Mondo Verde — Attraction in Landgraaf

We arrived before the theme park opened so were among the first few people to enter.

Right beside the main entrance you'll find several bird species and their guano absolutely reeks. I've been to many zoos and wild parks in my time and none of them had the pungent stench of ammonia quite like Mondo Verde. It was off-putting, to say the least.

Anyway, you're essentially forced to pay for the all you can eat option during your visit. We initially thought this was a great concept and we would have chosen to do it if it had been optional. However, the food we ate was pretty close to atrocious. We went to the Italian section, expecting pizza and pasta. Well, we did get pasta but no pizza. Not worth grumbling about, really, except that the pasta was awful.

The food we ate tasted like sugar. It was as if someone had just upturned a kilo bag of sugar into some chopped tomatoes. Not the sort food that inspired any of us (two adults and two kids) to go back for seconds. We had a cheese sandwich each, too, which was OK but very dry.

The drinks included with the all you can eat are either coffee, tea or some kind of juice. We opted for juice, which was pleasant enough. Other than the bad taste of the pasta sauce, there also wasn't anywhere close to enough seating for the number of guests, meaning people just plonked themselves anywhere they could. We sat on the nearby grass.

Of course, Mondo Verde is more than just food and birds. There are several rides and a splash playground thing for kids. Our children went on a few things but we didn't go to the water play area. The little train rollercoaster was good and the dodgems/bumper cars delivered some fun. It was also nice to be able to get good views of of some big cats and wolves, though some of the enclosures looked woefully small.

The grounds are nicely kept, except that a lot of water seems to pool in certain areas, and it smelled pretty bad.

To be honest, I expected better. We still ended up getting season passes because our kids really wanted to go to the water area. We figured even if we just come back for that a couple times then the additional cost would be...

Not recommended: beautiful park that is overcrowded when the weather is nice and serious food safety deficiencies.

Landscape park and gardens are very beautiful, nice to watch the animals. However, many animals are kept in (too) small enclosures; out of date as far as I'm concerned. A bird in a closed part of the park has a broken beak that has been duct taped together; this should of course be solved more animal-friendly.

The park is not at all designed to handle the high numbers of visitors: enormous queues that Efteling does not even have. This undercapacity also undermines the all-you-can-eat concept: waiting 45 minutes for a small bowl of (over)cooked pasta is no exception. Slush puppy machines are defective, empty, or contain syrup that is too warm or ice mass that is too frozen. Most bizarre is the staff at Villa Toscane who repeatedly (!) drops sandwiches on the floor and then without batting an eyelid puts them back on the pile of food offered.

Toilets are not cleaned for hours: poop is on the walls. If you ask the staff for toilet paper, they don't understand you or they can't help you.

Staff at at least two attractions do not speak Dutch, English or German and do not know what to do during a disruption. Water park 'Pirate Splash' is not open in May, even when it is 26°C (this is stated on the website if you search carefully). And please note: charging your electric car here is not an option: the available charging station is “reserved for the management of...

This park is a beautiful place to spend a relaxing Sunday with family or friends.

Mondo Verde is a lush green park that boasts an impressive collection of flora from all over the world. With botanical gardens, water features, and walking trails, the park offers a serene atmosphere that's perfect for enjoying nature. The park's landscaping is expertly done, with a variety of trees and flowers that create a peaceful and relaxing environment.

While Mondo Verde does have a zoo, it's not the only attraction in the park. There are plenty of other things to see and do, such as visiting the many gardens or relaxing in one of the park's many seating areas.

For those who are not a fan of zoos, Mondo Verde still has plenty to offer. The park's gardens are well worth a visit on their own, and there are plenty of walking trails to explore. You can also pack a picnic and enjoy a leisurely lunch in one of the park's many scenic areas.

Overall, Mondo Verde is a beautiful and relaxing park that's perfect for spending a Sunday afternoon. With its impressive gardens and tranquil atmosphere, it's a wonderful place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy the...