Dvůr Králové » Dvůr Králové Zoo

Dvůr Králové
12-04-2008

I am making plans for a trip to Dvůr Králové Zoo to see the northern white rhinos.

Anyone been to Dvůr Králové? Anyone know how to properly pronounce Dvůr Králové?

The zoo website: Winter Season - ZOO Dvùr Králové

As I live in the southern USA, I will fly out of Atlanta nonstop to Prague, then take the train to the town of Dvůr Králové. Any advice re getting to Dvůr Králové from Prague?

I am planning to stay at the zoo-run hotel right at the zoo gate:

Hotel Safari***

Any info/advice would be appreciated.

12-04-2008

Hi Kifaru

I've not been to Dvur so I can't help you there, but I have been to Prague zoo and would definitely recommend it if you are going all that way.

12-04-2008

Hi, I think it's pronounced Vur (rhymes with "fur") Crawl-away. I was an intern at the Oregon Zoo at the time , and my partner is a Dr. who does work with the Zoo vet staff, so we had made arrangements to meet with one of the Curators who escorted us all around the zoo. This was late September 2006 and the weather was still quite nice, warm in the day, but much cooler in the evening. The outdoor safari sections were still open, and there are many small , mostly modernized, buildings dispersed over the sizeable grounds. While renowned for its hooved stock ( they had six different species/subspecies of zebras! ) , we also found impressive and interesting collections of carnivores and small mammals, rare primate species, and interesting and varied birds and herps. I have an annual report from 2005 in my hand so I might be able to provide some more specific info for you. The one most important thing I remember is that in several of the hooved stock areas they rotated species from AM to PM - an area that might have had slender horned gazelles in the AM might have lesser kudu in the evening. Hope this is helpful. Have some pics on other computer as well, but mostly of individual species ( like okapi, brown hyena, mountain paca, etc. ) . Let me know if I can help more.

Eric Nielsen
Portland, Oregon

12-04-2008

As far as directions, we had rented a car , equipped with our own Garmin Navigator that covered us part of the way in Czech Republic and then followed directions posted on the Dvur Kralove site to get there from Prague. No major problems, but some construction detours had us driving in circles a bit, but we got there. If you want info on Zoo Praha in Prague let me know - they have an incredible collection as well and have continued to improve so much in the last few years it's wonderful to see the progress.

Eric Nielsen

13-04-2008

A few advices from my side:
Settle the price with the taxi-driver before you use a cab to prevent unpleasent surprice. In Prague itself, public transportation is a good choise, you need just a few coins or buy the ticket in any tabaconists.
The railway-station in Dvůr Králové is quite remote from the zoo (3 miles?). Take the bus (line 1, runs once or twice an hour) to the end-station, then it takes just 20 minutes by foot to reach the gates of the zoo.
The train (and other public trasportation) shedule: IDOS - Connections

I visited Dvůr Králové circa 1 month ago, and the pen with the main herd of northern rhinos was inhabited only by heavy machines. There were some repairs of the fence due, but I do not know if it has been finished yet.

A good part of "hooves" is held backstages during the winter season (October till April), but the rhinos are on the show year-round. Actually, rhino calves love snow and they roll and slide on it.

It is also my tip is to visit the zoo in Prague as well, no rhinos but still a nice collection. The new exhibit with Indian gharials opens today, and there are cubs of clouded leopard and honey badger, both still hiding in their boxes, but it should change in few weeks...

14-04-2008

Thanks so much everyone for taking the time to offer your expertise and input!

I will definitely go to Zoo Praha as well as Dvůr Králové, so thanks for the advice. I will probably fly to Warsaw as well, then make my way to Bialowieza forest for a few days.

14-04-2008

The rail journey from Prague to Dvur Kralove involves a change (at least it did when I made the journey a few years ago). That means jumping out of one train, running accross the tracks and the climbing onto the second train. Something were not used to in the UK.

Despite the language barriers, the rail service in the Czech Republic is easy to navigate and you shouldn't hit any problems. A bus seems to wait at Dvur Kralove train station to collect passengers to take them to the town centre. It is a bit more problematic to make the return bus journey and I ended up walking it.

It is worthwhile booking a room at the zoo's hotel too don't forget. For a Westerner it is inexpensive, clean and tidy. Best of all, it is very convenient and you can be sure to get through the zoo gates at bang-on opening time.

14-04-2008

kifaru,

Jana is probably our best advisor on Dvur and Praha Zoos. She is very much in tune with comings and goings. I hope she will post more on Czech zoos on this forum too in future.

As for transport: the train is conventient. You have to take a train out from Praha hl.n. and then quickly change at Pardubice or Jaromer for a train to Liberec. When you do, you are already half way. Ask the attendants at the railway station in Dvur to call you a cab (it is then a no cheat service and really inexpensive). They will drop you off right at the Hotel Safari frontdoor. The staff at the hotel are really helpful and friendly. You will feel at home right away and ofcourse being a stone's throw from the entrance. Be sure to make a donation at the front gate - I think it is a shame foreigners are not charged a little extra just to support this great African open range zoo - as your hotel booking pays the way for free entry to the entire zoo (multiple entry that is).

Oh, lest some forget this ... you are talking to the rhino boffin here ... (lol) ... Dvur Kralove is actually the rhino capital of the world. It has the best record in black rhino breeding ever and should be the envy of any US collection housing rhinos.

I will visit myself perhaps in May again or late August to see the zoo once more (and definitely stay again in the Hotel Safari).

14-04-2008

In Bialowieza, wild wisent and predators are a lottery, but wild boar, red deer and lots of birds should oblige. Some very good chunks of primeval forest are just along the road to Bialowieza. You might need to arrange trip to strict reserve (main primeval forest) beforehand. Overall, the place got amazing tourist development within last years.

If you go to Bialowieza, you might rent a car and also visit nearby Biebrza marshes - largest ones in C and W Europe. Great for many wetland birds, raptors, moose etc.

A moose in the forest is worth two northern white rhinos in a zoo.

19-04-2008

Not in Alaska, Canada or Sweden...

Be careful if You rent a car-don't take one that is easily recognized as a rental (large ads, tags etc.) Don't leave anything of great value (cameras etc.) in Your car.

Otherwise enjoy Prague & Dvůr; surely some of the best European zoos with a great collection. Take a look at the Burian pictures at Dvůr if You have the time.

15-05-2008

Hi,

Jana already wrote all important things. On Zoo Prague - if you would have a chance try to avoid weekend, I was there about 3 weeks ago on Monday and it is so much less crowded... Especially if you want to avoid a very probable queue in gorillas' pavilon. The clouded leopard cub can be seen if lucky, a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to see it when it is returning to the booth, cute and still not well coordinated when climbing There are also twin brothers sumatran tigers from last year litter in the same pavilon (and don't miss the huge green anaconda just near the entrance of the pavilon). If you want to use the cableway, don't go on Monday or Friday, it is turned off this two days of a week. The zoo is preparing a new website so not all information on their site is up to date - you won't see sea lions (reconstruction of their exhibit) and last time I was there they were upgrading Przewalski's horses' exhibit, so I don't see any of them, not sure how temporary is this (but you can ask on their website, if you care, they would reply soon).

Edit: [dvu:r kra:love:], slash and circles above letters means accents

22-08-2008

I'm going to Dvur tomorrow. Any requests reg.: particular animals, exhibits etc.?

22-08-2008

Indeed i have: Could you take pictures of the new build enclosures for Orangs and monkeys inside the birdhouse?

22-08-2008

@Animal: OK.

24-08-2008

Sorry, @Animal, said exhibit hasn't been finished yet and is closed from sight.