Spooky season at Highland Wildlife Park

If you’re looking for a great way to spend the October half-term, or the rest of spooky season, then Highland Wildlife Park has you covered this year.

As well as providing an excellent day out with over 200 amazing animals and our new discovery centre full of interactive exhibits and activities, there is so much going on this month.  

The highly requested private reserve tours are back! This experience takes you on a private guided tour around the drive-through reserve, led by one of our charity’s expert Discovery Rangers. Join us in discovering the resident species found throughout the reserve and hear their extraordinary conservation stories. From the once extinct in the wild Przewalski’s horses (the only true wild horse) to the five-month-old Eurasian elk calf twins, this 50-minute tour will shine a spotlight on some of the most fascinating species in the park. The reserve is also home to an abundance of native birds – with your knowledgeable guide, you will explore the visiting wildlife as you drive through the rugged landscape!

For little wildlings, we have our brand-new holiday programme, Autumn Explorers! These three-hour sessions will give young learners the opportunity to discover our amazing wildlife garden, explore the park and even create a feeding puzzle for one of our lucky animals. Suitable for P3-7 aged children, these sessions are led by one of our experienced Discovery & Learning staff, with three sessions across three days (15 – 17 October).

This October, we’re offering the chance for children to get a taste of what it’s like to be a zookeeper with our exciting two-hour Junior Highland Keeper experience! For children aged 8 – 15, our Junior Highland Keepers will get hands-on opportunities to care for the animals, learn about their habitats and understand the importance of wildlife conservation. During these limited sessions, children will assist with feeding, cleaning enclosures and preparing special treats for the animals such as Mishmi takin, Bactrian camels and Japanese macaques. Children must be accompanied by one adult aged 18+ for the duration of this experience.

Over the weekend before Halloween (26 – 27 October), stop by our carving cavern by the playpark to make our animals a spook-tacular gift! Learn about the ways we use behavioural enrichment to care for animals and help give them a terrifyingly tasty treat.  

Finally, join us for a talk with RZSS Conservation Associate Dr. Arnaud Desbiez, an award-winning scientist working to save the giant armadillo and giant anteater in South America. Our wildlife conservation charity has worked with Dr Arnaud Desbiez and his team at the Wildlife Conservation Institute (ICAS) in Brazil for over a decade to safeguard threatened giant armadillos, giant anteaters and their rapidly disappearing habitat. Join Arnaud as he explains his journey and learn more about how you can help to save these two incredible giants.

With something for everyone this spooky season, be sure to check out the events page of our website for event information, pricing and tickets.

Lindsay Ross 
Events and Experiences Manager, RZSS   

Explore our events calendar