Crocodilo

I met up with my friend Antonio, a masters student in conservation, at Maputo's Zoological Gardens (Jardins Zoológicos). We enjoyed birdwatching recently in Chimanimani and thought it would make for a relaxing Sunday activity as he's spending the course break at his sister's in the city.

Disrepair is an understatement to describe the condition of the zoo. There are some vervet monkeys, baboons and a few crocodiles, including this one acting as a repository for plastic bottles. The gardens mainly seem to be a place courting couples escape the usual watchful eyes, which they can do safely as long as they stay a distance from the sagging fences that enclose 5 metre crocs. The huge male baboons have lethal canines, which are available to be gored by through a very threadbare, bulging fence.

I caught a chapa (minibus) back to the city, which was more fun and much cheaper than taking a taxi. If I can navigate the chapa network it'll save me lots of meticais and provide good insights into the way most Mozambicans travel.

Much of the rest of the day was spent buying fruit, stocking up on water and snacking on pastel de nata.