1 hour from Berlin to Brandenburg’s most species-rich wildlife park: covering 105 hectares, the “Yellowstone of Germany” is home to Europe’s largest land mammals as well as wolves, brown bears, lynxes, and red deer.

When industrialization, digitalization, and hectic everyday life become too much for us, nature calls. Fortunately, there are numerous picturesque places in the immediate vicinity of Berlin for a short escape from the big city – from Germany’s “water city” to Brandenburg’s only untouched beech forest to the region’s most valuable waterways. The list goes on and on: nature in its purest form can be discovered everywhere, bringing us back to peace and relaxation. And where there is nature, there are also animals. They can be observed particularly well in Brandenburg’s most species-rich wildlife park: the Schorfheide Wildlife Park in the Brandenburg district of Groß Schönebeck in the municipality of Schorfheide – in the middle of the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest contiguous forest areas in Germany.

Photo: @wildpark_schorfheide / Instagram

The park was opened in 1996 and covers an area of around 105 hectares. Visitors can walk along around seven kilometers of hiking trails through forests and open enclosures, observing native animal species. The concept of the wildlife park differs from that of a traditional zoo: here, the focus is on animals that used to live or still live in the Brandenburg region. The animals live in large, natural enclosures that offer them plenty of space. As a result, it can take a while to spot some of the animals, which makes a visit feel more like a nature hike.

The most famous animals in the park include wolves, bison, moose, and lynx. Bison are considered particularly spectacular, as they are the largest land mammals in Europe and were almost extinct in the wild for a long time. The park is also home to red deer, fallow deer, wild boars, mouflons, and otters. Przewalski’s wild horses, a rare species of wild horse from Central Asia, can also be seen.

Photo: @rs99_fotografie / Instagram

In addition to wild animals, the wildlife park also keeps old and rare domestic animal breeds, some of which are threatened with extinction. These include, for example, the Pomeranian coarse-wool sheep, the Mangalitza wool pig, and robust cattle breeds and ponies. These animals are part of breeding programs to preserve old livestock breeds. The park also offers various programs for visitors. Animal feedings take place regularly, for example for lynxes or otters, during which visitors can learn more about the animals. In addition, there are guided tours, environmental education programs, and occasional events related to nature and wildlife.

The wildlife park is also a popular destination for families. The grounds feature a large adventure playground, a petting zoo, and picnic areas. A restaurant in the visitor center offers regional food and drinks. The Schorfheide Wildlife Park is located about 60 kilometers north of Berlin and can be reached by car in about an hour. This makes it one of the most popular nature destinations in Brandenburg for visitors from Berlin. Overall, the park combines nature experiences, animal observation, and environmental education, providing insight into the wildlife of the Schorfheide and northeastern Germany.