Givskud Zoo

Givskud opened in 1969 as a lion park and grew into a safari zoo of about a hundred and twenty hectares, where visitors drive their own cars through large open enclosures holding lions, giraffes, zebras, antelope, rhinoceros, camels and elephants, with a walking section for the rest. Its most significant group is the gorillas: Givskud has kept and bred western lowland gorillas since the 1970s and holds one of the larger collections in Europe, in a substantial house and outdoor enclosure. There is also a dinosaur park with life-sized models along a woodland trail, which is aimed at younger visitors. The drive-through sections are done in your own vehicle at low speed, or on a park bus.

What you actually see

• Drive-through enclosures - lions, giraffes and antelope from your own car.
• The gorilla group - one of the larger European collections.
• Elephants and rhinoceros - on open ground in large paddocks.
• The dinosaur trail - life-sized models through woodland.

When to go

May to September; the park closes or runs limited days in winter. A full day. Danish school holidays are busiest. Animals are most active in the cooler parts of the day, so arrive early.

Honest expectations

A car is effectively required and convertibles and soft tops are not allowed in the predator sections. Animals may be distant or out of sight, particularly in hot weather. Ticket prices are high. The dinosaur park is a separate area and aimed squarely at children.

Nearby

Legoland is at Billund to the west; Vejle lies south-east.