Hope Zoo – A buried treasure!

As consumers are rocked with the uncertainty of the future I want to remind them of good things that are happening to our country and how they can benefit.  It is so hard to find entertainment that is family friendly as well as affordable. The Hope Zoo, located in Kingston is one of the favourite spots of most Jamaicans to relax in the natural environment.

However, in recent years there had been a decline as the place had appeared run down.  Despite a few fun days and school trips the zoo had seen a downturn in visitors. There has been recent buzz of upgraded work at the zoo so I decided to take a look at the new ‘hope’.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the zoo, was that the front area had been given a face lift with a structure resembling a modern day ark with pictures of animals on its helm. The stone garden boasted new plants and sparkling water with several colourful fishes.

The entrance cost for adults is $500.00 and children under 2 are free while children aged 3 – 12 pay $300.

I was pleasantly surprised by the wide range of animals they had on display.
The cages were marked so that patrons could read the names of the animals as well as interesting facts about their habits.  I think that it was refreshing to do something that for a while that took your mind off the mountain of bills and being outdoors really lifts the mood.  The grounds were clean and well kept with patrons enjoying relaxing in the many gazebos.

I do have a suggestion for the management of the zoo as I felt as if I was in a maze as I tried to find the animals that I wanted to see without any signs to guide me. However, the rebuilding work is not complete so it will be exciting to see how they implement new ideas.

So with all the stress of waiting for financial agreements and watching the prices increase, it is important to take a moment and do something for you and your family.
Schedule this for your ‘treat’ for the month.  Don’t forget to carry water and snacks for your trip to the zoo! Have you been to the Hope Zoo recently? Let me hear from you.

Teri Ann Renee Paisley, Gleaner Online Writer

Tags: Jamaica, tourism