Tropical World, Roundhay Park, Leeds. Map, Tour with audio, images and text.

Tropical World Tour. Tropical World, Princes' Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 1DF Take our Virtual Tour to get a taste of Tropical World before you visit:

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Step Ashore...	Butterfly House	Amazon Tank	Australasia House

The Desert House and Meerkats	Butterfly House	South American House	Creature Corner

Step Ashore onto a Tropical Island...
..where you will find a swamp, humid rainforests, tumbling waterfalls, swirling pools of colourful fish and many exotic plants and flowers. Continue deep inland to discover many different animals and birds in a natural environment.Be amazed by the magnificent collection of Koi Carp, which boast some of the largest fish in the country. Can you spot the White Honeycomb Koi which is, at a whopping 26 inches long, the largest fish in the pond here – but not the largest fish in Tropical World! The Old Aquarium Here in the dim light, the illuminated tanks shimmer with moving colour. Amongst the specimens on display you can see Sharks (the Red Tailed variety), and newcomers to this section are the Japanese Firebellies.
Butterfly House
Between 30 and 40 varieties of butterfly may be seen here in within this mature environment of flowering exotic plants and Citrus trees. The types of butterfly change regularly so there’s always something new to spot. Some of the specimens are bred here from pupae, which is also displayed. Small bridges span the ponds where more of the fish collection, Egyptian Firemouths, Pangasius Sutchi (which usually grow to 3 – 4 inches but here can be seen up to 2 feet long) and Giant Gourami (Osphronemus Goramy) dart about playfully. Also here you will find Koi Carp, 5 spot Cyclids, Talapias, Mud Turtles, Soft Belly Turtles, Collared Teals, Cinnamon Teals and Leafcutter Ants. Aquarium Passing the last few tanks of the Aquarium look out for the Arowana. These fish will eat anything! They have been known to leap up to 8 feet from rivers to catch small birds and insects flying above! The fierce looking barbs act as antennae.
Amazon Tank
The largest fish in Tropical World lives here, the Niger Catfish (Pseudoras Niger) from South America. Also to be seen are Pacus, which are related to Piranha, Tiger-skinned Shovel-nosed Catfish, Red-tailed Catfish and even a Giraffe Fish! Once a week this tank is cleaned from the inside by a keeper in his wet suit, what a brave man!
Australasia House
This area of Tropical World has been used as a set for film and television, even for a pop group video! The Australasia House is home to a huge variety of plants, including the rare Jade Vine. Terrapins laze around their pool. Large ferns line the winding path leading from the large waterfall, under which you can stand and cool off. Before you leave this area take a look upwards and see the amazing tree warts. The wood from these, with their unique markings, is used to make impressive furniture, in particular tabletops.
Creature Corner
Lizards, Spiny Mice and snakes, yes – plus Tortoises and the Boss Monitor. The Water Dragon and Degus stare back at the visitor undaunted by all the attention. See if you can count how many ring markings the tortoises have on their shells, this is how you can tell their age. Keepers believe that 'George' is one of the oldest tortoises in Britain at somewhere between 50 and 60 years old!
Amazon/South American House - Upper Level
In the moist heat of the Amazonian environment created here you’d be forgiven, if on hearing a high pitched whistle, you were to look away from the pool for its source. Not so, look again to the pond where White Faced Whistling Ducks enjoy confusing the unsuspecting visitors. As if that wasn’t enough they also live in the trees! The lush vegetation gives refuge to a number of birds including a pair of Macaws, Jake and Cream Tea. Jeana Campbell, the daughter of Donald Campbell of land speed record fame, donated ‘Cream Tea’ to Tropical World.
The Desert House
Plant, animal and bird specimens from the arid areas of the Americas and South Africa are to be seen here in the Desert House. Canaries, Weaver Birds and Finches skit about amongst the cacti and succulents. Don’t miss the incredible Meerkats as you enter the Desert – no fingers please they DO BITE! Nocturnal Zone As your eyes become adjusted to the dark environment Owl Monkeys, the only monkeys in the world to come out at night peer back at you. With other residents such as the Egyptian Fruit Bats whose usual habitat includes tombs and pyramids, the rare Bush Babies of which there are only 12 in the country this is a fascinating exhibit. Amazon/South American House - Lower Level Here beautiful specimens of Orchid are displayed amongst the larger jungle vegetation, a fountain splashes into the Amazon Pond helping to keep the moisture levels high. There is also another chance to see the whistling ducks and Macaws. At the exit Golden Lion Tamarins from Brazil welcome you to their world. Aquarium - Revisited These tanks exhibit underwater worlds such as the Rift Valley (African) with an assortment of Cichlids, the Coral Reefs, and the Tropics with Red Bellied Pirhana, Oscars and Talapias can be seen.
Butterfly House - Revisited
Following the path past Citrus trees and over bridges and you will see more butterflies amongst the foliage. In the pools splendid specimens of Koi Carp dart about watched by Teals. There are even snake necked turtles, which can be seen basking in the warmth under a large banana plant which seasonally, bears fruit.
