Plantasia Tropical Zoo

As you explore, you’ll encounter over 40 species of animals from across the tropics. From insects, fish and amphibians to reptiles, birds and small mammals, Plantasia is home to an exciting mix of familiar favourites and lesser-known species. Come face to face with pythons, iguanas and chameleons, watch koi carp glide through the water, listen out for the call of the colourful parrot, and see tarantulas, frogs and invertebrates up close. With habitats carefully designed to blend into the planting, animals often appear when you least expect them, making every visit feel a little different.

For younger explorers, Plantasia is full of moments that encourage imagination and hands-on learning. Crawl low through the undergrowth, peer into hidden enclosures, and follow interactive trails designed to spark curiosity and conversation. For adults, it’s a surprisingly peaceful place to slow down, wander and reconnect with nature, whatever the weather outside.

One of Plantasia’s most popular features is Wales’ only crocodile feeding experience, offering visitors the chance to see these incredible animals in action on a VIP experience. These moments bring the zoo to life, combining excitement with education and giving insight into animal behaviour, adaptations and care.

Alongside its living collection, Plantasia is also home to a range of immersive installations that add extra depth to a visit. Giants of the Past invites visitors to step back into prehistory, with life-sized replica skeletons and fossil displays that help bring long-extinct creatures into the present day. Using augmented reality technology, selected elements can be brought to life digitally, adding an interactive layer that older children and adults especially love.

Another highlight is Vital Venoms & Practical Poisons, a dedicated space exploring animals and plants that use toxins and venom as part of their survival. This installation looks beyond fear and myth, focusing instead on adaptation, ecology and the surprising ways these substances have influenced medicine, science and human understanding. It’s a thoughtful, engaging area that encourages visitors to see the natural world from a new perspective.

Plantasia also celebrates the history of science and exploration. In partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, the zoo has hosted an exhibition exploring the life and work of Alfred Russel Wallace, the often-overlooked naturalist whose ideas helped shape our understanding of evolution. This exhibition adds cultural and historical context to the living rainforest around it, linking past discoveries with the natural world visitors see today.

The Hot House offers a fun and educational greenhouse-style walk, showcasing plants from hot, arid and tropical climates. Here you can see giant bamboo and paw-paw trees, lime and cocoa plants, sugarcane and the intriguingly named (but completely inedible) Lollipop Plant. Clear interpretation explains how different environments shape the plants that grow there, making it a fascinating stop for curious minds of all ages.

With an on-site café, a colourful gift shop, monthly special events and VIP experiences throughout the year, Plantasia Tropical Zoo is much more than a traditional zoo visit. It’s a warm, welcoming space where families can explore together, learn something new and grow their imaginations in a fully immersive tropical world – right in the middle of the city.