Basel Zoo

The zoo opened in 1874

Back then, this kind of establishment wasn't exactly commonplace. People came from far and wide to see the big cats, and so zoo management soon made space to accommodate llamas, camels, and even an elephant. Then came the lions, giraffes, great apes, and more... During the 20th century, the zoo transformed its design: goodbye fences, hello vast landscapes!

An environment as close to nature as possible

Visitors were thus able to encounter the animals in an environment as close to nature as possible. Basel Zoo has seen the births of many rare animals, including okapis, rhinos, flamingos, lions, gorillas, and cheetahs, making it leader in the field. The zoo is divided into different enclosures housing families of animals of similar species, or those coming from the same geographical area:

• The monkey lodge
• The African zone
• The rhino enclosure
• The vivarium
• The bird house

A special level of interactivity between children and animals

In this unique environment, everything has been specially designed to offer a special level of interactivity between children and animals. The enclosures are open for younger visitors to pet, care for, and even feed the animals. Chickens, llamas, micro pigs, goats, ponies, donkeys, and even zebus will come to play: a perfect opportunity to make children aware of animal issues and foster their sense of responsibility.

Basel Zoo is the ideal place for a unique family outing full of adventure.