You’re driving your own car, windows down, and just a few meters away, a giraffe leans in curiously through the window. Around the next bend, a herd of bison waits, then zebras, maybe even a lion dozing in the shade. This isn’t a national park in Africa. This is Givskud Zoo, Zootopia, in the town of Give, right in the heart of Jutland.
From a park with only lions to 700 animals
Givskud opened in 1969 as “Løveparken,” a park dedicated to lions alone. Today it spans 120 hectares and combines three things rarely found under one roof: a classic walk-through zoo, a drive-through safari, and Denmark’s largest dinosaur park. More than 700 animals across over 70 species share this space, and nearly a third of them are part of international breeding programs for endangered species. In 2024, the park was named the best attraction in Denmark.
Animals you won’t find at any other zoo in the country
Givskud is the only place in Denmark where you can see gorillas, spectacled bears, and South American giant otters. But the real, unexpected fun is in the details.
Binturong. An Asian animal that looks like a cross between a cat and a bear, with a tail nearly as long as its body. Few people know that binturongs, for reasons science still hasn’t fully explained, smell like fresh buttered popcorn.
Pygmy hippo. Unlike its massive relative, the pygmy hippo weighs just 180 to 275 kilograms and is so rare that it’s considered more endangered than the black rhino, despite being far less famous.
Coati. A South American relative of the raccoon, with a long, flexible snout and a tail it often carries upright like an antenna while it walks.
Barbary macaques. The only primates, besides humans, living freely in the wild on European soil, despite originally coming from North Africa.
Driving through lion territory
The safari part begins as soon as you enter the park. In your own car or on the safari bus, you pass through several zones with alpacas, American bison, antelope, zebras, and giraffes roaming freely in open space. Then comes lion territory, where the big cats walk right up alongside the cars. For the walking section, a network of trails leads to gorillas, elephants, coatis, and giant otters, alongside Europe’s largest Humboldt penguin facility with underwater viewing windows.
A night surrounded by the savannah
For those who want to stay after the gates close, Givskud offers overnight stays in insulated safari tents set right next to the large savannah, each with a private terrace, small kitchen, and bathroom. Falling asleep to giraffes and zebras grazing at dusk, then waking up to the same view, is an experience few zoos in the world can offer. For early risers, there’s also “Wake Up Zoo,” a morning tour before the park opens to other visitors, where you can feed giraffes and rhinos from a platform at eye level, limited to just fifteen people a day. A more affordable option is the Givskud Zoo Hostel, located right across from the main entrance, where a single ticket covers your entire stay.
The exact price of an overnight stay depends on the season and length of stay, so it’s best to check directly on the website before booking.
Plan Your Visit
- Name: Givskud Zoo, Zootopia
- Location: Give, Central Jutland, Denmark
- Recommended visit length: 4 to 6 hours
- Website: givskudzoo.dk
- Instagram: @givskudzoo
- Nearby: about 20 minutes from Vejle, 25 minutes from Billund and Legoland
