Hello, Steemians,

I was on a rainy Wednesday again in the zoo Hellabrunn in Munich. We actually get an annual ticket every year to go there with the children as often as possible. The zoo does a lot for the animals and the protection of species in the respective home regions. Almost every year something is renewed and also the cleanliness and the animal husbandry we find in order. Basically we are not fans of locking up animals, but if they would have died sick or had to suffer in some circus then you can see them quite a bit better here in Hellabrunn where you really notice that the animals are taken care of. And therefore I would like to make a contribution to the zoo.

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Zop Hellabrunn

The entrance and the best time

At the zoo arrived there is a large parking lot at the main entrance here is already 4 euros for a parking day buttoned off, who likes it cheaper and has nothing against quickly 3-4 minutes extra to go the park at best here at this parking lot it costs 1 euro and that also for the whole day. unfortunately one must say that the zoo really on the weekend is totally overcrowded. Therefore we always prefer to go during the week or on weekends when the weather is bad. Since there are altogether 9 different animal houses the shelter offer is then also not really bad if it rains times, as with our last visit. To the weekend it is still said, it sounds now worse than it is, since the zoo is very extensive, has wide ways and really very good personnel that tries to handle the crowds of people correctly. Only with the parking lots it often becomes difficult. If you want to come here more often, I recommend the annual ticket for 49€, in comparison the one time entrance costs 15€. Speak already from the 4th visit it is worth to take the annual ticket. You have to consider that you really have to be there from 9-18 o'clock to really see everything and not to rush. But the animal trainings and feedings are not yet included. So last year we were about 12 times and this time we discovered and saw new things we didn't know that way yet. Here are the opening hours for the zoo. By the way, and with the annual ticket, a child may also go to the zoo between 4-14 years, which would otherwise have to pay 6€.

Period	Opening hours
24 March 2018 to 28 October 2018	9-18 hrs
29 October 2018 to 31 March 2019	9-17 hrs
December 24 and 31, 2018	9 am - 4 pm

The zoo is open 365 days a year.

Map of the Zoo

History Things, to know and the future.

The Hellabrunn Zoo can look back on more than a hundred years of history. It was opened in 1911 and became the first geo-zoo in the world in 1928, which means that the animal species housed in the zoo are arranged according to geographical origin. Since 2001 a new attraction has been added to the zoo every 2-3 years, including, for example, the jungle house where the lions can also be seen up close. The polar bear enclosure, the giraffe savannah including the meerkat's house or even the completely new elephant house which has been completely renovated and allows a barrier-free view of the pachyderms through a second floor. In the future, the zoo has set an annual investment volume of 5 million euros, which will be used for the modernization and optimization of existing facilities, but above all, the master plan plans to implement the Geozoo principle even more consiquently and to create entire continental areas, as you can see here](https://www.hellabrunn.de/fileadmin/processed/csm_Grafik_Startseite_Masterplan_2_48cd33c93d.png). Since the zoo is completely crossed by the Auer Mühlbach, you can feel the cold of the stream rising again and again on hot days as you walk over one of the 25 small bridges. Because of the bridges and canals, the zoo is also called "Venice among the zoos". The river is the lifeline of the zoo and completely self-sufficiently covers the water requirements for its animals and facilities. Many enclosures are also separated by natural rivers and canals, which allows visitors to see many animals barrier-free. A real highlight we haven't tried yet is a guided night hike in the zoo, when all the nocturnal animals are awake.

Animals, Houses & Specials

On an area of 40 hectares and with over 750 animal species, Munich's Hellabrunn Zoo is one of the most renowned scientifically managed zoos in Europe. Among the different animal species you can find beside the classics such wonderful creatures as arctic foxes, primeval horses, the huge capybaras, the beautiful macaw parrots and and and and. There really are a lot of animals and insects to see, but the highlights are really the great animal houses, in the turtle house you can admire insects and giant spiders, as well as of course turtles. In the jungle house you are as close to the birds running around as you are to the lions behind your glass pane. The monkey house was only renovated in 2011 and offers besides the inhabitants some knowledge speaking information scattered at small stations. These can also be found everywhere in all other areas of the zoo and are really interesting. In the trapper hut of the polar world, for example, there is a thermal imaging camera where you can observe yourself and immediately see where the heat is lost to yourself and where you are well insulated. From the hut you can also go directly to the snow owls which can be admired here without a window. Everywhere in the zoo there are beautiful sculptures that match the enclosures, these were donated as well as boards on which various animal species are listed. Basically all animals are kept free in the houses, e.g. the sloths which are at home in the rhino house on footbridges and a tree or also the bat grotto in which you can stand between the bats and they flutter around yourself including drafts of their wings around your own head. Well as already mentioned there is just a lot to see in the zoo Hellabrunn and I don't want to tell you here already everything.

My opinion

We have already been to some zoos in Germany and abroad, but this one really is a pearl among the zoos. One feels at every corner that the animals are well treated and that they feel well as far as possible. The zoo is a wonderful destination for children due to its many obstacle courses, its huge playgrounds and its beautifully designed learning areas, not to mention its proximity to the animals. We have been to Hellabrunn Zoo 15 times in the last 2 years and every time we discover something new and haven't even seen the feeds yet. Two or three times we have experienced a training or feeding by chance, but of course you can spend a whole day watching only the training, feeding and animal talks (keepers talk about the animals and answer questions from the audience). We still want to do that, but only when the kids are a little older, because you have to listen a little longer. At the weekend I advise you to go there, especially in good weather, because it is just insanely crowded, which of course already speaks for the zoo but is not always pleasant, especially in the animal houses. So try to go at the weekend in bad weather or rather during the week. On the other hand, the beautiful tall trees in the park provide a lot of shade and a very hot summer day can be really pleasant. Here you just have to know for yourself what you want to put up with. In any case, a yearly ticket like I described above is worth it, we also visited the zoo more often only for 2-3 hours and discussed with the kids in advance what we want to see exactly. You should only do this with the annual ticket, otherwise it is not worth visiting the zoo for 15€ per person for 2 hours. Have a nice day at the zoo Hellabrunn. And here are some more impressions from our last visit to the zoo, all photos in this article were taken by myself and may not be used without my permission, have fun looking through them.

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Thank you for watching my contribution to the zoo, let me know in the comments if you have already been there and what your impression was. But of course criticism and opinions are also welcome.

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Photos: Made by me! © 2018