Aldabra tortoise-enclosure

Am I right in thinking that the tortoises lived indoors in the reptile house befor this VC? I don't remember any outside space during my many visits between 1982-1999

You're thinking right dean ! The Galapagos tortoises were first living in a relative small enclosure -together with several other tortoise-species - in the last enclosure on the right-side of the Reptilian-house near the exit. This area is now part of the False gharial-enclosure.
The new in- and outdoor enclosure for the Galapagos tortoises is now in ( and out ) the Gorilla-house which was formaly the Hippo-house.

BTW , even in the time you saw them, they already had an outdoor-enclosure next to the Reptilian-house.

I believe Artis keeps Aldabra giant tortoises, not Galapagos..

Oops, you're so right korhoen, thanks for the correction. I must have been confucted by the fact that I visited Blijdorp last weekend where I saw real Galapagos tortoises !

Thanks for the info VC I think I have some old photos of them in the mixed tortoise enclosure some where I do remember the outdoor Hippo enclosure though.