Zoo Rating: Friguia Park

Friguia Park

Hammamet, Tunesia

 

 

About the zoo

Friguia Park in Hammamet is the most well-known zoo in Tunesia. With over 400 animals, divided among about 60 species are housed in the 36 acres big zoo.  Most of the zoos residents are African, but there are some other species as well. Next to the real zoo is a Dolphinarium, which you have to pay for seperately.

1. Species

The zoo doesn’t have much species why it’s definitly worth visiting, especially for natives. The zoo does have some big cats, elephants and also dolphins, however these aren’t that uncommon and aren’t very active either in the African warmth.

Score: 6

2. Animal Welfare

Although the animals are kept in enclosures that are big enough, not all of them have shelters to get out of the sun. Especially for the non native animals, this isn’t a good thing.

Score: 6

3. Construction

The entrance area and the first couple of enclosures you see upon entering the zoo are nice, even better than you might expect for a simple African zoos. However after passing a couple of enclosures, you will be seeing animals in simple squarish enclosures with only single tree. Aside from that, some animals enclosures are far away from the pathways, so you often can’t see them properly.

Score: 5

4. Accommodations

The zoo isn’t that big, so there aren’t that much accomodations needed. They do meet the requirements, but aren’t that special. They do have a Sea Lion show in the Zoo, which is quite cool.

Score: 6

5. Education

Simple, there isn’t a whole lot with the exception of some signs next to the enclosures.

Score: 4.5

6. Interaction

There is a camel ride, and next to that you can pet ostriches. The zookeepers doesn’t speak english very well, so that might be a problem if you have any question.

Score: 7

7. Total Score: 5.8

Friguia Park isn’t that special at all, but if you’d like to see a typical African zoo, it’s a good park to visit. It might be nice to have seen an African zoo once, and although it isn’t that bad, but you shouldn’t expect to much. This way, it can only be better then expected.

Gerben, 04/05/2014