Submitted by Triinu
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This blog post was written by our student ambassador Ana, who is a student of the semiotics programme at the University of Tartu.
Springtime in Estonia, with its warm and sunny days, is an ideal time for outdoor activities and adventures that can make everyone’s day relaxing and enjoyable, especially after all the studying and upcoming exams. How about visiting a zoo? A plethora of exotic animals, tons of interesting activities, and breathtaking landscapes — it sounds like a true adventure! In this blog, I will write about my day at Tallinn Zoo and explain why it should be your next go-to destination in Estonia. I hope you will enjoy my blog and visit the zoo as well.
Tallinn Zoo Adventures
After visiting numerous museums in Tallinn with my museum card, I decided I needed a break from art and culture and wanted to do something different for the weekend. After some thinking, I realised that a visit to Tallinn Zoo would be a great activity, since I hadn’t been to a zoo in over 10 years and I really love animals, especially wild jungle animals.
When I arrived, I was amazed by all the greenery, flowers, and the nearby forest. First, I visited the polar bear exhibition, where I saw two polar bears swimming in a big lake-like pool. The bears were super cute, and I was amazed by how they could tolerate spring temperatures, considering they are native to the snowy Arctic regions.
Next, I visited Troopikamaja (the Tropical House), where I saw a bunch of snakes, crocodiles, and a chimpanzee swinging from ropes and putting an entire orange into its mouth. Quite a memorable experience. I also saw a seal swimming in a small pool, getting some fresh air, and then diving back underwater. Such a cutie pie!
I also saw a bunch of exotic goats from Asia and Africa with very large horns, running around and climbing on small mountains. Estonia may not have many mountains, but they are clearly ready to create them for the animals’ sake, which is something quite admirable.
I also saw elephants and a rhino. The camel exhibition was fun as well, especially because the camels posed for pictures. My favorite exhibitions by far were the tiger and the cheetah, as they are my two favorite animals, and seeing them through thick glass was one of the happiest moments of my life. Spending a free day with animals in sunny weather truly is something amazing.
Must-Visit Places at Tallinn Zoo
Kagu-Aasia vihmamets (Southeast Asian Rainforest)
When you enter this exhibition, it feels as if you have stepped into a real rainforest. The animal sound effects, the scenery filled with trees and plants, the 3D jungle images, and the artificial waterfalls are all worth experiencing. Plus, the birds and reptiles from Southeast Asia are fascinating as well.
Zoo Restaurant
Eating at this restaurant is a one-of-a-kind experience because while you are enjoying your delicious meal, you can watch a tiger taking a stroll through its habitat, since the restaurant overlooks the tiger exhibition.
The restaurant has a very unique interior, and the meals are super tasty and affordable. The menu includes quick meals like chicken wraps and mini pancakes, as well as fries, chicken nuggets, sausages, pastries, animal-shaped lollipops, and cookies.
The restaurant also has a cotton candy machine — just insert money, and the machine automatically makes cotton candy for you. Pretty cool!
Veskimets (The Mill Forest)
Veskimets is a vast forest in the middle of the zoo, perfect for a peaceful stroll and admiring the plant life. The forest path stretches throughout the entire zoo, and along the way, you can see many plants with their descriptions, as well as plenty of large rocks.
One path leads to the vulture exhibitions, where you can see many predatory and exotic birds, such as eagles and hawks, while another path leads to the elephant exhibition.
Visiting Tallinn Zoo was one of the best adventures of my life and remains a very fond memory. I highly recommend Tallinn Zoo to everyone, as it is a great way to spend a day off and discover more of Estonia’s attractions.
You can buy tickets online from the zoo’s official webpage or directly at the ticket office.