Adventure #2 – Paradise Wildlife Park – Mummascribbles

Yesterday was adventure day number two and it featured a whole day outdoors. We picked yesterday for this trip because out of the whole week, it had the best forecast and we couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather.

Here in Hertfordshire, we have a place called Paradise Wildlife Park. I’ve known about it for years as I remember my nephew going on a school trip there but it took me a long time to go there myself – in fact, I think the first time was with the other half pre-Zach. When we started househunting and found our house, we realised that we’d be only a ten minute drive away from it which excited us! We first took Zach for his 1st birthday and then again last year, probably when he was 18 months or so. The difference in his experience then was huge so I knew that now at two and a half it was going to be immense.

Paradise is set out in two sections. The first section when you enter is one giant playground. There are slides of all kinds and sizes. There are go karts and mini ride ons. There is a train ride and and a huge soft play area along with a bouncy castle and a bouncy slide. Over the other side there are the animals ranging from camels and zebras to tigers and lions. It is quite possibly one of my favourite places to visit. And now it appears to be Zach’s too!

When we arrived, he immediately wanted to go on the promised choo choo train ride so we did. Along the train journey there are lots of animal statues including dinosaurs but there is also an enclosure of wolves (real ones), and also deer. Zach of course was slightly more interested in the train itself and specifically trying to see the wheels go round on the track. He was a happy train fan once again!

After that, it was time to play and boy did he! We spent half of the day with him running from slide to slide, climbing the ladders all by himself and whizzing down with utter excitement and sheer joy.

  

The slide he liked the most though was the bouncy one. Last time he went on one of these which was on his second birthday, one of us had to go up with him as his legs were just too little to cope with the bouncy steps! This time, he did it all alone! He may have caused a bit of a queue, but he did it!

He came bouncing down time after time with the biggest laugh. It was so wonderful to watch.

Then it was time for the big fire engine and a few more slides (yep really, he hasn’t had enough slides) along with a go on the stone picking up digger!

      

Once we managed to drag him away from the slides, we wandered over to the animal side. First up, we wandered into the shop to buy him a hat as the sun was so intense! We managed to find the coolest hat ever which he liked for about five minutes before taking it off and we then sat down for a bird show which he enjoyed.

At this point we were all a bit hungry so we went off to find a shady place to eat. The first shady place we came across was a tiny house with tiny benches inside – Zach chose this as our somewhere to eat and we were a bit uncomfortable! But he was happy!

 

After lunch and with a rather tired boy, we went to look at some of the animals.

  

By this point Zach was knackered so we put him in his buggy and tried to get him off to sleep – it wasn’t an easy task! He fought it as much as he could but in the end tiredness won!

While he was having his snooze, I had a yummy ice cream while watching this beauty having a sunbathe!

We then went for a little wander round the animals. I think it was a bit hot for them all!

      

We then took a sleeping Zach into the 3.30pm show featuring ferrets and an owl. While we kind of wanted him to wake up by this point, we didn’t anticipate one of the first things to come out of the speaker being a warning alarm!! He woke with a start but thankfully didn’t get upset and got to enjoy the show

After going to see the tigers again and Zach telling me that he wanted to cuddle one (!), we had one last visit to the playground area, a few more slides, another go on the train and then it was time to get home to make the dumplings for the stew that had been in the slow cooker all day!

We had such a wonderful day at one of our favourite places. I can’t wait to go back again