A Zoo Adventure in South Africa
Visiting an exotic zoo can be one of the most exciting experiences that anyone can have, especially if you are visiting from another country. Although many different zoos are located in various cities worldwide, it can be challenging to choose which zoo to visit first since so many choices are available. However, suppose you are planning on visiting South Africa anytime soon. In that case, there are many reasons why you should consider visiting the Tshwane Zoo in Pretoria before you even leave the country.
Cape Town's Lion Park
The Lion Park is a world-renowned zoo and safari that offers an up-close and personal experience with lions. The park was opened in 1990 and has steadily gained a reputation as the best lion conservation project on the planet. It's also home to many other animals, including giraffes, zebra, ostriches, meerkats, and much more. Visitors can get close to all these animals as they're free to roam around the park until they're ready for their next adventure! I think the Giraffe feeding demonstration was my favorite part, where visitors could feed giraffes from just inches away. I had never seen so many beautiful creatures before, and it made me want to learn more about them all!
Waterval Boven
The Waterval Boven zoo was a fantastic experience, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an adventure. The town of Waterval Boven, where the zoo is located, offers plenty of hiking trails and waterfalls that are great for a day out. There are several animal enclosures, but my favorite was the small kangaroo habitat, where you can get close to these adorable creatures. My favorite part about the zoo was seeing all the different types of animals from all over Africa in one place! If you're visiting South Africa, this is a must-see attraction!
When we visited, various animals from all over Africa were displayed. In addition to kangaroos and koalas, we could also see lions, rhinos, and elephants! The park is easily accessible by bus or car from Pretoria (South Africa's capital), so it's an excellent place for tourists. If you're going to visit
On your trip to South Africa, I recommend visiting during spring or fall when temperatures are more moderate. Bring along some water and sunscreen as it can be sunny but windy sometimes. Be aware that there aren't a lot of restaurants nearby (although you can get snacks and drinks at some of them), so make sure to pack a lunch if you plan to spend all day hiking through trails. If possible, bring along something soft to sit on while you enjoy your picnic; many sites do not have benches or chairs available.
Lions and Cheetahs, Oh My!
The drive from the airport to the safari was long and hot, but nothing could have prepared me for the beauty of Kruger National Park. The first stop was at an animal sanctuary with various animals including lions, giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, and more. I was excited to see the giraffes up close! The drive on a safari through the park was also a highlight. We saw all types of animals, including elephants and rhinos, hanging out by a watering hole not too far from where we were driving. It was so surreal! After we left Kruger National Park, we returned to Johannesburg and had dinner at a restaurant overlooking Table Mountain before returning to our hotel. The next day, I visited Sun City, a casino/resort complex with water parks and golf courses. We spent most of the day there relaxing by the pool with amazing views!
Animals are a huge part of South African culture, and they play a significant role in many of their myths and legends. A particular favorite is one about lions killing people trying to reach heaven by climbing up a magical tree (the Milky Way). This legend inspired Cape Town's Lion Monument, which you can see from Table Mountain. There is also a dragon on top of Table Mountain based on an ancient tale about two enormous serpents fighting it for control over land, sea, and air. My day at Kruger National Park was just what I needed to relax after being so busy before my arrival!
The Lion Monument is an impressive 21-meter tall bronze monument of two crouching male lions that guard a pedestal and were carved out of a single boulder. From afar, it looks as if they are attacking each other, with one of them jumping on top of his opponent. But up close, you can see that their mouths are closed, and there's no conflict! The dragon on top of Table Mountain is also pretty incredible. It stretches 11 meters high, has four legs, and even has a tail! It seems so realistic from afar that I didn't notice it until my friend pointed it out to me while we were taking pictures next to it!
Cango Wildlife Ranch
The Cango Wildlife Ranch is a fantastic place for children and adults who want to see wild animals up close. It's an absolute must if you are spending time near Port Elizabeth or are looking for something different to do on the Garden Route. We were lucky enough to see zebras, giraffes, warthogs, lions (of course), ostriches, monkeys, and more! There are plenty of hides and viewing points where you can get close to the animals. I recommend going as early as possible because it gets really busy later in the day. And make sure you have your camera ready - there will be many photo opportunities!
If you have time, I recommend staying for lunch at their café. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. And as a bonus, you can pay a small extra fee to hold some of their animals! This is an excellent experience for kids - my little girl loved it! If you want to spend some money and do it properly, stay overnight at one of their campsites. You will get breakfast included (and your braai area) and access to activities like canoeing, kayaking, and swimming with a playful hippopotamus (yes, please!). The best bit? It's all at very affordable prices.
Addo Elephant National Park
On a recent trip to the area, we had an opportunity to visit Addo Elephant National Park. The park is home to over 130 species and is one of the few places where you can see the Big Five (lion, rhino, buffalo, elephant, and leopard) in one day. It was thrilling to watch these animals roam free, following their instincts with no fear of being hunted or poached for meat or skins. Addo has been known as a conservation hotspot since its inception in 1898; this modern-day zoo is an enjoyable place to visit and plays a vital role in helping save endangered species from extinction. The well-maintained paths allow visitors to experience African flora up close, providing an educational walk through the bush. We watched giraffes wander across savannah plains, got up close to feedings of elephants and rhinos, and spotted zebras in the distance just waiting for us! One minute you're marveling at some flamingos playing in a lagoon pond, then gazing at some ostrich running down the pathway ahead of you. A huge plus: there are also many rides that kids will love - from bumper cars to camel rides to miniature trains - all included!
Mountain Zebra National Park
We visited the Mountain Zebra National Park and learned about the wildlife. The scenery was beautiful, and we learned so much about zebras and the other animals that live there. We met a man who had been working with zebra for over 30 years, and he told us all about what it's like to be a zookeeper. It was a great experience. I would recommend it to anyone!
One of my favorite parts of visiting an African zoo is seeing how active some animals are. Many American zoos keep their animals mostly inactive to reduce stress and boredom, but when you see them out in nature, moving around on open plains or along riversides, you can see just how wild they are. I liked how close the visitors could get to some of the animals at this particular zoo. For example, we fed peanuts to giraffes from a nearby balcony and pet baby elephants on their backs as they ate hay. And another part I loved was getting up close with rhinos; as visitors, we couldn't go into their enclosure because it wouldn't have been safe, but you could reach your arm inside and touch one from across the fence!
Conclusion
Overall, my experience at the Johannesburg zoo was fantastic. The animals were beautiful, and the scenery was breathtaking. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a family-friendly outing with their children. I'll be visiting again soon!
The elephants, lions, and hippopotamus were all fantastic to see. Some of my favorite animals included parrots and monkeys. The reptiles were also fun to see, but I'm not sure if it was just because they moved a lot more than other animals or something about them specifically that I liked. I guess time will tell when I go back!