Zoo Leipzig

Together on a world tour through the zoo of the future.

With almost 2 million guests annually, the hotel, founded in 1878, is one of the Zoo Leipzig one of the most visited cultural and leisure facilities in Central Germany and occupies a leading position in the European zoo community. The zoo consistently pursues its innovative "Zoo of the Future" concept, which combines species-appropriate animal husbandry with extraordinary animal encounters for visitors and a global commitment to species conservation. Six adventure worlds, including the tropical adventure world Gondwanaland and the unique great ape enclosure Pongoland, take visitors on a trip around the globe. In 2023, a new piece of the puzzle in the "Zoo of the Future" was completed with the opening of the "Entdeckerhaus Arche" as a new species conservation and education center. The structural implementation of the spectacular underwater world of Tierra del Fuego as well as the renovation of the terrarium and the realization of the last master plan project, the Asian island worlds, will also be the focus in the coming years. Ultimately, the zoo of the future will include the adventure worlds of Gondwanaland, Asia, Africa, South America, Pongoland and the Founder's Garden, in which the central tasks of the zoo in the context of environmental and species protection will play a high priority.

With the opening of the tropical adventure world Gondwanaland in 2011, Leipzig got its own rainforest with a tropical climate, which has since captivated millions of visitors. Around 170 animal species, more than 24.000 tropical plants, a 90-meter-long treetop path and an 11-minute boat trip on the 360-meter-long Gamanil jungle river mark the attractions of Gondwanaland, which can be seen as the zoo's high point on its way into the future. From the first draft to its realization, it was clear that visitors should be sensitized to the rainforest ecosystem and its inhabitants, who are worthy of protection. The world's only great ape facility, Pongoland, in which all four great ape species have a home under one roof, was an initial moment for the zoo and has become a crowd puller and workplace for scientists from all over the world.

In the Siberian Tiger Taiga, visitors can marvel at the Amur tigers behind moats, on rocky slopes or “eye to eye” behind a pane of bulletproof glass. Right next to the Makasi Simba lion savannah, the Kiwara savannah captivates zoo visitors with its vastness. Rothschild giraffes, Grévy zebras, antelopes and gazelles live together on around 25.000 m² of natural savannah landscape. From the terrace of the stylish Kiwara Lodge, visitors can enjoy the unique African backdrop. The Ganesha Mandir elephant temple is another highlight in the zoo. Zoo LeipzigThere, visitors can experience a fascinating spectacle: the grey giants can be observed in great detail through a pane of glass as they bathe underwater. In the South America adventure world with the landscapes of Pampa, Pantanal and Patagonia, white-nosed coatis, guanacos, capybaras, giant anteaters, maned wolves, great maras, Darwin's rheas and Chaco peccaries can be seen in their natural habitat. In the historical area of ​​the zoo, the Founder's Garden, visitors can not only immerse themselves in the world of sea creatures in the new jewel, the modernized aquarium, but also marvel at Australia's most famous animal representatives up close in the Koala House.

In addition to these modern zoo facilities, the innovative Zoo of the Future concept includes many offers relating to the fascinating world of animals and plants. Visitors can leave their everyday lives behind in the zoo and experience the world of animals with all their senses. The Asian, African and South American themed restaurants perfectly complement a visit to the zoo.

Further current information is available from podcast "Welcome to Leipzig" (Episode 1) with the director of the zoo, Prof. Dr. Jörg Junhold.

Note: Dogs are allowed in Zoo Leipzig not allowed. If you do not want to leave your dog alone, you can take him to a nearby kennel.