Alpaca Walking in the Woods
Here at Angel’s Animal Ark we pride ourselves on giving our guests the alpaca experience they deserve!
We can be 100% flexible on days and times, all year round.
We offer walks for groups of 2 to 3 people at a time to suit. These walks will include 4 alpaca, with 2 being led by Ark workers. We operate a policy where there must be at least one Ark guide per 2 alpacas being walked.
Walking sessions can range from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes depending on the physical capabilities of our guests. Please allow time for a 15 minute safety briefing at the beginning of the session and factor in variations in the walk length when planning your visit.
Alternatively, if guests would like a more extended experience with our alpaca we also offer private sessions where guests can meet the alpaca, take them for a walk, and then meet the other animals at the Ark while having a cuppa.
Our extended experiences last for around 90 minutes, however they can sometimes go slightly over so please allow for some flexibility on session ends.
A Brief Guide on Alpaca Walking at the Ark
All walking experiences take place with an experienced guide, however walking offsite does carry some risks and it is important to be aware of this:
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You will be leading a large animal on uneven terrain with probable encounters with other walkers, dogs, and horse riders, so it is important to listen and understand the safety briefing you will receive before the walk commences.
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You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of any underage guests in your care. When you are given instructions or guidance from your guide it is essential you listen and act promptly.
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Alpaca are living creatures and guests must remain quiet and calm when in their presence. Alpaca may kick out if someone or something approaches from behind, so please remain away from their backend and ensure sufficient gaps between yourself and the alpaca in front. You have a responsibility to ensure all children in your care are aware of this.
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Alpaca are gentle and curious animals that like to amble. Sometimes they may need some encouragement if they encounter anything unusual on their walk and because they are herd animals if one animal is startled or concerned the rest will soon follow! Our alpaca have been handled extensively and should they become startled remaining calm will soon settle them back down. For this reason please avoid excessive noise and treat them with respect.
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Alpaca are not big fans of being stroked and especially do not like people touching their delicate face and neck. Please respect this.
Animal Welfare
To minimise stress and risk to our alpaca we will only offer one walk per day per animal. This can be at any time (although typically between 10am – 2pm, or if in the evening during the summer months 5pm onwards), and ensures that the alpaca still have plenty of time to chill, eat, and relax the rest of their day.
If for any reasons we have concerns about the conditions on that day we will endeavour to inform our guests immediately. If weather is so inclement as to postpone a walk (i.e. snow, thunder) then we will rearrange to another day that suits our guests best.
All walks will begin with a brief introduction and safety