A wild day out at Banham Zoo’s Summer Safari

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If you’re looking for a family day out in Norfolk this summer, Banham Zoo has launched a brilliant seasonal programme called Summer Safari, running from 23rd July to 2nd September 2025. This special event transforms the zoo into a vibrant celebration of wildlife, with added entertainment, hands-on experiences and new family-focused features.

Where is Banham Zoo?

Banham Zoo is located in the quiet Norfolk village of Banham, making it a convenient destination for families across East Anglia.

Address

Banham Zoo
Kenninghall Road
Banham
Norfolk
NR16 2HE

Contact

Phone number: 01953 887771
Wesbite: www.banhamzoo.co.uk

How to get there

By car

Banham Zoo is around 30 minutes from Norwich, 25 minutes from Thetford, and just over an hour from the North Norfolk coast. It’s well signposted from the A11 and A140. Once you arrive, you’ll find free on-site parking, with plenty of space even during the school holidays.

By public transport

The nearest train station is Diss, with direct services from Norwich, Ipswich and London Liverpool Street. From Diss, it’s a 15-minute drive or taxi ride to the zoo. There are limited local bus services, so if you’re not driving, it’s best to plan transport in advance.

Arrival and planning our time at Banham Zoo

We arrived shortly after opening and were greeted by Toby the tiger, who appears at around 10am! What a fantastic welcome and start to the day. Once we showed our ticket at the booking office, we could make a plan and explore the zoo. 

One important thing to note is that there are no paper maps available. Instead, there are large display boards throughout the zoo and a QR code near the entrance where you can access a digital map on your phone. This was easy enough to follow and kept the day flowing without much backtracking. With signs all around the zoo, it was easy to figure out where we where and which incredible animals to go and see next. 

There are additional boards for the Summer Safari activities, which are included with your admission. It was really easy to figure out what we needed to plan for during the day, and to make a note of the times when certain activities would be on. 

What’s On: Summer Safari Highlights

This year’s Summer Safari is packed with live shows, games and interactive experiences for all ages. These extras are included with your regular zoo admission and run on a daily schedule.

Some of the standout activities during our visit included:

• Toby the Tiger meet & greet: The zoo’s summer mascot was roaming near the train station from around 10am, high-fiving children and posing for photos.
• Comedy safari train tour: A gentle ride around the park with plenty of silly jokes and fun facts. The train runs from 10:30, and on a loop. Although queues can be long on busy days, the ride isn’t too long so you won’t be waiting ages. 
• Jungle games: Under the tent on the events field, you can take part in jungle games such as limbo with the great entertainment team. It’s not just for kids, and grown ups can join in too!
• Bubble party: Held around midday on the events field. Expect music, dancing, foam and bubbles and maybe a visit from Toby the Tiger! 
• Live stage show (Safari Shenanigans): A 2pm theatrical performance featuring music, animals and conservation storytelling with a comedic twist.
• Go Awesome! foam party: Held at 3:30pm near the inflatable play zone. What a great way to end the day, but be sure to pack a spare change of clothes!

Times are listed near the entrance and on signs throughout the park. The times made it really easy to plan our day and head back to where we needed to be on time. 

New additions for summer 2025

As part of the Summer Safari event, Banham Zoo has introduced several interactive and educational extras:

• Lookout Towers: Newly built viewing platforms dotted around the park offer a great elevated view of animals like giraffes, wallabies and flamingos.
• Junior Ranger Trail: On entry, children are given a lanyard, ID card and booklet. Throughout the day, they can collect stamps and complete fun activities to earn their “Ranger” status. This activity costs extra. 
• Inflatable Fun Zone: Giant bouncy castles can be found on the events field. There are quite a few of them, open at certain slots throughout the day. 

Animal adventures around the zoo

The animals are still very much the heart of the zoo, and we spent time watching a mix of favourites. Something I love in particular about Banham Zoo is that there;s a lovely mix of big and small. You can go from snow leopards and tigers to giraffes to things like lemurs and meerkats quite quickly. 

One of our favourite areas is the little farm, where you can walk amongst the goats and make friends. Erin’s been trying to talk to the goats since she was about 2 and it’s always the first area she wants to go to. There are lots of lovely small animals here too like guinea pigs, degus and rats.

Sadly, we were not able to see the penguins during our visit, which was a shame because they are my favourites. However, it’s important to note that as a zoo, not all animals will be visible at all times. We didn’t mind, of course, and instead went on to look at something else. 

The exhibits at Banham Zoo always seem to have plenty of space to observe and relax without crowding. We never had to wait to get closer to the animals, even when some of the big ones like the leopards were out and about. 

Facilities and food

Banham Zoo is set up well for families. Toilets and baby changing areas are clean and well spaced throughout the site, and pushchair access is excellent thanks to smooth paths and gentle gradients.

There are a few different cafes and eating spots dotted around the zoo. You can get amazing pizza or burgers at Parkside Pizza, or drinks and baguettes at The Glade. Snack shacks Wise Owl and Woodlands offer things like mac and cheese, hot dogs and loaded fried but these might not always be open. 

We took a picnic with us, opting to eat on one of the many picnic tables dotted round the zoo. If you need somewhere undercover then the events field has an huge covered area with quite a few tables underneath. 

Top tips for visiting during Summer Safari

• Arrive early: Activities begin soon after opening, and it’s easier to get onto the first train ride or meet-and-greet.
• Use the QR code for the map: This is so easy to figuring out where you are during the day.
• Bring towels and spare clothes: Especially if you plan on taking part in the foam party at the end of the day. 
• Plan your day around the showtimes: Check the board at the entrance to make the most of the extras.
• Engage with the Junior Ranger Trail: This is a fun little extra and it’s great for keeping the kids entertained. 

Final thoughts

Banham Zoo’s Summer Safari adds a whole new dimension to a day out at the zoo. The mix of animal encounters, live entertainment, and hands-on experiences creates a full and varied day that kept us engaged from start to finish.

The effort that’s gone into transforming the zoo for the summer holidays is clear, with thoughtful additions and a fun, welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re local to Norfolk or visiting the area, this is a summer event that’s well worth adding to your plans.

Fun days out for the family in Norfolk