Gift Shop Here you can make purchases from a large selection of gifts or memorabilia to remind you of your visit. There is a wide variety to choose from catering for all tastes and to suit all budgets, from postcards to pottery, from toys to things to treasure. The Courtyards Here in the aviaries are the Cotton Top Tamarinds, Ring Tail Lemurs and another chance to see some of the collection of Koi Carp and Goldfish. The Millennium Bell at Tropical World / Canal Gardens In the raised courtyards overlooking Coronation Gardens is a bell tower constructed in the year 2000 to house an old bell which has been part of the Park for many years. It rang every evening to let people know the Park was closing until it was damaged, and for years it lay unused, but now repaired, it tolls again - a lovely reminder of the Parks long history in the new millennium. May 2008: NEWS: 'Explorers Café' is now open Tropical World has announced the opening of the newly redesigned Explorers Café at Tropical World. The Explorers Café provides the perfect opportunity to relax with friends and family in refurbished imaginatively themed surroundings. This exciting new facility offers a new counter service, new toilet facilities and a large screen monitor so you can watch the Meerkats play whilst you tuck into some of the tasty ranges of organic and fair trade produce available. The Explorers Café includes a Rainforest, a 1940’s gentleman’s club and an airport departure lounge of the period. The centre piece of the Café is a fragile packing crate containing a very unhappy animatronic creature waiting to be transported by air to Tropical World. The redesign has incorporated many suggestions made by visitors over the years, including greater accessibility, family friendly environment, excellent toilet facilities and increasing the organic range of treats available. Explorers Café opens Thursday 1st May at 10.30am – 4.30 weekdays, 10.30 – 5pm on weekends. Open seven days a week! Meerkat enclosure update - June 2008 - MEERKATS’ NEW HOUSE NOW OPEN. You will be able to witness the escapades of Tropical World’s hugely popular meerkats online as they settle into their new home from mid June 2008. The mischievous mammals have had a new enclosure constructed specially for them at the Roundhay Park Tropical World attraction with all the mod cons they would expect in their natural desert habitat. All the action in the expansive toughened glass enclosure will be relayed to the public via a webcam in the adjacent Explorers Café. The project has involved a year of planning and consultation with veterinary experts and zoos which also house meerkats. The enclosure itself was designed and constructed by Roundhay Park staff. Cllr John Procter, executive member for Leisure, said: “The meerkats are one of our most popular attractions at Tropical World and this imaginatively-designed enclosure will allow us to share the fun of their escapades to the best effect. “They will no doubt be in their element in their exotic new home- which should make for fascinating viewing for visitors and those watching online! The enclosure is of an extremely high standard and a tribute to the hard work and flair of the park’s staff.” Meerkats are known to be curious creatures and are expected to take their time to explore and adapt to their new enclosure. Maximum viewing angles have been opened up by locating it in the centre of the Desert House. Its situation will allow more light to be shed on the meerkats’ habits as visitors walk round it. Underground burrows and an artificial termite mound have been constructed to mimic their natural habitats. They will have a quiet area which will act not only as their sleeping quarters but also as a bolt hole for when they are feeling camera-shy or nervous. Two viewing monitors have also been installed at Tropical World: one next to the enclosure and the other in Explorers Café. Visitors will be able to see inside the quiet area or enjoy lunch or a light snack and drink in the café whilst watching the meerkats investigating their new living quarters. One camera is in the enclosure itself and the other in the nest box. The enclosure one will give a ‘meerkat’s-eye view’ of their home, whilst the other - hidden from the meerkats themselves and using night vision technology - will enable online visitors to see them at rest. Tropical World is one of the UK's most popular garden tourist attractions and home to the largest collection of tropical plants outside Kew Gardens. Tropical World is open all the year round apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Opening times & Charges as published by Leeds City Council May 2008: Summer (BST) 10am until 6pm (last admission at 5:30) Winter (GMT) 10am until 4pm (last admission at 3:30) Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day Admission charges Adults £3 Children (aged 8 – 15yrs) £2 Under 8’s free Leeds/Breeze card holders free Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Buses to Tropical World and Roundhay Park from Leeds City Centre Ask driver for the stop at Roundhay Park, Tropical World is about 200 yards from the bus stop. Roundhay Park is on the 2 and 12 circular bus route. Buses number 12 (Blue Line) take the most direct route via Oakwood. Buses on route number 2 (Red Line) go a longer way via Moortown Corner. Bus Routes 2, 12 Roundhay Park or Moortown depart from New Market St., New Briggate in Leeds City Centre Daytime every 10 minutes, Sundays & evenings every 20 or 30 minutes Extra buses are allocated when there is a major event on in Roundhay park Tropical World, Princes' Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 1DF - Location map. (you can click, drag and zoom the map!)**