Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Exploring the zoo
The zoo's trail is arranged as “a walk through Belize”, taking you to the pine ridge, the
forest edge, the rainforest, lagoons and the river forest; hand-painted signs identify
what you're seeing. Along the way you'll spy a
Baird's tapir
(known locally as a
“mountain cow”) and all the Belizean cats - and then some - including
jaguars
. You
can enter an enclosure with a young, tame jaguar (with the keeper) for Bz$100, while
there's even a rarer melanistic (black) jaguar. Numerous aviaries house vividly coloured
scarlet macaws
, toucans, parrots, jabiru storks, a spectacled owl and several vultures
and hawks, though Panamá, a magnificent
harpy eagle
(named for his home country)
is best-known for his role in an ambitious breeding programme crucial to the
reintroduction of the eagle to Belize. Other inhabitants include deer, spider and howler
monkeys, peccaries, agoutis, numerous snakes and the two species of
crocodile
found
in Belize. For a wonderfully unique experience, take the 6pm
nocturnal tour
(included
in zoo entry), when you'll often see more animals than during the day, since many are
nocturnal. If you do this tour, it's recommended you stay the night at the
Belize Zoo
Jungle Lodge
or the
Belize Savanna Guest House
(see below).
he
gift shop
is well worth a browse, with a huge range of souvenirs, including
popular children's topic with a strong conservation message written by Sharon, the
zoo's founder. All proceeds go to the zoo. If you're really keen on supporting it, you can
become a member and receive a regular newsletter and free admission for a year. The
zoo also operates an Adopt an Animal programme, where your funds will contribute to
the maintenance and wellbeing of a particular species. Check the zoo website for
information.
ACCOMMODATION
BELIZE ZOO
Belize Savanna Guest House
Mile 28½ George Price
Hwy, just before the Belize Zoo
T
822 8005
W
belizesavannaguesthouse.com.
Run by Richard and
Carol Foster, well-known naturalists and documentary
filmmakers, this comfortable guesthouse has elegantly
rustic rooms with
hardwo
od floors; rates include a
continental breakfast.
US$65
Belize Zoo Jungle Lodge
Across the highway from the
zoo
T
822 8000,
W
belizezoo.org.
This well-appointed
facility has a variety of accommodation set on 84 acres of
pine savanna, including the Savanna Castle dormitories
with shared bath, geared towards student groups. The
facility also encompasses a classroom, library and kitchen
and dining areas, and has an elevated bird deck, for
excellent birdwatching, and self-guided nature trails.
Additionally, there are forest
cabañas
on raised platforms
with shared bath and two “pond houses”, with private bath,
which are perched on the edge of a fres
hwater
pond. All
rates in
clude breakfa
st and d
inner. Dorms
US$30
,
cabañas
US$70
, pond houses
US$82
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Mile 31½ George Price Hwy • Open daily during daylight hours • Free, though there is sometimes a cost for tours (from Bz$50) •
T
822 8032,
W
belizestudyabroad.net • Most non-express buses travelling between Belize City and Belmopan will drop you at the
sanctuary turn-off, a 5min walk to the entrance.
Explore the Belizean wilderness while learning how to preserve it at the long-running
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
, a
nature reserve and education centre that unfolds
between the George Price Highway and the
Sibun River
. The “bay” part of the name
comes from a beautiful swimming spot by a sandy beach on the river, overhung with
trees once inhabited by howler and spider monkeys; the monkeys are slowly returning
after a long absence following hurricane disturbance, while the river watershed also
supports abundant birdlife, jaguars, tapirs and Morelet's crocodiles. The eighteen-
square-mile sanctuary offers a superb range of outdoor activities, including hiking,
canoeing, caving and birding, all of which can be arranged upon arrival at the
sanctuary (tour prices vary; see above).
The sanctuary headquarters comprises a wooden
field research station
, serving as
library, museum and classroom, as well as a screened dining room and bunkhouses.
Although the sanctuary specializes in hosting academic programmes in natural history
