Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Great day out, educational for all |
| Disadvantages: |
None |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
no |
A few years ago me and my family went on a cruise, while we docked in Bermuda for the day, we decided to take a day trip visit to Bermuda's Aquarium and Zoo. As we had been on the ship for ten days we wanted to get off and see what the island had to offer.
The whole trip was organised on board the shop, we were picked up and transported to the aquarium and the zoo, and later picked up and returned to the ship ready to set sail again.
ABOUT THE AQUARIUM AND ZOO
This park opened in 1926, offers a close up and personal look at Bermuda's marine life and endangered species.
The aquarium and zoo it one of Bermudas best attractions, well according to the locals. But I cannot really quote this as the best, as it was all that we actually saw of the island.
This aquarium has more than 100.00 visitors a year, and many of Bermudas population are members of the aquarium and zoo. This can be people who work there, have annual passes or even support the animals by adopting them.
The actual park is run by Bermudas government and the zoological society, so all donations and visits help towards helping endangered animals. This in itself makes the visit worthwhile as you feel like you are help to.
ATTRACTIONS
When you arrive at the park you enter the main hall, which contains huge tanks that display large moray eels, packs of silver minnows, squid, lobsters, huge groupers, parrot fish and my favourite octopus. Within these huge tanks you can watch and inspect over 200 breeds of fish and invertebrates.
In another section of the aquarium you can see a spectacular 140.000 gallon north rock exhibit, this is the first living coral reef exhibit to be made in the whole world, but this was built in 1996 so you may find others that have been build in this time.
This is the biggest exhibit in the aquarium and takes up a huge portion of the aquarium, I spent hours stood looking at this as I felt like I was in with the fish and species, minus the wet suit and snorkel.
This huge exhibit was made up of two tanks that sat side by side, inside the smaller tank at the front was tiny reef fish swimming among anemones, angelfish, sponges, corals, and sea fans.
This was amazing to watch as they all looked so graceful especially the angle fish, these are by far the prettiest looking fish. Behind this is a larger tank that allows you a floor to ceiling view of sharks, barracuda, and schools of pompano, golden-frilled trigger fish, and a mammoth black grouper.
That larger tank is spectacular especially is you like sea life, it is like a sea life center only a hundred times bigger and better, and to be honest it puts Britain's sea life centers to shame.
MUSEUM
Within this aquarium and park, they have recently added a natural history museum, this was opened to the public in 2003, here you can learn about the endangered animals and sea life and how we can help prevent extinction and also they had audio and interactive displays, that help you to understand sea life from years ago to date. The kids loved this as they didn't have to stand and read board and boards of writing, it was all explain though loud speakers. I found this really good as they actually took and interest and learnt a thing of two.
ZOO
This was the second part of the park and consisted of over 300 birds, mammals, and reptiles, in exhibits that imitate their natural habitat. Each animal enclosure tells you all about each animal and how they live and survive, also explained is the conditions they need to survive in.
All the way around the zoo, there were bright red bricked paths which reminded me of the film the wizard of oz. All of the paths are lined with exotic flowers and plants and there are many seating areas along to way, so you can sit and taking the spectacular scenery.
My favourite exhibit was the Australia exhibit, within this they have created a humid environment with rainforest type plants and trees, and here live kangaroos, parrots, wallabies and huge python snakes. I really hate snakes they scare the life out of me but it was ok, as I didn't get to close. I love watching the kangaroo they are amazing, at the time of our visit they had recently had babies, so it was quite something watching them jump around with the babies in their pouches.
In the middle of the zoo area, they have a large open but fenced lake and grass area, which have many pink flamingos, this is a really nice place to sit and eat of even take five minutes to rest your tired feet.
FOR KIDS
I have to say this aquarium and zoo caters for adults but also goes out of its way to entertain children, as they have all the interactive displays and exhibits and a discovery room.
I found this discovery room great for the kids as it was air conditioned, so it was good to get out of the heat for a while and cool down, not only that the kids had the chance to watch, learn about, feed and even touch starfish and sea urchins, feed fish, and pick up sea cucumbers, or sea squirts.
