Photos: Hieronymus Hess, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain Ermell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Wladyslaw Sojka, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo credits
Photos: Hieronymus Hess, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain Ermell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Wladyslaw Sojka, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Switzerland's oldest zoo, since 1874
Your local guide
Livia Suter
View profile
Highlights
- Switzerland's oldest zoo, since 1874
- A century and a half of change
- Enclosures built for animals and visitors alike
- A different side of Basel entirely
- Basel's zoo, explained in real depth
About this tour
This session looks at Switzerland's oldest zoo, open since 1874. You see the entrance and the outdoor paths running between the enclosures, and hear how the collection has changed across a century and a half. It stays on the outdoor paths throughout.
I explain the zoo's long history first, then point out the design choices behind individual enclosures as we pass them. Questions about the animals are welcome at every stop.
This suits anyone interested in the zoo's long history as much as the animals themselves. It also suits families looking for something different from the old town's monuments.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Basel before heading out.
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Zoo Entrance 21 min
You see the entrance to Switzerland's oldest zoo, open since 1874, and I explain how the collection has grown and changed across a century and a half.
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Outdoor Enclosures 21 min
Along the outdoor paths, I point out how the enclosures balance space for the animals with keeping them visible for visitors passing through.
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Your questions 9 min
Time to ask anything about Basel: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 4 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Rösti and St. Alban, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Zurich time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 10 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Basel, showing you Zoo Entrance and Outdoor Enclosures live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet and the link comes with your booking. I trained as a zookeeper here, so I explain the animals in as much depth as anyone wants.
Times shown in Zurich time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Sat 31 Oct · 10 seats left From 21,00 €
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