Experience Gift Ideas For Animal Lovers
Wondering what you can buy for an animal lover? Take a look through these experience gift ideas and find inspiration for a perfect and thoughtful present.
Since 2018, I’ve been trying 52 new things a year, which has included several amazing wildlife encounters.
Featuring some I’ve tried, and some that are on my to-try list here’s a round up of brilliant experience gifts that the animal lover in your life will adore receiving.
I’ve included details for some of the lesser known activities throughout, and some links at the end to places that provide a range of experiences. Hope it’s a help!
Admission To A Zoo Or Wildlife Park
Give the gift of a memorable day out and buy an entry ticket to a zoo, wildlife park, safari, bird of prey sanctuary or aquarium?
Many venues include free talks throughout the day, and highlight times you can see different animals being fed too!
Animal Feeding Experiences
Many wildlife parks offer feeding experiences, which are a great way to get up close with some of our animal friends.
As well as a hands-on activity, you’ll learn all about the animals from an enthusiastic expert.
The most common feeding activities are available for meerkats, lemur, penguins, and giraffes, but you might find some others if you look around.
Horse Riding
Whether it’s a lesson to learn how to ride a horse at a stables, or a guided ride through beautiful scenery, saddle up for a unforgettable experience on a fine four legged friend.
For more experienced riders, why not consider a beach riding adventure?
Blackstone Clydesdales in East Ayrshire, Scotland, and Pakefield Riding School in Suffolk are two places which offer the experence.
Adopt An Animal
You may be wondering how this is an experience? Usually, the gift of adopting an animal comes with some relevant merchandise, and also includes admission tickets.
The recipient of your gift can go and visit the animal you’ve adopted for them, and enjoy a day out too.
Cow Cuddling - Experience Gift Ideas For Animal Lovers
Slow down and get cosy with gentle giants. Snuggle up next to them when they lie down, and give them a brush and a stroke if they’re standing.
Quiet and relaxing, and said to reduce stress, it’s certainly a more unusual wildlife experience. It’s on my list of new things to try!
These are some places that are currently offering cow cuddling experiences;
- Dumble Farm in Beverley, East Yorkshire
- Ahisma in Rutland
- Cow Companions on the west coast of Wales
- Old Hall Farm in Norfolk
- McNeil’s Mill in Doncaster
- Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentford
- Frankly Farm Tours in Shropshire
Live Virtual Safari
Join a live virtual safari where you’ll be taken to the animals from the comfort of your favourite arm chair (or wherever you decide to watch it from).
With a local guide taking you around the ground whilst sharing their knowledge of the wildlife, there’s plenty of opportunity to ask questions too.
Take a look at Virtual Safari South Africa for details of a really great tour.
Whale Watching
The coast around the UK is home to an abundance of wildlife, and it’s not entirely uncommon for whales to be spotted close to our shores.
Whale watching tours generally take passengers out on the sea to the feeding feeding grounds, giving you the best possibility of seeing some wonders of the deep.
Take a look at Hebridean Whale Cruises for details of a Scottish tour.
Bee Keeping - Experience Gift Ideas For Animal Lovers
Go behind the scenes and find out how honey is produced on a bee keeping course.
Discover all there is to know about our striped friends and their amazing lives. Attendees also have the chance to get kitted up and hands on as they undertake some of the duties of a bee keeper.
Meet The Micro Pigs
A cosy experience of petting and playing with some adorably cute little pigs.
They like to have their tummy tickled, and they are often happy for a brush, and you can learn all about these wonderfully affectionate curly tailed creatures.
You can find micro pig experiences at Kew Little Pigs Farm in Buckinghamshire and Huckleberry Woodsin Kent
Keeper For A Day
Whilst this may involve some cleaning, it’s also a fantastic opportunity to go behind the scenes and into the enclosures of some animals.
Join an experienced keeper who will show you the ropes as they go about some of their daily duties, and introduce you to the creatures they care for. With plenty of opportunities to join in with some of the daily jobs too.
Wildlife Photography Course
Treat your loved one to an experience that will help them to see wild creatures differently whilst up-ing their camera skills.
These are usually small groups so that individuals get all the help and tuition they need. Learning how to take the camera off auto, and focusing on composition, this is a gift that will result in some perfect captures of a memorable day.
Playtime With Pugs
Did you know there’s a place that has resident pugs, where visitors can enjoy playtime with the pint sized pooch?
With venues in Manchester and London, CuppaPug welcomes visitors for some pug love, and some pug themed refreshments. You can also buy treats for the dogs, who might just do a trick if you’re lucky.
Afternoon Tea With Naughty Sheep
Whilst sheep are usually quite timid, there’s a flock in Scotland who are a bit more confident around humans.
Whilst you indulge in a delicious afternoon tea, your cheeky wooly companions have not quite mastered their table manners! You’ll get a cuddle and a fuss at this wonderfully wholesome experience.
Based north of Glasgow, take a look at Naughty Sheep for more details
Alpaca Walking
Soft, wooly and full of character, take a stroll with these long-lashed South American beauties for a walk with a difference.
Walkers will learn all about these curious, stubborn, friendly and fascinating animals, whilst getting to know their individual alpaca and giving it a fuss.
Goat Yoga - Experience Gift Ideas For Animal Lovers
Another wildlife encounter that’s on my to-try list! Enjoy the blissful stretch of a downward dog whilst friendly goats wander freely around you.
