Tortoises at the Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens is also home to a large group of native Aldabra Giant Tortoises 🐢. These are the world's longest lived animals with a lifespan of 250 years. The oldest in the gardens is 95. They are able to survive up to 3 months without food and water. This made them a valuable commodity as fresh meat on the ships that plied the waters of the Indian Ocean in the 16th and 17th centuries. They almost became extinct at that time. Conservation programmes, like the one in the Botanic Gardens, have ensured their future. It was good to get close to them. They didn't seem perturbed by the group of screaming schoolchildren who followed us into their enclosure. I was, but the turtles weren't! 😂🤣

After exploring the gardens, we went for a cold drink in the café, erroneously named the Wildflour Café! Despite the spelling mistake, we enjoyed our Slow Turtle 🐢 cider (Mark) and rum and raisin ice cream 🍦 (me) 😂.Read more