After visiting both Wroclaw and Leipzig zoos over the past two years, I’ve come to a conclusion that might strike some as unexpected or even controversial. But speaking purely from a personal perspective, I found Leipzig to be the more enjoyable zoo experience, especially in certain key aspects.
One of the highlights of my visit to Leipzig was the recently renovated aquarium. I found it absolutely stunning, beautifully designed and full of fascinating displays. In addition, the Gondwanaland tropical hall was a brilliant immersive experience to see some reptiles.
By contrast, my visit to Wroclaw Zoo felt less pleasant overall. I did appreciate the Odrarium, I thought it was a clever and well-executed way to highlight local species, which often don’t get the attention they deserve.
The Afrykarium, too, was undeniably impressive in scale and ambition. However, if I’m being critical, I found that many of the enclosures throughout the Afrykarium and zoo were less aesthetically pleasing and didn’t feel particularly special in their design. Another issue I had was the extensive use of cross-viewing between exhibits, within the Afrykarium, which I personally find distracting and immersion-breaking.
What ultimately tipped the scales for me, though, was the Terrarium in Wroclaw. It felt like an endless maze of small enclosures and narrow corridors. While the reptile and amphibian collection is no doubt excellent, the layout made the experience uncomfortable and disorienting. I genuinely felt like I couldn’t get out of there fast enough, it’s one of the least pleasant zoo buildings I’ve ever visited.
So, while I absolutely respect the strength of Wroclaw Zoo’s collection for ectotherms, I’d personally much rather see these animals in Leipzig. The overall visitor experience there simply felt more thoughtful, relaxing, and enjoyable.
as you note, one of their individuals is a pretty decent size.
