A fortnight from today - April 2 2014 - I will be rectifying a great omission in my zoo-visiting, and for the first time in my life setting foot outside the UK. And where better to start in the wide and wonderful world of international collections than the two which are almost universally said to be among the best in the world - Tierpark Berlin and Zoo Berlin? There will, of course, be one or two detours along the way I am following in the noble footsteps of Hix, Chlidonias and many other Zoochatters by starting a journey thread - we really need to get a seperate forum created for these things, by the by - for a number of reasons: By starting the thread a fortnight in advance, I hope to pick up as many tips, pointers and little bits of advice from those who are already familiar with the collections I am visiting as possible. I've already contacted a few people directly, but now it is the time to cast my net a little wider As this will not only be my first zoo-trip outside of the UK, but my first trip outside of the UK full stop, I hope it will prove an interesting read for all of you. As noted above, the main two collections I will be tackling are deemed some of the greatest in the world - but maybe the feedback and thoughts of someone for whom the collections are entirely new will provide a new perspective on the collections. Moreover, although one of the collections I will be visiting - Leipzig - is also quite often discussed on Zoochat, the other - Magdeburg - is somewhat less often discussed. I will, of course, provide thoughts on these collections too My current itinerary, which is not 100% solidified in terms of what order I do things, but which is hopefully conclusive in terms of *what* I do, is as follows: April 2 - Flight over to Berlin. April 3 - Zoo Berlin April 4 - Tierpark Berlin April 5 - Zoo Magdeburg April 6 - Zoo Berlin April 7 - Zoo Leipzig April 8 - Tierpark Berlin April 9 - Museum für Naturkunde April 10 - Flight back to the UK So, any advice that anyone is willing to give me in the next fortnight will be very much appreciated - especially from any Zoochatters who live in Germany and may visit the collections in question relatively often. I am, suffice to say, rather excited. ---------EDIT---------------- A FULL CONTENTS PAGE FOR THIS TRIP REPORT CAN NOW BE FOUND HERE
Have a lot of fun. I am not a huge fan of both Berlin zoos, allthough TP Berlin feels like a kind of guilty pleasure with all those nice species. I am however a huge fan of Leipzig and Magdeburg. I used to visit Leipzig yearly as a child, so I have seen the whole development until 2007. Then there was a short break but in 2012 I visited all the collections you will visit . Leipzig is already in the top league and Magdeburg is certainly getting there. On Leipzig, many people who have high expectations leave the place a bit disappointed (I have heard that from quite many Dutch zoo-enthusiasts), it is a really good zoo, but not (yet?) the best one there is, it still has some flaws, but the collection and some really good exhibits make it really worthwile. In Magdeburg, be sure not to miss the marbled polecat, which was our superstar species on our 2012 visit, you may have to revisit the enclosure though, but it is said to be most active in the early morning (allthough we saw it on the middle of the day). They are currently developing IMO maybe the nicest african area in a zoo (Africambo), but there is still enough work to do, but only the elephants and lions are still really weak points. BTW if you're in Berlin, be sure to visit the second world war memorial (next to Brandenburger Tor), the East-side gallery near Ostbahnhof & the DDR museum (that's near Alexanderplatz, so can be combined with the Sea Life, which has a very interesting "aquadom"). You will probably need only 2-3 hours in the Naturkundemuseum, but you may need 2 whole days in both zoos... Berlin has the berlinwelcome card, which gives free rides on all the public transport and price reductions to the both zoos and the naturkundemuseum. It is really worth it and available at all the ticket counters. But is it really your first visit ever outside the UK?
I can't give any advice but I will read and try to remain unenvious. Although I guess now the race is on to see which of us will see a pangolin first!
@Chlidonias, TLD will win that race then, because the pangolins are Leipzig are highly visible, especially at feeding time (posted at the exhibit). Btw be sure to visit Gondwanaland or really early or later on the day, because else it gets really crowded...
Sounds like a very fun trip. One suggestion: it is very feasible to make a day trip in and out of Berlin to Hannover, should you decide one day is enough at either of the Berlin Colossi.
