Erfurt Zoo - ideal for a family day out
A visit to the Thüringer Zoo is an unforgettable experience for all the family that they will all look back on for a long time.
A few things worth knowing about Erfurt Zoo
More than 3000 animals live in the Thüringer Zoo, which opened in 1959. 500 native and exotic species can be admired here. As well as rhinos, giraffes, lions, zebras, antelopes, ostriches, elephants, camels and Barbary apes, there are also horses, donkeys, ponies, goats, sheep and many other domestic animals. Many birds, frogs and reptiles also live here. The zoo is in northern Erfurt on the Roter Berg, from which there is a great view of Erfurt and its surroundings. Erfurt Zoo covers a total area of just under 63 hectares, of which around 35 hectares are used for keeping the animals and the visitor areas. 14 hectares of the total are an area of protected landscape.
Special highlights of the zoo
The Berberberg has to be mentioned first – an area of 1 hectare which is accessible to visitors and which is the enclosure for the Barbary apes. You can go on a guided tour of the Berberberg daily between 11.00 and 15.00 and see the animals right up close!
Baby animals are always something really special. In Erfurt Zoo amongst other things you can look forward to seeing: Twin bay cotton-top tamarinds, a prairie bison calf, a young rhino, two zebra foals together, and a young Thuringian Forest donkey, a small steppe eagle, four young Bennett kangaroos, and various offspring of the cute meerkats, which are amongst the most popular animals in Erfurt Zoo.
The newly built flamingo lagoon is well worth seeing: 30 pink flamingos will charm you with their grace!
The zoo also has an aquarium, which is located in the giraffe house. It has a holding capacity of 3700 litres and accommodates the gloriously coloured Malawi perch.
Erfurt Zoo is also proud of its ornamental turtles, the monkey house with six different species of monkey, the lions’ residence, the rhino house, the giraffe house and the bison enclosure. This year too a large African savannah is to be created for antelopes, zebras and ostriches.
Feeding times (no guarantee)
If you can manage it time-wise, you ought to try to be at the right enclosures at feeding times. Here are some of the most popular times:
Barbary apes: At 11.30 on the Berberberg
Meerkats: Around 15.00 in the lion savannah – in the indoor or outdoor enclosure depending on the weather
Giraffes: 13.15 in the giraffe enclosure
Especially for children
Children like not only to look at the animals, but best of all also to stroke them. At Erfurt Zoo there is a large petting enclosure with African pygmy goats, where little ones can have a lot of fun.
If course there is also a large adventure playground in the grounds of the zoo where children can let off steam.
You yourself can make good use of the time to drink a coffee in peace in the open air “Hakuna Matata” restaurant. You can keep an eye on the children while you do so. There are also hot and cold dishes as well as drinks and ice creams – which the children will be especially pleased about!
A propos of gastronomy: The zoo restaurant “Weinberghaus” is open in winter.
So you can see that Erfurt Zoo is almost ideal for a day out with the entire family.
We wish you lots of fun!
Address:
Thüringer Zoopark Erfurt
Am Zoopark 1
99087 Erfurt
Opening hours of the Thüringer Zoo (no guarantee):
1 April - 31 October
09.00 to 18.00
Last admission and pay windows close: 17.30
1 November – 31 March
10.00 to 16.00
Last admission and pay windows close: 15.30