Can we walk into the Madagascar aviary whenever we like?

No. Going inside is a guided activity requiring its own online ticket, with a seasonal timetable. You can still plan to view the lemurs from the normal visitor areas, including their heated house in cold weather.

Are the rhinos and tapirs already on display?

The new Asian-animal complex is a building project. Its foundation stone was laid in September 2026; Indian rhinos and Malayan tapirs are future arrivals. Follow any signed changes to visitor paths and check the zoo news before promising children those animals.

Which circuit is best with very young children?

Start with the turquoise petting-zoo round if the farm animals and playgrounds are the priority. Choose the purple short circuit for more of the main animal exhibits. Neither avoids all slopes; leave enough time for rests and the return to your entrance.

Illustration

ZooHessen, Germany

Opel-Zoo Kronberg

Come to Opel-Zoo for a hillside day among African elephants, giraffes and penguins, with room to linger between the big enclosures.

Official website

About

Come to Opel-Zoo for a hillside day among African elephants, giraffes and penguins, with room to linger between the big enclosures. The 27-hectare zoo lies between Kronberg and Königstein in the wooded foothills of the Taunus. Expect a proper outdoor walk with climbs, wide views and several tempting detours. At the main entrance, choose a circuit from the zoo map before everyone sets off in different directions.

The nearby Afrika Savanne makes a rewarding first stop. Reticulated giraffes share the enclosure with Grant's zebras, blue wildebeest and impalas. Rather than counting species and moving on, compare their shapes, feeding heights and ways of walking. Try a second public viewpoint: the arrangement of the animals changes the scene. At the African penguin pool, switch from looking across an enclosure to watching birds swim past the underwater glass.

Give the elephants an unhurried stop of their own. The viewing walkway and other public vantage points offer different angles across the outdoor areas. Watch what a trunk does between mouthfuls, or how those enormous ears move. The elephant house and the Madagascar lemurs' heated house add indoor viewing to an otherwise outdoor day. Ring-tailed lemurs and red ruffed lemurs live in the Madagascar enclosure; entry into the aviary itself is a separate guided activity. Eager to name that creature? Identify any animal you find during your visit using the Snappit app.

Georg von Opel founded the zoo in 1956 with a strong interest in animal research. One of its most distinctive conservation stories belongs to the Persian fallow deer: three animals reached Kronberg in 1958 after expeditions he supported in Iran, and the zoo achieved the first captive birth in 1960. Look for their enclosure on a longer visit. The story gives a quieter deer stop real significance alongside the elephants and giraffes.

What to do here

For a balanced family visit, combine the savanna and penguins with the elephants, a lemur stop and a proper playground break. Follow the purple short circuit as your starting framework and add a detour only when you have the energy. The red large circuit reaches farther into the grounds, including the cheetahs, Persian fallow deer and woodland side of the zoo. Keep the map handy at junctions rather than improvising a shortcut down a steep path.

Make one stop a small observation game. At the penguin window, choose a bird and follow it until it surfaces. Near the meerkats, see whether different animals are digging, moving about or keeping watch. At the red pandas, look up into the branches before deciding the enclosure is empty. A resting animal can be an interesting find too.

The adventure playgrounds have climbing equipment, a zip line, swings and slides, with an area for younger children. The petting-zoo circuit is a useful choice when those stops matter more than reaching the far end of the grounds. For school-age children, print a free zoo rally from the official website and bring pencils; the biodiversity version is suitable for families. Nature-minded visitors can add the rock displays of the Geo-Lehrpfad, the apple trail along the Panoramaweg or the woodland trail's interactive displays about flying animals. The woodland trail is a less suitable detour for wheels.

Seasonal info

On warm days, check the red pandas during the cooler hours and look for resting animals in the trees. Autumn and winter visits need warm layers and attention to dusk. Madagascar aviary tours are on winter break from 1 October 2026 and are due to return in May 2027; check the booking page for the new season. In rain, shorten the outdoor circuit and use the elephant house, lemur house and a meal break between showers. Bring waterproofs: the animal houses do not turn this into an indoor zoo.

Accessibility

Most routes are surfaced and usable with wheelchairs or pushchairs, but parts of the grounds are very steep. The Wald-Lehrpfad is one of the exceptions to the generally wheel-friendly paths. Ask at the entrance which circuit best fits your equipment and strength, especially if travelling without someone to help on slopes. There is no wheelchair or handcart hire. Accessible toilets and wheelchair access to the zoo restaurant are available; marked accessible parking is in P1 close to the main entrance, for visitors with the appropriate permit.

