Urban Adventures: National Zoological Gardens

Pretoria Zoo - Pretoria Zoological Gardens

Let me put it out there I do not particularly like zoos in the traditional sense. I just feel that all animals should roam free in their natural habitat, but that is being a bit of a romantic especially since we humans have been in-crouching on their habitats, often with disastrous consequences. The more modern zoos seem to be involved in a lot more research and keep the animals in much better enclosures, sadly this is not true for the majority of zoos around the world.

Entrance to the Pretoria Zoo Photo: Pretoria Zoo

That been said and done the Pretoria Zoo, as its locally called was voted as one of the top 10 Zoos in the world, so I went to see what it is all about. The first and last time I visited was more than 20 years ago with my then small daughter and eldest son. As part of my quest to find affordable Urban Adventures in Gauteng, this family venue fitted the bill and so I collected my sister and off we went to explore the famous Pretoria Zoo.

Photo credit Jacaranda FM

The GPS found it under the name Pretoria Zoological Gardens and not the Pretoria Zoo. The smaller parking on the left of Boom Street was full - this parking is behind the craft market and within the zoo grounds. We found secure parking on the opposite of the the main entrance on the corner of Paul Kruger and Boom Streets. Security personnel are on duty 24 hours a day in the parking lot as well as in the zoo itself. The Security guard was very friendly and full of the joys of spring as he explained to us where to park. We were lucky enough to be able to park under some large trees.

The village market outside the zoo Photo istockphoto.com

As you come out the parking you will be swarmed with chaps selling their very colourful wares. However the small craft village outside the entrance of the zoo offers some really beautiful African hand crafted gifts, artworks and mementos. Colourful beads, beautifully crafted jewelry, stunning wooden bowl, statues and animals adorn the pavements with friendly ladies ready to show you their treasures.

Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Your other option if you want to go all out as a treat, take the Gautrain Bus Service to the Zoo. Locals and tourists can visit the Zoo using the Gautrain bus, which departs from the Gautrain Pretoria Station. Board the CBD Inner P2 bus and disembark from the bus at stop number 7, at the National Zoo.

When we arrived at the Zoo some very lovely ladies dressed in the Zoo's khaki uniform asked if we would like to have our photos taken. We posed in front of a blue wall. We were told as we leave, to come and take a look at the board and if we like our photo we can purchase it. We thanked them and thought nothing more of it. The staff are all very friendly, smartly dressed and helpful - a big ups to Pretoria Zoo for your really amazing staff!

We paid our entrance fee of R110 each and this also includes your visit to the Aquarium and Reptile Park as this forms part of the Zoo facility. (see further fee, times and contact details at the end of the blog)

The golf cart pick up and drop off at the Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa or Pretoria Zoo is an 85-hectare (210-acre) zoo found in Pretoria, South Africa. It is also the national zoo of South Africa. I later discovered it was founded in 1899 by J.W.B. Gunning. It also happens to be one of the top eight largest zoos in the world.

Was waiting to hear the 4 sirens and I would run like hell or climb up a tree! Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

off the Zoo webpage - not a great screen-grab but it gives you an idea. It is very well laid out, plenty of loos, places to grab a bite to eat or drink, great picnic areas dotted all over and the first aid spots.

So how did the zoo come about? The area was originally a farm called Klein Schoemansdal and was the property of the then Z.A.R. president Stephanus Schoeman. He in turn sold it to a fellow called Johannes Francois Celliers. Celliers who renamed the farm Rus in Urbe (Latin ''country in the city'). Then in 1895 it was acquired by the state. Even though it was established in 1899 at the outbreak of the Second Boer War , it only became the official National Zoological Gardens in 1916. More than 600 000 people walk through these gates annually.

There are about 6 km of pathways meandering through the zoo. Golf carts are available for rent and are great fun, however note that most of the exhibits are accessible by golf cart. Exhibits which are not accessibility will require you to park you golf cart and walk to the exhibit.

The gardens are great for families and strollers as half of it is situated on relatively flat ground. The other half is located on the slopes of a hill. These two sections are separated by the Apies River which flows through the zoo. There are two bridges which allow access over the river.

Tracey and I decided that we should go all out and we would take a golf cart, but only if I drove. There was a waiting list for nearly an hour. We wrote our names down and were told to come back in 45 minutes. In the meantime we decided to walk to the Aquarium and Reptile park near the entrance.

