Tier- und Freizeitpark Thüle

Tier- und Freizeitpark Thüle is a combined zoo and amusement park located in Thüle, near Friesoythe in Lower Saxony, Germany, within the recreation area of the Thülsfelder Talsperre reservoir. It is one of northern Germany's family-oriented leisure destinations, aimed primarily at families with children. The park covers 17 hectares after an expansion and presents itself as three distinct worlds: a zoo with animals from around the world, an amusement park with rides and family attractions, and Njordland, a large Viking-themed adventure playground for climbing and exploring. The park traces its origins to 1965, when Theodor and Elisabeth Grothaus began keeping roe deer, red deer, pheasants, peafowl and wild boar as a hobby on their farm in Thüle. As the number of wild animals grew, the family decided to use agricultural land away from the farmstead to house them, which became the birth of today's animal and leisure park. Over the decades the site developed into a full zoo and amusement park, and an expansion brought the total area to 17 hectares. According to the park's own presentation, visitors can find more than 30 attractions, 36 leisure attractions in one count, and almost 1,000 animals from around the world. The zoo section displays 156 animal species, including lions, tigers and camels, alongside a notable collection of callitrichid monkeys (marmosets and tamarins) with 11 different species. The Madagascar House tropical hall, kept at 23 °C and 60% humidity, houses tropical species such as Madagascar giant day geckos, great day geckos, the southern Madagascar boa and the fossa. Other notable animals include the Transvaal lion, the Ussuri brown bear and Asian small-clawed otters. The amusement side features roller coasters, a Lost World area, a large water slide complex and the Viking village Njordland. The park operates seasonally, with opening days that can change; the official website advises visitors to check current opening days before planning a trip. Season tickets can be ordered or renewed online. The park is privately operated and is not part of a larger listed corporate group.

The history of Tier- und Freizeitpark Thüle begins in 1965, when Theodor and Elisabeth Grothaus started a purely hobby-based keeping of roe deer, red deer, pheasants, peafowl and wild boar on their farm in Thüle. Over time the number of wild animals on the farmstead grew steadily, prompting the family to use an agricultural area located away from the farm to accommodate the animals. This decision marked the birth of what would become today's animal and leisure park. From these beginnings the site developed into a zoo and, later, a leisure park aimed at families with children. The park is situated in the recreation area of the Thülsfelder Talsperre reservoir near Friesoythe in Lower Saxony, in the Oldenburger Münsterland region. An expansion increased the park's area to 17 hectares. In its developed form the park combines a zoo displaying 156 animal species from around the world with various rides and play equipment. The animal collection includes a broad range of birds such as giant toucans, greater flamingos, red-faced hornbills, silver-cheeked hornbills and parrots including red-browed amazons, Bechstein's parrots and scarlet macaws. Mammals on display include Barbary sheep, axis deer, blesbok and Formosan muntjac. A particularly notable feature is the extensive collection of callitrichid monkeys, with 11 different species. The Madagascar House tropical hall, maintained at 23 °C and 60% humidity, exhibits tropical inhabitants including Madagascar giant day geckos, great day geckos and the southern Madagascar boa, as well as the fossa, a carnivore endemic to Madagascar. Other animals include the Transvaal lion from the savannas of South Africa, the Ussuri brown bear from the forests of the Ussuri region in East Asia, and Asian small-clawed otters, whose range extends from India to the southern Philippines. The leisure side of the park has featured roller coasters, including former coasters that have since been removed, and today includes attractions such as a Lost World area, a large water slide complex and the Viking village Njordland. The park presents itself as three worlds — zoo, amusement park and Njordland — and markets itself with the slogan 'Erleb was Wildes!' (Experience something wild!). It operates seasonally, and the official website notes that opening days changed as of 31 August 2026, advising visitors to check current opening days before their visit. Season tickets can be ordered or renewed online.

• 2026

  Opening days change as of 31 August 2026, with the official website advising visitors to check current opening days.

• 1965

  Theodor and Elisabeth Grothaus begin hobby keeping of roe deer, red deer, pheasants, peafowl and wild boar on their farm in Thüle, the origin of the park.

• The family moves the growing animal collection to agricultural land away from the farmstead, marking the birth of the animal and leisure park.

• An expansion increases the park's area to 17 hectares.

Family-oriented combined zoo and amusement park in northern Germany, offering nature, action and wildlife in one destination.

• Zoo with 156 animal species

• Amusement park with rides and roller coasters

• Njordland Viking-themed adventure playground

• Madagascar House tropical hall

• Large water slide complex

• Lost World area

• Season tickets

1. 1Tier und Freizeitpark Thüle – Erleb was Wildes!tier-freizeitpark.de
2. 2Tier- und Freizeitpark Thüle – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Tier- und Freizeitpark Thüle – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org