The Bursa Zoo (hayvanat bahçesi) is a nice little animal park located in Bursa’s Soğanlı neighborhood next to Bursa’s spacious Botanik Park. Situated on 20 hectares of tree-shaded green space, the zoo houses 700 animals representing nearly 100 species from all over the world. Though the park boasts a large number of animals endemic to Turkey, the zoo’s prized feature is the excellent African savannah habitat, where giraffes, zebras, ostriches, and storks freely roam on the large grassy range. Surrounding the savannah, other African animal exhibits include lions, baboons, small mammals, and birds. In addition to the Africa exhibits, other exceptional features include the waterfowl habitats, a children’s zoo, and a reproduction traditional Turkish village.

The Bursa Zoo opened in its current location in 1998. With a rehabilitation clinic, research and education programs, and well-planned natural habitats, Bursa Zoo seeks to become a world-class zoological center in line with European standards.

The small but lovely Bursa Zoo is a nice place to spend a fun and relaxing afternoon with the kids. The zoo is interesting, easy to navigate, and nicely curated. Here are a few photos from a recent visit to the Bursa Zoo on a crisp autumn afternoon.

Notes on the Bursa Zoo

• As of this writing, zoo entrance fees are 3.50 TL for adults and 2.50 TL for children/students.
• The zoo is open every day. Hours vary by season: June-August 09:30-20:30; September-October 09:30-19:00; November-March 09:30-17:00; April-May 09:30-19:00.
• The zoo is located in the Soğanlı area of Bursa. You can easily get there by taxi. From the city center, buses 35-A, 15, and 15-E take you to the zoo. Minibuses (dolmuş) often run from Kent Meydanı to Soğanlı. From the city bus terminal, buses 93, 95, 95-A, and 43-H run near the zoo.
• If you’d like to make a full day out of your trip to the zoo, include a visit to the adjacent Botanik Park. At Botanik Park, you and your family can walk through the gardens, enjoy the playgrounds, rent bicycles, and have a picnic.