Tourism & Hospitality | Monday 28 January, 2019 2:24 am |

Have you ever wanted to share a meal with exotic animals? Now you can with Emirates Park Zoo & Resort’s time-honoured traditions of Breakfast with the Parrots, Breakfast with the Giraffes and Lunching with the Leopards. The experiences have been designed in line with Emirates Park Zoo & Resort’s initiative of creating experiences that combine entertainment, leisure and education. 

The three programs are part of a special series where guests get to eat while getting up and close to the zoo’s adored residents while learning more about the animals in terms of its behaviour patterns and general facts. Indulge in a unique and adventurous breakfast by dining with the towering giraffes or friendly parrots. Both experiences comes with a choice of dish from the zoo’s versatile and delectable menu best enjoyed with your nearest and dearest, an exclusive photo session that leaves you with precious memorabilia, and an educative, interactive session to learn more about these species.  

The giraffe program also includes an opportunity to feed the giraffes, zebras, donkeys, hippos, camels and llamas, and a vibrant African drumming experience. Meanwhile, the parrot program comprises of an encounter with the in-house meerkat and mongoose, and an exciting wildlife tour.

For those preferring lunch, explore your wild side in the company of leopards and relish your favourite lunch dish from the zoo’s menu. Following the meal, join the team for a carnivore encounter with the zoo’s meerkat and the mongoose, and an exciting wildlife tour around the zoo. The package also includes a photo opportunity and an interactive session to top up your knowledge on wildlife. 

The three-pronged dining series incorporates conservation and animal awareness related discussions to help provide guests with additional perspectives. The events were developed in close association with zoo officials as an educational tool to help illustrate the growing concerns for threatened and endangered species of animals, wildlife abuse, and to encourage residents to be aware, engage in wildlife conservation activities, and potentially hone a passion and love for animals.

Naima Mahmoudi, Marketing Manager of Emirates Park Zoo, said, “As a team, we are constantly looking for new and meaningful ways to bring people and nature together. Our main role as a modern zoo is education and awareness and we have found ways to integrate this with all our experiences.”

“The dining programs at the zoo are an unforgettable and incomparable ordeal for both children and adults as it really pushes the boundaries on immersive experiences in the truest sense. You can also enjoy an array of programs with the wildlife tour, the drumming show, and the animal feeding encounters,” she concluded.

Rates start at AED 160 per adult and AED 80 for children between the ages of 4-12 for the Breakfast with Parrots program, AED 190 per adult and AED 130 for children between the ages of 4-12 for the Breakfast with Giraffes program, and AED 260 per adult and AED 170 for children between the ages of 4-12 for the Lunch with Leopards program. Children below the ages of 3 dine for free.