I’m not sure how helpful a goat is for balance and flow but they’ll certainly bring an element of fun! These inquisitive little creatures will be happy for a selfie and a fuss too.
These are some places that are offering goat yoga experiences;
- Mrs Dowsons in Lancashire
- Abbey Farm Cottage in Yorkshire
- Castlescreen Farm in Northern Ireland
- Mucky Bucket Farm in Hampshire
A Trip To A Cat Cafe
For fans of felines, why not book a slot for coffee and cake with cats?
With plenty of toys to entertain them, and sleeping perches for them to relax, you’ll be able to mingle with moggies for a purr-fect treat.
There are numerous cat cafes across the UK available to try.
Hold A Tarantula
Not an experience for everyone! There are places which offer handling experiences of less cute creatures, where you’ll also learn about their remarkable lives with a meet and greet.
From spiders to snakes and a whole host of other critters, the recipient will either love you or hate you for this gift!
Dive With Sharks
Often misunderstood, meeting theses beasts with a bad reputation is perhaps a bit of a more daring wildlife encounter.
See them in close proximity in their own environment, and be amazed by the creatures of the deep.
Whilst you might think you can only do this in exotic countries, there’s an opportunity to try diving with sharks in the UK at Skegness aquarium
Hawk Walk - Experience Gift Ideas For Animal Lovers
Witness the power of the majestic hawk as you’ll fly and handle the beautiful bird.
Wearing the protective glove, this activity sees you releasing and retrieving the phenomenal flyer. Watch it silently soar through the sky before returning to the glove.
Your expert guide will share mind blowing stories of these intelligent creatures, answer any questions, and take some pictures too.
Sleepover At A Zoo
An experience like no other when the main gates are closed for the working day! Of course, you don’t actually sleep in a cage, but, you’ll often get private access to see the animals after hours. Who knows what nocturnal noises you’ll hear as you drift off to sleep, and then wake up with the wild, and enjoy a morning call like no other.
There are several places in the UK currently offering overnight accommodation amongst the wildlife.
Dog Sledding
Hold on tight, this is harder than it looks! Racing across the wilderness, your pack of huskies will make light work of covering the miles.
If you know someone is visiting any colder countries, why not book them a dog sledding experience? It’s an unforgettable way to experience the snowy terrain.
There are some dog sledding experiences available in the UK including;
- Arctic Quest in Gloucestershire
- Mynydd Sleddog Adventures in Wales
Where To Find And Buy Experience Gifts For Animal Lovers
You can find many of these wildlife experiences I’ve listed by going directly through wildlife parks or zoos, sanctury’s or aquariums.
I’ve included links to some of the lesser known ideas in the list above.
You can find many animal experiences available from sites such as
- Uniquely Local, which curates experiences in Yorkshire,
- Buy A Gift,
- Virgin Experience Days
- Red Letter Days
For animal encounters around the world, these next sites are perfect for any travelling wildlife enthusiasts.
Offering animal experiences such as visiting an elephant sanctuary, swimming with pigs, (yes, really!) turtle conservation, koala cuddling, and dolphin encounters. There’s such a huge range to choose from, you’re bound to find something unique as a great gift for someone special.
If you have a bigger budget, you might want to look into multi night trips.
- Much Better Adventures, offer some incredible trips focusing on wildlife
- Responsible Travel, curate wildlife encounter holidays.
- Tinggly provide worldwide trips with various wildlife themes.
There are some brilliant ideas here. I’m definitely looking into the ‘keeper for a day ‘ as a gift for my wife!
Thank you so much! Oh brilliant – I hope she loves it if you get it for her!
:o)
These are fantastic gift ideas! Last year, I adopted a penguin for my daughter (her favorite animal) and it came with a little penguin plush! I would love to walk an alpaca, and I know there’s a farm near me that offers that.
Thank you! Ah that is just so cute that you adopted a penguin! I love it! Hope your daughter did too.
Brilliant there’s somewhere near you for alpaca walking – I hope you get to do it!
Thanks as always for reading and for the comment. :o)
I adore animals of all kinds, and have been very fortunate that growing up I had some wonderful experiences with various kinds. My one wish is to meet a corgi (one of my favourite dogs—I have many) or go to a corgi cafe somewhere. What a treat!
I love this post, all the ideas made me feel so joyous—I will have to make a point of doing some of them!
Oh that sounds so lovely that you had some wildlife encounters! I wonder if there is a corgi cafe somewhere? I’ve not come across any in the UK. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for you!
Aww, thank you so much! I hope you get a chance to try a few.
Thank you so much as always for reading and taking the time to comment.
Sally :o)
I know someone who had a capybara experience and really loved it, and I can see why. They seem so chill. My animal of choice would be a raccoon experience. I love those little bandits. They’re a chaotic buddle of fluffy joy. If such a raccoon experience exists, I’d certainly get tickets. I’d also love to have a quokka experience as well. They just always seem so happy and friendly
Oh capybara look like so much fun! I couldn’t find anywhere in the UK offering any experiences at the moment.
Raccoons look fun, but also like they might have a wild side! You’d be braver than me! I’ve not come across any experiences with them – yet!
I had to look up quokka. How cute are they?!! Might need a trip down under to see some of them. Maybe one day…
Thank you for reading and commenting.
:o)