Serengeti Park

Serengeti Park, situated in Hodenhagen, Lower Saxony, is a prominent zoo and leisure park in Northern Germany. Established in 1974, it was conceived with the ambition of creating Europe's largest safari park.

History and Development

The park's origins trace back to a 1972 idea by the Duke of Bedford, who envisioned a substantial safari park with American partners. This vision was realized in 1974, and since then, the Sepe family has managed the park. Upon its opening, investors had allocated approximately 20 million German marks. The park underwent significant renovations in 1983. Currently, Serengeti Park comprises three distinct areas: Serengeti-Safari, Jungle-Safari, and Adventure-Safari.

In a notable conservation achievement, Serengeti Park became the first facility in 1996 to reintroduce white rhinos, bred in Europe, back into their natural habitat. The park welcomed its first white tiger in 2003. By 2004, it had received official recognition as a zoological garden, meeting the stringent EU guideline 99/22/EG and §45 of the North German nature reserve law, following an inspection by LANA.

A significant event occurred on March 23, 2006, with the birth of the first African elephant calf in North Germany in three decades. More recently, on August 27, 2019, a 30-year-old rhinoceros named Kusini caused an incident by attacking and flipping a zookeeper's car multiple times. The zookeeper sustained minor injuries. Kusini had arrived at the zoo 18 months prior as part of a breeding program and was reportedly experiencing adjustment difficulties.

Zones and Attractions

Serengeti Park is organized into three primary zones, each offering a unique experience:

Serengeti-Safari

This expansive zone covers 110 hectares (270 acres) and is home to around 1,500 animals that live in open enclosures. Visitors can explore this area by car or utilize a dedicated Serengeti Bus. The zone is segmented into 17 distinct sections, showcasing a diverse range of animals from various global regions, including East Africa, Central Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Southern Africa. Specific exhibits feature animals such as giraffes, wildebeest, lions, tigers, elephants, and rhinos.

Since early 2003, four white tigers, previously part of Circus Barum, have been housed in a new enclosure. The park celebrated the birth of a tiger cub named Paul in December 2006, marking its first successful tiger breeding.

Jungle-Safari

The Jungle-Safari zone hosts twenty different species of monkeys, including Barbary macaques, squirrel monkeys, and chimpanzees, many of which are housed in walk-through enclosures. This zone is also the starting point for the Jungle Safari Tour, an open-top bus excursion that combines a safari experience with an off-road section featuring special effects.

Adventure-Safari

This area is dedicated to entertainment, featuring over 40 fairground rides suitable for all ages, such as a roller coaster and a Ferris wheel. The Serengeti restaurant, Manyara, is also located within the Adventure-Safari zone.

Shows and Accommodation

Serengeti Park regularly presents three distinct shows: "Kumeka - The Awakening of the Jungle," "Okavango - The Water Show," and "Jambo Bongo - Get involved." Visitors can also observe staff feeding monkeys in the Amboseli Reserve.

Since 2007, the park has offered overnight stays, with eighty holiday homes providing over 200 beds. A conference room with approximately 200 seats is also available.