ZOO

Going to the zoo is often a rather common idea for a family outing when visiting a region or a big city. But visiting the Leipzig Zoo is something else. It is more like an enchantment, a symphony of every moment, both fascinating and wild, composed with love in honour of the animal kingdom. This magical place is located in the city centre, only a few tram stops from the main station and the historic centre. First of all, a word about the airy and majestic setting, so well integrated into the district and the Gründerzeit architecture that surrounds it. More than 850 animals reside here, established in conditions recreated as close as possible to their respective natural environments. All seem to flourish in this natural and spectacular setting, founded more than 140 years ago by Ernst Pinkert. Leipzig Zoo is recognized as the first zoo in Germany. It is also ranked among the five most beautiful zoos in Europe, but also among the most modern in the world. As soon as you enter the park, be sure to be struck by the rustles, atmospheres and places that, step by step, are revealed before your eyes. The koala house, called Oobi-Ooobi, will probably be one of the first stops you will make. Then you will take the Gondwanaland road, a huge tropical greenhouse with futuristic architecture, larger than two football fields, in which you will evolve under a constant temperature of 26°C, in a landscaped environment filled with some 500 varieties of trees and plants. With stunned eyes, enjoy taking monkey bridges over the void, passing under waterfalls, and taking a seat in a silent boat to go up the river: rarely, if ever, seen in a zoo! ! ! ! In this Gondwanaland, advance to the surface to discover 140 species of protected exotic animals, animals that would otherwise never be seen, unless you leave on a long trip to moist and dense African or Asian lands, or on an expedition in the Amazon jungle... Along the banks, you can meet a Komodo dragon, an ocelot (a kind of American leopard) or a Malaysian gavial, among others. In other words, the opportunity offered by the Leipzig Zoo is quite phenomenal. After this unique change of scenery, it is the grassy territories and mountains of Asia that await you. In particular, admire the setting reserved for elephants, taiga tigers or sublime snow leopards. Also look at the African plains, especially the exceptional panorama dedicated to lionesses, zebras and giraffes. Finally, you can spend an emotional and laughing moment watching the families of chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans that inhabit Pongoland. A universe that is once again magnified by the park's research teams. The visitor will have the chance to see hominids, in perfect health, evolving in total harmony with a tropical ecosystem more real than nature.... As you will have understood, a visit to the Leipzig Zoo is not comparable. It should surely leave you with unforgettable memories.