Orientarium Zoo Łódź – the most modern zoo in Europe

Orientarium Zoo Łódź is a bit of the Orient in Lodz – because that’s the idea behind Orientarium, the newest part of the Lodz Zoo. Here we will meet Asian animals, see exotic plants, feel the oriental climate. At a time when travel is not at all so easy and obvious, a substitute for another part of the world is at a premium.

This is one of the most anticipated events of 2022 in Lodz. The Orientarium was originally scheduled to open in 2020, but unfortunately a pandemic thwarted those plans. Happily, everything was finally finalized, the animals are safe, and so the Orientarium opens the gates to a completely different world.

The Lodz zoo has come a long way, and the construction of the Orientarium has caused many people to start postponing a visit to the zoo until the newest and most modern part of the zoo is available for tours. The announcement of the Orientarium’s construction took place in 2015 and ignited hopes, not only of Lodz residents. Everyone had the thought in their heads that there would finally be something in Lodz on par with Wroclaw’s Afrykarium.

Over the past few years, while construction of the Orientarium was underway, the garden turned into a veritable construction site. Heavy machinery was driven in, part of the zoo was completely closed, and many animals found another home. The zoo continued to function, but on a limited basis. Visitors were not only able to view the progress of the work through the construction site fence, but also visit other changing enclosures and pavilions.

Finally, we are just before the opening of the Orientarium (the first visitors will enter here this Friday!). The building is fully completed, commissioned, and the first residents are already living in it. One of the reasons for the delays and the lack of a specific opening date in advance was the welfare of the animals. Those that have been brought here and will still be brought here need time to acclimatize. It’s not like an Asian elephant arrives and is immediately put into an enclosure, or washed and fed in front of visitors. Its preparation and habituation takes a long time and must take place under the watchful eye of a caregiver. And yet we can never predict how the animal will behave and exactly how long the adaptation process will take.

So we are fully aware and 100% understand the delays and the time that has been and continues to be necessary to make everything work.

We recently had a chance to take a look at the Orientarium, even before its official opening, and we prepared this material for you so that you know what the Orientarium is, what it looks like, what the attractions are and what animals we can see here.

A video from the Orientarium in Lodz

We also recommend our coverage 🎬 video of Orientarium Zoo Lodz on our YouTube channel. We will show you all the new places in the Lodz zoo and reveal some practical tips :)

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What can you see in the Orientarium of Zoo Lodz?

As the name suggests, here we will learn about the Orient, or Southeast Asia. In the enclosures and bodies of water we will see animals characteristic of this part of the world, all surrounded by exotic vegetation.

When planning a stay at the Orientarium, expect a completely different atmosphere, in the literal sense of the word. The pavilions have higher temperatures and high humidity to provide the best possible conditions for animals and plants.

The whole is divided into four thematic zones: India, Sundaic Islands, Celebes and the Water Zone.

India

The largest part of the Orientarium is dedicated to India. It is here that we will meet the Indian elephants Alexander and Taru. Alexander is the oldest and probably the largest elephant in Europe: he is 44 years old and weighs more than 6 tons. Taru is definitely smaller, after all, he is much younger, being “only” 9 years old. Looking at the elephants you can immediately see the differences in their characters – Taru is full of energy, eager to move all over the enclosure, jumping into the water, while Alexander is more dignified, slow.

In total, the Orientarium may eventually house as many as 10 representatives of this species.

A very large outdoor and indoor enclosure is prepared for them, both with water tanks where the animals will be able to bathe. And that, in our opinion, will be the biggest attraction of the Orientarium! One of the pools (indoor) has a glass window so you can watch an elephant swim. It is definitely a unique experience and we recommend seeing it to everyone, as it is rare to have the opportunity to come face to face with a bathing elephant. The thick glass significantly enlarges the elephant and we can look at it in every detail.

