Get to Know Animals CIC

Get to Know Animals CIC GTKA is a fully interactive animal sanctuary, that you can visit and enjoy hands on experiences with our incredible rescued or rehomed animals!
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We've over 100 different species including cute furries, reptiles, birds, amphibians, insects, aquatics & more! ESSEX'S HIDDEN GEM: AN INDOOR ANIMAL SANCTUARY! Nestled in the heart of beautiful Epping Forest, Get To Know Animals is a tropical paradise where over 300 rescued exotic pets have found their forever home. Perfect for animal lovers of all ages!

🐹🥬 THE GUINEA PIG BREAKFAST CLUB! 🥬🐹Say hello to Kinder Beuno, Choc Chip, and our gorgeous Old Lady Scruffles! If you’ve...
31/08/2026

🐹🥬 THE GUINEA PIG BREAKFAST CLUB! 🥬🐹

Say hello to Kinder Beuno, Choc Chip, and our gorgeous Old Lady Scruffles! If you’ve ever heard that dramatic little “WHEEK WHEEK WHEEK!”, you already know guinea pigs are basically tiny fluffy snack alarms… and we love them for it 😄

A few brilliant guinea pig facts (because these little potatoes are AMAZING):
• 🌾 Hay isn’t just a treat, it’s a MUST, their teeth never stop growing, so they need constant nibbling to keep them worn down
• 🍊 Like humans, guinea pigs can’t make their own vitamin C, so they need it in their diet
• 🐾 They’re super social and feel safest with friends (a proper little herd!)
• 👀 They communicate loads, squeaks, purrs, rumbles, and even little “popcorn” jumps when they’re happy
• 🧠 They learn routines fast… especially anything involving food (obviously!)

These three are part of our 300+ rescued and rehomed ex-pets who call GTKA their forever home ❤️

🕙 Opening hours: Fri–Sun 10am–5pm (and during school holidays)
📍 Forest Lodge Commercial Complex, Epping Rd, Epping, Essex, CM16 5HW

🎟️ Book your visit: https://gtka.co.uk/animal-handling-experiences
💚 Please consider donating to support their forever home: https://gtka.co.uk/donations

🐾✨ MEET HANSEL! ✨🐾Look at that little face peeping out! This is Hansel, our lesser hedgehog tenrec… and yes, he looks li...
30/08/2026

🐾✨ MEET HANSEL! ✨🐾

Look at that little face peeping out! This is Hansel, our lesser hedgehog tenrec… and yes, he looks like a hedgehog, but he’s actually not a hedgehog at all 😄

Tenrecs are one of nature’s “wait… WHAT?!” animals:
• 🌍 Native to Madagascar
• 🌙 Mostly nocturnal, so they love a cosy hidey-hole in the day
• 🪲 Built for bug-hunting (insect-eaters with a seriously good sense of smell)
• 💤 They can go into “torpor” (a deep sleep / energy-saving mode) for weeks or even months when conditions aren’t ideal
• 🧬 Fun fact: their spines are a case of “look-alike evolution” (they evolved spines separately to hedgehogs!)

If you fancy a proper chill-out day (not a wear-you-out day!), come and meet Hansel and our 300+ rescued and rehomed ex-pets ❤️

🕙 Opening hours: Fri–Sun 10am–5pm (and during school holidays)
📍 Forest Lodge Commercial Complex, Epping Rd, Epping, Essex, CM16 5HW

🎟️ Book your visit: https://gtka.co.uk/animal-handling-experiences
💚 Please consider donating to support their forever home: https://gtka.co.uk/donations

🥁🐒 MALCOLM IS STILL OBSESSED WITH HIS MARACAS! 🐒🥁Honestly… if we ever lose these, he’ll start a full investigation 😅This...
29/08/2026

🥁🐒 MALCOLM IS STILL OBSESSED WITH HIS MARACAS! 🐒🥁

Honestly… if we ever lose these, he’ll start a full investigation 😅

This is exactly what enrichment is all about 👇
✅ keeping busy brains busy
✅ giving animals choice and something to focus on
✅ encouraging natural behaviours (climb, explore, play, repeat!)

