h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

While my mother and I were staying in Pretoria, we made some time in between visiting my father in hospital, to drive around a bit and see some interesting sights. We found a very nice little place very close to where we lived - in Simon Vermooten Road, the same road which led to the Wilgers Hospital where my dad was. It was only a few minutes' drive from the guest house where we stayed. This place was simply indicated with a signpost beside the road saying 'Bester Bird and Animal Zoo'. Anyways one day we had a proper visit and were *very* pleasantly surprised!

First thing, right after we parked, I saw little mammals scurrying around ... and they turned out to be *ground squirrels*! These squirrels actually live in more open habitats than Pretoria is at the moment, in desert or grassland regions where they excavate burrows and use their tails to shade them against the intense sun. Here there was much more shade than sun, but they seemed to enjoy this a lot, going about with tails lowered most of the time!

From outside we saw an enclosure with South Africa's national bird, the Blue Crane - well, actually a few of them - and also, some llamas resting, with cages behind them containing eagles and vultures. Entering the zoo itself, we saw a little tortoise in the path going in!

And right off I saw it was a special place. It had species I'd never seen 'in the flesh' (or 'in the feather' for that matter) before! There were too many to mention here. I made a list ... there are over 100 bird species there. It's a smallish zoo, actually, so this is quite an achievement.

It seems they're breeding rare and interesting species from all over the world there! Right at the start we saw a cage with Hermit or Waldrapp Ibises ... a species that is globally threatened. This species is being bred in captivity in many zoos (including another zoo in Pretoria - the big one) and with some success, which has led to them being reintroduced in some places. I am in favour of such captive breeding programmes.

As far as being a zoo, I saw that most of the animals were kept in large cages or enclosures. The bird cages went back far so the birds - if they felt threatened - could retreat far away from visitors. But, mostly, the animals and birds seemed to me in very good mental and physical health. The proprietors obviously know very well what sort of food and other requirements each animal needed. The same can not be said of some other zoos I've seen ...

Also, many of the animals and birds were actually 'free' as in unconstrained. The ground squirrels and tortoises I've already mentioned ... there were also wallabies and rabbits hopping around all over the place. The wildfowl and waterbirds ... ducks, geese, flamingos and a pelican ... were all kept in large open enclosures with ponds and were free to fly away if they wished. The blue cranes as well.

There were *far* too many species to photograph or tell you about here. I could have had more photos ... I was concerned though because my memory stick is very small (ancient technology, my camera is now about six years old!) but in the end, I could have snapped a few more things. I hope to return again some day, and get a few more piccies! Things I did *not* get pictures of, include monkeys (squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys, sakis, and some kind of African monkey in the blue/sykes/putty-nosed complex); lots of wild cats including serval, caracal, puma and some utterly beautiful jungle species; an African civet (predator both cat-like and dog-like); Madagascan Fossa - a very weird civet-like predator; Red River Hogs - colourful wild African pigs; birds included Guira cuckoos; American Black Vultures; Yellowheaded Vultures (also a Neotropical species); Whiteheaded vultures (African species - true vulture); East-African crested Guineafowl - and also Vulturine Guineafowl; Grey Plantain-eaters and also Violet Plantain-Eaters (turaco family - endemic to Africa); LOTS of bird species from elsewhere in Africa (not occuring here in South Africa) - jeepers, too many to mention!

But at least there are some photos of the things I *did* take fairly good shots of, here:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/575188226VZqkEA

Hi willem,

Thank you about the tale about the Bester Zoo which you found near the hospital where your Dad was getting well.

It sounded a great place and the animals appeared to have enough room.

WE have a sort of safari park quite near here. There are a lot of acres, and it has a marvellous position. When I went one of the lionesses was very intrigued with my wheelchair. I was sitting talking to her, and when she started pawing the ground quite near to me and seeming to try to get out, I quickly scuttled away. !!

We must go again but will wait until the summer. It is incredibly cold. fortunately I got the heating man in yesterday so both Keith and I are as warm as toast.

Keep well my friend and I hope that dad is continuing on his road to recovery.

With much affection

~Christiane and Keith.

21.10.09

16.20 BST

I am pleased you managed to get a bit of relaxation amid the trauma, and in such a nice place too. What a huge selection of wildlife, and in good surroundings too.

I will take a look at the photos later as I have to go now Thanks for the info. it was most interesting.

Hope all is well at home.

Websailor

Hello Christiane, Keith and Websailor! Thanks for your comments. I hope you all took time to look at the photos - there aren't many, but there are a few nice one!

Oo err, I mean a few nice *ones*!

Loved the photos, especially the Crane and the Scarlet Ibis Some interesting species there too. One or two are similar to what we find here. Even wallabies, believe it or not

Websailor

Hello Websailor, and I'm happy you liked the pictures! Believe it or not, I knew there were wild wallabies in Britain!