Zoological Garden / Zoo Aquarium

Zoologischer Garten – © Scholvien

Two elephants made of Elbe Sandstone that are lying down and supporting two heavy columns. Furthermore: a curved roof, decorated with golden, East Asian painting and imaginative carvings. The Zoological Garden already makes clear through its main entrance, the Elephant Gate, which was built in 1899, that it is an unique place to see.

It is Germany’s oldest zoo and its collection of round 16.000 animals including about 1.500 various species is the most important animal collection in the world. The zoo also includes a predator, a hippo and a nocturnal animal house as well as the largest aviary located in Europe. The zoo’s aquarium, which can also be visited separately, contains biotopes for sharks, piranhas and fish from coral reefs. The efforts of the famous scientist Alexander von Humboldt and the African explorer Lichtenstein Martin Hinrich as well as the horticultural director Peter Joseph Lenné led to the creation of Zoological Gardens in the middle of the nineteenth century. After a construction period lasting only two years, the zoo, which was designed by Lenné, opened its doors in 1844. The first animals in the zoo were those belonging to King Friedrich Wilhelm IV who donated them from the menagerie and the pheasant house located in Tiergarten

Over the course of time, the site and its facilities were expanded and rebuilt on several occasions. Out of 3.700 animals, only 91 survived the Second World War and a large part of the zoo was destroyed as well. Today, the zoo is one of Berlin’s most popular attractions. In 2009, more than 3 million people visited Zoological Gardens. Various tours are offered such as “Architecture at the Zoo” and “Let`s go to South America.”

Infos for school classes

The Zoo school offers school classes tours adapted to the pupils’ age group. Admittance costs 3.50 Euros per pupil. For every 15 pupils an accompanying person (teacher) gets in free. A group guided tour charge of 45 Euros applies to school classes not coming from Berlin. For those who prefer to conduct their own individual tour of the zoo, downloads on safaris and on a species protection rally is available on the zoo’s internet website.