Germany · ZOOS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 4 zoos tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Spend a full day at Leipzig Zoo, moving through six themed worlds with access to Gondwanaland, Pongoland, the Asian elephant habitat, and the African savannah. You can ride the Djungle River Gamanil, view tropical forests from above, and see 850 species, including rare and endangered animals. Food, drinks, guided tours, and Gorilla Trek cost extra.
Spend a full day at Cologne Zoo and Aquarium, home to more than 10,000 animals from 850 species. See the 2-hectare Asian elephant park, hippos and crocodiles in the Hippodom, monkeys and sloths in the Rainforest Hall, farm animals at Clemenshof, and giant moving dinosaur figures. The aquarium is included.
“Amazing zoo and great in closures so you can see the animals clearly and up close”
Start outside Leipzig’s main station with a one-day bus ticket, then use 13 stops to see the city at your pace. Get off at the Zoo stop for skip-the-line entry to Leipzig Zoo, home to more than 900 species and themed areas including Pongoland and Makasi-Simba. The live tour is in German, with an audio guide also included.
“Das Mikrofon im Bus hatte einen Wackelkontakt. Es dauert einige Stationen bis das Problem behoben wurde. Ein Ersatz-Mikrofon in jedem Bus wäre vielleicht eine gute Idee.”
Spend a full day at Schwerin Zoo, a 25-hectare park among lakes and forest. See about 1,700 animals from 150 species, including Asiatic lions, Rothschild giraffes, David’s deer, and southern white rhinos. Admission includes the unique Red List Center, with playgrounds, rest areas, food options, and leashed dogs welcome.
Pick a river, a century or a beer hall.
