Before we came to New Zealand, I never liked zoos. The zoo in Wroclaw, where I grew up, is a rather uninviting place with animal enclosures too small for their inhabitants. The visitor experience is more than anything, a great sadness. Auckland Zoo, on the other hand, is anything but depressing. It's a well thought out and designed space where the animals seem to live quite comfortably.
E loves the animals in the zoo. Visiting the place so regularly allows both of us to focus on details that could be easily missed with only occasional visits. We recognise which of the animals are which within their families, we know their routines, what they like doing and where in their enclosures we're likely to find them. We have names for some of them and we can't be sure but the Chimpanzee, Janie, seems to think we're a NUISANCE!
We start every visit with a stop at the Zoo's Darwin Cafe. I get my coffee (always) and E gets a treat (sometimes). The next step is the "Pass Counter" where E confidently surrenders our annual pass for scanning. Then he quickly pulls out one hand for the "temp" (stamp)... and then even faster, the other one for another "temp" and every time his demands are met with a surprised "Oh, you'd like another one!" I don't participate in that exchange at all (unless I need to catch something that just flew out of his grip).
Stamps featured on both of E's hands (thankfully they're washable!), we proceed to see the animals in the Giraffe Valley. E loves watching the zoo keepers opening and closing the very tall doors and gates for the giraffes. There are two giraffes that we know of ("Mommy" and "Baby" - we think) and they share their space with a small herd of zebras, an emu and an ostrich.
We move on when E says "All done!" (anywhere between 5 and 15 minutes). We next visit the Pridelands and...
The Rhinos: three white "boy" rhinos, "Daddy" Zambezi and his two sons Inkosi and Mtoto. They share their enclosure with a herd of springboks (I just realized I've been telling E that those are gazelles...Oops!).
Right across from the rhinos, there is the Lion Hill with several lions: a couple "Daddy" lions and a few "Mommy" lionesses. They sleep and lie around a lot but we saw them a few times quite active right before they were fed. Very exciting!
"All done!" and "Fingos now!"
Then there is a stop at the Elephant Clearing and two "girl" elephants, Kashin (41), and Burma (27).
"All done!" and "Cheetahs now!" In the Cheetah spot we visit the two brothers: Anubis (on the right) and Osiris. Anubis is much more alert and anxious than sleepy Osiris. If one of the cheetahs is pacing the enclosure nervously, we know, it's Anubis.
And then comes the best part: E's all-time favourite HIPPOS!!! This stop can take anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes (no matter if the animals are actually there... if they're not, don't worry... they will be!).
"Mommy" Faith and "Baby" Fudge share the Hippo River exhibit. This is Fudge.
And this is Snorkel (wonder why) who "has to live by herself because she does not play well with the other hippos." "Yes, it's like a time-out, Honey."
After a while we head to see the Orangutan family. This group, in the Just Juice Primate Trail, never ceases to amaze us with their antics. They find many ways to use the enrichments in their enclosures (three separate, indoor and outdoor areas).
After a longer visit with the Orangutans, we go and watch... "One little, two little, three little meercats..." Seriously, there are so many of them running around!
And last but by no means least: Janie! Janie is a 50-something Chimpanzee. Janie is an old ornery little lady who rarely looks at us. Her expression seems to be saying "Maybe if I don't make any eye contact with them, she'll leave and take the kid with her." She frequently either ostentatiously turns her back at us (even a blank wall seems to be better entertainment) or she starts watching TV ignoring us completely.
Oh, and this time we saw the tiger. Normally they're nowhere to be found.
Before we leave the zoo, we stop at the "Dragon" playground for a snack and a brief play.
And another quick stop to climb the lizard statue right at the exit gate.
Then, after we leave the zoo, we make our way home... slowly, in the 5 o'clock Auckland traffic.
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