My zoo list

[Maguari]

Danmarks Akvarium (does an aquarium count as a zoo? Anyways, I'll include them)

Absolutely they count as far as I can see - as collections of captive animal life can't see any logical way of excluding them.

I'm going for Belgium in the summer and I'm probably going for either Antwerp Zoo or Planckendael (or maybe both of them). What can you recommend? Maybe also other Belgian zoos. I'm staying in a holiday apartmen in Brussels, so I won't visit anything too far away.

I very highly recommend both Antwerp and Planckendael. If pushed for time, Antwerp is a more diverse collection with a far greater sense of history about it. Planckendael is more 'modern', but has limited numbers of non-mammals. Both are excellent though. It depends a bit on what transport you have as well - Antwerp is much easier by train than car, Planckendael is quite possible by train (that's how I got there!) but probably easier by car.

 

[sooty mangabey]

Planckendael is quite possible by train (that's how I got there!) but probably easier by car.

I don't know if it was just a one off, or whether it's always like this on busy days, but I got stuck in a horrendous traffic jam trying to get out of the car park last month - over an hour just to make it to the exit. It was nearly enough to spoil a visit to a superb zoo, and certainly something to be wary of... park near the car park exit; leave before the closing time rush.... or go by public transport.

 

[Tim May]

I'm going for Belgium in the summer and I'm probably going for either Antwerp Zoo or Planckendael (or maybe both of them). What can you recommend? Maybe also other Belgian zoos. I'm staying in a holiday apartmen in Brussels, so I won't visit anything too far away.

I spent a few days in Belgium last week, staying in Brussels (as it is convenient for travelling to / from London by Eurostar).

Yes, it is easy to travel to both Antwerp Zoo and Planckendael Zoo by train from Brussels; Parc Paradiso, too, is easy to reach by public transport. All three collections are well worth visiting. At the railway station, ask for a combined train ticket / zoo admission; this works out very much cheaper than paying the train fare and zoo entrance separately.

Since you’re staying in Brussels, I recommend visiting the Natural History Museum there too.