Hello, you know, it would be fun to live in a flat, but you can’t keep many animals, where can you fit an alpaca or a donkey? Even though we don’t have children yet, it’s fun to run to any farm on the weekend and pet an animal or at least learn more. It turns out that Lithuania has so many wonderful places where you can get to know various animals, and usually pet and feed them. What could be better? In this article, we will share our impressions after visiting some of these special places. Go on this adventure with me, we really recommend all the places visited if you love animals as much as we do.
Map of animal farms in Lithuania – Come and Pet!
Zooparkas – Trakėnai
Our first stop is Trakėnai Zoopark. From small rabbits to large deer. Here you can not only observe lions, but it is logical that only some of them can be fed and petted. What stuck with us the most were the friendly donkeys and curious goats, who happily munched on everything we could offer. Well, here’s the best thing, you can buy food to feed yourself. Even though it’s only a euro, it’s really easy to immerse yourself in nature and just buy, and buy, and buy. It is a great place for families with children – the little ones will definitely be impressed, but if you decide to stop by anyway, there will be a lot to do. The territory itself is not very big, but there is definitely enough space for many animals and it does not feel like that standard zoo. The animals also seem to be cared for and not abused, with freedom.
Only those big cats… well, I don’t know, somehow donkeys and goats, llamas or cows seem like animals that, well, maybe adapted to be in such conditions. But, tigers or other big cats that are closed in a small cage next to constantly howling goats don’t look good… I don’t know, it’s not really the biggest problem, you just think about how the instincts of such an animal would activate every time it hears the prey nearby, which in nature it would tear in a moment. It’s like giving a big recommendation, but no matter how beautiful those big cats are, that strange feeling remains…
Owl Park – Vilnius
The next stop is Pelėda Park in Vilnius. This is a special place where you can meet these mysterious nocturnal birds. Owls seem to simply radiate wisdom, although it is still debatable whether they really deserve such a title. It’s more educational than a zoo, although you can definitely see animals up close, and not just owls. The park staff is happy to tell about the way of life of owls and their importance to nature. In addition, it shows a lot in practice, even being touched by an owl’s wing can be… a good feeling. You will get a mountain of information and knowledge, a question or even ask for everything, it is highly recommended with small children… Although we were also interested in answering questions, what, will you leave the child now?
It’s so much fun to see how these birds fly or react to commands… but the eagle, although really beautiful, looked rather sad in such a cage. Here is such a thing, with all the owls, information, and general program, I don’t know if this bird is needed here, but here is just our little opinion. The near non-stop laughter of birds fills the whole atmosphere. In general, we highly recommend visiting Owl Park.
Safari Parkas – Anykščiai
Want to feel like you’re in Africa? Then you must visit Anykščiai Safari Park. Here you can drive through the park and observe various wild animals: zebras, llamas, camels and of course donkeys! What I liked the most is that you can travel on a shared tour or simply rent a car and travel at your own pace. and about Africa, when you watch some buffalo through the window and then an ostrich comes out like this – Labs Diens, it’s really fun. And the general concept is even better – the animals walk freely, while you ride locked in a cage. And not everyone is interested in you and your carrots, they’d rather just bask in the sun…
It’s probably already clear that this will be our top recommendation, but even after the whole trip, you can just spend time in the nearby enclosure just hanging out with donkeys, geese, and other animals. You can spend a lot of time and money here, and a cafe nearby provides all-day entertainment.
Pašilių stumbrynas – Panevėžys
We already thought we would not visit Pašilių Stumbryn, which is located near Panevėžys, because there was little information on the Internet about whether it is open or not, whether it is paid or free. But I have good news – everything works and it’s still free. So you can freely see the majestic European bison up close. These animals, once on the verge of extinction, are now protected and cared for. We got there alone, just a few staff hanging around on the side, it was weird how open everything was. Even magnets are sold by the trust system – take it, but put money in it. Well, of course, it’s in the middle of the woods, so probably no one will drop by unexpectedly, but it’s still interesting.
The buffalo are quite numerous and seem to have plenty of space. Although they are not shy of people, I wouldn’t say they are very willing to approach or respond – we didn’t actually bring anything to them to eat, which was our problem, I admit. But you can expect to pet at least one, see young and old bison. There is a lot of information on the information boards, and you can walk to the observation deck, which is deeper in the enclosure. In general, there may not be a lot of activities, so I would suggest looking into excursions – there could be more information only on the Internet.