If you’re visiting this weekend, keep an eye out… you’ll probably hear Malcolm before you see him 😂

🕐 Open Fri–Sun 10am–5pm
📍 Forest Lodge Commercial Complex, Epping Rd, Epping, Essex, CM16 5HW

🎟️ Book your visit: https://gtka.co.uk/animal-handling-experiences
💚 Support our animals: https://gtka.co.uk/donations

🐍 MEET PINOCCHIO! 🐍This gorgeous green noodle is Pinocchio, our Rhino Rat Snake here at GTKA 💚A few fun facts about Rhin...
28/08/2026

🐍 MEET PINOCCHIO! 🐍

This gorgeous green noodle is Pinocchio, our Rhino Rat Snake here at GTKA 💚

A few fun facts about Rhino Rat Snakes:
🌿 They’re arboreal, which means they spend loads of time up in the branches
👃 That little “rhino” nose is what gives them their name
🗺️ They’re native to northern Vietnam and southern China

Want to come and see Pinocchio (and 300+ other rescued and rehomed ex-pets)?

🕐 Open Fri–Sun 10am–5pm
📍 Forest Lodge Commercial Complex, Epping Rd, Epping, Essex, CM16 5HW

🎟️ Book your visit: https://gtka.co.uk/animal-handling-experiences
💚 Support our animals: https://gtka.co.uk/donations

🐾🦎 PANTHRO IS GLOWING UP! 🦎🐾This is Panthro, our panther chameleon, looking absolutely STUNNING today 😍When Panthro came...
27/08/2026

🐾🦎 PANTHRO IS GLOWING UP! 🦎🐾

This is Panthro, our panther chameleon, looking absolutely STUNNING today 😍

When Panthro came into us a few months ago he was much smaller… and he’s now around 4x the size! That’s what the right care, the right setup, and time to settle can do 💚

Panthro is an Ambilobe panther chameleon, which means he’s from the north of Madagascar (and they’re famous for those unreal colours!).

A few fun Panthro facts:

👀 Chameleon eyes can move independently, so he can look two ways at once
🎨 Their colours can shift depending on mood, temperature, and what’s going on around them
👅 That long sticky tongue can shoot out crazy fast to catch food (blink and you’ll miss it!)
🦶 Their feet are like little “mittens” made for gripping branches, and their tail helps them balance

Want to come and see Panthro (and 300+ other rescued and rehomed ex-pets)?

🕐 Open Fri–Sun 10am–5pm
📍 Forest Lodge Commercial Complex, Epping Rd, Epping, Essex, CM16 5HW

🎟️ Book your visit: https://gtka.co.uk/animal-handling-experiences
💚 Support our animals: https://gtka.co.uk/donations

🦎 NEW ARRIVAL ALERT! Meet Casque-Andra 🦎Say hello to Casque-Andra, our newest addition to the GTKA family! 💚 She’s a cas...
26/08/2026

🦎 NEW ARRIVAL ALERT! Meet Casque-Andra 🦎

Say hello to Casque-Andra, our newest addition to the GTKA family! 💚 She’s a casque-headed iguana (casquehead) and she’s already settling into sanctuary life like she’s always been here.

Casque-Andra was a much-loved pet, but after an unfortunate series of events her owner could no longer care for her. She’s now safe, loved, and getting everything she needs here at GTKA.

Casquehead's live around 7-10yrs, and here are few more fun facts about casqueheads (because they’re seriously cool):

🌿 Rainforest tree-dwellers
They’re arboreal, which means they spend most of their time up in branches. If you’re looking for her, check the “high spots” first!

🪖 The “casque” (helmet head!)
That raised shape on the top of the head is called a casque. It’s part of what makes them so recognisable.

👀 Built for blending in
Casqueheads are brilliant at camouflage. They can sit completely still and disappear into leaves and branches like a little jungle statue.

