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Oaklawn Farm Zoo
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
5 reviews for Oaklawn Farm Zoo
5 reviews in English
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Review from Jennifer B.
Dartmouth, NS
5/18/2012
I love the old standby of dinner and a movie, whether it's for date night or with a group of friends. But sometimes you just need to go out and do something a little more interactive in an environment that let's you have fun and get a chance to talk with your company.
Located about an hour or so outside of Halifax, the drive over gives you the perfect chance to discuss hot topics, like what's your favourite animal, and if you could talk to the animals, would you chat with a chimpanzee or converse with polar bears and pythons?
I love anything miniature, and this place had all kinds of tiny animals! Ponies! Mini goats! Bunnies and piglets! You can walk up and pet the llamas and feed the deer; but watch out, they're snotty little buggers when they sneeze on you, so bring some hand sanitizer. I'd also steer clear from the capybaras, as they like to swim in their own poop. I loved the more exotic animals, too, like the jaguars, tigers, a zonkey (!!!!) and various primates. However, most were hiding out in their cages and weren't too lively; be it from being in captivity or to hide from the shade, it really depends on your perception. If you're into creepy crawlies, there's a reptile house too, but I sort of cowered in the corner until my boyfriend was done.
I loved the openness and haphazard setup of the exhibits. I didn't feel like part of a herd being corralled down a hall to view the exhibits in order; you can easily wander around at your own pace and in any direction you want. It's also almost as much fun to watch the fascination and wonderment on the surrounding kids' faces when they see their favourite animals as it is to see them yourself.
There's a gift shop and canteen, all grossly overpriced as expected. Bring some extra cash if you want to buy a stuffed lion for your date, but save your pennies by packing a picnic lunch to share at one of the various tables. Be it a date or a day out with friends or with the kids, it'll definitely be a memorable trip.Listed in: Yelpspiration in May!
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Review from Ben B.
Just a two hour drive from Halifax that happens to take you through the picturesque valley region including perfect coffee stops (Just Us museum in Wolfville) and lunch breaks (Port Pub in Port Williams), Oaklawn Farm Zoo is one part wildlife park, one part old-fashioned farm, one part actual zoo. A little mish-mash of everything that pleases an animal lover!
I've always loved coming here although I feel better about some parts than others. The actual farmstead where you can see the pigs, the mass fields where ponies, camels and llamas hang out, the wilderness portion with North American creatures like raccoons, porcupines and rescued bald eagles - all of those rock my world!
The big cats? Well, those I don't love quite as much. But hey - everyone's going to feel differently about anything that involves animals in captivity.
All in all, though, I'm still going to keep coming back every year or two to check in for a great day trip out to the valley that never stops being fun whether you're two or eighty-two.
Some tips:
- Bring sunscreen. There isn't much shade to be found.
- Bring lunch. There's a canteen with fries and ice cream, but plenty of picnic tables for a bring-your-own situation. -
Review from Sue A.
5/23/2011
We took advantage of the long weekend to hit Nova Scotia's largest zoo, and in my opinion, the only zoo. Oaklawn has Atlantic Canada's largest display of large cats (cougars, jaguars, lions and Siberian tigers) and primates including some very cute monkeys and lemurs.
While the zoo--it actually feels like you are in an animal lover's backyard, not a commercial enterprise--may be on a smaller scale compared to zoos in major cities, it has an impressive collection of animals (think zebras and camels), reptiles (lots of snakes and lizards) and birds (ostriches and emus) so pretty much one of everything except elephants and giraffes. Some of the animals don't look that well exercised, but that might be due to age. I should mention too that some of the animals are rescue animals, those lucky guys! The animals generally look content and the conditions are very clean. You can tell these animals are well loved.
The park is well laid out, easy to get around and you can happily spend an hour or two and see everything.
On the fun side, you can buy corn to feed the deer and for an extra fee, your kids can enjoy a pony ride. For more animal-centred fun, you can check the feeding schedule. The big cats are usually feed close to sundown, providing an even more interesting visit.
The admission is reasonable. The grounds are well manicured with lots of picnic tables so you can take lots of breaks and bring your own snacks. You can also take advantage of the snack bar which has ice cream and a variety of fried foods at very reasonable prices.
Oaklawn Farm Zoo is totally worth the 1h 45m drive from Halifax. -
Review from Krista P.
Halifax, NS
3/6/2011
I'm a little bit ashamed to admit that I enjoy visiting this zoo. Mainly because I feel bad for some of the animals whose enclosures are unfortunately not as spacious as they should be, and as some of the other animals' habitats are. However, this zoo can still be a fun place to visit, and provides a more exotic range of animals than the other wildlife parks or petting zoos around the province.
My favourite animals are the frizzle chickens. Strutting their stuff like big feather boas with beaks and feet, they are definitely the divas of the chicken world.
The grounds themselves are fairly large, you'll have a nice stroll ahead of you as you wind your way from one habitat to another. There is also quite a range of animals here, from the ones you would find on a local farm (goats, sheep, pigs) and within the wilds of the maritimes (foxes, deer), as well as creatures from around the world, including the big cats (tigers, black panthers, lions), camels, apes and monkeys, and a lot more.
Prices are affordable, $7 for adults, with good discounts for students, seniors, and children 3-12 years of age (children under 12 get in free of admission).
The zoo closes for the winter, but opens Easter weekend until mid- November. -
Review from Krista L.
Westphal, NS
Updated - 11/7/2009 2 photos
So I was back at the zoo a few weeks ago, and as always, we had a really great time.
One thing that made this trip extra special was the zoo's gatekeepers... They have these gatekeepers, I think we counted seven in total, that start the zoo tour with you and take turns following you throughout the whole zoo, right until you're back at the entrance. Oh yeah, and did I mention that these "gatekeepers" are cats... Seriously, these cats who live at the zoo, follow you everywhere until you meet up with the next cat and then they essentially pass you off. They are the friendliest cats ever. These are the outdoor cats, but there's more cats inside at the gift-shop and they're equally as friendly and lovable.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/10/2009 First to Review
The Oaklawn Zoo, also commonly referred to as the Aylesford Zoo, is one of Nova Scotia's largest… Read more »
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