| Situated at the very center of the city, the Belgrade Zoo, or the Good Hope Garden, stands on one of the most attractive city locations - the Kalemegdan park. It was founded in 1936 and it is one of the oldest homes of animal kingdom in Europe.
Its founder and creator was the then Mayor of Belgrade, the well-known industrialist and big benefactor, Mr. Vlada Ilić. The project of the zoo from 1936 was done as per the idea of the engineer Aleksandar Krstić, well-known for having projected a series of Belgrade parks. He was also the first director of the Belgrade zoo.
It covers an area of 6 ha, and has over 2,000 animals of 200 species, and beside wild animals it abounds in domestic animals too. Its present beautiful look is contributed by many built facilities, infrastructure, new drinking-fountains, Wooden Sculpture Gallery, nursery for young animals - "Baby Zoo", etc.
From its establishment until today, the Belgrade zoo has passed through different phases, it was dependent from historical circumstances, the concern and devotion of the city government, readiness and capabillity of individuals which were leading this institute... It was bombed twice during the Second World War and destroyed in a great measure, after which it eked out a bare existence for many years, only partially enabled for functioning, equipped with a scarce fund of animals and maintained with very modest means.
From 1986, as per the idea and under the leadership of the until now without doubt most go-ahead director Mr. Vuk Bojović, and with the help of numerous volunteers and donors, institutions and individuals, the zoo is gradually rebuilt and, finally, in the recent times, it is experiencing a complete rennaissance, in all as per the European and world standards which are valid for institutes of this sort. At that, the initially conceived look of the zoo and the construction of the existing object was considered the whole time.
Working hours for visitors:
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM in winter period
08:00 AM - 08:30 PM in summer period |