Is there enough to do when it rains?

Animal houses, the Mäusescheune indoor play area and food stops provide breaks from showers. The zoo still involves outdoor walking. The Knabberkiste beside the Mäusescheune has a conservatory and operates year-round; bring waterproof clothing rather than expecting a fully indoor visit.

Can we combine the zoo with Bentlage?

The neighbouring Salinenpark and Saline Gottesgabe add a salt-making-history stop, and Kloster Bentlage is another option in the surrounding area. Do this before entering or after finishing the zoo, because the zoo does not allow re-entry.

Illustration

ZooNordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

NaturZoo Rheine

Visit NaturZoo Rheine for animal encounters that reward a little patience: a macaque settling beside the path, a seal passing underwater or a stork arriving overhead.

Official website

About

Visit NaturZoo Rheine for animal encounters that reward a little patience: a macaque settling beside the path, a seal passing underwater or a stork arriving overhead. The level paths, mature trees and frequent play stops make this an easy place to spend an unhurried family day. At the entrance, check the feeding board and ask which walk-through enclosures are open before choosing your first stop.

The Affenwald is the signature experience. Here you enter the Barbary macaques’ wooded enclosure, with its own strict rules about belongings and behaviour. The animals remain in human care, just as the penguins and terns do in the walk-through seabird aviary. Give them room to move and resist the temptation to turn a close encounter into physical contact.

There is a different story above the paths. Wild white storks return to breed in the zoo’s trees, while a separate group of flightless storks receives year-round care. Most of the wild birds’ food comes from the surrounding countryside. Looking between an enclosure and the treetops makes a good family conversation: which animals live here under human care, and which can leave? Explore the grounds like a pro—download the Snappit app to instantly identify animals and plants.

In 1974, Rheine opened Germany’s first visitor-accessible Barbary macaque enclosure. Its conservation work includes coordinating the gelada breeding programme and international studbook, a role held since 1991. More recent changes include the accessible petting zoo, opened in 2014, and the refurbished tiger house in 2026.

What to do here

Choose a few animal stops to revisit rather than trying to tick off every enclosure. Pair the Affenwald with the geladas, then allow time for the wetland and seabird aviaries. At the seals, compare the view above the pool with the underwater windows. The tiger house reopened in April 2026 with new smaller-animal exhibits, including crocodile lizards, so it is worth exploring beyond the tiger viewing points.

Break up animal watching with the Froschteich discovery area or Wald-Erlebnispfad, where children can investigate pond life, animal tracks and trees. The petting zoo, outdoor climbing and balancing equipment, and indoor Mäusescheune give younger visitors several ways to change pace.

Seasonal info

The zoo opens daily from 09: 00, with earlier closing in winter. Check the official hours before travelling. The Lemuren-Wald has restricted seasonal walk-through access: confirm its opening for your date, particularly in autumn. Outside walk-through hours, use the surrounding viewing points. Bring weatherproof layers for outdoor paths between animal houses.

Accessibility

Paths are level, with places to rest. The zoo describes its buildings and selected enclosures, including the Affenwald, aviaries and petting zoo, as accessible. Accessible toilets are at the entrance, ZooBistro, Mäusescheune and ZooSchule. Free loan wheelchairs are available at the entrance. Ask about your particular route or equipment before travelling: some paths have naturalistic surfaces, and elevated viewpoints are separate from ground-level viewing. Pushchairs and handcarts must stay outside the Affenwald.

Plan your visit

Suggested duration: Allow about 2–3 hours for a selective animal-focused visit, or 4–5 hours with aviaries, a keeper session, food and playgrounds. With young children, choose two or three must-sees and leave time to return to an animal that was resting out of sight.
Best time to visit: Spring and early summer offer nesting storks and bird courtship. For keeper explanations, choose a Sunday or public holiday from mid-March to mid-October, or a day during the summer holidays. The entrance board gives the programme; animal-care needs can change it at short notice.
Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Species in this guide: 12

Best for

Families Who Enjoy Animal Watching And Frequent Play BreaksVisitors Interested In Primate Behaviour And Aviary BirdsA Relaxed Outing With A Mix Of Outdoor Paths And Indoor Stops

Official website

Don't miss

Affenwald

Share the visitor path with Barbary macaques in the wooded walk-through enclosure.

Geladas

Take time to watch the social group in its outdoor areas and look for quiet interactions.

Birds around you

Explore the seabird and wetland aviaries, then look up for seasonal wild storks.

