The magical lantern trail at Chester Zoo has become an annual festive occurrence, but before Christmas comes Halloween, and this year the zoo is launching a spooky trail for the very first time. This October, Chester Zoo will be running a new free interactive Halloween trail set to give you the creeps and allow you to get to know these curious creatures better.
Throughout the month of October, visitors can take a wander along the zoo’s indoor trail where they will encounter interesting species like the Komodo Dragon, Gaboon Viper, Poison Dart Frogs, Blue Komodo Viper, Tarantula and the upside-down Jellyfish. Guests are encouraged to visit six animal stations to learn spellbinding facts about these hair-raising, poisonous and venomous species whilst collecting letters to form a word.
Once visitors uncover the magic word, they’ll be rewarded with a sweet treat. Using augmented reality, guests can scan a QR code with their phone to reveal each letter with a fun, interactive experience then stamp the letters onto a postcard.
Gemma Bamford, Chester Zoo’s Admissions & Membership Manager, said: “We’re so excited to launch our very own Halloween themed trail around the zoo this October. As well as learning cool facts about animals around six locations in the zoo, guests can collect a letter at each area that spells out a secret word. Once visitors uncover ‘Luna’s lost spell’ they can head to the apothecary at the zoo entrance for a sweet treat.
“Halloween is the perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the unknown species Chester Zoo is home too, inspiring visitors to care for our cause of preventing extinction of not only the renowned species like elephants, giraffes and rhinos, but the more unusual and extraordinary animals that may just shock, surprise or spook you!”
The trail is free to all visitors who purchase admission tickets and will take around two hours to complete. The theme of the trail is linked to the BIAZA Vital Venom and Practical Poisons campaign which aims to raise awareness of the cool, perhaps creepy, but crucial creatures which are venomous and poisonous.
During October, Chester Zoo is also running a Halloween-themed bus tour where guests are driven to each of the six locations on the trail before the zoo opens, as well as stopping off at the Fruit Bat Forest to see the bats in the light before the lights go down. Find out more about the Halloween trail at Chester Zoo here.