Villeroy & Boch has created some lovely new designs for crockery for children, including two new collections called Farm Animals, from £4.50, and Funny Zoo, from £3.95. They are beautifully illustrated and would make great gifts, and can even

Dolphins and leatherback turtles in the sea, reedbuck and elephants at waterholes in the bush, sightings of humpback whales during their annual migration – the Rocktail Beach Camp offers you the chance to see them all. This new family resort in the Ismangaliso Wetland Park in Sou...

at £939 per adult and £159 per child, sharing an inside cabin, cruise-only, for 14 nights, including all meals and port taxes. Tel: 020 7940 5398 or visit www.costacruises.co.uk If you're an animal lover you'll also love The world's greatest zoos

, then the smaller caged animals are ideal. A hamster is a great first pet as they are easy to care for and, though nocturnal, they can be trained to be awake at suitable times. They do still need watering, feeding and cleaning, but in a solid-sided cage, they

Children can see the goats being milked, tend to the hens and get close to the Shetland ponies on Farmer John’s special tour during a stay at The Dandelion Hideaway at Osbaston House Farm in Warwickshire. You can stay in one of five luxury self-catering Canvas Cottages that resem...

Panda T-shirtMarks and Spencer has harnessed the love that children often display for those exotic animals most have only seen at the zoo. In what promises to be a 'really wild' collaboration, the high street giants are launching an exclusive

If a South African safari is a step too far, then visit the new Wanyama Village & Reserve at Chessington World of Adventures. The new attraction features animals such as the grévy’s zebra and the scimitar-horned oryx, which graze freely at the back

* This suave crocodile is Claude and he is one of 12 fun animal prints by artist Jane Massey. Each one is signed and dated, measures 30x40cm and costs £20 from Notonthehighstreet.com * The stunning striped Cecelia picnic ware is both colourful

. Britain boasts a multitude of marvellous zoos. Among the most famous is London Zoo, which boasts the super Animal Adventure area where children can meet coatis in the treetops and pop up (in see-through bubbles) right next to the meerkats. Then there

Newgate’s timepieces may not be so very old, but they do evoke times past. Their collection of classic, retro and vintage clocks are quite stunning, and last year they added the My First Newgate range. Currently there are two in the range – a Teddy Clock, and this cute Mouse Cloc...