We love animals and never miss a zoo when we're travelling so the Nyiregyhaza Animal Park (or Sosto Zoo) was a must see at Nyiregyhaza too. After a quick walk in the city center it was the only thing we visited in the city but it was totally worth it! Sosto Zoo became our new favourite place!
Location
Nyiregyhaza is a big city in the Northeastern region of Hungary and the capital of Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg county. The city's northern area is called Sosto and a popular holiday destination with its spa, open air museum, several recreational activities and the zoo. Sosto is about 10 minutes drive from the city center on Sostoi ut or a 15-minute bus ride with line 8 from Egyhaz utca. The Animal Park itself is a 35-hectare area placed in a lovely oak forest and has the feeling of the untouched natural environment.
The Animal Park
Sosto Zoo is home to more than 5000 animals from 500 species, therefore one of Europe's largest largest animal collection. The park is arranged into "continents" so visitors can walk around and see how animals live in the different parts of the world. Besides the exhibiting areas, visitors can watch animals shows like seal training and parrot show or ride a camel. Children love the summer camps and forest school programs where they can peek behind the scenes and learn at the same time. If you get hungry, eat at the Bamboo Restaurant (Bambusz Etterem) or one of the many buffets. Sosto Zoo won Europe's best zoo award in 2015 and 2018 and part of the World and also the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA and EAZA), taking actively part in the species conservation.
The Polar Region
This area is meant to represent the wildlife of the kingdom of eternal snow and ice - the Arctic and Antarctic region. Here are the enclosures of the Polar bear and the Humboldt penguins, the Reindeers, the European herring gulls, Harbour seals, the Sea Lions and the snowy owl. Don't miss the seal training - every day at 11.30 and 13.00 - where the trainers check the animals health and train them playfully.
FUN FACT: The country's first Harbour seal, Barack was born here in 2011.
The Green Pyramid
The three-storey high Green Pyramid includes an Oceanarium and a Tropical Rainforest presenting the wildlife of Asia and Indonesia. The underground level shows the flora and fauna of the Indian Ocean - sharks, rays, corals and heaps of fish species. Walk through the glass corridor under the 500.000-litre tank while enjoying a relaxing music!
TOP TIP: Time your visit - there're shark feedings twice a week where you can watch these terrific animals consume their breakfast!
The Tropical Rainforest is above the Oceanarium where visitors find themselves in a lush environment with lots of plants and a 10-metre high waterfall. Watch the little tortoises run around and koi fish swimming in the pond and be amazed by the detailed sculptures next to the path. If you feel brave enough, walk through the suspension bridge step into the Cave of Fear! There are interesting reptiles here like Europe's largest Komodo dragon breeding pair, pythons or a Monitor lizard but this is where the Bornean orangutans live as well.
FUN FACT: The country's first Bornean orangutan baby was born here in 2013 just like the first Indian rhino baby - called Csülök - in 2018.
Moving out from the pyramid, you can see the Indian rhinoceroses, Asian elephants, Red panda, Bactrian camels, gibbons, peacocks, pigeons and such rare animals like the Snow and Persian leopards or the Sumatran, Indochinese and white Bengal tigers!
Tarzan's Trail
The wildlife of the African continent and Madagascar are built around Tarzan's trail. Starting with a panoramic walkway, visitors can meet animals from the jungle, savannahs and deserts as well or look into the life of a traditional masai village. See the Western lowland gorilla couple, Baringo giraffes, Zebras and other ungulates, cheetahs, meerkats, lions, Hamadryas baboons, rhinos, pygmy hippos, flamingos, ostriches, not to mention the African elephants and the white lion family with three little white lion cubs!
FUN FACT: The country's first African elephant baby, Jumanjee was born here in 2007.
The Wildlife of Europe
The European flora and fauna is displayed in the furthest end of the zoo with the animals like lynx, a brown bear, deer or the Siberian tiger. There's a farm yard for Hungarian species and domestic animals such as pigs, cows, goats, Hungarian racka sheep or donkeys. Also, see the traditional Hungarian yurt and learn about how our ancestors lived!
World of Andes
The next region is the North American enclosures - this is where the birds of prey live, next to the Arctic wolf, Bison, pumas, racoons and a reconstructed Indian camp. Then there's the South America House where the rainforests are coming to life - from carnivorous plants, bromeliads, elkhorn ferns and cocoa to caimans, snapping turtles, capybaras and tapirs. In the Victoria house visitors can meet with crocodiles and Mississippi alligators, colorful birds and different reptiles mostly from South America. The World of Andes is a separate adventure inside the zoo - walk among the canopy through wooden suspension bridges and see squirrel monkey, white-faced sakis, tamarins, alpacas, llamas and vicugnas from above. Or watch the majestic jaguar pair from the glass corridor - if you're lucky, they'll come really close. Don't miss the exhibition about the South American culture in the stone building either!
Australia
Flora and fauna from the Down Under and New Zealand are represented in this area - cute little Bennett kangaroos and their bulkier relatives the Red kangaroos, the Dingo family and numerous colorful birds like cockatoos, macaws or the Laughing kookaburra. In the Austral House, visitors find exotic plants like eucalyptus and tea tree but the Reptile Nursery is not far from here either, where children can learn more about them.
Good to know
Admission: Tickets are available online or at the entrance for 3900 HUF/adult or 2600 HUF/students, seniors - see more options here.
Opening hours: 9.00-17.00 (can change during the winter months, check it here)
If you want to spend more time here try the zoo's own accommodations, you can choose from three different options - the Hotel Dzsungel, the Ozoon Hotel or the Hotel Pangea!
So this is the Nyiregyhaza Animal Park. We loved the cozy animal territories and residential areas, it was the most unique exhibiting place we've seen! Moreover, there were so many rare and exotic animals in this zoo, we lost count - big cats like the white lion cubs, the 4(!) tiger species, leopards, panthers, cheetahs, pumas, the rare monkeys, the white wolf, the arctic fox and a lot more! Such an incredible collection - and not just a tourist attraction but a clear effort to save these unique species - and this is why we love visiting zoos.
If you too love zoos, here's some other nice ones in Hungary:
Budapest: Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden for a more nostalgic zoo experience and lots of other attractions not just for kids - check out our post about it!
Veszprém: Kittenberger Kálmán Zoo & Botanical Garden for a zoo and a dino park
Budakeszi: Budakeszi Vadaspark for European forest wildlife and natural escape
Szeged: Szeged Zoo for exotic encounters and a natural environment
Hortobágy: Hortobágy Wild Animal Park for ancient wildlife of the Hungarian Puszta
Veresegyház: Veresegyáz Bear Farm for bears, wolves and reindeers
Szada: Szada Szafari Park for a safari feeling and petting animals from your car
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