What to bring for a zoo day

A zoo day needs more than tickets and sandwiches. Plan food and drinks for the full visit, then pack them so they stay cold and easy to hand out. Reusable tableware, coolers, picnic gear and clearly sorted tickets prevent delays at the entrance and during lunch. This list also covers the small items groups often forget, such as name stickers, power banks and emergency supplies.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Picnic tablesqty 8
Folding chairsqty 12
Picnic blanketqty 8
Tableclothsqty 8
Folding stoolsqty 6

Equipment

Coolersqty 6
Ice cube traysqty 6
Power banksqty 6
Charging cablesqty 8
Megaphonesqty 2
Flashlightsqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 4

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 60
Reusable platesqty 60
Reusable cutleryqty 60
Knivesqty 60
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving spoonsqty 10
Thermal cupsqty 40

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Bread knivesqty 4
Kitchen tongsqty 6
Food containersqty 12
Aluminum foilqty 2
Cling filmqty 2
Napkin holdersqty 8

Decorations

Animal balloonsqty 30
Animal postersqty 8
Name stickersqty 60
Wristbandsqty 60
Ropeqty 2
Washable markersqty 12

Sports equipment

Frisbeesqty 4
Picnic ballsqty 4

Cleaning

Hand sanitizerqty 6
Cleaning wipesqty 12
Washing-up tubsqty 2
Dish brushesqty 4
Tea towelsqty 8
Waste binsqty 6

Safety

First aid kitqty 2
Disposable glovesqty 2
Whistlesqty 6
Safety vestsqty 6

Documents

Participant listsqty 6
Floor plansqty 60
Emergency contact cardsqty 60
Directionsqty 6
Pen setsqty 6
Waterproof document folderqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- Mini rolls - 60 pieces
- Wraps - 60 pieces
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Back ham - 2 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 1.5 kilos
- Cream cheese - 1,5 kilo
- Peanut butter - 4 jars
- Jam - 4 jars
- Iceberg lettuce - 8 heads
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Bell peppers - 3 kilos
- Carrots - 3 kilos
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Apples - 60 pieces
- Bananas - 60 pieces
- Grapes - 5 kilos
- Mandarins - 5 kilos
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Muesli bars - 60 pieces
- Currant buns - 30 pieces
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Popcorn - 4 bags
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Spice mix - 2 bags
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Lemon juice - 2 bottles
- Spa Blue - 60 bottles
- Spa Rood - 24 small bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Multivitamin juice - 8 cartons
- Iced tea - 8 bottles
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Stirrers - 100 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Chicken breast - 3 kilo
- Falafel - 2 kilos
- Pasta - 3 kilos
- Pesto sauce - 6 jars
- Pasta salad - 6 kilos
- Fruit salad - 5 kilos
- Yogurt dressing - 3 bottles
- Vegan dressing - 3 bottles
- Paper bags - 70 pieces
- Food storage containers - 60 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Tissues - 12 packs
- Wet wipes - 12 packs
- Sunscreen - 8 bottles
- Mosquito spray - 4 bottles
- Bandages - 4 boxes
- Paracetamol - 2 boxes
- Ice pops - 60 pieces

Tips

Pack two to three drinks per person for the first few hours, plus extra water for warm weather. Use coolers with ice packs or frozen bottles so drinks and picnic food stay cold.
Prepare one picnic pack per visitor the evening before. Add napkins, reusable cutlery and any dietary alternatives after checking everyone’s requirements.
Count tickets, wristbands and name stickers against the final participant list. Sort them by family or group before departure instead of handing out a mixed stack at the entrance.
Bring one power bank and the correct charging cables for every two to three phones used by the group. A printed participant list and emergency contacts are useful if a phone runs out of power.
Pack a small first aid kit, sun or rain essentials and at least one flashlight for a late return. Check the weather forecast and the zoo’s schedule 24 hours before leaving.

Frequently asked questions

How much food and drink should I bring for a zoo day?: Plan one main picnic meal and two snacks per person for a full-day visit. Bring two to three drinks per person for the first few hours, with extra water when the weather is warm.
How far in advance should I buy supplies for a zoo trip?: Buy non-food supplies, tableware and cooling equipment at least 3 to 5 days ahead. Shop for fresh food the day before, then prepare picnic packs and fill the coolers on the morning of the visit.
What should I pack for a group zoo visit?: Pack sorted tickets and wristbands, a participant list, emergency contacts, picnic food, drinks, reusable plates and cutlery, coolers, power banks and a first aid kit. Add name stickers when children or several groups are attending.
How many coolers do I need for a zoo day?: For a group of up to 10 people, one large cooler is usually enough for drinks and picnic food if everything is packed compactly. Use two coolers for 11 to 20 people so food stays colder and drinks remain easy to reach.

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