Hellabrunn Zoo
Hills and caves in the African savannah style: Munich Zoo has had a new lion enclosure since May 2022.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
Munich’s Tierpark Hellabrunn is the first “Geozoo” in the world, the more than 500 species live there close to the animals that also occur on their native continent. Animal keepers present their darlings every day during training and feeding sessions. At the animal keeper meeting point, you can also find out how the brothers Max and Benny have settled into their new lion home.
Tierparkstr. 30, 81543 Munich, Open daily, in summer from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in winter from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults pay 18 euros, children 7, family and annual tickets. All information: www.hellabrunn.de
Augsburg Zoo
Grevy’s zebras in the Augsburg Zoo – the species is highly endangered.
(Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa)
More than 1,200 animals from all over the world live in the Augsburg Zoo: for example, striped hyenas, king snakes and ring-tailed lemurs in a walk-in enclosure. Children are also particularly happy about the adventure playground, which was redesigned in 2023, and the zoo train, which makes its rounds every day.
Brehmplatz 1, 86161 Augsburg. Open daily from 9 a.m., closing time is between 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. depending on the time of year. Admission for children from 3 years of age is 7 euros (in winter 6 euros), from 15 years of age visitors pay 14 euros (in winter 12 euros). All information: www.zoo-augsburg.de
Nuremberg Zoo
The zoo has had dolphins since August 13, 1971, and in the summer of 2011 the first outdoor facility for bottlenose dolphins in Germany was opened with the dolphin lagoon in Nuremberg.
(Photo: Daniel Karmann/dpa)
The Tiergarten Nuremberg advertises itself as a landscape zoo, with a spacious forest park and old trees. A zoo’s own department conducts scientific research. The feedings are highlights, as are the dolphins, the snow leopards – and of course the zoo school as an extracurricular place of learning and experience.
Am Tiergarten 30, 90480 Nuremberg. Open in summer from 8am to 7.30pm, in October from 9am to 6pm and in winter until 5pm. Admission for children from 4 years 8.50 euros, from 14 years 13.50 and for adults 18 euros. All information: tiergarten.nuernberg.de
Tiergarten Straubing
The Bactrian camels should get a new facility. There is a fundraiser for this in the Tiergarten Straubing.
(Photo: Armin Weigel/dpa)
Siberian tigers and yaks live in Straubing Zoo, and there is a Nepalese-style rest area. Exoticism is a given for visitors, but children still like classics like the petting zoo. Parents are often drawn to the Neolithic farmhouse with an attached exhibition – before they go back to the red pandas.
Am Tiergarten 3, 94315 Straubing, open in summer from 9 a.m. to 6.45 p.m., in winter until 4.45 p.m. Adults pay 7 euros, children 5 euros. Children under the age of 5 have free entry. All information: www.tiergarten-straubing.de
zoo yard
The kangaroo enclosure at Hof Zoo is even accessible.
(Photo: David Ebener/picture alliance/dpa)
Brush-tailed rat-kangaroos can be seen in the Hof Zoo’s nocturnal animal house. However, as the zoo itself points out, visitors have to make an effort to spot the animals. That’s no problem in the walk-in kangaroo enclosure and in the savannah house with its marmosets. An aquaponic facility is intended to bring children and adults closer to how plants and fish interact in a closed water cycle.
Alte Plauener Strasse 40, 95028 Hof. Open in summer from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., in winter until 4 p.m. Children three years and older pay 3 euros, adults 7.50 euros. All information: www.zoo-hof.de
Small Zoo Wasserstern
The small zoo Wasserstern in Ingolstadt advertises 44 animal species from five continents. The yellow-cheeked mulch turtle, the blue-tongued skink and the Indian hat monkey are not only popular with children because of their unusual names. It is reassuring for parents that the curly haired tarantula lives well secured in its terrarium.
Aloisiweg 19, 85049 Ingolstadt, Monday to Friday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., open earlier on weekends and public holidays. Admission: Adults 5 euros, young people 4 euros, children 2.50 euros. All information: wasserstern.de
Blindham Mountain Animal Park
You can get very close to the oxen in the mountain animal park.
(Photo: Claus Schunk)
If parents want to observe native wild animals (e.g. red deer, fallow deer or wild boar) or rare endangered breeds (e.g. brown mountain sheep, Swabian Hall pig or Valais black-necked goat) in the Blindham mountain animal park, they often need a little patience. Because before the approximately two-kilometer tour past the large enclosures, a huge playground with marble runs and bouncy cushions in the open air and the Spielstadl, a converted barn, lure you in. But the waiting time shortens the Alpine panorama.