🧗‍♀️ Climbing specialists
Their long toes and claws are made for gripping bark and branches, and that long tail helps with balance while they move around up high.

Want to come and meet Casque-Andra (and 300+ other rescued and rehomed ex-pets)?

🕐 Open Fri–Sun 10am–5pm
📍 Forest Lodge Commercial Complex, Epping Rd, Epping, Essex, CM16 5HW

🎟️ Book your visit: https://gtka.co.uk/animal-handling-experiences
💚 Support our animals: https://gtka.co.uk/donations

JOIN US TONIGHT 7PM, QUIZ NIGHT at the Forest Gate Inn, Epping!Fancy a fun night out and helping rescued animals at the ...
23/08/2026

JOIN US TONIGHT 7PM, QUIZ NIGHT at the Forest Gate Inn, Epping!

Fancy a fun night out and helping rescued animals at the same time?

Ranger Rob is hosting the Quiz Night at the Forest Gate Inn and every penny raised goes straight back to Get To Know Animals CIC to help care for our 300+ rescued and rehomed ex-pet animals.

Forest Gate Inn, 111 Bell Common, Epping, CM16 4DZ
Starts 7:00pm
£2 per person to play (or donate more if you like!)

Bring your team, grab a drink, and come have a laugh. If you can’t make it, please share this post to help us fill the room tonight!

Donate link (if you can’t make it): https://gtka.co.uk/donations

🕷️ MEET BERTHA! 🕷️This gorgeous girl is Bertha, our Brazillian Black tarantula here at GTKA.Brazilian Blacks are famous ...
23/08/2026

🕷️ MEET BERTHA! 🕷️

This gorgeous girl is Bertha, our Brazillian Black tarantula here at GTKA.

Brazilian Blacks are famous for that velvety, jet-black look, and Bertha is a perfect example. She’s a calm little queen to watch as she explores her habitat.

Want to meet Bertha (and 300+ other rescued and rehomed ex-pets) this week?

🕐 Open Fri–Sun 10am–5pm (and Thursdays during school holidays)
📍 Forest Lodge Commercial Complex, Epping Rd, Epping, Essex, CM16 5HW

🎟️ Book your visit: https://gtka.co.uk/animal-handling-experiences
💚 Support our animals: https://gtka.co.uk/donations

😍 FERRET SNUGGLE PILE ALERT 😍Von-Doodle, Van-Helsing and Mein Frau have claimed their favourite cat tree again… and hone...
22/08/2026

😍 FERRET SNUGGLE PILE ALERT 😍

Von-Doodle, Van-Helsing and Mein Frau have claimed their favourite cat tree again… and honestly, we don’t blame them

This is peak cosy chaos: three little rescue noodles, one hammock, zero personal space.

Want to meet the ferret trio (and 300+ other rescued and rehomed ex-pets) this week?

🕐 Open Fri–Sun 10am–5pm (and Thursdays during school holidays)
📍 Forest Lodge Commercial Complex, Epping Rd, Epping, Essex, CM16 5HW

🎟️ Book your visit: https://gtka.co.uk/animal-handling-experiences
💚 Support our animals: https://gtka.co.uk/donations

🐍 MEET THE ROCK! 🐍This is The Rock, one of our biggest Burmese pythons here at GTKA.She is approx 16ft long and weighs o...
21/08/2026

🐍 MEET THE ROCK! 🐍

This is The Rock, one of our biggest Burmese pythons here at GTKA.

She is approx 16ft long and weighs over 35kg, and she’s an absolute gentle giant to admire up close.

Want to come and see her (and 300+ other rescued and rehomed ex-pets) this week?

🕐 Open Fri–Sun 10am–5pm (and Thursdays during school holidays)
📍 Forest Lodge Commercial Complex, Epping Rd, Epping, Essex, CM16 5HW

🎟️ Book your visit: https://gtka.co.uk/animal-handling-experiences
💚 Support our animals: https://gtka.co.uk/donations

Address

Forest Lodge Commercial Complex, Epping Road
Epping
CM165HW

Opening Hours

Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+442089233456

Website

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