Bristol Zoo Project
Bristol
A New Era for Wildlife: Welcome to the Bristol Zoo Project
The Bristol Zoo Project represents a bold evolution in how we interact with the natural world. Formerly known as the Wild Place Project, this expansive site has transitioned from a "sister site" to the primary home of the Bristol Zoological Society’s world-class conservation efforts. Unlike traditional urban zoos, the Project prioritizes large, naturalistic habitats that allow animals to behave as they would in the wild, offering visitors a truly immersive "safari" experience right on the edge of the city.
Wandering through the site, you’ll find more than just animal enclosures; you’ll find restored British woodlands, wildflower meadows, and meticulously designed ecosystems. The park is currently undergoing a massive transformation, including the construction of the Central African Forest habitat. This forward-thinking approach ensures that every visitor leaves not just entertained, but inspired to play their own part in protecting the planet’s most vulnerable species.
From Clifton to the Countryside: A Brief History
The story of the Bristol Zoo Project is deeply intertwined with the historic Bristol Zoo Gardens in Clifton, which opened in 1836 as one of the world's oldest provincial zoos. For nearly two centuries, the Clifton site was a beloved landmark, but as modern standards for animal welfare and conservation evolved, the Society recognized that its 12-acre urban home was no longer sufficient. The decision to move to the 136-acre Hollywood Estate in North Bristol marked a turning point in the Society’s 185-year history.
The Hollywood Estate itself was gifted to the Society in the 1960s and was originally used for off-show breeding and quarantine. In 2013, it officially opened to the public as the Wild Place Project, starting with the Madagascar and Benoué areas. The goal was always to create a "zoo of the future," focusing on threatened habitats rather than just individual animals.
In 2022, the Clifton site officially closed its gates, and the rebranding to "Bristol Zoo Project" followed in 2023. This change signaled the full integration of the Society’s operations into one massive, conservation-led campus. Today, the site serves as the hub for global projects reaching across four continents, from the forests of Madagascar to the savannahs of Cameroon.
The transition continues today with the "Destination Conservation" masterplan. This multi-year project involves relocating iconic species like the Western lowland gorillas into vast new woodland environments. By moving away from the Victorian-style enclosures of the past, the Bristol Zoo Project is setting a new global standard for how zoos can contribute to 21st-century wildlife preservation.
Award-Winning Exhibits and World-Class Facilities
One of the crowning jewels of the park is Bear Wood, a 7.5-acre exhibit that transports you back to 8,000 BC when the UK was covered in ancient forest. Walking along a 700-metre winding treetop walkway, you can spot European brown bears, grey wolves, Eurasian lynxes, and wolverines living together in a shared woodland. It is a powerful reminder of the wildlife that once roamed our own backyard and the importance of habitat restoration.
For those looking for a taste of the tropics, the Discover Madagascar area offers a walk-through lemur experience where ring-tailed, mongoose, and ruffed lemurs roam freely. Nearby, the Benoué National Park exhibit recreates the African savannah, featuring giraffes, zebras, and elands. The Cheetah habitat, located near the "Predator Preyground," allows you to watch the world’s fastest land animals while younger visitors burn off energy in the themed play area.
Facilities at the park are designed to complement the outdoor experience. The Base Camp Pizzeria offers stone-baked pizzas with views of the cheetah enclosure, while the Courtyard Café serves locally sourced snacks and coffee. For active visitors, the Leap of Faith high ropes course provides a physical challenge with climbing walls and a giant swing, making the park a full-day destination for families.
The park is also home to Explorers Basecamp, a three-storey adventure play tower that is fully accessible and designed for all abilities. Beyond play and food, the site houses a dedicated Conservation Education Centre. This facility hosts thousands of schoolchildren and university students each year, training the next generation of veterinarians and conservationists through hands-on learning and research.
