My Average Disabled Jen series is back for 2025, and this time, it’s going beyond sport! I’m challenging myself to try all kinds of experiences that people might not associate with the average disabled person. For my first challenge of the year, I took on something I’ve always wanted to do—being a zookeeper for a day with some accessible animal experiences at Hertfordshire Zoo.
Trying Out a Zookeeper Experience at Hertfordshire Zoo
Zookeeper experiences have always intrigued me, but I assumed they wouldn’t be accessible. So, I decided to put that to the test at Hertfordshire Zoo and see if I could make it work.
Meeting Kumal the Jaguar
First up, I got to meet the stunning Kumal the Jaguar and his keeper, Cassie. She showed me how to feed him properly—without losing my fingers in the process! Kumal was surprisingly gentle, and I loved watching how he held his food in his paw. Interestingly, his partner, Kadera, does the same, but she uses her other paw as her dominant one.
Exploring the Zoo & Learning from the Keepers
After feeding Kumal, we took a tour around the zoo with Keeper Rob, who shared fascinating facts about the animals. It was an amazing opportunity to learn more about different species, their behaviours, and their conservation.
Tickling Tapirs: A Surprising Encounter
One of the highlights of the day was meeting the tapirs! I originally hoped to meet Tamara, but she has a slight obsession with wheelchair wheels, so instead, we met her dad, Temuko. Tapirs are truly unique creatures—their closest relatives are rhinos and equine animals like horses and zebras. Temuko absolutely loved being scratched, to the point where he kept rubbing his head against my wheelchair for more. It was adorable but also exhausting after a while!
Accessibility at Hertfordshire Zoo
We had the most incredible day at Hertfordshire Zoo, and I was amazed at how accessible the animal experiences were! Being able to feed a jaguar and tickle a tapir from the comfort of my wheelchair was something I never expected.
The level access throughout the zoo was the best I’ve seen at any attraction. I could get into every area with ease, and the steeper ramps had intervals to make them less challenging. While they might still be a bit of a workout for those using a manual wheelchair, they were a breeze in my powerchair. The glass viewing panels on the enclosures also meant my view was never blocked, so I could fully enjoy all the amazing habitats.
Unfortunately, my wheelchair battery died halfway through the day (entirely my fault!), so we had to hire a wheelchair from the zoo. The rental fee was £10 for a manual wheelchair, but it was quite basic—similar to a hospital chair. Even with my wheelchair cushion, it was uncomfortable and difficult to self-propel, so Poppy had to push me around.
The disabled toilets were a little inconsistent. Some had red emergency cords, while others didn’t have any at all. However, small details like mirror placement had been considered. That said, this is definitely an area that could use improvement.
Because the overall accessibility was so good, I’m being particularly picky! The zoo had plenty of picnic benches, but I would have liked to see a few with designated wheelchair spaces for a more inclusive experience.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we had the best time and can’t wait to visit again in the future! The accessibility was far better than I anticipated, making the experience even more enjoyable.
Have you found any attractions that are particularly accessible? Where would you like me to review next? Let me know in the comments! And don’t forget to check out my full experience over on my YouTube channel!
