In Serengeti Park, curious giraffes poke their heads through car windows, while at Heide Park, Germany’s fastest wooden rollercoaster offers a thrilling ride. Whether it’s an animal park with film-trained stars, a go-kart track, world bird park, SnowWorld Bispingen or a house built upside down – there’s never a dull moment in this theme park hotspot.
At northern Germany’s largest theme park, the Heide Park Resort near Soltau, shrieks of excitement are part of the soundscape. Colossos, Germany’s tallest wooden rollercoaster, is visible from far and wide as you approach – and it’s just one of over 40 thrilling attractions at the park.
In Serengeti Park, take your own car on safari and get up close to lions, giraffes and antelopes – a much-loved classic experience not to be missed at the park in Hodenhagen. With speedboat rides, log flumes and rollercoasters, there’s plenty of fun for the whole family too. You can even stay overnight in the park!
In Bispingen, there’s a house that’s completely flipped and children love it. This upside-down house (Das verrückte Haus) appears to defy gravity and no one leaves without snapping a selfie.
At the Ralf Schumacher Kartcentre, motorsport fans can race both indoors and on the outdoor track. Some karts are even fitted with special wet-weather tyres.
Whether it’s pouring rain or 30 degrees outside makes no difference at SnowWorld Bispingen. The 300-metre indoor slope offers skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing fun 365 days a year.
At the Otter Centre (Otter-Zentrum), everything revolves around the shy Eurasian otter. They only emerge from cover at feeding time. Badgers, weasels and mink also live at this nature experience centre near Hankensbüttel.
A true summer treat for all ages: Barefoot Park Egestorf (Barfußpark Egestorf) features 60 different stations. Feel glass marbles, wooden planks and stones underfoot – and don’t miss the mud field!
You can get up close to more native species in the region’s wildlife parks. Wildpark Lüneburger Heide near Hanstedt is home to 140 species, including tigers and bears. At Wildpark Schwarze Berge, in the far north of Lüneburg Heath, you’ll find bison, European wolves, lynx, bears and elk. And Wildpark Müden near Hermannsburg, with its generously sized enclosures and just 200 animals, has a particularly friendly, family feel.
With its striking orange beak, the giant toucan is one of the stars of the World Bird Park Walsrode (Weltvogelpark Walsrode), along with the rainbow-coloured lorikeet – and they’re just two of the 650 bird species living here. The daily penguin and pelican feedings are always a hit, as is the birds of prey flight show.
