Masoala Rainforest Hall

The Masoala hall opened in 2003 as a glazed enclosure of about a hectare, planted with several hundred Madagascan plant species and held at rainforest temperature and humidity, with lemurs, chameleons, geckos, birds and fish living largely unenclosed inside it - visitors walk a path through the vegetation with animals moving freely around and above. It is tied to a real place: Zurich Zoo has supported Masoala National Park in north-eastern Madagascar financially and technically since the hall was conceived, and the exhibit is explicitly a fundraising and awareness instrument for that park rather than a generic tropical house. The humidity is the first thing visitors notice, and cameras fog immediately on entry.

The main sights

• A hectare under glass - Madagascan planting at rainforest humidity.
• Animals moving freely - lemurs and birds unenclosed around the path.
• A tie to the real park - support for Masoala in Madagascar since the outset.
• Instant camera fog - the humidity as you walk in.

When to go

All year - it is indoors and warm regardless. Half a day with the rest of the zoo.

What to expect

Animals are free-ranging, so sightings are luck; lemurs are often high in the canopy. It is hot and very humid - dress accordingly and let lenses acclimatise. The hall is part of the zoo, so entry covers everything and the zoo is large.

Nearby

Zurich city centre is downhill by tram; the Uetliberg is on the other side.

Key facts