The reptile park is really very well laid out with amazing information boards everywhere.

Cobra Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

cobra Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Green Mamba Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

boomslang Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

skaapstekker Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Pythons Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Python Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Black Mamba - its not black - the inside of its mouth however it black, hence its name. Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Gabon viper Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Terrapin Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Komodo dragon Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

I really found the Komodo dragon area fantastic and were lucky enough to arrive at feeding time to watch the Komodo dragon tuck into a chunk of meat.

wresting a komodo dragon Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

We then took a walk to the aquarium and was actually rather impressed with what was on show. They have divided it up into a fresh water section and a sea water section, with a lovely Lake Malawi display.

the beautiful Lake Malawi exhibit. Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Volkano Action Camera screenshot - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Volkano Action Camera Screenshot - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Pretoria Zoo entrance. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon camera fun - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

The Zoo is a well-respected research facility and is famous for its successful breeding programmes and offers a safe haven for many endangered species. they also run many education programmes, environmental awareness and conservation programmes at the Zoo. Various exciting school holiday programmes are on offer so be sure to keep browsing their really great website http://www.nzg.ac.za/

Flamingos!! Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

The zoo offers fun night tours to view and learn about their nocturnal animals housed here. These take place every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, however please note that booking is essential.

The Zoo also offers various adopt and animal opportunities as well as their Wild Child Programmes wich will allow your child to help care for a zoo animal. For children from grades 7-12 they offer their Zooclub for the kids that have completed their junior nature conservators course. This all is really great and very progressive and a step in the right direction to educate the youth on the preservation of our heritage.

Children’s pushcarts are available for rent at a cost of R 60 – R 80 per day, and golf carts are available for rent at R 100 per hour or R 190 for two hours.

The Zoo Giant is not a animal, but a tree, a fig tree. I was rather excited to see this giant fig. I had recently been to see the 1000 year old fig tree at Wonderboom nature reserve - see previous blog on its details. You find this rather impressive specimen, a Moreton Bay fig tree not far form the main entrance gates as you walk towards the flamingos, its on your left. It offers a huge amount of shade and sits at 27 metres in height with a majestic crown of more than 40 metres. It also happens to be the second larges of its kind in South Africa.

The giant Moreton Fig Tree. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Our National Tree to the left of picture - the yellow wood. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Red Ibis Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

A cable car links the top of the hill with a point close to the entrance at the bottom. There are two restaurants located within the zoo and a picnic area on the banks of the Apies River.

The 85-hectare National Zoological Gardens of South Africa is the largest zoo in the country and houses 3117 specimen of 209 mammal species, 1358 specimen of 202 bird species, 3871 specimen of 190 fish species, 388 specimen of 4 invertebrate species, 309 specimen of 93 reptile species, and 44 specimen of 7 amphibian species.

Sammy Marks Fountain Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

When you make a left turn at the flamingos you come walk up to this exquisite old blue fountain. I was immediate intrigued as to how such a fountain found itself in the middle of the Pretoria zoo and who was Sammy Marks, who built is, what was its significance?

Firstly this fountain was not always here in the zoo! It stood at Church Square for quiet a while until 191 when it was donated to the Zoo by the City Council of Pretoria.

The beautiful Sammy Marks Fountain. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

I found out that the Sammy Marks fountain was actually imported from Ireland by Sammy Marks himself. I also discovered that there were in fact only three of these cast-iron fountains ever made! Apparently one was sadly melted down during the Second World War and the whereabouts of the third is currently unknown.

Photo Credit; Sammy Marks Museum - Samuel 'Sammy' Marks, a businessman was born in 1843 in Lithuania and died 18 February 1920 in Johannesburg. According to archives when he first arrived South Africa in 1868, he had with him his valuable possession, a case of silver knives! He started his career in Cape Town, where he began hawking cheap jewelry and cutlery. He then moved on wards to Kimberley, where he went into business with his with his brother-in-law Isaac Lewis and a Jules Porges. Together they formed the French Diamond Mining Company. He went on to became one of the first entrepreneurs, playing a major role in mining, industrial and agricultural development in South Africa.

Sammy Marks then became mates with President Paul Kruger and some time during the 1890's, he donated a statue of the President to the city. Marks commissioned this statue to be made in Europe. It was to be placed in Church Square in the center of Pretoria. The erection of the statue was interrupted in October 1899 due to the outbreak of the war between Britain and the Transvaal Republic.