Plan your visit

Suggested duration: The zoo map gives about 45 minutes for the turquoise petting-zoo circuit, one hour for the purple short circuit and two hours for the red large circuit. These are useful starting points. Allow roughly 3–5 hours for a family visit with animal watching, food and play; a focused 1.5–2-hour visit works if you choose a few highlights. The long circuit adds more hillside walking and outer enclosures. The shorter routes still have gradients, so choose by stamina as well as available time.
Best time to visit: A morning start leaves time for repeat animal stops before the playground takes over. The zoo is open every day of the year, with seasonal ticket-office hours and special holiday times. Visitors may stay until dusk after the ticket offices close. Check the day's hours and any keeper talks before travelling; do not plan the whole visit around a late arrival.
Location: Hessen, Germany
Species in this guide: 8

Best for

Families Who Enjoy Animal Watching And Playground TimeVisitors Interested In Elephants And Mixed Species EnclosuresA Hilly Outdoor Half Day In The Taunus

Official website

Don't miss

African elephants watched from several public vantage points, including the viewing walkway.

Giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and impalas sharing the Afrika Savanne.

African penguins swimming past the underwater viewing window.

Madagascar lemurs, red pandas and a choice of playgrounds and nature trails.

Walks and routes

Turquoise petting-zoo circuit

Purple short circuit

Red large circuit

Wildlife and habitats

Watch the trunk rather than waiting for a dramatic moment. It can gather food, explore and help with body care. Use more than one public viewpoint to see how the elephant moves.

Look for the tall browsers among the mixed herd and compare their feeding height with the smaller hoofed animals. The giraffe house is another marked stop on the zoo map.

Follow one swimmer through the window, then look at birds on land. The black spots on the white breast differ between individuals, so a patient observer can try recognising the same bird again.

Search the branches as well as the ground. Red pandas often rest high up during warmer hours; a return in cooler conditions can give you a different view of the same enclosure.

Look for the black-and-white tail and watch how it is carried when an animal moves. On a sunny day you may notice the wide-armed sitting posture used for sunbathing.

Watch several animals at once. One may be keeping watch while others investigate the ground. Notice how the group changes position without trying to attract its attention.

Look beyond the giraffes for the smaller antelopes. Male impalas have curved horns and females do not, giving children a useful feature to compare without needing every animal to move.

Find the wildebeest among the other hoofed animals and compare its outline with an impala. These are blue wildebeest; the enclosure sign is a useful check when several species share one space.

Sources and useful links

Wildlife you might spot

Each card links to a full Explore page with photos, traits, and fun facts.

African Elephant

Red Panda

Meerkat

Wildebeest

Snap map for this place

Start with the big picture, then zoom in to explore individual wildlife observations around this place.

Loading map…

Good to know before you go

Arrive at Am Opel-Zoo 3, 61476 Kronberg im Taunus, beside the B455 between Kronberg and Königstein. Zoo parking is free; follow signs to the main entrance.

For public transport, plan to the stop Kronberg Opel-Zoo, served by buses 261, X26 and X27. Check the current RMV itinerary before taking the S4: construction affects connections around Kronberg.

Buy admission at a zoo ticket office, where card payment is accepted. Online gift vouchers must still be exchanged there for a valid ticket. Check the current tariff and bring proof for any concession.

Pack everything you need before entering. A day ticket stops being valid when you leave the zoo, so a trip back to the car can mean paying again.

The Sambesi restaurant has terraces overlooking the elephants. Picnic places are dotted around the grounds; other kiosks may open only at weekends or in suitable weather.

Keep to visitor paths and respect barriers. If feeding zoo animals, use only feed sold by the zoo and only where signs permit it. Never bring your own animal food.

Leave balance bikes, scooters, bicycles and skates at home. Wear shoes with a good grip for the hills and allow an easier pace when pushing a buggy.

Dogs are allowed on a short lead and need their own admission ticket. Follow staff instructions and any local restrictions around the animals.

Frequently asked questions

: No. Going inside is a guided activity requiring its own online ticket, with a seasonal timetable. You can still plan to view the lemurs from the normal visitor areas, including their heated house in cold weather.
: The new Asian-animal complex is a building project. Its foundation stone was laid in September 2026; Indian rhinos and Malayan tapirs are future arrivals. Follow any signed changes to visitor paths and check the zoo news before promising children those animals.
: Start with the turquoise petting-zoo round if the farm animals and playgrounds are the priority. Choose the purple short circuit for more of the main animal exhibits. Neither avoids all slopes; leave enough time for rests and the return to your entrance.