13 Zoos in Belgium that are Worth a Visit

Are you looking for the best zoos in Belgium?

For such a tiny country, Belgium has its fair share of animal parks!

From large domains with hundreds of tropical and endangered animals to smaller zoos with more local species, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

In this article, we’ll be talking about some of the best zoos in Belgium you can visit!

Why should you trust what I’m saying? Well, I’ve lived in Belgium my entire life and after having visited many of these zoos when I was a child, I’m now discovering them all again with my own kids in tow.

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Zoos in Belgium that deserve a visit in 2024

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2. Planckendael (Mechelen)

Planckendael is Antwerp Zoo’s sister location, but it couldn’t be more different!

What’s so cool about this zoo is all the space the animals are afforded. Instead of just looking at rows of cages one after another, you get to see animals in enclosures designed to look as closely at their natural habitat as possible.

The park is divided into different continents grouping the animals by their natural habitat and the continent of origin.

They also offer fun activities such as penguin feedings and bird shows.

In order to take in the full experience and see absolutely everything this zoo has to offer, expect to spend around 6 to 8 hours here.

Mechelen is conveniently located only 30 minutes away from Brussels, which makes it probably as close to a Brussels Zoo as you can get (the capital doesn’t have its own zoo).

So if you’re trying to find the best zoo in Brussels, Planckendael is your next best option.

Plackendael is a great day trip destination from Brussels or Antwerp.

4. Bellewaerde (Ieper)

A rare triple threat on this list, this Belgian zoo is an establishment that includes a kids’ park, a zoo, and thrill rides all in one location!

Established in Zonnebeke near Ieper (or Ypres), it’s the oldest operating theme park in Belgium.

It started out primarily as a zoo and safari, but it eventually diversified its operations to include rides that cater primarily to teens and families.

The zoo houses an impressive bunch of exotic animals. This includes the amur or Siberian tiger, which is known to be the largest of the species, and Kirk’s dik-dik, which is basically a super cute mini antelope.

There’s also red vari, magnificent orange and black lemur, and the European bison among others. It’s also a place where you can see a capybara in Belgium.

Bellewaerde is nowadays mostly known as one of the largest theme parks in Belgium. You can spend an entire day exploring the attractions and looking at animals in between.

🍔 For those who aren’t too eager to dive headfirst into the action, Bellewaerde has a great selection of lunch and snack points where you can sit and rest, or simply drop by for a quick bite.

Grilled meats, juicy burgers, crispy fries, and even pancakes, and ice creams are all available here.

5. Sea Life (Blankenberge) 

If you’re a fan of wonderful sea-dwellers, then Sea Life might be the place for you!

There are plenty of reasons to visit, but one of my favourite things about Sea Life is that they’re also a seal sanctuary.

You can even “adopt” a seal!

You don’t literally take them home, but you get to name them and donate for their food care. Finally, you’ll be invited on the day of their release so you can see them off when they’re ready.

Sea Life’s Freshwater Zone is where you can find huge, wonderful aquariums in Belgium. They’re built to mimic the natural habitat of fish and other sea-dwellers.

The Amazon section features animals you typically only see in tropical rainforests. And the otter and penguin enclosure is of course filled with some of the most adorable sea mammals on Earth.

6. De Zonnegloed (Vleteren)

The second sanctuary on our list is the De Zonnegloed Wild Animal Sanctuary located in Vleteren. What makes this different from Sea Life is that it’s 100% non-profit.

They primarily provide care for animals rescued from circuses and other zoos that fail to follow the legislation on animal welfare.

The name of the sanctuary directly translates to “the sunglow” in English, which befits its mission as an organization that gives rays of hope to abused and neglected animals.

De Zonnegloed serves as a permanent shelter for exotic animals who have nowhere to go. It’s also a temporary shelter for native animals who are in need of special care and medical attention.

Staying true to its mission, this sanctuary also has a strict non-breeding policy.
The shelter houses more than 135 different species and around 400 rescued animals.

Even if they are a non-profit sanctuary, providing for the needs of hundreds of animals still costs money, and ticket prices are seen as minimum donations to keep the establishment operational.

So if you’re looking for a safari park in Belgium, De Zonnegloed Sanctuary is a place that will make your visit worthwhile.

7. Le Monde Sauvage (Aywaille)

Boasting an impressive safari, Le Monde Sauvage is a must-visit animal park in Belgium.

The park is divided into more than 10 sections. It offers one of the most complete experiences as each section covers a specific region and animal group.

You can see waterbuck antelopes, zebras, wildebeests, scimitar oryx (Oryx dammah), and giraffes among others in the African Safari section.

Over in the South American Safari, you can view hippos, camels, cape elks, watusis, water buffaloes, and impalas.

A large collection of big cats can also be found here, including lions, tigers, cheetahs, amur panthers, and caracals.

The Bear Canyon houses collared bears, polar bears, and brown bears both big and small.

And the Australian Wildlife Section is home to emus, kangaroos, and other marsupials native to its country namesake.

8. Pakawi Park/Olmense Zoo (Olmen)

Formerly Olmense Zoo, it was renamed Pakawi Park in June 2019 after it was purchased and reopened by Wim Verheyen and Tommy Pasteels. It currently holds more than 900 animals belonging to 200 species.