In May 1902, which heralded the end of the war brought Pretoria under British rule which meant the erection of the Kruger statue would not be allowed and already the half-completed pedestal was demolished. Marks then went on to forge a relationship with the new regime. What did he do? He ordered a fountain to be made and presented it to the City of Pretoria in 1905. It was actually erected on the spot where the Kruger statue would have been. The fountain was to serve its original purpose as water supply points for the people of Pretoria as well as offering beautiful ornamental eye candy!! This was a huge undertaking as the water was fed from a large artisan spring a few kilometres away through a series of canals and pipelines. A rather ambitious project which saw water from the fountain drained through a newly constructed system of storm water pipes to the nearby Apies River. The fountain was officially turned on in 1906.

But as it turned out this continuous drainage of the fountain water into the Apies River was a bit of a wasteful practice in a city which is not naturally blessed with an abundance of water. So 4 years later in 1910 the city called for tenders to have the fountain moved from its original home in Church Square and to be re-erected at the Zoo in February 1911, where it stands today. It did not have any water in it, but a sign mentioned that is was under construction and maintenance.

There was an interesting agreement put into place, that the fountain would be connected to the city supply and the water remain free, however the water-features would only be turned on during the afternoons of Wednesday and Saturday and then again on Sundays. This was to reduce water consumption.

Then in 1935 the water features were again running continuously, no one knows why this suddenly happened at it remains a mystery even today. A new agreement was reached to conserve water consumption and its running was restricted to everyday between 17h00 and 08h00. It was also suggested that the number of spouts be reduced and the leaking basin repaired.

In 1970 the fountain was refurbished and in 1989 it was extensively renovated. Apparently one of the difficulties was to determine its original colours. This research then lead to the discovery that the Sammy Marks fountain was on of 3 such fountains in the world.

You can visit the Sammy Marks Museum in Pretoria. It is also amazing to note that 98% of the household contents in Sammy Marks Museum originally belonged to the Marks family.

As seen by the plaque above the fountains were cast in Glasgow, Scotland by Walter Macfarlane & Co, architectural, sanitary and artistic founders, Saracen Foundry.

The first of these fountains was presented to Warrington, England, in 1900 in memory of Peter Walker, founder of the Walker’s Brewery. This fountain, erected in front of the Town Hall, was demolished in 1942 and donated by the town as scrap metal to the war effort. A miniature replica of the fountain now exists in a silver collection in the Warrington Town Hall.

The second fountain similar to the Marks fountain today stands in Alexandra Park, in the Dennistown area of Glasgow, but no details about its origin are available.

The statues on the fountain are simply breathtakingly beautiful. I would love to know it they are anyone particular or what each of them represent. I could not find any information to this effect.

The very top of the beautiful Sammy Marks Fountain. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

The intresting "dragons" holding the little top fountain up. The beautiful Sammy Marks Fountain. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Below the "dragons" are a row of beautiful "cherub" statues. The beautiful Sammy Marks Fountain. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Below a photo taken in 1901 of the original spot in Church Square where the fountain stood.

Taken in 1901 this photo depicts the location of the Sammy Marks fountain at Church Square in Pretoria. Photo courtesy of the Van der Waal Collection at the Department of Library Services at the University of Pretoria, South Africa

Back to the zoo and its animals. We were covering a lot of ground using the golf cart. It really is a great way to see the zoo. There are plenty of toilets around the zoo.

Leopard Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

What big teeth I have...Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

the Zoo Shop which was originally the Bear House. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

The Tall and the Short of it!! Giraffe and Egyptian Goose. Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Only this blurred photo through the glass of a Kola bear! Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

Just chilling!! Photo Credit Kim Williams Nikon - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver

On our way out these photos greeted us. how can you not guy them. They come in a great folder with information, some key rings, small photos for the key-rings. A really nice marketing idea. So we spent R220 on them. You can go onto the website to down load your photos too.

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Photo Credit Pretoria Zoo - #adventurekimcom #UrbanAdventures #PretoriaZoo #family #Pretoria #localcrafts #Africa #wildanimals #figtree #yellowwood #nationalflower #nationaltree #aquarium #reptilepark #cablecar #waterfountain #SammyMarksFountain #nighttours #nightcamps #schoolprogrammes #educational #environment #conservation #big5 #whitetigers #birds #flamingoes #picnic #Apiesriver