A PRIVATE EXPERIENCE BY SCALY SAFARI
Up Close
For the child who doesn't just like reptiles. They're their thing.
Give them an unforgettable hour that's entirely theirs. Up Close is a private, personalised experience with Allen, Cerries and the Scaly Safari animals — created around the reptiles, questions and curiosities your child can't get enough of.
Private 60-minute experience · £125
A FASCINATION THAT RUNS DEEP
Some children are simply wired for this.
They know the species. The scientific names. The weird facts you definitely didn't ask for over breakfast.
They spot reptiles everywhere. They remember the details nobody else does. And when somebody is willing to properly talk snakes, lizards or tarantulas with them, they light up.
THEIR HOUR. THEIR INTERESTS.
No two Up Close experiences are the same.
Before they arrive, we'll find out what your child can't stop talking about. Maybe it's snakes. Maybe it's lizards. Maybe they have a favourite Scaly Safari animal they've been desperate to meet again.
Then we'll create their hour around them.
They'll have time to get properly close to the animals, ask the questions they've been storing up, discover how we care for them and get involved in real keeper activities where appropriate.
There isn't a fixed list of animals to work through or a script we follow. What happens during their Up Close experience will depend on their interests, their curiosity — and, always, what our animals are happy and comfortable doing that day.
It's their chance to slow down, look closer and properly geek out about the animals they love.
Closer. Curious. Completely absorbed.
There’s no checklist to work through. But depending on your child, the animals and the day, their Up Close experience might include getting properly acquainted with a favourite species, helping with real keeper tasks, checking temperatures or weights, examining a shed, comparing different animals, exploring how their enclosures work — or simply spending twenty uninterrupted minutes asking us everything they’ve ever wanted to know.
If feeding happens to fall at the right time, they may even get to observe it.
The point isn't to fit as much as possible into an hour. It's to make that hour matter.
A GIFT THAT STAYS WITH THEM
Give them a story they'll still be telling weeks later.
The best gifts aren't always things.
For a child who is genuinely fascinated by reptiles, being given the time and space to follow that curiosity can mean far more than another present to unwrap.
We build the hour around your child's interests, confidence and the animals themselves — which means we can't promise a particular animal or activity on the day.
But depending on what's happening behind the scenes, they might...
Meet animals we don't usually take out.
Get properly close to some of the Scaly Safari Crew that rarely make an appearance at our events.
Help with the feeds.
Offer dinner to one of our big lizards, feed a chameleon a locust with tongs, or — if they're fascinated rather than horrified by the idea — see how we feed our snakes.
Go backstage.
See where the Scaly Safari Crew actually live, how their enclosures work, and what goes into caring for them every day.
Get stuck into keeper jobs.
Mist enclosures, prepare food, help set up a habitat for one of our smaller residents, or tackle whatever happens to be on the keeper list that day.
See something most people never do.
A chameleon catching its food. A snake taking a defrosted rodent. A giant lizard having dinner. The everyday animal behaviours you simply don't tend to see during a Scaly Safari event.
Kind words from a parent…
“We had an absolute blast during a Up Close experience at Scaly Safari’s HQ for my son, and I can’t recommend it enough! He got to meet an incredible variety of reptiles- including some rare ones that don’t usually travel out for events. The hands on access was amazing: he fed, touched, and held several animals, helped build an enclosure for a new resident frog, hydrated the reptiles, and fed bugs and locusts. We even got to watch a python eat a (dead) rat! The staff are incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and answered every question we had. Nothing felt rushed, making it worth every single penny. My son is already asking when can we go back. And as an adult, I was completely engaged the entire time. A must do experience for any reptile lover, child or adult!”
~ Catherine Roberts
GIVE UP CLOSE
A pretty brilliant thing to unwrap.
Up Close can be booked for your own child or given as a birthday, Christmas or special-occasion gift.
We'll create a personalised Up Close invitation (handwritten with their name on it), printed on beautiful card and post it to you — ready to slip into an envelope and give them on the big day.
You don't need to choose a date before you buy. Once they're ready to redeem their gift, we'll arrange a suitable time with you and start finding out what makes your young reptile fan tick, so we can make their Up Close experience properly theirs.
Need it quickly? Just let us know and we can also provide a digital version for you to print at home.
THE DETAILS
The important bits.
Where does Up Close take place?
At Scaly Safari HQ in Rhuddlan, North Wales.
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Who is the experience for?
Up Close is centred around one reptile-mad child or young person, with their immediate family welcome to come along and share the experience.
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Is there an age limit?
There isn't a strict age limit. Up Close is designed for children and young people with a genuine fascination for reptiles, and we'll tailor the experience to their age, interests and confidence.
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How long is the experience?
Around 60 minutes, privately hosted by Allen & Cerries.
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How much does it cost?
Up Close is £125 per private experience.
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Do we choose a date when booking?
No. You can book Up Close without choosing a date. We'll contact you afterwards to arrange a suitable date and time.
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Can I buy Up Close as a gift?
Absolutely. We'll personalise and post an Up Close invitation for you to give them, with UK postage included. If you need it quickly, we can also provide a digital version to print at home.
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Will they meet specific animals?
We can't promise particular animals or interactions. Every Up Close experience is shaped around your child's interests, but our animals' welfare always comes first. We'll create the best experience we can around who's happy and comfortable participating on the day.
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Can we tell you what they're particularly interested in?
Please do. We'll ask you a little about them before their visit — their favourite species, the questions they can't stop asking and anything else that will help us make their hour feel properly theirs.
READY TO GET UP CLOSE?
Give them an hour that's entirely theirs.
A private, personalised 60-minute experience with Allen, Cerries and the Scaly Safari animals — created around the reptiles they can't get enough of.
£125 · Private 60-minute experience
A personalised printed invitation and UK postage are included.
FAQs
A few things you might be wondering.
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Where appropriate, absolutely. Up Close is designed to give your child meaningful time with our animals, rather than simply observing from a distance. Exactly what that looks like will depend on the animals involved and what they're comfortable with on the day.
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There's deliberately no set number. Up Close isn't about racing through as many animals as possible. We'd much rather your child spend meaningful time with the animals they're fascinated by than turn their hour into a handling checklist.
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Definitely tell us! We'll ask about favourite animals and species before the experience so we can personalise their visit. We can't guarantee that a particular animal will be available or happy to participate on the day, but we'll always take their favourites into account.
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Possibly. If an appropriate feed naturally falls during their experience, they may have the opportunity to observe it. We won't alter an animal's normal feeding schedule simply to provide a demonstration.
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Very possibly — and the private, personalised nature of Up Close means we can often adapt the experience around the individual child. Tell us anything that would help them feel comfortable and get the most from their visit, and we're always happy to discuss their needs before you book.
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Up Close bookings are valid for six months from the date of purchase. You don't need to choose a date when you buy — just get in touch when you're ready and we'll arrange a suitable date and time within that period.