National Zoological Garden

22/09/2024

21/09/2024

Can you ID? 🤔

20/09/2024

The National Zoological Garden in Pretoria has a course for high school learners during the school holidays!🔬⚗🤩

What is this all about? To put it simply, by attending this course you will explore lots and lots of SCIENTIFIC things about LIFE on Earth – hence the name “Bio-Science”. We will discover these slowly but surely in a fun and participatory, exploring way, using our eyes, hands and brains to unfurl the intricacies of nature. Cool!! But this not where it ends.

We will also look at the applications of all this in our modern world. What does it take to become a veterinarian? Or would you rather like to become a geneticist? Or a zoo manager? What is the role of a biobank? Or a databank? How does an understanding of DNA contribute to improving people’s lives?

The Directorate Biodiversity Education and Public Engagement of the National Zoological Garden in Pretoria will offer this Bio-Science course during the school holidays.

The course is offered for learners from grade 8 – 12.

This course teaches learners about biodiversity, the environment, bioscience and conservation while giving the opportunities to have hands-on experiences and exploring the facilities in the zoo. The Bio-Science course aims to give learners a knowledge and especially an understanding of biodiversity and life sciences.

It also prepares them for possible careers in these fields. After successfully completing the course, learners may join the ZooClub, a group of young volunteers. This club meets regularly, undertakes excursions and participates in life science competitions.

https://www.pretoriazoo.org/initiatives/youth-courses/

20/09/2024

From spending time with your loved ones out in nature to discovering your inner artist with a sip and paint, or breaking a sweat at one of our green gyms, whatever it is you want to do, visit any of the SA Biodiversity South African National Biodiversity Institute.

Whether it's a peaceful walk, a workout, or simply soaking in the beauty of South Africa’s biodiversity, our gardens are waiting for you.

You could win two SANBI Garden memberships, giving you unlimited access to all our gardens for a year.

19/09/2024

What is the rarest frog in South Africa?

Pickersgill's reed frog

Named after the herpetologist, Martin Pickersgill, who discovered the species in 1978 in Mount Edgecombe, Durban. A Critically Endangered frog species with a habitat in decline. These frogs are a genuine needle in a haystack

18/09/2024

There are 2 Species of Ostrich: the common ostrich (Struthio camelus) and the Somali ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes)

They Are the World's Largest Bird

Ostriches Can't Fly But They Run Really Fast

They Only Have Two Toes

Male Ostriches Dance For Their Ladies

Ostriches Have a Specialized Stomach

16/09/2024

Kiddies enter *Free!
Bring your family for an unforgettable experience at the Pretoria Zoo!
Up to two kids per family (17 and under) get in for free. Simply collect your wristbands at Pretoria Station and present them at the zoo to enjoy this amazing offer.
*Ts and Cs apply

14/09/2024

Can you ID? 🤓

13/09/2024

🌞

12/09/2024

DYK? 🤔

The characteristic chimpanzee shape includes arms that extend beyond the knees, opposable thumbs, and a prominent mouth. The skin on the face, ears, palms, and soles of the feet is bare, and the rest of the body is covered with brown to black hair

11/09/2024

Bringing knowledge to Life!

The NZG ZooClub celebrating the International Vulture Awareness Day at the Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Center communicating the conservation importance of Vultures in the ecosystem and the declining population of Vultures as a results of poisoning and use of Vulture parts for traditional medicine.

10/09/2024

Did you know there are exciting opportunities to visit the zoo at night?

Sunset Safaris

The Sunset Safari experience at the zoo involves watching the sun as it is setting – some animals will be settling down to sleep, while the nocturnal animals will start their nightly activities. Our guides will inform you about animals, nature, the environment, and ecology: the nocturnal activities of genets, the role jackals play in the ecosystem, the hunting strategy of cheetahs, the intricate social interactions of suricates, the conservation crisis that rhinos are currently experiencing and other intriguing facets.

Guests will meet with their respective guide at the National Zoo’s service entrance in Boom Street, Pretoria, by no later than 18h30. They will be accompanied to their venue and then take you on a one-hour walking safari. On return to the venue, the guests are welcome to braai and prepare their meal, eat, and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Guests are expected to vacate the premises by 23h30.

The National Zoo will provide a venue with table-and-bench units and braai stands. Guests to provide their food, drinks, and other refreshments as well as crockery and cutlery. Charcoal for the braai and wood for the bonfire also needs to be provided by guests.

Sunset Safaris take place on Fridays and Saturdays from 1 September to 31 March.

Click for more information:

https://www.pretoriazoo.org/visit-the-zoo-at-night/

09/09/2024

🍃

Win SANBI Garden Memberships!!

Visit one of our gardens this spring and win big. One lucky winner at each SANBI garden will receive two SANBI Garden Memberships, giving them and a family member or friend unlimited access to all our gardens for one year.

Please see participation details below

https://sanbi.org/comp.../win-a-sanbi-garden-membership/

07/09/2024

International Vulture Awareness Day is celebrated on 07 September annually. Today, SANBI - NZG Biodiversity Education & Public Education and Conservation departments are celebrating with the zoo visitors 🦅

06/09/2024

International Vulture Awareness Day is celebrated on 07 September annually. Today, SANBI - NZG Biodiversity Education & Public Education and Conservation departments are celebrating with schools groups visiting the zoo 🦅

06/09/2024

Kiddies enter *FREE
Bring your family for an unforgettable day at the zoo! Up to two kids per family (17 and under) get in for FREE! Just collect your wristbands at Pretoria Station and present them at the zoo to enjoy this amazing offer.
Ts & Cs apply

06/09/2024

05/09/2024

DYK?

Meerkats are immune to venom
Meerkats are actually pretty tough if you look like lunch
Meerkats are highly intelligent
Meerkats are omnivores!
The desert is dry but meerkats don't drink water.

04/09/2024

Bringing knowledge to Life!

On having completed the Junior Nature Conservators course, children are invited to join the ZooClub. This is a life science club which offers a variety of activities and projects to create a better understanding of nature and the environment as well as exposing members to career choices.

Application forms are made available with the Junior Nature Conservators certificate. This club is a lot of fun and edutainment, e.g.:

• Visit SciBono Science Centre in Johannesburg as well as the SciEnza Science
Centre at the University of Pretoria
• Explore the Ditsong Museum of Natural History at night
• Assist our conservation staff to care for the Zoo’s animals
• Participate in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists as well as other competitions
such as the WESSA National Environmental Quiz as well as the Bushveld Mosaic
event at Pilanesberg Nature Reserve
• Receive support for the maths and science school curriculum
• Participate in international events such as World Rhino Day, International Vulture
Day or African Penguin Awareness Day
• Various other exciting events!

https://www.pretoriazoo.org/initiatives/zooclub/

03/09/2024

Win a SANBI Garden Membership!! 🤩

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) contributes to South Africa’s sustainable development by facilitating access to biodiversity data, generating information and knowledge, building capacity, providing policy advice, showcasing and conserving biodiversity in its national botanical and zoological gardens.

SANBI’s Conservation Gardens & Tourism Division manages SANBI’s network of 11 National Botanical and two Zoological Gardens, each with their associated tourism infrastructure and conservation estate, and Interpretation Section. ‘Conservation Gardens’ is the international term for botanical gardens that include both landscaped and natural areas within their boundaries.🍃