Note that elephants do not stay in the water all day. Garden staff encourage them, to enter once a day at a specific time. So if you want to witness such a bath then you must come at a specific time (currently it is 11:00 – that’s when the feeding takes place, and the bath immediately after). Next to it there is a stand where you can buy fresh coffee, and in addition there are two aquariums where fish live that feed on our epidermis ;) So you can put your hand in and they will take care of the rest :)

Alexander and Taru dry off after such a bath by sprinkling sand on the ridge.

Elephants will also be available for viewing in an outdoor enclosure, where they will be accompanied by ungulates. As soon as the weather gets warmer and the animals are fully acclimated it is on this outdoor area that they will spend most of their time.

Sundaic Islands

This is the most tropical section in the Orientarium, where you can immediately feel the high humidity moments after entering. Another aspect that will immediately draw your attention is the free-flying and running birds – there are no cages for them, they don’t sit in them for days, but are free to fly over the enclosures and paths set out for visitors. And these paths are unique, too, because they are partly above the catwalks. So not only can you walk up to the shafts and fences, but you can also look at the entire Sundaic Islands zone from a height (we recommend walking the paths on the second floor especially by the gibbons and langurs, because these animals definitely spend most of their time at height, so you can be at their level).

There are several enclosures in this zone, where you can watch Sumatran orangutans (the only ones in Poland!), Malayan bears and binturongs.

In the Indian section we could come face to face with an elephant, and here we will look into the mouths of gavial crocodiles. In the prepared pool, we can watch a pair of crocodiles that can reach up to 5 or 6 meters in length.

Celebes

Celebes is an Indonesian island, and the Orientarium is so named for a section with two enclosures: on one you’ll see anoa buffalo and oriental otters, and on the other, macaques. Both enclosures have an indoor and outdoor section, and in the pavilion you can also look at the enclosures from a path on the second floor (we especially recommend watching how great the macaques are at height!).

Of particular note in Celebes are the interestingly arranged catwalks and vegetation on the walls.

Water zone

In the water zone there is a huge shark tank (2,500 m3) and several smaller aquariums.

Certainly the biggest attraction is watching sharks in an underwater tunnel (it is the longest such tunnel in Poland) and through a huge (and 30 cm thick) glass. In addition to sharks, attention is also drawn to guitar fish, orcas, stingrays, numerous smaller fish and the coral reef – we anticipate that this part will be the most interesting attraction for children, who will watch as if enchanted by the colorful underwater world.

Anyway, we as adults also stood as if mesmerized.

Outer zone

Outside the Orientarium, in addition to the enclosures and animal observation stands, there is another interesting space: a rest area, food court and mini zoo.

Here, you can eat outdoors and children can play in the new playground, surrounded by a mini zoo. As of yet, not all the booths are occupied, but it is hoped that tenants will be found this year, and visitors will be able to choose from delicious dishes and snacks. A pizzeria, sushi and waffles and pancakes are now open.

Also recommended in a similar topic:
– Zoo Wroclaw and the Afrykarium in Wroclaw,
– Gorlitz Zoo (Tierpark-Zoo),
– Leipzig Zoo,
– Singapore Zoo,
– Vienna Zoo,
– Great pandas in Chengdu, China.

Practical information

The Orientarium is part of the Lodz Zoological Garden, which we wrote about here. Entrance is included in the zoo ticket (no need to buy a separate ticket to enter the Orientarium).

Orientarium for families with children

Zoo Lodz’s Orirentarium is fully open and accessible to wheelchair users and families with young children. There are elevators and ramps – you can drive a wheelchair everywhere. The toilets have changing tables and lower sinks for children.

Importantly, nowhere in the new part of the Lodz Zoo is there a need to pick up and drop off children. All fences and railings are made so that even the smallest children can see everything.

A very interesting feature is the new playground, around which is a mini zoo. In addition, there are tables right next door and there will be a number of food outlets opening in the near future, so parents will be able to relax for a while while the kids go wild in the playground.

