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Our first visit to Drusillas zoo was in 2017. It was quickly decided that it is, hands down, our favourite family day out. You can imagine, as a large family with children ranging from under two to twelve years old, finding somewhere that offers something for everyone is hard and this is exactly why we love Drusillas. When an email popped into my Inbox inviting us to a press day to celebrate the opening of their new ride – The Rainforest Carousel, we were absolutely thrilled. Drusillas Zoo is still as wonderful today as it was when we first visited two years ago. Apart from the animals and a new ride, not a huge amount has changed. So for my comprehensive review of Drusillas please read my 2017 post here. Drusillas is a small zoo situated near Alfristen in East Sussex. It is about twenty minutes from Eastbourne and about and hour and a half from London. Luckily for us, it is a forty five minute journey through the beautiful Ashdown Forest. When I said Drusillas is a small zoo, that is their description, but personally I think that is an understatement. They have over one hundred species and the enclosures and exhibits are extremley well designed and looked after. Mikey and Charlie are huge fans of reptiles. Since Rango the Bearded Dragon and Victoria the Horsefield Tortoise joined our family last year. Now they spend their days on YouTube, watching various reptile experts. They teach them conservation and how to care for everything from Alligators to The Monitor (I know, I had never heard of one either…google it, I am not a fan!) So they were in their element as they walked through the snakes, iguanas and lizards, reading new facts about their favourite animals and teaching the rest of us what they already knew. Arthur and George, the youngest of our family were fascinated by every animal at Drusillas. All the enclosures and exhibits have been designed in such a way that small children can see freely without having to be lifted up to view the animals. The monkeys were their favourite, watching them play and tumble with each other was not unlike a Saturday morning in our house! After walking through the Lemur enclosure, stepping over them as they jumped right in our path, we headed to Lory Landing, the Rainbow Lorikeet enclosure. We purchased our £1 pot of nector and fed these beautiful, exotic birds. They were landing on our heads, arms and shoulders. They took a particular liking to Charlie who spent over half an hour bonding with them. Just when you think you may have seen everything, you enter the kids park. It is a playground that childrens dreams are made of. It includes a water zone, zip wires, climbing frames, trampolines and most importantly, a cafe that serves coffee! Once you leave the playground, you pass the picnic area which is surrounded by amusments, inflatable games and the park train. …….you are still not finished though! Hello Kitty Secret Garden and Go Wild are where your youngest children can have a taste of a theme park, with rides suitable for young children (Arthur, aged 22 months loved it). The Rainforest Carousel is a beautiful addition to park. Situated at the exit, it is the perfect way to finish your day at the zoo. Pick your animal, a cheetah? A dolphin Butterfly? Lizard? Tortoise? Climb on and enjoy a relaxing ride around The Rainforest. After a wonderful five hours spent at Drusillas, we were ready to head home. When you look in your rear view mirror and see all six children fast asleep, not even ten minutes into our journey home, you know everyone has had a great day. We were gifted entry tickets to Drusillas in return for a this post. More days out in South East include: Day out at Thorpe Park Day out at Godstone Farm Day Out at Leeds Castle Day out at The Imperial War Museum

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