Lion Park
Lion Park
2.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
2.5
164 reviews
Excellent
9
Very good
17
Average
46
Poor
34
Terrible
58
Farzad_60
St. Catharines, Canada73 contributions
Apr 2013 • Friends
I do not recommend visiting this place unless you like to see poor lions sitting in very small cages and being very thin, dirty and unhappy. I am sure during Haile Selassie time, the place was a much nicer and better kept location, but those times have passed and it is beter to either close the zoo or try to rehabiltate the place. Also be careful about the young pickpocketers who are roaming around at the zoo.
Written June 13, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cosmic_beancounter
Boston, MA108 contributions
Aug 2010
I visited this Lion Zoo on a rainy saturday morning. It was a little unsettling. They have lots of lions but the exhibit space is a little run down. The lion cages are sort of depressing as they seem very cramped and the animals seemed bored.Some young men where teasing the lions which I did not like. All in all it wasn't terrible. There were some interesting aspects particularly the exhibits other then the lions. They also had some play equipment for children so I think it might have small interest for those traveling with children.
Written July 10, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cellmeso
Montreal, Canada96 contributions
Apr 2014 • Business
6 Lions stuck in small cages, few other animals that will be happier in wildlife. Disappointed about this small zoo in the center of the polluted Addis.
Written May 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Black Lion
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia518 contributions
Sep 2020 • Family
My family and I visited here and expected so much more. There were about 5 types of animals in all, and all of the animals looked like depressed prisoners. I’m not an extremist when it comes to the way animals should be treated, but what I saw was unacceptable. Visitors even heckled some of the animals. The whole experience actually made me sad. And like I said, I’m not the guy who’s going to rescue lobsters from a restaurant fish tank. I’m going to eat them! Lol. But, this zoo was bad.
Also, you can see all of the animals in less than 5 minutes. There’s really nothing else to do. With the right zoo curator, developer, and funding, this place could be so much more. Addis Ababa is a wonderful city. It deserves a better zoo.
Also, you can see all of the animals in less than 5 minutes. There’s really nothing else to do. With the right zoo curator, developer, and funding, this place could be so much more. Addis Ababa is a wonderful city. It deserves a better zoo.
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yusuf
Lincoln, UK35 contributions
Oct 2021 • Family
I blame my hubris. I read the reviews and couldn’t fathom what kind of poor excuse of a zoo would deserve such appalling reviews. I needed to see myself how one of Africa’s largest capitals treated its animals. In short I was disgusted. The lions are kept in small cages with concrete floors. Baboons are isolated in cages around 3x2m and one baboon had clearly lost its mind. A very sad and dirty looking Laa Laa was sat near the Egyptian geese whilst its ‘handlers’ attempted to force visitors to pay for a souvenir photo. I wish this place gets closed down and the animals re-homed.
Written October 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lennart A
Zoetermeer, The Netherlands426 contributions
Aug 2013 • Friends
As an animal lover, i was hoping for the best, but this place is horrible. Apart from the fact that locals pay 2 bir and foreigners pay 20 bir to get in, this place should be closed down and the animals set free instantly. The locals do not seem to know how to treat animals properly; thrash gets thrown in with the animals, the enclosures are too small and dirty and before i get to the lions, the monkeys are stressed and seem totally unhappy; running around in the same circles at all times seems to be a sign of stress and unhappiness, other than that the cages are too small and there is no water or anything to distract them from the locals trying to get there attention by throwing stuff at them. There are some local deer around desperate to eat anything the people give them and they get so close you can pet them. NOT GOOD!
The lions are beautiful but it is a disgrace to see these majestic animals in such small dirty concrete enclosures. They have no way to get any sun and there is no outdoor enclosure for them. The park itself is filled with young couples who seem to find this the place to make out and touch eachother. I was appalled with the state of the enclosures and the way people seem to treat animals here. Yes i know it is the 3rd world and i have been in Africa before, but this place is a disgrace. I hope the animals get rescued or released so, like some Ethiopians i met seem to agree on, they can take revenge on their keepers.
The lions are beautiful but it is a disgrace to see these majestic animals in such small dirty concrete enclosures. They have no way to get any sun and there is no outdoor enclosure for them. The park itself is filled with young couples who seem to find this the place to make out and touch eachother. I was appalled with the state of the enclosures and the way people seem to treat animals here. Yes i know it is the 3rd world and i have been in Africa before, but this place is a disgrace. I hope the animals get rescued or released so, like some Ethiopians i met seem to agree on, they can take revenge on their keepers.
Written August 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travis B
Washington, DC32 contributions
May 2013 • Solo
There are about 8 lions in small cages. The grounds are strewn with garbage. People yell and throw things at the animals. It was one of the saddest sights I have encountered in my global travels. Don't encourage such animal cruelty by purchasing their ticket.
Written June 13, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geezer186338
London, UK14 contributions
Mar 2016 • Business
Close this place down! You can see the distress in these beautiful animals kept in small cages for the amusement of locals. Anyone who enjoys this kind of attraction should be ashamed of themselves.
Written February 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christian B
Cape Town Central, South Africa122 contributions
Dec 2012 • Friends
This are lion species relics, possibly the last Barbary lions, there are no weds to describe this morally and ethically inadmissible incarceration and captive conditions. Shame on you! Get them bigger more dignified and decent premises to stroll or live in what is left of their sorry lives!,
Written April 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kimberly B
1 contribution
Aug 2018 • Solo
Addis Ababa Zoo Park Center is currently renovating and expanding their facilities to include "a playground, animal sculptures, a picnic area, reading and sitting areas, an aquarium and an aviary. Upon completion, it will house 12 species of wildlife including lions, Gelada baboons, monkeys and birds. It is also expected to create job opportunities for 80 people and attract between 2.5 million to three million visitors a year." Visit the Addis Ababa Zoo Facebook page to see this new Zoo Park Center.
Written August 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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