Hours, directions, entrances and the best time to arrive
Which animals and habitats should you prioritise?
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Gondwanaland
Habitat: Tropical rainforest hall
This is the zoo’s signature space — a vast indoor jungle that blends free-flying birds, primates, tapirs, dense planting, and elevated walkways under one glass roof. It’s worth slowing down for because the best moments are not staged; they happen when you look up, across the water, and into the foliage instead of walking straight to the boat dock. Most visitors rush the canopy bridges and miss how much animal movement happens above eye level.
Where to find it: In the central part of the zoo, inside the large glass-domed tropical hall.
Pangolins
Species: Pangolin
This is one of the rarest animals in the zoo and a major reason wildlife enthusiasts single Leipzig out from other German city zoos. Pangolins are easy to miss because they do not create crowds the way elephants or big cats do, but seeing one is the kind of detail that makes the visit feel distinct rather than generic. Most people walk past because they are focused on headline animals and never pause long enough in the darker house.
Where to find it: In the indoor animal houses where the rare-species displays are signed, rather than in the main outdoor headline habitats.
Pongoland great apes
Species: Chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, and orangutans
Pongoland is one of the zoo’s most important sections, not just one of its biggest. It stands out because you can compare all 4 great ape genera in one place, and the research-led design changes how you watch them — look for social interactions, enrichment objects, and how each group uses space. Most visitors give it a quick loop, but it rewards at least 45 minutes.
Where to find it: In Pongoland, a dedicated ape complex toward the back half of the zoo.
Kiwara Savannah and Makasi Simba
Habitat: African savannah and lion habitat
This area gives the zoo some of its best sightlines, with giraffes, zebras, and other large animals spread across a broad landscape and lions nearby in a separate but connected viewing rhythm. It is worth pausing for because the design hides barriers well, so it feels more open than many city-zoo savannahs. Most visitors stop for photos and move on too quickly instead of watching how the mixed-species habitat works as a whole.
Where to find it: In the Africa world, close to Kiwara Lodge and the main savannah viewpoints.
Elephant Temple
Species: Asian elephants
The elephant area combines one of the zoo’s strongest animal draws with some of its most memorable architecture. It is best known for elephant bathing sessions, but the real reason to linger is the chance to watch family behavior around the pool and yard rather than just waiting for a single splash moment. Many visitors crowd the glass briefly and leave before the elephants fully settle into view.
Where to find it: In the Asia world, around the Ganesha Mandir elephant complex.
Koala House
Species: Queensland koalas
Koalas are rare in European zoos, which is exactly why this small house deserves intention rather than a quick peek. The exhibit itself is compact, so what matters is timing — around feeding windows you are more likely to catch them awake instead of sleeping through the whole visit. Most people either miss it completely or arrive, glance once at a sleeping koala, and move on.
Where to find it: In the renovated historic Koala House, separate from the zoo’s larger outdoor worlds.
