Mitchell Park Zoo — Attraction in eThekwini Ward 27

It is evident that the staff at Mitchell Park are doing their best to maintain the lustre of the Mitchell Park of yesteryear. The premises are enormous and require a lot of day to day maintenance. Sadly, they appear to be fighting a losing battle. I suspect that the funds from either the municipality or government are insufficient to maintain this iconic attraction. More is the pity because this haven of tranquility in the heart of Durban is a sanctuary for many people who will probably never enjoy the privelege of seeing a fascinating array of birds, buck, reptiles and exotic animals from all over the world. The gardens as you enter are a glorious sight and are well maintained. However, when you venture to the bird cages you realise that there are signs of neglect. Enclosures stand empty, the canopy of wire mesh straining to remain intact, burdened as they are by the weight of fallen branches and assorted debris. The grass in places needs mowing. The animals seem well cared for but the infrastructure in general looks care-worn and neglected. This facility could be a big draw card for visitors to Durban, especially parents with toddlers and young children. What a pity eThekwini municipality doesn't recognise the value of this diamond in the rough and make an effort to maintain and cherish...

Most definitely not the Mitchell Park that we were accustomed to 30 plus years ago. We took our own children there on regular outings to see all the animals and to then enjoy a meal at the restaurant. We have been taking our Granddaughters there for the past 7 years and have slowly but surely only seen a deterioration all round instead of improvements. The gardens in itself are not as well kept as they use to be. The wishing Wells and ponds near the entrance to the animal park have been empty for heaven knows how long. There are more and more empty cages in the animal section itself. A lot of them are unkept with weeds and long grass. Certain animals just seem to get the minimum attention which is so sad to see. Someone with enthusiasm can surely try and get sponsors from Companies to "adopt a cage" just like they do at the SPCA. I know that financial assistance is probably not as forthcoming like it use to be but PLEASE try and do something about it. It is the one and only park that children can visit within the Durban area to see some animals. We still go there for an outing on a lovely day as the kids enjoy it but personally feel rather sad...

We visited the Mitchell Park Zoo on a warm Saturday afternoon, with a group of friends. We were pleasently supprised buy the entrance fee of only R 12 for adults. The zoo is well laid out with all the animal enclosure's being easily accessable to wheelchairs. The animals looked comfortable, healthy and happy. We were also astounded by the number and variety of animals housed at the zoo. There were indigenous species ranging from Duiker, tortoise, mongoose and meercat, to crocodile. Exotic species included Peacock, Black Swarns, monkeys, numerous birds, some talking birds and even a member of the Llama family.

The zoo is peaceful with many places to sit and rest or observed the animals. The afternoon was punctuated by the shrieks of excited children as they darted between the enclosures. Each new discovery exhibiting more excitement than the previous ones.

Besides the animals, Mitchell Park also has tremendous trees, plentiful plants and fabulous flowers.

It is well worth a visit. On your own, with a partner, with your family, or a group of friends, all ages and types will enjoy this little gem in the...