I am extremely disappointed with my visit to Dvůr Králové Zoo. I drove over 300 km specifically to experience the safari by car, encouraged by the great reviews, but it turned out to be a complete disaster.
Upon arrival, we were informed that the wait time to enter the safari by car was about an hour. The cars with online tickets were supposed to queue on the right, while those without tickets on the left. We had purchased our tickets online, following the instructions on the website, selecting the "safari by car" option and specifying the number of people. However, this made no difference in speeding up the process. The two lanes of cars suddenly turned into three, and eventually, it all funneled into a single lane, making the online ticket purchase pointless.
When we finally reached the entrance gate, we were told that we needed an additional ticket for the car itself—something that could not be purchased online and was not mentioned in the instructions. I then had to spend half an hour in line to buy this car ticket. The queue was chaotic, with no staff to direct traffic or organize the cars. Vehicles were parked randomly, with no signage or assistance. The staff seemed more interested in their phones and cigarettes than in helping visitors.
Once we entered the safari, it was a huge mistake. The number of animals visible was minimal, and the experience was no better than a regular zoo. Most of the animals were common forest species that you could easily find in national parks. The few giraffes, zebras, and ostriches were the only highlights.
After passing the first section, we got stuck in a traffic jam inside the safari for 2 hours, with no access to water, restrooms, or any way to exit the car. Dozens, if not hundreds, of vehicles, were idling in the middle of the safari, forcing us to breathe in exhaust fumes under extremely uncomfortable conditions. We ended up with headaches, and I can only imagine how the animals must feel being surrounded by this chaos daily. The number of cars allowed in the safari was completely out of control, with no regard for the animals' well-being. What should have been a 30-minute safari took over 3 hours, most of which was spent stuck in traffic. The area we waited hours to see took only 5 minutes to pass through.
By the time we finished, we were too exhausted to even visit the rest of the zoo. The entire experience was an absolute disaster—total chaos, zero organization, and blatant disregard for the animals’ welfare. This place should be shut down as it has nothing to do with environmental...
Read moreThe Safari Park at Dvur Kralove offers a unique and immersive wildlife experience. Here are some highlights of the park:
African Safari Experience: The park is known for its large African Savannah enclosure, which is home to various species such as giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and rhinos. Visitors can drive through the safari area in their own vehicles or take a guided bus tour.
White Rhinoceros Conservation Program: The Safari Park is renowned for its successful conservation efforts for the critically endangered northern white rhinoceros. It houses one of the world's largest captive populations of this rhino subspecies, and visitors have the opportunity to learn about the ongoing conservation work.
Primate Park: The park has a dedicated area for primates, where visitors can see various species up close, including gorillas, orangutans, and chimpanzees. These enclosures are designed to mimic the natural habitats of these animals.
Penguin Pavilion: Another popular attraction is the penguin pavilion, where visitors can observe different species of penguins in a specially designed enclosure. The pavilion offers a close-up look at the penguins' daily lives and behavior.
Children's Zoo: The Safari Park has a section called the Children's Zoo, which allows young visitors to interact with and learn about various domestic animals, including goats, sheep, rabbits, and pigs. There are also educational programs available for children to engage in hands-on experiences.
Educational Programs and Guided Tours: The park offers various educational programs and guided tours for visitors of all ages, providing insight into the conservation efforts, animal behavior, and other interesting facts about the wildlife present.
These are just a few highlights of the Safari Park at Dvur Kralove. Visitors can expect a memorable experience immersed in the diversity of wildlife and a chance to support important conservation...
Read moreYesterday we went to the zoo, encouraged by the videos we had seen from the safari. I had bought 4 tickets in advance and wanted to buy an additional entry by car, but we have a hybrid car, which is cheaper to enter. However, you cannot buy an entry by hybrid car via the website. So I called the zoo and informed them about it, and in response they reassured me that there was no problem, I would be able to buy an additional entry on the spot, as long as I had the entrance tickets to the zoo. So we went calmly yesterday, on Sunday, and on the spot it turned out that there was no option to buy a ticket, because they were sold out. In addition, the staff cut off all conversations in a very unpleasant way, saying that nothing could be done and it was not their problem. So we stood in the queue for the Africa Truck and just before reaching the ticket office, the tickets were sold out. We managed to get on the bus, but the bus does not go to the lions (at least they did not go that time). In addition, few people inform about these different sightseeing options, and it is difficult to get to the bus due to poor markings. Besides, the zoo is even pretty because of the African motifs in the decorations. However, it is clear that they are not prepared for such a large number of tourists, and the stay there was associated with stress and...
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