Belfast Zoo
With all the things to do in Belfast, the Zoo has to be the main family attraction. Situated upon a breathtaking 55 acre site in North Belfast it is home to over 1,200 animals and 140 species. Gathering near to 300,000 every year it is one of Northern Ireland’s most visited fee-paying attractions. Initially Belfast Zoo was actually pleasure gardens which were built by the Belfast Corporation in 1911 and were named Bellevue Gardens. It wasn’t until 1933 that a zoological area was introduced which cost around £10,000 to build and in 1934 was open to the public.
Today, Belfast Zoo is the epitome of what a modern zoo should be. The majority of animals that the zoo houses are animals which are endangered in their own natural habitat, therefore providing just as much as a conservation role as it does an entertainment role. By taking part in the 94 breeding programmes which have been made available to conserve those animals which are dying out, Belfast Zoo is proud of its achievement in helping and educating its visitors on the importance of conserving nature and its animals.
A visitor to the Zoo can expect a large range of animals varying from the common Otter to the most exotic Asian Elephants. You also have the penguin enclosure, a Rainforest House, giraffes, lions, bears and the list goes on! As the zoo is on the mountain it can be quite a trek but there are convenience shops and bathroom facilities (which cater for the disabled and baby changing facilities) that can be found the whole way around the complex. If you feel like taking the family to lunch, you can visit the Ark Café which is situated near the entrance to the Zoo, or if you just aren’t that hungry when you arrive you can wait and visit the Mountain Tea House at the very top of the Zoo, which is very popular with visitors for its stunning views over Belfast and Cave Hill. Presents and gifts can be bought at the aptly named ‘Zoovenir Shop’, where there is an abundance of teddies, books, sweets, key rings, stationary etc, this is located in the Visitors Centre which is near the entrance and will go down a treat with children and adults alike!
Belfast Zoo is a must see and with many Awards such as the Northern Ireland Tourism Award and recommending reviews from Lonely Planet nature magazine, it is definitely a place where people can get lost in nature and get a sense of how home is for the dozens of wild animals housed there.