At these wild stays, the animal kingdom isn’t just nearby—it’s right outside your window. Imagine sipping your morning coffee as a giraffe pokes its head in for a snack, watching polar bears glide past your room, or falling asleep to the hum of the jungle. From Kenya to Belgium to the heart of Australia, these exotic zoo hotels blur the line between luxury lodging and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters.
Jamala Wildlife Lodge – Canberra, Australia
Stay in the heart of the National Zoo & Aquarium at Jamala Wildlife Lodge in Canberra, Australia, where your neighbors include cheetahs, lions, and giraffes just outside your window! The Giraffe Treehouses will give you the chance to hand-feed a friendly giraffe from your balcony or window, while the Jungle Bungalows put you nose-to-nose with big cats through massive viewing windows.
For a truly wild experience, book the uShaka Lodge, where a private shark tank is built right into the living room. Feeling extra adventurous? Book the Reef Room to fall asleep with an ocean aquarium on one side and a hyena enclosure on the other! During your stay in this African-themed lodge, you can swim in the pool, indulge in a spa treatment, and enjoy the serenity of the private gardens.
Beyond the luxurious accommodations, indulge in a four-course gourmet dinner and enjoy dishes like wild mushroom risotto and macadamia-crusted snapper while watching lions and hyenas just inches away. Other experiences include after-dark zoo tours, rhino encounters, and even an “African safari” experience. Every stay helps support the zoo’s conservation efforts, making this an unforgettable adventure with a purpose.
Pairi Daiza Resort – Brugelette, Belgium
At Pairi Daiza, one of Europe’s top-rated zoos, you don’t just visit the animals—you live among them at the onsite resort. Sleep near Arctic wolves in the Full Moon Lodge, watch black bears roam outside your window at The Native House, or get a mesmerizing underwater view of walruses from The Walrus House.
Your stay includes a daily American breakfast buffet and unlimited access to the zoo, home to over 7,500 animals and 800 protected species from five continents. Wander through an ancient Chinese temple to see giant pandas, step into an Arctic tundra alongside polar bears and Siberian tigers, or admire snow leopards and the most extensive Chinese garden in Europe.
Even the architecture is immersive—visit the Cambron-sur-Mer Castle, a 19th-century neo-Gothic mansion housing an aquarium with underwater tunnels and interactive touch pools. For an even deeper dive, shadow an animal caregiver for the day and go behind the scenes.
After a day of adventure, unwind at Le Mökki, a Nordic-inspired restaurant offering a three-course meal with dishes like wild mushroom lasagna, duck breast, and coconut meringue—best enjoyed with a cold cocktail in hand.
Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo – Pembrokeshire, Wales
Wake up to giraffes strolling past your window or rhinos lounging just outside your deck at Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo in Wales. With a mix of zoo-themed, fairground-themed, and farm-style lodges, there’s a stay for every kind of animal lover. Book the Kifaru View Lodge for the best vantage point of the rhino enclosure, or go glamping in the Twiga Safari Tent, a giraffe-themed retreat with an ensuite bathroom and smart TV. Prefer something a little cozier? The Balwen Lodge offers a charming, sheep-inspired escape with warm, rustic decor.
This award-winning zoo is home to over 100 species, including the only giraffes in Wales. Step into the Asian Adventure Zone to meet red pandas, pink-backed pelicans, and Asian wild dogs. Inside the tropical house, check out sloths, crocodiles, and cotton-top tamarins, the world’s smallest primates.
Beyond the zoo, ride the Ferris wheel at the vintage fairground, visit the Jolly Barn to milk cows and feed baby goats, or spin on one of 18 historic fairground rides while listening to one of the UK’s best-preserved Wurlitzer organs.
Giraffe Manor – Nairobi, Kenya
A stay at the all-inclusive Giraffe Manor is straight out of a storybook. This 1930s ivy-covered estate is home to a herd of endangered Rothschild giraffes, who love to greet guests—especially at breakfast and afternoon tea, when they poke their heads through the windows looking for treats.
The manor’s 12 rooms are filled with antique furnishings, four-poster beds, and elegant giraffe-themed décor. Between feedings, get a massage and relax in the steam room, take a dip in the outdoor pool, or enjoy a candlelit dinner in the Orchid House, surrounded by 150 fragrant orchids.
For the ultimate adventure, visit the nearby Giraffe Centre, where you can learn more about conservation efforts for these gentle giants, or book a tour of Nairobi National Park, where you might spot lions, zebras, and rhinos roaming free.
Givskud Zoo Zootopia– Givskud, Denmark
Get a taste of an African safari in Denmark at Givskud Zoo Zootopia. Choose from family-friendly hostel rooms with private bathrooms or glamping safari tents, where you can watch wildebeest roam from your campsite.
Your stay includes discounted admission to the park and a breakfast buffet featuring locally sourced breads, cheeses, jams, fruits, and vegetables. Explore the three themed zoo areas—see penguins and spider monkeys in the Asian section, wander through Africa to spot zebras, pygmy hippos, and gorillas, or take a drive-through safari to encounter lions, bison, and rhinos up close. This zoo is home to the largest enclosures for spectacled bears and penguins in Europe!
Don’t miss Denmark’s largest dinosaur park, where life-sized T-Rex and triceratops models transport you back 50 million years – you can even dig for bones and hunt for shark teeth. In the evening, gather around the campfire, toast marshmallows, and listen to the distant roars of lions before drifting off to sleep under the stars.
