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A Thunderstorm While At Tiergarten Schönbrunn Or Vienna Zoo

The air was thick with humidity. Dark clouds blanketed Vienna all morning, and there were threats of pending thunderstorms whenever I checked my weather app. That did not deter me from venturing out to Tiergarten Schönbrunn or Vienna Zoo, located on the grounds of the famous Schönbrunn Palace. Founded in 1752, Vienna Zoo is the oldest zoo in the world. The baroque style buildings gives you a sense of what a visit to the zoo in the 18th century must have looked like.

Because of the Interpol concert at Arena Wien tonight, I didn’t have time to check out the Schönbrunn Palace and the zoo, so I decided to go see the animals instead of the Gloriette.

Even as I paid for admission to Vienna Zoo, the staffer kept asking me if I was sure I wanted to be there, as the rains may fall any second now. I just said, “Let’s hope for the best” and entered.

Not even 15 minutes later, the spittle of rain turned into a freaking downpour, accompanied by clapping thunder and flashes of lightning across the skies. It was unrelenting. Everyone that was outside got immediately soaked and ran for shelter – which where I was, happened to be the interior side of the panda enclosure. Funnily enough, the pandas were all outside, sleeping on branches, oblivious to the storm.

As the panda enclosure was getting packed with sopping wet folks, I ran across the path to the koala bear house. They too were fast asleep, oblivious to the rager outside.

Needless to say, we got to know our neighbours, as we waited out the storm. After 40 some odd minutes, the thunderstorm stopped. Hallelujah!

I got to see my favourites at the Vienna Zoo: big cats, penguins, elephants, pandas and giraffes.

One good thing about today’s thunderstorm, it did clear out a lot of people, so that by the time the rains stopped, it felt like you had the whole Vienna Zoo almost all to yourself.