Bermuda
Aquarium, Museum and Zoo
Committed to
inspiring appreciation and care of island
environments
The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum
& Zoo (BAMZ), located in Hamilton
Parish, is, without question, one of our
favorite Bermudian attractions.
What To See
We recommend that you begin your visit by
picking up one of the "sound
sticks" at the Aquarium
entrance, which provide interesting
tidbits about the inhabitants of each
fish tank. Watch for the green light on
top of each tank, so you'll know when the
recording for the tank you are in front
of is on. You'll see over 100 native
tropical species, including parrotfish,
jacks, groupers, triggerfish, angelfish,
and squirrelfish, plus the popular
seven-foot Moray Eel (if it can be
enticed away from the sheltering rocks in
its tank).
Even more impressive is the
Aquarium's signature exhibit, North Rock
Tank, which offers a breathtaking look at
a replica of one of the island's natural
coral reefs. Look for the large schools
of exotic fish, plus Barracuda, sharks,
and Spotted Eagle Rays and groupers. You
can even climb into a Plexiglas bubble
that provides the feeling of diving in a
coral cave! Placards around the tank
explain the importance of coral reef
conservation.
The Natural
History Museum is BAMZ's most
recent addition. It cost of $1.7 million
to build and focuses on the Islands
geology, native biodiversity and
habitats.
The Museum also provide a
bridge to the wonders of the Zoo.
Our favorite exhibit is the Australasia
area which provides close-up looks at
wallabies (the smallest of the kangaroo
family), tree kangaroos, and ring-tailed
lemurs, all among exotic plantings and
waterfalls.
We're also impressed by the
Discovery Room in the Local Tails
Exhibit. This room is a magnet for
children who love the hands-on activities
such as puzzles and interactive learning
stations. On Fridays, BAMZ offers animal
story time for young children with songs,
rhymes and the occasional animal visitor.
And don't miss the exhibit
of green turtles in front of the
Aquarium! These huge creatures' history
is intertwined with that of Bermuda; once
exploited for food (turtle soup was de
rigeur at chic dinner parties for
years), oil and their shells, green
turtles are now protected by
international conservation efforts.
Tours and Other
Events
Try to time your visit to coincide with
the Guided Tours of BAMZ (free
with admission), which are offered at
1:10 PM daily (from April to September)
and Saturdays and Sundays only (October
through March). The tour begins at the
North Rock exhibit, where visitors can
see and hear a diver as he swims with the
fish in the 140,000-gallon tank.
Specialized microphones enable the diver
to respond to visitor questions. The tour
continues on to the Harbour Seal feeding,
then to the Flamingo exhibit, and finally
to the Australasian exhibit. The tour
lasts about an hour.
Seal Feedings are
at 9 AM, 1:30 PM and 4 PM daily. So just
what do Harbor Seals eat anyway? And what
makes these blubbery creatures so agile
in the water? Find out during these
informative presentations about BAMZ's
resident seals, affectionately named
Archie, Charlotte, Calico, Ariel, and
Pebbles.
Getting There
By bus: From
Dockyard, take the #7 or #8 bus towards
Hamilton. From Hamilton or St. George's,
take either the #10 or #11 bus. The bus
stops directly in front of the Bermuda
Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. For bus
schedules and fares, call (441) 292-3851.
By moped. From St.
George's, go west over the Causeway and
take North Shore Road to Flatts. BAMZ is
on the left; parking is on the right.
From Hamilton, follow Middle Road to
Flatts. BAMZ is on the right, parking is
on the left.
Travel time: By
moped or taxi, allow about 15 minutes to
get here from Hamilton or St.George's. By
bus: allow 20 minutes, except from
Somerset/Royal Naval Dockyard, when you
will need to allow about an hour.
Other Information
For further
details, call BAMZ at (441) 293-2727 or
visit their web
site.
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