As this is one of my favorite species, and one I always dearly enjoy seeing, you can rest assured I will be trying my best to spot them! In point of fact, it was the fact the collection holds these, along with the Angolan Colobus, Golden Jackal and Talapoin Monkey that helped determine this would be the fourth collection visited, as opposed to Hannover which came close to clinching it! Odds are that I will only have time to visit the collections and museum already mentioned, being as I will be taking things easy in order to get my bearings in an unfamiliar country. I do not intend this to be my sole visit to Berlin, so plenty of chance to visit the other museums another time - especially as my tastes also extend to the historical. One cultural thing I *do* plan on ensuring I see is the cathedral at Magdeburg, which is the burial place of a particularly significant Holy Roman Emperor. I'm certainly planning on the use of said card - and it is indeed my first ever trip outside of the UK!
As noted above, Hannover was considered in the place of Magdeburg - my taste for odd carnivores swung it in the favour of the latter. That said, Hannover is very high on the list for collections to visit on a return visit to Germany!
While in Berlin, visit the very interesting bat cellar at the Citadel Spandau. Berliner Artenschutz Team -BAT- e.V. - Fledermauskeller Take a closer look at the female Steller's sea eagle at the Tierpark Berlin. Berlin Seaworld's main attraction is the Aquadome, but you can also take a free look at it within the lobby of the Radisson Hotel. http://www.spreeradio.de/sites/default/files/berlin_aquadom.jpg While in Magdeburg, why not visit closeby Tierpark Schönebeck? It has a very nice small mammal collection, in particular rodents (among others, Mountain viscachas, Chacoan Mara, European Souslik and Yucatán squirrel).Heimattiergarten "Bierer Berg" The Museum of Natural History of Leipzig is located in close proximity to the zoo, if you feel like adding it to your list. http://naturkundemuseum.leipzig.de And if you want to relax after a long day of zoo visits in Berlin, go to the Stadtbad Neukölln, one of the nicest public baths in Germany. Berliner Bäder-Betriebe: Stadtbad Neukölln
Probably worth noting I will be reliant on public transport, so won't be able to squeeze in as many places/activities as people with cars can for instance, if one had a car I suspect Magdeburg and Tierpark Schönebeck could easily be done in a single day - when travelling by train, I suspect only one would be doable.
Dave I am so jealous, glad to see that it's expanded a bit from Berlin and Leipzig. As you know there are animals I desperately want to see (Javan leopard, ring-tailed mongoose, pangolin, Malayan tiger......... ) and you are going to beat me to them! Have a fantastic trip!
Ahh, the German public transport system! A little piece of advice: when travelling with Deutsche Bahn, try to always take the travel option that allows you to change trains as little as possible. Otherwise, you might end up stranded in the middle of the German countryside. German punctuality is an all too often debunked myth when it comes to the DB. The lack of foreign language competence among the DB staff is almost legendary among Germans. And don't be surprised when the bus driver in Berlin might act quite rudely when asked an innocent question-that's "Berliner Schnauze". Doesn't happen as often as commonly proclaimed, but if it does, don't let it ruin your day. A trip to Schönebeck-Bad Salzelmer from Magdeburg by train takes about 20 minutes, and then another 15-20 minutes to walk from there to the zoo.
As lintworm mentioned, Berlin's Naturkundemuseum really doesn't need a whole day. You may feel that at least half of that day would be better spent at the zoo's aquarium. Given your interests, I would suggest adding the outstanding Pergamon museum to your museum day - it holds a magnificent collection of reconstructed monuments, including the Ishtar gate and Pergamon altar. I also really enjoyed visiting the Neues museum. If you're in the area then it's worth at least taking a good look at the Aquadom, an impressive and unique tank.
It's certainly on the list for somewhere to visit if I end up with spare time as - like you note - it is very much in line with my non-zoological sphere of interests!
@Balto, I don't think the Fledermauskeller exists anymore... But well Berlin has just so much to do.... Fortunately the public transport is really good, so it is easy to get where you want to get. In Leipzig take also some time at the Hauptbahnhof (main station), which is the largest of it's kind worldwide and really nice (the same goes for the Hauptbahnhof in Berlin though). Take also your advantage on the really good german bakeries, I especially recommend the "streusselschnecke", those bakeries are the best places to get your lunch and breakfast and most also have cheap but good coffee. And while in Berlin you have to eat döner (or falafel if you're vegetarian) at least once, as döner is a nice Berlin invention, you can get it everywhere
What makes you think that the bat cellar does not exist anymore? Those German bakeries can be a mixed bag, depending on the individual store/chain. As for a typical "Berliner" fast food, try a curry sausage/Currywurst. And for a special souvenir, go to one of the "Ampelmännchen" stores. AMPELMANN Berlin
