Located close to Cromer on the Norfolk coast, Amazona Zoo is a slice of South American wildlife that provides a glimpse under the green canopy of the Amazon river basin.

Parent’s Review

Coming up with zoo that is distinct from the others in the region is always going to be challenging, but by focusing on animals from Amazon only Amazona Zoo has credible claims to be different from other zoos in Norfolk.

The zoo has been developed in several acres of woodland, and the addition of South American foliage creates a green canvas fitting of the Amazon. The whole appearance of the zoo is very natural, with the only significant structures (the cafe, shop and toilet building) being of wooden construction. There is also less commercialisation than other zoos, which is refreshing to see.

There were a few enclosures with absent animals, but most zoos have some empty enclosures as animals move around. I was hoping to see the Red-bellied Piranha but was pacified by seeing some seriously big Pacu and big Catfish!

It’s worth bearing in mind that the zoo is quite young (it opened in 2008) so there may not be as many animals as at other zoos and the focus on one region means you’re not going to get the same range of species as you do at other zoos. But the impression I took from Amazona was that this was a place that set out to deliver a snapshot of wildlife from one region and it delivers on that target.

Kid’s Review

9 year old:- (To the tune of “Going to the zoo tomorrow”) Amazona going to the zoo tomorrow, the zoo tomorrow, the zoo tomorrow. Amazona going to the zoo tomorrow, except we went today! Hahahaha! I’m poet and I know it. Yeah, it was quite good. I did want to see a Hippopotamus but apparently they don’t live in the Amazon. But it would be funny if they did because they might eat piranhas, or a piranhas might eat them. Well, something would get eaten. Or squeezed by a python…. (and we digress…)

5 year old:- I loved the baby Puma. Mum said it was almost as cute as me! I was the one that spotted something in the trees first (he spotted a Coati in the trees whilst we were enjoying lunch at the Veranda Cafe) and one of the Flamingos didn’t fall over even though it only had one leg! (er, we did explain to him that the Flamingo did have two legs but for some reason they sometime stand on one)

Field notes

On a wet day you may need wellies as paths are natural (as is the car park)

The car park exit is not the same was you enter the car park

There’s an old brick kiln located near the play area (as you walk along to the Monkeys. If you’re not looking for it you can easily miss it.

Suggested time : 2 hours