Zoological and Botanical Gardens

One of the city's few "green lungs", the Zoological and Botanical Gardens were founded in 1864 and opened to the public in 1871, and are now managed by the municipal authorities. They lie near the center of Victoria, 10 minutes from the Hilton Hotel.

The Botanical Garden (area 5.4 hectares/13 acres) offers an excellent overview of tropical and subtropical flora, with over 600 species of trees, shrubs and plants (fig-trees, palms, rubber trees, conifers and a great variety of flowers). Labels give information about their place of origin, habitat and characteristics.

Adjoining the Botanical Garden is the Zoological Garden, established after the Second World War, which has one of the largest collections of birds (some 250 species, including a number of endangered species), together with monkeys, jaguars, pumas, cranes, flamingos and various smaller species. An important responsibility of the Zoo is the breeding of animals in captivity in order to ensure the survival of endangered species. Its successes in this field have given it an international reputation.

Early morning visitors can see devotees of the Chinese art of shadow-boxing (tai chi chuan) performing their exercises on Fountain Terrace.