Leipzig Zoo is one of the most visited attractions in the city and among the best zoos in Germany. Its strongest feature is Pongoland, a purpose-built research and viewing facility for the four great ape species — chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orang-utans — built in partnership with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. The enclosures are designed to allow natural behaviour and the viewing areas bring you closer to the animals than most zoos manage.
The rest of the zoo covers the usual range of species with notably good big-cat and giraffe sections. Gondwanaland is a large tropical hall — essentially a glass-enclosed rainforest with free-flying birds, tapirs, and a boat ride through the vegetation. The zoo is a serious day out and tends to run over. Entrance fees are substantial but the quality justifies them.