Today I choose to take you to a walk in nature, to places of peace and silence, not in big cities. Take off your shoes, let’s have a walk in the green grass and listen to the sing of birds.
We are in Givskud Zoo, and no, not a zoo with hungry animals in cages. Here nature follows its course, the beings are free in their habitat and have a normal life. What if I would put you in a “cage” ? I am sure you would not enjoy it that much as when I said to have an outdoor walk. Well, Danes have a special way of caring for nature and animals and that is why Givskud was made to be a great experience for both sides.
I honestly hated the class trips to the zoo in primary school only because of the improper conditions in which the poor creatures were leaving. This time I finally enjoyed it and felt no guilt for being there.
It was for the first time when I saw part of the animals or to see them so close. My favourite part was the monkey area for there were lots of families with cute baby monkeys.
Still, as I mentioned the cage, people are somehow locked, but in a car or bus. It is only allowed to enter the area with a car or join the zoo bus and to follow the special roads to reach the parking places.
First I disliked this idea too, but then I understood it makes sense as the garden is huge and really you don’t want to be near a lion with no place to hide in ha-ha! Of course, except for the dangerous zones, visitors leave their cars in parking places and walk around by foot which is why I advice you to consider half a day for seeing the park.
The big park is split into “continents” and it has even a special area dedicated to dinosaurs. Not something expected, but more than welcomed!
Children around were more than excited when the mannequins were moving or making sounds, but their surprise was even bigger when they were finding they could search themselves dinosaur bones.
I only left with the hope that all zoos will look like this in the near future! From here I will take you to the underground world, take your shoes back on and even a jacket because it’s getting cold!
One hour drive away there is Mønsted Kalkgruber, a limestone mine that not even much Danish people know about and of which I found myself randomly. Going abroad and seeing more than expected is a plus so why not?!
I would take you inside by train, but it’s possible only from May to August. However, not all the 60 kilometers are opened to the public so you will explore the tunnels without getting tired. Watch your steps as the floor is slippery and enjoy the two lakes inside, plus a small cinema place to find the history of the mine.
A nice park and the old factory which is now a museum awaits outside too.
See you next time with the last post from “My Denmark journal” series and the last two cities to discover in this beautiful country I called home for a while. Hugs!
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