Opening times
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, 2.15pm. Sold out for 2025.
Type of place
Habitat
Area
Africa
Status
Open
Facilities
Download a visual story to help support your experience: Meet the Hippos experience visual story
Our Meet the Hippos experience will be closing from 13 June 2025
Our hippos, Lola and Hodor, are part of an international conservation breeding programme for common hippos – a vulnerable species which ZSL is helping to protect. As part of this conservation programme, it has been recommended that they move to a new home to give them the opportunity to boost the numbers of this precious species. Lola and Hodor will be moving to Longleat Safari Park in late June, where they will join a larger herd of hippos, in a brand-new exhibit custom designed for them.
As we won’t be getting new common hippos to Whipsnade Zoo, we’re having to cancel all our Meet the Hippos experiences from 13 June onwards, for which we are very sorry.
We will issue you a full refund for your Meet the Hippos tickets automatically, and if you have purchased additional admission tickets for yourselves and others that you now no longer need, we will be happy to refund those as well, please do let us know the order number of these and we can issue this refund. Contact us here.
Your experience
This 20 minute VIP experience begins with a health and safety briefing from our expert zookeeper. You will then get the opportunity to feed one of our common hippos, whilst learning more about these amazing animals and how they make their own sunscreen!
Tip: Meet the Hippos takes place behind the scenes and due to the small group size, spectators are not permitted to access this area.
Important information
- Admission to the zoo is not included and must be purchased separately
- Participants must be 12 years of age or older.
- Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a participating adult – each adult must also have a valid Meet the Hippos ticket. No more than 2 children per adult
- Pregnant or nursing mothers who have given birth within the previous six months cannot participate
- Participants with learning or visual impairment must be accompanied by a carer. Accompanying carers can enter the behind the scenes area free of charge but will not participate in the experience.
- Wheelchair access is not available for this experience.
- Please see our full terms and conditions for more information
Our Common Hippos
Hippopotamus amphibius
Hippo
Hippos make their own 'sunscreen', which they secrete through their skin to keep it moist and protect them from the sun's rays.