Play and discovery

Combine pond-life learning with the petting zoo and Mäusescheune indoor play area.

Things to try

A quiet observation challenge

At the geladas, let each person choose one animal and watch silently for a minute. Afterwards, compare what it was doing: eating, moving, resting or interacting. There is no need to attract its attention.

Wildlife and habitats

Watch from the visitor path and let the macaques choose their distance. A quiet grooming session can be more revealing than a quick photograph.

Look for the red chest patch and compare the adults’ roles within the group. These Ethiopian highland primates eat mainly grasses and seeds.

Use the Affenhaus viewing area as well as the outdoor stop. Notice the pale facial mane and follow one animal through the group.

These are harbour seals. Spend a few minutes at the underwater windows, then compare swimming movements with the view from above.

Scan the climbing trees and pool rather than expecting a bear at the front. This enclosure is shared with golden jackals.

Rheine keeps Sumatran tigers. Try the different public viewpoints and return later if a tiger is hidden; the indoor house reopened in April 2026.

Compare the horned males with the hornless females. These antelopes are adapted to swamp habitats, a useful contrast with the zoo’s other hoofed animals.

Look for the ringed tails from the public viewpoints. Enter the Lemuren-Wald only when it is staffed and open, following the ranger’s instructions.

In the breeding season, watch the treetops and listen for bill-clattering. This entry refers to the free-flying wild birds; the zoo also cares for flightless storks.

Pause in the wetland aviary and look for the red birds among the other waders. Stay on the visitor path and leave passing birds room.

Compare the broad bill with the ibis’s curved one. Sharing an aviary makes this a satisfying side-by-side observation challenge for children.

Look beyond the penguins for the terns sharing their aviary. Follow a bird between perches without blocking its route.

Getting there and practical advice

Food and a sheltered break

The self-service ZooBistro has an outdoor terrace facing the zebras. For a smaller stop, the Knabberkiste connects with the Mäusescheune play area. Use the zoo’s picnic spaces for food brought from home.

Visitor information

Animal houses or enclosures can close at short notice for welfare, building works or weather.

Conflicting Lemuren-Wald schedules on official pages/calendar; no exact season/day schedule promoted.

Sources and useful links

Wildlife you might spot

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

Harbor Seal

Tiger

Snap map for this place

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

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Good to know before you go

Getting there

Set your satnav to Weihbischof-d’Alhaus-Straße or Parkplatz NaturZoo, rather than the postal address. Parking is free. From Rheine’s Bustreff City, bus C12 serves NaturZoo/Saline; check the current connection. The zoo gives about 30 minutes for walking from the station.

Tickets and re-entry

Check the current admission page and family options; children under three enter free. Keep your receipt as proof of entry. There is no re-entry after leaving, so bring everything you need from the car.

Before the Affenwald

Bags and backpacks cannot go in, and pushchairs and handcarts must be parked outside. Free hand-luggage lockers are at the zoo entrance. Read all posted rules; monkeys can bite and scratch.

Animal space

Never feed any animals, including goats in the petting zoo. Do not touch animals in the walk-through wildlife enclosures or pick up young goats. Keep to visitor paths and respect the animals’ retreat areas.

Keeper sessions

The published daily schedule has seal training at 11:00 and 16:00, storks at 15:30 and penguins at 15:45. Confirm the day’s times at the entrance and allow for cancellations.

Food and tired legs

Bring a picnic for the designated areas, including covered places by the playground. Own food is not allowed in the ZooBistro or on its terrace. Handcarts are free to borrow against a deposit, subject to availability; reservations are not possible.

Bringing a dog

Dogs are allowed on a short lead, but cannot enter animal houses or walk-through enclosures, even when carried. They may not be tied up unattended. Plan to take turns with another adult if you want to use these areas.

Photography

Private photographs are welcome. Flash and other photographic lighting are prohibited in animal houses; drones and selfie sticks are prohibited throughout. Wait for animals to approach naturally and keep doorways and paths clear.

Frequently asked questions

: Animal houses, the Mäusescheune indoor play area and food stops provide breaks from showers. The zoo still involves outdoor walking. The Knabberkiste beside the Mäusescheune has a conservatory and operates year-round; bring waterproof clothing rather than expecting a fully indoor visit.
: The neighbouring Salinenpark and Saline Gottesgabe add a salt-making-history stop, and Kloster Bentlage is another option in the surrounding area. Do this before entering or after finishing the zoo, because the zoo does not allow re-entry.