Nature Night Camping

Have you ever wanted to know what animals get up to at night?

Now’s your chance with Nature Night Camping at the Zoo.

Pitch your tent on our main lawn and spend the evening discovering what both native and exotic animals get up to at night. Learn what to look for when tracking them down before going on a torchlight expedition around the Zoo to see what you can find and who is still awake!

Please book early to avoid disappointment.

Nature Night Camping will take place on selected Saturday's, from 6.30pm, overnight until 10am, when you will then be free to spend the day in the Zoo, after you’ve packed up your tent of course. This is a family friendly event and children must be aged 5 years or older to take part.

Included in your Nature Night:

Torchlight expedition around the Zoo to see who is still awake
Unique morning tour before the Zoo opens
Free entry into ZSL Whipsnade Zoo (on day of departure)
Free car entry (for night of sleepover and day of departure)
Flat grass pitch for your tent
Breakfast roll and a drink (tea, coffee, apple or orange juice. Sausage, bacon or veggie sausage roll)

Prices

£60 for Adults
£55 for Children
Please note: ZSL Gold Members, Patrons and Fellows receive a 10% discount on this experience. Please enter your CRM ID in the Offer Code box.

Dates

This experience is available on selected Saturday nights between June and September. Click on the book now link for more details.

Please note: Children must be aged five years or above to take part. If you have any questions please call the team on 0344 225 1826 or email experienceenquiries@zsl.org.

Children looking at a Lion Skull

What previous Nature Night guests thought:

Exceptional treat for our kids. The staff were brilliant!

The experience was fantastic. The staff were very welcoming & knowledgeable & both the tours were fantastic. We all had a great time!

A big thank you to the 3 ladies who lead the camp, they were very friendly, approachable and great with the kids.

All presenters were amazing, they were friendly, informative and also was happy to help. They made everyone feel at easy and they are a credit to the zoo.

The experience was fantastic and we all really enjoy our night at the zoo.

Already booked your Nature Nights Experience? Please click the link below to download your guest pack.

Nature Nights Guest Pack

Children playing on Nature Nights camping experience

A couple of adults sat in chairs

Your Nature Night Experience

Example itinerary:

6.30pm	Arrive at the Main Entrance, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Your hosts will welcome you and direct you to your parking area.
	Head to the lawn and pitch your tent! It’s a two minute walk from the car park.
7.30pm	Welcome Talk and Activity Your hosts will run through the itinerary for the evening, all health and safety information plus answer any questions.
8.00pm	Dinner Break Guests will need to bring their own evening meal or picnic. Please note BBQ’s and Stoves are not allowed.
8.45pm	Torchlight Expedition Explore the Zoo and see who is still awake.
10.15pm	Back to Camp
10.30pm	Lights off and sleep
7.00am	Wake up to the sounds of the animals nearby
7.30am	Pack down camp
8.45am	Head to Breakfast via a couple of animals, to see who is awake (Breakfast included in your ticket)
9.30am	Morning tour Explore one of our exhibits before the Zoo opens
10.00am	Finish You are welcome to stay in the Zoo for the day (entry is included in your ticket price)

Group Bookings

We are open to Uniform and Group bookings and can arrange bespoke booking dates for you.

Minimum group size required for private bookings is 20 individuals. We can cater for approximately 60 individuals, however larger groups may be accommodated upon request.

For more information, please see our group booking information document here.

Limited group bookings available on Friday nights during 2022. We are now taking 2023 group bookings. For group booking enquiries please email us on experiences@zsl.org.

Accessibility

The Nature Night experience is designed so that everyone can fully participate. Each tour consists of roughly 1 hour of walking and standing at enclosures, we will always use our concrete paths and we like to take our time moving around to make the most of the surroundings. If you would like to know any more information please contact us on experienceenquiries@zsl.org.

Accessible toilets are also available a short walk from the camping area.

To find out more about accessibiliy at Whipsnade Zoo, please visit our accessibility page here.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions not answered here please call the team on 0344 225 1826 or email experienceenquiries@zsl.org.

What do I need to bring with me for my Nature Nights experience?

You will need to bring a tent, sleeping bag, pillow and camping mat. Please also bring with you a torch, warm clothes as well as food and drink for the evening.

Will I be able to buy food or drinks at the zoo?

Unfortunately no catering outlets will be open so you will need to bring you own food and drinks with you for the evening.

Can I bring a BBQ or gas stove?

In order to keep our animals and others safe, the use of BBQs and gas stoves on Nature Nights evenings is prohibited.

Can I bring my car inside the zoo?

Yes. You will be able to bring your car into ZSL Whipsnade Zoo from 6:30pm. You will then have your car inside the zoo for the day after your sleepover.

Where do I park?

Parking for Nature Nights camping experience is in our Butterfly House carpark. This is situated just a short walk from the camping area.

Where do we camp?

The Nature Nights camping experience takes place on the main lawn area of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. This is situated next to our Butterfly House.

How far away are the toilets?

Toilets are a very short walk away from the camping area.

Are showers available?

Shower facilities are not available.

Can I bring a campervan?

Yes, you are welcome to bring a campervan, however we do not provide electric hook-up or waste disposal. If you are intending to bring a campervan or motorhome for your Nature Nights stay please let us know in advance by emailing experienceenquiries@zsl.org.

Will my experience still go ahead in wet and windy weather?

We monitor the weather forecast in the lead up to the Nature Nights experiences. All Nature Nights experiences will go ahead as usual, and in the instance that we have to cancel due to severe weather warnings, we will get in touch with you.

Please refer to our guest pack here for more information.

2022 Dates and Prices

Dates

Fancy taking part in our Nature Nights camping experience? Nature Nights takes place on selected Saturday nights throughout June to September.

Price

£60 per adult

£55 per child

Please note: ZSL Gold members, Patrons and Fellows receive a 10% discount on this experience. This discount will be added automatically at checkout when you sign in using your registered email address. If you are having problems please call us on 0344 225 1826.