Zoo Hluboká

Hluboká Zoo, whose full name is the South Bohemian Zoological Garden Hluboká nad Vltavou, is among the oldest Czech zoos — it opened to the public as early as 1939. It once bore the name Zoo Ohrada and can be found near the picturesque town of Hluboká nad Vltavou in South Bohemia.

This zoo has a clear identity: it specializes primarily in animals of the Palearctic zoogeographic region, meaning mainly species of the European zone, including those living directly in Czechia. Alongside domestic fauna, though, you'll also see plenty of exotic animals, so variety is not in short supply. It is precisely this focus that makes Hluboká a place where children and adults alike get to know animals they might easily overlook elsewhere.

The garden is not just about watching. It actively participates in saving many endangered animal species and is involved in a whole range of national and international breeding programs. Its symbol is the Eurasian otter — a nimble, playful inhabitant of Czech rivers that you can observe here up close. The zoo is a budgetary organization of the South Bohemian region, which makes it a stable, carefully run institution.

Hluboká nad Vltavou is an ideal destination for a full day out — besides the zoo, the surrounding area is known for its peaceful Vltava-river landscape and hiking routes. If you plan a visit, it's worth booking accommodation right in the Hluboká area: in the morning you head to the zoo without unnecessary travel, and in the afternoon there's still time for a walk by the river. Families with children will appreciate that the whole trip can be spent at an unhurried pace, with plenty of room to rest between the various enclosures.