Blindham 3, 85653 Aying, open daily all year round, in summer from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., in winter from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., adults pay 10 euros, children 9 euros (no card payment). All information: www.bergtierpark.de
Wildpark Poing
The brown bears Mia, Maja, Mette and Molly live in Poing on 30,000 square meters.
(Photo: Lino Mirgeler/dpa)
If you are lucky, you can get very close to the animal inhabitants in the Poing Wildlife Park, which you can only very rarely see in the wild: lynxes, wolves, mooses and even brown bears. In addition, red deer, roe deer, fallow deer, mouflon and wild boar live almost as if they were in the wild on 570,000 square meters, but they are not as shy as their conspecifics and sometimes eat out of hand. The circular route through the park is four kilometers long, and in the middle there is a huge playground with a picnic area. The bird of prey show, which takes place twice a day, is also popular.
Wildparkstraße 32, 85586 Poing, open daily all year round, admission in summer from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in winter from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults pay 11.50 euros, children 7.50 euros. All information: www.wildpark-poing.de
Wildlife Park Schweinfurt
The Wildpark Schweinfurt is the only one in Lower Franconia that keeps moose.
(Photo: Daniel Karmann/picture alliance/dpa)
Schweinfurt’s wildlife park at the oaks is home to 500 animals, including 14 species of birds. Moose bull Lasso is perhaps the most popular resident. If children have had enough of lynx and wild boar, fallow deer and hoofed animals, they can plunge into the paddling pool or try one of the themed playgrounds – while their parents use the Kneipp pool.
Albin-Kitzinger-Strasse 97422 Schweinfurt, open all day all year round, free entry. All information: wildparkfreunde-schweinfurt.de/der-wildpark
Tambach Castle Wildlife Park
Feeding time for the wolves in Tambach Castle Wildlife Park.
(Photo: David Ebener/picture alliance/dpa)
The wolf and lynx enclosures are somewhat remote, but in the interests of visitors and in contrast to the game enclosure, they are not accessible. Around 250 wild animals live in the Tambach Castle Wildlife Park on an area of 50 hectares. Young visitors find the animals exciting. The forest adventure trail informs guests at 25 stations about topics such as forest, nature, animals and climate change.
Am Wildpark 3, Weitramsdorf near Coburg. Between March and November from 8am to 6pm. Adults 13 euros, children 10 euros, bird of prey demonstrations and feeding are included. All information: www.wildpark-tambach.de
Wild leisure park in Oberreith
From time to time, the skills of a falconer can also be admired in the wildlife leisure park in Oberreith.
(Photo: Michael Holz)
Because it is a wildlife leisure park, there are playgrounds, a flying fox, a forest ropes course and an indoor hall on the site in the middle of forest and meadows. But Oberreith near Wasserburg is also home to many native wild, predatory and domestic animals, including rare species threatened with extinction. The 2.4 kilometer circular route is therefore also designed as a nature trail.
Oberreith 6a, 83567 Unterreit, open in summer from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., during holidays until 7 p.m., in winter from 9 a.m. or 12.30 p.m. to 6 p.m., but not daily. Adults pay 9.40 euros, children 7.80 euros, surcharge for forest ropes course and flying fox. All information: www.wildpark-oberreith.de
Höllohe wildlife and leisure park
Upstairs, downstairs: the goats in the Höllohe wildlife and leisure park are real climbing artists.
(Photo: Hans Zitzler)
The park is open year-round until dusk. Deer, goats and sheep are easy to feed, and the ponies are crowd favorites. 200 animals from around 21 species are at home here, with goats in particular being the focus of the park, which aims to draw attention to rare and endangered breeds of domestic animals. There are automatic feeders and a forest playground.
Höllohe 1, 93158 Teublitz, open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., free admission. All information: wildpark-hoellohe.de
Abensberg Bird Park
A white peacock shows itself in all its glory in the Abensberg Bird Park.
(Photo: Richy via imago-images.de/IMAGO/Panthermedia)
In the Abensberg bird park, visitors can see donkeys, llamas and goats. And of course all kinds of birds: birds of prey, parrots, owls and peacocks, among others. The park is small at 2.5 hectares, making it manageable for parents with children. Nevertheless, you can linger for a while.
Welschenbach 4, 93326 Abensberg. Tuesday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 4.50 euros for children, 6 euros for adults. All information: www.vogelpark-abensberg.de
Lechpark Pössinger Au
In the Lechpark directly on the river, deer like to cross the path, the wild boars are housed in the enclosure. Parents and grandparents are interested in the Kneipp pool and the barefoot path, children in the water playground – everything directly adjacent to Landsberg’s old town.
Landsberg am Lech, directly on the “Romantic Road” cycle path. no opening hours, free entry