Safaripark Beekse Bergen Safaripark Beekse Bergen

How big is the Hippo exhibit? I've seen pictures of it and the large lake, and I'm wondering just how large it is.
 
How big is the Hippo exhibit? I've seen pictures of it and the large lake, and I'm wondering just how large it is.

I did a few quick measurements, the land area of the main exhibit is about 1,675 square meters the water area is about 1,824 square meters (including the areas only accessible to the antelopes and marabous), the two separation yards are about 897 square meters combined.
 
About the marabou, the last individual has passed away earlier this year, which means the species is no longer in the collection.

Red river hogs have left the collection as well as all the animals have moved to Overloon.
 
Spent today in Beekse Bergen for week 2 of my Dutch Zoo Month, I was a bit under the weather but I was with a friend so it was worth it.

- The first Gorilla enclosure had new climbing structures as well as multiple new protected planted areas:
20250908_134545.jpg

- The new Meerkat/Bat-eared fox enclosure is very well-done, and you can view the first savanna habitat over the enclosure, which is something I always love and thought was also very well-done with the Hyenas and Elephant valley.
20250908_135927.jpg 20250908_140018.jpg

- The Savanna aviary is now fully filled but unfortunately a few of the species that were held behind the scenes last year (to be added to the aviary) have now once again left, namely the Black-crowned cranes and Von Der Decken's hornbill. Other than that I did see every species signed in the aviary:
- Rüppel's griffon vulture
- Secretary bird
- Crested guineafowl
- African sacred ibis
- Violet turaco
- Superb starling
- Village weaver

- Various viewing points in the zoo have been fully closed down, which I found rather dissapointing/annoying. The Flamingo aviary is no longer a walkthrough, which I wouldn't mind if they had netted over the balcony, but instead they decided to remove the visitor area of the balcony completely and use the transition hut as viewing hut. Meaning you now have to view over the giant wooden platform to try to see the flamingos, which's doesn't exactly give the best viewing experience.

20250908_142502.jpg

There's also only two species left in here, two water-dwelling animals. So this aviary that pretty much only offers a view to the top of the aviary only holds Hadada ibis and Greater flamingos... Very bad way to handle the situation in my opinion...

Additionally, the side viewing point to the Hippo habitat, the bridge over the sloth bear habitat, and both viewing points to the first Okapi habitat have either been removed or covered up, and the African penguin walkthrough section has also been closed. In my opinion, a very disappointing evolution for the park...

- The hippos were only allowed inside today, according to a keeper, this is because the hippo lake (as well as the rest of the water in the park) was about a meter lower than what it should be.

- In the Nile crocodile enclosure I could no longer see any Nile tilapia or Walking catfish, which were very easy to see before. I did see a new cichlid type, which I confused for a Koi or goldfish at first due to the red head and pale body. I haven't yet identified it but my best guess would be a Red top ndumbi cichlid, although that doesn't quite fit...

- Instead of DeBrazza's monkeys near the Sloth bear and Red panda enclosures, there were now Ring-tailed lemurs on the island. According to the map they have swapped places with the Ring-tailed lemurs on the boat safari, but I didn't see them (or hear them mentioned) here. Does anyone have more info on that?

- Instead of Sitatunga, there are now Nyala held with the Red forest buffalo, presumably the group that is now no longer held with the Okapi.

- Speaking of Okapi; as I mentioned, the two viewing points to the first okapi habitat have been practically fully closed off. There also wasn't an Okapi visible in the enclosure. There was one inside, but I don't know if this one was restricted to the indoor exhibit or not.

20250908_152215.jpg

- The Impala are no longer held on the final large Savanna enclosure, where they used to be held with the Giraffes, Zebras, Black sable antelopes and Cape buffalo. I did notice an incredibly large amount of Giraffes here, as I counted a total of 19 Rothschild's giraffes on the plains. Truly a sight to behold!
 

Attachments

  • 20250908_134545.jpg
    20250908_134545.jpg
    207.8 KB · Views: 131
  • 20250908_135927.jpg
    20250908_135927.jpg
    260 KB · Views: 15
  • 20250908_140018.jpg
    20250908_140018.jpg
    284.9 KB · Views: 15
  • 20250908_142502.jpg
    20250908_142502.jpg
    281.7 KB · Views: 143
  • 20250908_152215.jpg
    20250908_152215.jpg
    313.2 KB · Views: 143
The last impala died a while ago. The species is gone from the collection.

The okapi viewing area was probably closed off due to a recent birth.

De DeBrazza monkeys kept escaping their enclosure and even got all the way to the Mugundu restaurant at some point, so they swapped places with the lemurs. There's no escaping from that island :)

The netting in the flamingo aviary is due to bird flue restrictions.
 
The netting in the flamingo aviary is due to bird flue restrictions.

I'm aware, I just think it's annoying that they decided to close the balcony too. I think it would've been pretty easy to just place poles on the corners and make a "cage" in the aviary for viewing while keeping the balcony. It's not like Beekse Bergen doesn't have the funds...
 
A Grants zebra was born today during opening hours.

Woah, I saw the newborn today and apparantly just missed the birth! :) I feel very lucky getting such a good view of the foal. It looked healthy - the herd with mom & newborn up front made quite some milage on the safari. We saw it drinking multiple times. My husband poked fun of me for being surprised about the foal. "Didn't read that on ZooChat now, eh :p"? Very recent news then.

full
 
Hoping to visit next year. I will be using public transport, so will I miss out not having my own car? From looking on the website it seems I will be able to see all species from foot or boat?
 
Hoping to visit next year. I will be using public transport, so will I miss out not having my own car? From looking on the website it seems I will be able to see all species from foot or boat?

You will miss the European forest (red deer, Heck's cattle, Scottish Highlander), the Asian forests (Père David's deer, Javan banteng, Vietnamese sika deer) and the North African desert (Ostrich, Addax, Dromedary camel) as these areas can not be seen from the foot safari. The other areas or species can be seen from the walking safari.

You could consider booking a game drive vehicle with a ranger, although it isn't cheap, or going before March 31st or later in the year (October or later) when the free safari busses do go out.
 
You might see the European animals (red deer, cattle) from the boat and you could potentially see the sika deer from the Congo parking lot, if they are hanging out at the back end of their enclosure.

Addax, dromedary and ostrich can be seen with some luck behind the okapi enclosure.

Pere Davids deer and Banteng will be a no-go if you skip the car safari, as will the chital.
 
Thank you both.
You could consider booking a game drive vehicle with a ranger, although it isn't cheap, or going before March 31st or later in the year (October or later) when the free safari busses do go out.
I will be visiting before March 31st thankfully! Hopefully I can use the free safari bus.
 
Safaripark Beekse Bergen wants to expand the Safari Resort. There are plans for a new enclosure with African elephants. In order to create even more space for the family group of African elephants due to possible expansion of this group in the future, possibilities for a new elephant enclosure were explored. This led to the Safari Resort.

The intention is to create an enclosure surrounded by lodges in the long term. The project is currently still in its early stages: drawings are being made, but the permit process has not yet started. This is because no expansion of the group is expected in the short term.

Source: Beekse Bergen wil bezoekers laten slapen tussen de olifanten: uitbreiding Safari Resort
 
Back
Top