The Presépio do Pipiripau features over 580 mobile figures depicting scenes from daily life and biblical narratives, handmade by Raimundo Machado de Azevedo over 78 years.
The botanical garden contains a dedicated section for medicinal plants, organized for scientific study and public education.
The grounds encompass a protected forest fragment that acts as an urban refuge for native birds and small mammals.
The museum manages one of the largest archaeological collections in Minas Gerais, focusing on the indigenous history of the region.
The space operates as an outdoor laboratory for UFMG students and researchers across multiple biological disciplines.
The Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden of UFMG is a 600,000-square-meter ecological reserve located in the Santa Inês neighborhood of Belo Horizonte. It serves as a scientific research unit of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, integrating biological, archaeological, and anthropological collections. The grounds feature a significant collection of regional flora and a specialized garden dedicated to medicinal plants. The museum houses a notable collection of Nativity scenes, known as the Presépio do Pipiripau, which is a centerpiece of the institution. The outdoor area includes a large forested zone providing a habitat for diverse local wildlife species. Visitors can traverse trails that showcase the transition between Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes. The site serves as a vital center for environmental education and conservation efforts in the Minas Gerais capital.
The traditional structure housing the Presépio do Pipiripau and the scenic viewpoints overlooking the botanical lake.
Wear insect repellent and comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes as most of the terrain consists of unpaved forest trails.
Bring a reusable water bottle, as the site covers a large area with limited refreshment kiosks inside the trails.
Focus your visit on the Presépio do Pipiripau first, as it often operates with specific viewing intervals.
Do not attempt to feed the local wildlife or stray from the designated paths into the deeper forest zones.
Closed on Mondays for maintenance and research activities.
Maintain silence near research areas and stay on marked trails to protect the fragile forest ecosystem.