Step Into the Wild: The Bear Wood Experience
The award-winning Bear Wood is arguably the most ambitious exhibit at the Bristol Zoo Project, sprawling across 7.5 acres of ancient British woodland. As you step onto the 700-metre-long raised wooden walkway, you are suspended several metres above the forest floor, offering a unique "birds-eye" perspective of the animals below. This immersive design allows the European brown bears, grey wolves, Eurasian lynxes, and wolverines to roam freely in a habitat that mirrors the UK forest as it existed thousands of years ago, providing them with the space and privacy they need to exhibit natural behaviours.
Walking through the canopy, the experience is designed to be a journey through time. Educational hubs along the trail explain how these four iconic species once coexisted in the British Isles before being driven to extinction by habitat loss and hunting. The bear enclosure specifically features deep ponds for splashing and fallen timber for foraging, ensuring the bears remain active and engaged. It is a hauntingly beautiful experience to see a brown bear weave through the silver birch trees or a wolf pack move silently through the ferns, reminding visitors of the wild heritage we have lost.
Beyond the spectacle, Bear Wood serves as a vital tool for modern conservation and woodland management. The "180-degree" viewing dens allow visitors to get incredibly close to the bears behind floor-to-ceiling glass, offering a safe but breath-taking encounter. The facility also includes a state-of-the-art bear house where the animals can retreat during the colder months. By showcasing these "charismatic megafauna" in a native setting, the Bristol Zoo Project successfully bridges the gap between global conservation and the urgent need to protect our own local ecosystems.
A Taste of Africa: The Benoué National Park
The Benoué National Park exhibit brings the sweeping landscapes of the Cameroon savannah to the heart of the South Gloucestershire countryside. This expansive paddock is home to a magnificent herd of reticulated giraffes, who share their space with Grant’s zebras and elands in a multi-species environment. The design of the enclosure prioritizes open vistas, allowing the animals to roam across large grassy plains that simulate the grazing patterns found in West Africa. This social integration is crucial for the animals' wellbeing, as it mimics the natural dynamics of the wild.
For visitors, the highlight of the giraffe enclosure is the raised viewing platform that brings you eye-to-eye with these gentle giants. From this vantage point, you can appreciate the intricate patterns of their coats and watch as they use their long, prehensile tongues to strip leaves from the high-reaching "browse" provided by the keepers. The proximity offered by the walkway provides a rare opportunity to witness the scale and grace of the giraffes, making it one of the most photographed spots in the entire park.
Supporting this outdoor space is a specialized giraffe house, designed with high ceilings and heated flooring to ensure the herd's comfort throughout the British seasons. The enclosure isn't just for show; it is a key part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). By maintaining a healthy breeding population, the Bristol Zoo Project contributes to the long-term survival of reticulated giraffes, whose numbers have declined significantly in the wild. Information boards around the exhibit detail the Society’s field work in Africa, linking your visit directly to the protection of these animals in their native habitat.
Getting There: Access from Bristol
The Bristol Zoo Project is conveniently located just off Junction 17 of the M5, making it an easy 20-minute drive from Bristol City Centre. For those staying at the trendy Moxy Bristol near Temple Meads, the journey is straightforward via the M32 and M5, or by using the frequent bus services that run toward Cribbs Causeway. The zoo is also a hub for sustainable travel, featuring dedicated e-bike parking and improved pedestrian routes, ensuring that your journey to see nature is as green as possible.
Three Interesting Facts About Bristol Zoo Project
A Living Larder for Animals
The site actually grows about a third of the food needed for its residents. The historic Hollywood Estate gardens include nurseries that produce "browse"—fresh leafy branches and plants—specifically tailored to the dietary needs of the giraffes and lemurs.
The Return of the Gorilla
As part of the new Central African Forest development, the zoo’s famous troop of Western lowland gorillas will move into a habitat four times larger than their previous home in Clifton, designed to mimic the dense forests of Equatorial Guinea.
A Sanctuary for Native Species
While the exotic animals get the headlines, the zoo is home to over 380 wild British species. The site manages specific "ark" sites for the Critically Endangered white-clawed crayfish, helping to bolster local populations of this rare UK native.