Pakawi Park in Bukenberg Balen has a great collection of elephants, giraffes, chimps, and other famous animals in Belgium. They even have some popular big cats such as clouded leopards, cheetahs, tigers, pumas, lions, servals, and caracals.

This park is also the only zoo in Belgium that currently holds fossas, a relative of the mongoose unique to the forests of Madagascar. 

9. Harry Malter (Destelbergen)

The Harry Malter Family Park lives up to its name by providing activities and entertainment for children, teenagers, and adults so everyone can have a good time!

There are jungle gyms, gnome houses, and playgrounds that include bouncy balls for children.

About 90% of these attractions for children are also covered, so inclement weather won’t be a problem.

A cute collection of animals including alpacas, prairie dogs, meerkats, and raccoons can also be found here. Even the rare genet, fallow deers, and kookaburras are present!

10. Zoo of Bouillon (Bouillon)

With more than 500 animals from 75 different species both domestic and exotic, the Zoo of Bouillon is a solid visit if the lockdown has you missing the sight of wildlife and nature.

Some of the animals found in this zoo include the Alpaca, the Alpine Ibex with its magnificent horns, the American Elk, the Asian Small-Clawed Otter, the Asiatic Water Buffalo, and the Bactrian Kamel.

For true animal enthusiasts, the zoo also houses rare ones such as the Blue Wildebeest, the Bush Dog, the Great Grey Owl, and the Scimitar-Horned Oryx.

Aside from an impressive collection of wildlife, the zoo also has a large wooden playground situated conveniently next to the restaurant’s terrace.

The playground is open to children between the ages of 3 and 12 with adult supervision. 

11. Parc à Gibier (la-roche-en-ardenne) 

One of Parc à Gibier’s outstanding features is their wolf feeding activity. Slots are limited, so you’ll have to sign up in advance by sending an email to info@parcagibierlaroche.be.

Aside from this unique offer, the park has a diverse collection of animals including the Saanen goat, the Ouessant or Ushant sheep, the Mangalica, the Grand Duke, and Tawny Owl, wild cats including the Lynx, and other bovine attractions including the Alpine ibex.

A visit to the park takes about 1 hour.

If you’re driving, take route E411 Brussels towards Arlon Exit 18. Then, from the N4 road, ride towards Marche en Famenne and then Exit Waha or Barrière de Champlon and the N89 towards La Roche-en-Ardenne.

Free parking is available at the entrance!

12. Forestia (Theux)

Forestia is one of the most aesthetically-pleasing animal parks on this side of Belgium. This establishment has three main attractions; the zoo, the adventure park, and the forest bar.

This 44-hectare expanse doesn’t only give animals enough room to run around and get comfortable. It’s also clear that the management put a lot of thought into creating a natural environment for its animals.

The large, well-designed spaces afforded to the animals at the zoo reflect well on their demeanour. You can tell that they’re at ease in their environment, which makes the viewing experience so much more enjoyable.

Forestia’s animal attractions include the rare Canadian Wolf (the largest of the wolf species), meerkats, brown bears, the North American Black Bear, lynxes, alpacas, and many more.

The adventure park is a series of courses and obstacles of varying difficulties. It caters to most children aged 2 and up, but some of the more challenging areas cater to adults on the athletic side.

For example, the Ant Course is a simple playground for children aged 2, while the Dragonfly Route offers zip lines for children between 5 and 10 years old.

After a long day of animal viewing and adventuring, your group can relax at the Forest Bar for some salads, hot meals, and some cold drinks.

13. Mont Mosan (Huy)

If you have kids, then going to Mont Mosan in Huy is a great way to bond with them! This is one of the best amusement parks in Belgium that has plenty of attractions that are sure to capture their attention.

After enjoying the animal shows, you can take a light scroll to check out the mini zoo. They have wallabies, meerkats, maras, marmosets, prairie dogs, turtles, goats, and pigs.

While their collection may not be as extensive as some of the other animal parks on this list, they make up for it with a variety of entertainment options.

Mont Mosan’s mini-golf course provides a ton of fun too! There are 18 tracks of varying complexities so kids, teenagers, and even adults can enjoy a round or two here.

They also have a standard playground for children, which includes slides, swings, and jungle gyms.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Zoos in Belgium

Other big zoos in Belgium include Planckendael and Bellewaerde.

However, if you’re looking for the biggest zoo in Europe, it’s not in Belgium. That title goes to Tierpark Berlin.

The zoo gained popularity in the 1920s for breeding the okapi and Congo peafowl that were newly discovered by then.

Today, Antwerp Zoo is perhaps best known for the development of its special display technique for reptile exhibits. They use a cold barrier (i.e., a refrigerated zone) instead of iron bars and glass panels to contain reptiles in their enclosures.

Even just walking into the entrance-yard area (which requires no ticket) will already give you a nice view. You might even spot some flamingos!

While the Antwerp Zoo ticket price is €32,5 for regular adult tickets, €26,5 for children aged 3-11, €29,5 for people with disability, and €30,5 for youngsters (12-17), students (18-25), and seniors (60+). You can buy tickets here.

Final Thoughts about the Zoos in Belgium

And there you have it. These are the top 13 zoos in Belgium that we recommend for the whole family!

Each of them has different activities and sights to offer, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy visiting any of them.

Have you chosen which zoo you want to check out? Leave it in the comments below. You can also share your experience in any of these zoos. I’d love to hear your stories.