why apes are not related to man’; a poster claiming that birds sing, among other reasons, to ‘praise their Maker’; and signs describing how the ‘three great people groups’ may have descended Noah’s three sons.
When questioned about the zoo’s creationist agenda, the Head of Zoology at Oxford University , Professor Paul Harvey replied: “The zoo is conflating science with religion. They are proposing a two-stage process: initial creation followed by evolution through natural selection. The first is not open to scientific testing while the second is. This is educationally unacceptable.”
There have also been a number of Health and Safety concerns raised at the zoo, an example of which is that it was learned more than a month after the arrival of the tigers that the zoo had still not acquired adequate anaesthetics with which to tranquillise a tiger in the event of an escape. It is not clear whether this issue is still to be resolved and it was drawn to the attention of the council for the benefit of their investigation."
After all that i don't think i'll be visiting them! Also they have been given planning permision by the council to build a elephant enclousure which they hope to fill with 4 ( i think ) elephants...I doubt very much they will be able to look after them properly. Steer well clear i reckon.
Rating: 
Review by: James
Date: 7th September 2010 - 19:06
The zoo and farm are fantastic, my daughter loved being able to play with and touch the farm animals. lots of space but would have been annoyed if we had had to pay to take in a 2 year old as there were no swings etc suitable for her in the outside areas.
Don't worry about the creationism, we saw no mention of this at all. the only place i assumed there would be a mention was a display about Noahs ark- easily avoided. You teach your kids what you believe.
Rating:
Review by: Daniel
Date: 11th April 2010 - 20:50
The zoo has been investigated my CAPS and North Somerset council recently for animal welfare reasons. it now has 7 additional itmes in order for it to keep its licence. There are other places that dont have these issues that I would recomment ahead of Noah's Arc.
The owner told me he believes that saturn exploded and wiped all the human bones that were around when dinosaors and humans lived in harmony! I wont be visiting as I dont think my children need to hear this nonsence.
Rating:
Review by: Loz
Date: 5th April 2010 - 19:51
What a brilliant place! The staff are really friendly and the zoo it's self is huge!
Loved the bigger animals, especially the Rhinos. The kids have lots of space and you can stroke and hold chicks and rabbits and feed the baby lambs.
A great day had by all. I did notice a couple of indications that the zoo is run by christians, however this is by no means a bad thing and did not stop the kids having a great time and if you don't believe it, just ignore it!
Sarah
Rating:
Review by: Sarah
Date: 1st April 2009 - 12:57
before taking your kids here, be aware that the zoo promotes creationism
Rating:
Review by: Simon
Date: 26th March 2009 - 11:49
Fantastic place! Had my daughters's 6th birthday here. The kids loved it. All 18 of them! One 6 year old described it as the birthday party ever!
So much to do and keep the kids amused. Lovely relaxed area - nice grounds.
Rating:
Review by: Julian
Date: 21st August 2005 - 08:39
They have a big indoor play area in a barn which was a bit chilly, a big outdoor play area, lots of different animals, tractor rides, talks about animals.
When its warm take your own picnic as there are lots of benches and the cafe itself is very small.
All the animals in here are linked to the story of Noah's arc.
http://noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk/i...x.shtml
Rating:
Review by: Elaine
Date: 28th August 2004 - 20:25
