On sniffari: visiting the zoo with your dog!

For James, the zoo felt like an adventure park, but without the crazy rides. Everywhere we walked, there were new smells, weird noises, and animals he had never seen before. His nose was working overtime, and his eyes were locked on the giraffes like they were long-lost cousins. The meerkats? No clue what they were, but he was obsessed and could’ve watched them all day. And when we finally came face-to-face with an elephant? Massive, slow-moving… but somehow way less scary than the neighbor’s cat.

One of the best parts? Dogs can enter for free, and there’s no need to book an extra ticket. Of course, they must stay on a leash, because nobody wants to see a dog trying to herd the zebras. Some indoor areas are off-limits for dogs (like the monkey house and elephant barn), but there’s so much to explore outside that we didn’t mind at all.

One thing we loved: water bowls for dogs are scattered all over the park. Super thoughtful, especially if you’re bringing a curious sniffer who wants to explore every corner. And the zoo itself? Super spacious, lots of green areas and winding paths, ideal for a long walk while spotting animals.

We wrapped uo the day with pancakes for us (because why not?) and a well-deserved treat for James at the nearby pancake place, De Kabouterhut.

So if you’re looking for a fun and unusual day out with your dog, with endless sniffing opportunities, put DierenPark Amersfoort on your list. We had such a good time! And James? He’s probably still dreaming about giraffes and meerkats.