Catering at Orientarium Zoo Lodz

There are outlets serving food and artisan ice cream stalls (seasonally) on the zoo grounds.

The Orientarium will have both a covered restaurant, in the main building, and food outlets within the food court. As mentioned above, at the moment you can eat sushi, pizza, waffles, ice cream.

Of interest: food outlets at the Orientarium are not allowed to use palm oil (we very much support this!).

Orientarium prices, how much do Orientarium Zoo Łódź tickets cost?

Below are the current prices to Orientarium Zoo Lodz:

• Normal and discounted tickets – 70 zloty,
• Family ticket (2+2 and 2+3) – PLN 220,
• Children under 3 years of age enter for free.

It is worth mentioning that with the Card of Lodz Citizen you can buy tickets significantly cheaper:

• Normal and discounted tickets – 40 zloty.

If you have a Lodz Large Family Card, you are entitled to a ticket for 40 zloty as well, but it can only be purchased at the facility’s ticket office.

Orientarium opening hours

The opening hours of Orientarium Zoo Lodz are as follows:

Daily: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The only day when the zoo is closed is the 1st. November.

The ticket offices close an hour before the garden closes, and the ticket machines are activated at 7 am.

Location and access to the Orientarium

The Lodz Zoological Garden is located in the Polesie district, right next to the Botanical Garden within the Park on Health. The main entrance is from Konstantynowska Street.

There are no parking spaces available directly below the entrance, but very clear maps have been prepared showing where to leave your car in the immediate area, how much it costs and how many minutes it takes to get there:

The Lodz zoo can be reached by public transportation:

• Bus numbers: 43A, 43B, 76, 80A, 80B, 80C, 97A, 97B (stops: Konstantynowska – Park im. Piłsudskiego, Krzemieniecka/Konstantynowska (zoo) or Krakowska/Konstantynowska (zoo))

Please note, a special free bus line is being launched that will pick up visitors from various parking lots straight to the zoo, which can also be seen on the map below:

Both maps are from the zoo.lodz.pl website

Facility address and contact information:

Municipal Zoological Garden in Lodz Ltd.
Street. Konstantynowska 8/10
94-303 Łódź
phone: 42 632 75 09
e-mail: sekretariat@zoo.lodz.pl

Accommodation in Lodz

Hotels we can recommend in Lodz (not necessarily in the immediate vicinity of the Orientarium):

• Novotel Lodz Centrum, with our ebook
  Address: al. Piłsudskiego 11A, Śródmieście, 90-368 Łódź
  Prices: from 320 PLN for a double room
  Link:
  http://r4b.link/novotel-lodz
  
• Puro Lodz Center, rooms with a great view of Poznanski Palace
  Address: ul. Ogrodowa 16, Bałuty, 91-065 Łódź
  Prices: from 400 PLN for a double room
  Link:
  http://r4b.link/puro-lodz
  
• Campanile Lodz, a budget option.
  Address: Aleja Piłsudskiego 27, Śródmieście, 90-307 Łódź
  Prices: from 188 PLN for a double room
  Link:
  http://r4b.link/campanilelodz
  
• Vienna House Andel’s Lodz, supposedly the best hotel in Lodz ;)
  Address: Ul. Ogrodowa 17, Bałuty, 91-065 Łódź
  Prices: from 450 PLN for a double room
  Link:
  http://r4b.link/hotelandelslodz
  

Is it worth visiting the Orientarium at the Lodz Zoo?

Orientarium Zoo Lodz is a place eagerly awaited not only by the youngest visitors. Finally we have a real zoo in Lodz, with beautifully arranged and spacious enclosures, full of greenery, and with total respect for the animals.

Admittedly, there are still many challenges and changes ahead for Orientarium: all the animals and tenants are not yet in place, but we are confident that the end result will be top-notch.

Let us know if you’ve already been to the Orientarium and how your impressions were!