A Day in Edinburgh Zoo

Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).

It was our first day in Edinburgh and decided to visit the famous Edinburgh Zoo. We’ve reached Edinburgh last night as the flight was cheap that time. But we had to pay for the overnight hotel staying. Including the hotel cost and flight cost it was cheaper than the flight of other times around. That’s why we’ve picked that odd timed one. We’ve stayed at Ibis budget hotel near the Gyle centre.

A Deer resting.

To visit the zoo we’ve started very late in morning. It was around 11am when we’ve left our hotel. Then we’ve bought the day ticket from the tram stoppage near the Gyle centre. The day ticket price is 4 pound per person and you can ride on the tram or bus unlimited times within the city area. I think it was a good deal. We took the bus number 12 from there and it dropped us in front of the zoo after 20 minutes.

Penguin.

We bought the zoo ticket from the entrance. They guy from the reception was very helpful and informative. He provided us all sort of information. We’ve booked our Panda visit (free but have to book a time to minimize the queue) around at 1:30pm I guess. Entry fee for the zoo is 19 pound if you buy it from the counter.

Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).

Edinburgh zoo is a well maintained, has all sort of facilities for the visitors. The paths are clean with required directions. It is not a very big zoo. But within a busy city the zoo is organized in a nice way. It is very interesting that the zoo has uphill paths as well. I think it is because the city is in a hilly area. This makes the zoo even more natural, specially for the open fields for the large mammals.

Meerkats (Suricata suricatta). They are very interesting. Always moving their head at right or left, and that is also in a group!

This zoo has a pair of Panda from China (as a lease). This is in fact a main attraction for the visitors. Only few of the Zoos in world are having this Panda outside China. Every visitors are given half an hour of time slot. We had to wait for 15 minutes in front of the Panda house as they were sleeping inside their huts. And after that one Panda came out and started walking in a pattern. That Panda never stopped for a second and kept walking.

Meerkats (Suricata suricatta).

The Penguin pool was just beside the Panda. We’ve then gone there to visit the Penguin. I’ve never seen Penguins before. They were plenty in numbers and doing swimming in the pool. They use to arrange a parade for the Penguins everyday at 2:00pm. People were standing on the street and the Penguins were marching in front of them. We couldn’t join the crowd there as it was packed. We’ve watched the parade from the far.

Color of Autumn in trees.

We’ve walked most of the part of the Zoo and spent plenty of time to watch each of the animals. That eventually took all the times from the day. We had a plan to visit the other places from the town after visiting the zoo. But it was already 4:00pm of the day when we’ve left the zoo. Besides after doing a checkin in our hotel I was feeling very tired to visit another place for the day. Instead I did some walking around St Mary’s Cathedral near my hotel, and then went for a dinner (with Biriyani) from Tikka Mahal.

Adult eastern white pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus).

Entry fee & Opening hours:

Entry fee is 19 pound for the Adults. And if you buy it online 2/3 days before your visit then you’d get a discount of 2/3 pounds. Then entry time varies depending upon the month you are visiting (as summer has longer day, and fall has s shorter day). You can find all the details about the entry fee and visiting hours from the Edinburgh Zoo’s website.

Adult eastern white pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus).

How to Go:

Plenty of buses pass beside the Edinburgh zoo. You can take any of them. The city of Edinburgh is very handy with public transport. You’ll find public buses from anywhere of the town. I’ve used the bus 12 and it is only 1.60 pound for a single ride unless you don’t have a day ticket (which costs 4 pound).

Pond for the Pelicans to wander I think.

Where to stay:

Booking.com

Once again plenty of hotels around the city as lot of tourists use to visit this city. Look here for list of hotels from Edinburgh. I’ve stayed at the Ibis budget hotel for the first night, and Leonardo hotel for the next two nights.

This size of large trees are very uncommon in Ireland and United Kingdom.

Where to eat:

Plenty of restaurants around the city serving different different cuisines for different mouths. My tongue always craves for the South asian cuisines. So I’ve gone to the restaurants Tikka Mahal and Mosque kitchen. Both are very nice and with affordable prices. I’ve tried the Biriyani there and it was delicious. From my opinion it was slightly better than the Biriyani that we have in Dublin.

Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).

Chinese gorals (Naemorhedus caudatus arnouxianus) can be found through much of southern, south-eastern and central China.

Color of Autumn in trees. The fallen leafs are making the pond water unclean.

Walkaway for the visitors, very well maintained.

southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius).

Pygmy hippos (Hexaprotodon liberiensis) are native to West Africa, with the largest population in Liberia.

Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).

This curious kid was very enthusiastic to see the Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).

Penguin. Never seen Penguin in my life before, live.

This Penguin is a funny one with its crest. May be it is a juvenile.

One Penguin is thinking before diving in to the pool.

Penguins are doing parade before the visitors.

Swimming pool for the Penguins.

Greater one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) can be found in Assam, India and over the border into Nepal. I think once upon a time it was available in Bangladesh too (just a guess).