National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
Encyclopedia
The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (also informally known as The Pretoria Zoo) is the national zoo of South Africa
. It is situated in the city of Pretoria
and was founded by J. W. B. Gunning
.
in 1899 and became the official National Zoological Gardens in 1916.
flowing through the zoo. Two bridges provide access over the river.
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
.
A crafts market is located outside zoo entrance.
, reptile
park, aviary
, Australia
n section, primate
section and a carnivore
section amongst others.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is situated in the city of Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
and was founded by J. W. B. Gunning
J. W. B. Gunning
Jan Willem Boudewijn Gunning , was director of the Transvaal Museum and a medical practitioner....
.
History
The zoo was originally established at the outbreak of the Second Boer WarSecond Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
in 1899 and became the official National Zoological Gardens in 1916.
Landscape
Half of the zoo is situated on relatively flat ground, while the other half is located on the slopes of a hill. The two areas are separated by the Apies RiverApies River
The Apies River is a river that flows through the city of Pretoria, South Africa. Its source is located just south of the city and it flows northward until it drains into the Pienaars River....
flowing through the zoo. Two bridges provide access over the river.
Infrastructure
Around 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) of pathways are laid out in the zoo. Golf carts are available for rent for those that prefer not to walk; most, but not all of the exhibits are accessible by golf cart.A cable car
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
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
Apies River
The Apies River is a river that flows through the city of Pretoria, South Africa. Its source is located just south of the city and it flows northward until it drains into the Pienaars River....
.
A crafts market is located outside zoo entrance.
Exhibits
The zoo includes an aquariumAquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
, reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
park, aviary
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n section, primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
section and a carnivore
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
section amongst others.