It’s a Zoo out there!

Christine June
U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern


“We are offering free tours in the English language on U.S. holidays,” said Matthias Schmitt, Kaiserslautern Zoo director.

***image1***President’s Day, which this year falls on Feb. 19, will be the first time the free English-speaking tours will be offered at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Those interested must reserve a spot. Although the tours are free, participants will still have to pay the entrance cost to the zoo, said Herr Schmitt. He also said English-speaking tours for a cost can be arranged for any day. For schools and preschools, tours on any day are still free.

With a tour guide, participants will be able to explore the more than 17 acres of the Kaiserslautern Zoo and learn about the zoo’s more than 55 animal species and 250 wild and domestic animals, said Herr Schmitt.

Also shown on the tour is the petting zoo, which on any given day has up to 11 hoofed animals, ranging in age and species, said Karin Hasselbach, who arranges the English-speaking tours.

The petting zoo gives visitors an up-close chance to pet or feed the animals. This petting zoo has also been a part of the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern bazaars and will be at this year’s Spring Bazaar on March 2 to 4 on Rhine Ordnance Barracks.

Frau Hasselbach said visitors can feed all the hoofed animals at the zoo, and this food can be purchased while paying for admission. She said the food costs €.50.

***image2*** Especially for children, the zoo has a playground and nature adventure trails. These nature paths have interactive signs teaching visitors about the animals and plants common to this area through guessing games. Those who do not read German can still play as the questions and answers are in pictures and not words.

Birthday parties can also be arranged at the zoo. Frau Hasselbach said birthday packages can include tours or scavenger hunts depending on what the customer wants, and offer an indoor room and outdoor grill.

To reserve a spot for a free English tour or to arrange a birthday party, call Frau Hasselbach at 06301-71-6925.

The following information was taken from the City of Kaiserslautern’s official Web site at www.kaiserslautern.de. The zoo is open every day. The hours for September to March are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and for April to August 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Admission cost is €4.50 for adults and €2  for children, ages 4 to 17. In groups of at least 10, adult tickets are €4.

Directions: Siegelbach is located west of Vogelweh.Travel from Vogelweh in the direction of Weilerbach, pass the autobahn on-ramps to Mannheim and Saarbrücken before taking the exit KL-Siegelbach. Then follow the Zoo/Tiger signs.

Program navigation systems to: Zum Tierpark 10, Kaiserslautern.