Dargaičių mažasis zoologijos sodas – Šiauliai
The next stop is the Dargaičiai Small Zoo in Šiauliai. Although the word „small” is in the name, the territory here is really enough, so the animals live comfortably and quite freely. You won’t find big cats in small cages here, which is immediately a big plus. However, pets and some birds are still confined, but everything seems very normal. Another huge plus is that some of the animals have babies – tiny animals are always a source of joy. Little goats are a great source of good mood. While we can’t speak for the animals, we hit the heat there, so some areas would like more cover, but overall it’s not too bad.
Another interesting thing is the kangaroos – I suggest you don’t pass them quickly, because they fight every 10 minutes, as if according to a scheduled agenda. In fact, there were even a few animals putting on a show here – the goats did their dances, the sheep went in circles… In short, it was a lot of fun. You can also buy various gadgets in the shop, such as scarves, hats or other accessories, so overall I really strongly recommend this place!
HBH Žvėrinčius – Klaipėda
Let’s move on: HBH Žvērinčius near Klaipėda is a real entertainment complex. In addition to animal enclosures, here you will find various playgrounds, a mini golf course and, of course, a traditional Lithuanian restaurant. First, we drink a cold beer, taste Lithuanian kaštinas and visit the animals. The animal section really does not disappoint: from cute animals to big and annoying geese. Seriously, those geese, we almost got into a fight with them about four times – it seems I was the only one they didn’t like in the park. But it’s nice that the territory is large and many animals run free and don’t get caught. That they steal food from each other is true, but it’s nice to see such a group of different animals.
A big plus is that you can buy different food to feed the animals, and all that food is kept in the refrigerator. Hallelujah, cucumbers are finally not baked in the sun! Here you will also find toilets, places to wash your hands or wipe your feet. The overall experience is that nothing more is needed. The price is also very reasonable – both for the entrance ticket and for the food. So the seaside gets a strong recommendation.
Lietuvos delfinariumas – Klaipėda
Well, almost before the end we have to visit one of the biggest attractions with animals – the Dolphinarium. We barely managed to arrive, another 15 minutes later and we would have been outside the church gates, as they say. There are only 2 shows a day, and the latest one starts at 3pm, which is quite early, especially with a ferry transfer and a long way to go. It would be more convenient if the time was later, because people who came after us were turned back. It’s understandable though. It’s great that you can watch dolphins through large glasses, drink coffee or grab snacks while waiting for the show. So the ticket price is not so high when you can just relax before the action itself.
When the show starts, it’s really spectacular, with not only dolphins, but also sea lions showing off their skills. The sea lions were the most surprising. Dolphins are graceful and intelligent creatures, everyone knows that, but when a sea lion, similar in body shape to me, jumps and twirls like it’s a feather… it gives me hope. The show is suitable for everyone – both young and old, although it is logically more oriented towards families. The coaches also involve the spectators, so prepare to be splashed with water.
Everything takes about 30-45 minutes. Apart from the performance, a large part is a visual tale about the animals, the seas and how things happen. It’s a fun and informative thing, but the screen is hard to see from some sides, so I’d suggest choosing seats in the middle if you can. We really highly recommend visiting the Dolphinarium at least once.
Lietuvos jūrų muziejus – Klaipėda
And finally, after the dolphinarium, there was only the Klaipėda Maritime Museum left to visit. First, the range of exhibits about the marine world – from aquariums with various fish to historical shipping exhibits – is really wide. Secondly, we didn’t expect so much activity: here you can touch or listen to something in almost every corner, all to better understand deep friends. Whether it’s with children or just being interested in the marine world here, it’s not only fun, but also really good education… I know how strange it is to think about education in a museum, but if you visit where we were, you’ll change your mind. Although there is not much space for fish, we cannot demand everything. By the way, what I liked very much is that almost all the glasses are magnifying. It can be confusing at first, but once you get used to it, it helps you get a closer look at all living things…
The underwater tunnel, although not long and not very varied, is really impressive. A huge catfish swimming slowly past the head is fun to see… Those fish look strange, I can’t lie. We also highly recommend the penguins. Although we didn’t manage to see more of them, we did find one very playful one whose worst enemy was the shadow of our hand. Be sure to check out the program, there are meals and other programs, and the price for all this is not high. It’s now everyone quickly to the museum!
Traveling around Lithuania and visiting its animal parks is not only fun, but also a really great opportunity to learn more about animals and their lives without disturbing them too much. I am very happy that the attitude towards animals is changing, that there are more and more farms or parks where they can walk freely and live a „normal life”. We really support every visited place for what they do and at least a better approach to the animal than keeping it in a cage on concrete… so maybe you can understand why Kaunas Zoo is not on this list, even though after the reconstruction there are rumors that it is a lot better than what was, after all, maybe so close and so, well, authentic.
So the next time you’re planning a weekend getaway, be sure to add these places to your itinerary and support friends big or small. I promise it will be an unforgettable journey with a hundred pats!
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