Here they also educate the kids on all of the zoo's exhibits teach them about man-made threats to endangered species, and how to help prevent them.
Story telling is also held for children under six, but only on Fridays between 11.15 and 11.45. Here kids can sing songs, play games and interacted with certain animals.
The zoo also has a play playroom that shows them wildlife videos, a Lego zoo, jigsaws, puppets, and live rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters.
Children can also play outside in a huge sand pit, which is filled with buckets and spades. This is where I had trouble as the kids wouldn't leave, I even tried walking away in the hope they would follow, but no they stayed firmly put. I was nice as they made a few little friends there, which were on board our cruise, so we got time to ourselves for the rest of the cruise as they were off playing.
SEAL EXHIBIT
The seal exhibit was also a must see, here you had five long time westerner harbour seals and every day you could watch them feeding at 9am, 1.30pm and the last feed at 4pm.
This it right at the entrance of the park so we watched the 4pm feed, just before we left.
In this exhibit they have 34 year old Archie, he is the oldest surviving seal that is in captivity. I have to say he has one hell of an appetite.
PROJECTS TO HELP ANIMALS
The Bermudas aquarium and zoo, helps animals that are endangered. The main project being the turtle project.
This turtle project has been in place for nearly 30 years, this is designed to help improve the turtle's population, this is done by attaching tags and this then tracks the turtles as they migrate and breed in areas of the Caribbean.
This was they can keep track of the endangered species and see it the population is growing or decreasing.
The zoo also helps monkeys that are near extinction in the Brazilian rain forest, the zoo breeds the monkeys in captivity and when they are strong enough and able to cope on their own they are released back in to the rain forest.
GUIDED TOURS
Guided tours of Bermuda Aquarium and zoo are offered at 1:10 p.m. Although this is a good idea I feel you would benefit more if you walk around on your own, as you always seen to get people that want to know everything and you get pushed to the back and can't see a thing that is being talked about.
You can also get a free guided tour which is offered at 1.10pm, if there is anything you would like to know more about in greater detail.
GIFT SHOP
At Bermuda's Aquarium and zoo also has a gift shop, selling eco-friendly items, gifts, souvenirs and toys.
This shop can be a little bit expensive, but buying something to remind you of your visit is a must. Although some of it is cheap tat at very expensive prices we always seem to buy the junk that get chucked in a draw when we return home.
FOOD & REFRESHMENTS
When we got to the park we were a little peckish, so we stopped at a little cafe the peacock's pantry. Here you could buy snacks, light meals and other refreshments.
The cafe was very basic but very clean and catered for all of our needs, and very cheaply indeed.
This little cafe opens at 10.00am and closes at 4.00pm, so we got our dinner and tea here.
LOCATION
The aquarium and zoo park is located at
40 North Shore Rd., Flatts, Bermuda.
Contact numbers tel. 441/293-2727, fax 441/293-3176,
The park site sits opposite Flatts Village on the facing shore of Flatts Inlet, and is located in the picturesque flatts v village of Bermuda and is a popular tourist site.
OPENING TIMES
This Park is open every day of the year except from Christmas day.
9.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. the last admission 4 p.m.
PRICE
$10.00 dollars admission for adults
$5.00 dollars admission for seniors and children 5-12years old,
FREE ADMISSION for children under 5 years old
MY OPINION
This is situated in stunning surroundings, so just for them it is worth a visit.
I loved the fact that there were fish and other animals that is had never seen, let alone heard of before. It opened my eyes to some of the beautiful creatures we have in the ocean.
Overall we had a great day out and the admission price was very cheap, which is always a bonus in my book, the kids had plenty of things to do and we had to drag them away from the park at closing time.
I found the octopus may best attractions, I think these are amazing animals so I was watching them mast of the time.
If you are ever in Bermuda, you must go and see this place it is truly amazing, a really eye opener.
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