Lower Oder Valley,  © Christiane Funk

Three optional excursions will take place on Thursday, 17 September and Friday, 18 September.

• Guided tour ”Bats in the Tiergarten – an evening tour during the mating season”, the central park of Berlin with the potential for spotting bats in an urban setting (Thursday, evening)

When dusk falls in Berlin, a hidden nightlife begins. In September, it is still mating season for bats: greater noctules can be heard calling from tree hollows, common and Nathusius' pipistrelles are out on their mating flights, and the parti-coloured bat is also courting on buildings in the city. The Tiergarten is home to numerous bat species, and with a bit of luck, their mating and echolocation calls can be made audible using detectors.

• Zoological Garden Berlin (Friday, late morning)

Join the guided tour through the Zoological Garden Berlin. Opened in 1844 it is renowned for its large, iconic animal enclosures and its diverse collection of animals. The zoo is home to several representatives from almost every group of mammals – including the only giant pandas in Germany. It took part in the founding meeting of the DGS and offers this special tour to celebrate the 100-year anniversary. 

• Excursion to the Lower Oder Valley National Park (Friday, full day, waiting list)

We warmly invite you to a varied full-day excursion to the unique Lower Oder Valley National Park, located around 100 kilometers northeast of Berlin. Discover a fascinating floodplain landscape and gain exciting insights into nature, wildlife, and conservation.

Together with the park rangers, we will take part in a guided walk through the polder landscape and check the installed wildlife cameras. Afterwards, we will visit the National Park Center in Criewen, where we will receive an informative introduction to the special features of the park in the historic setting of Criewen Castle.

A special highlight of the day is the onward trip to Friedrichsthal via the new wilderness polder, where water buffalo live. At the end of the excursion, we will return together to Berlin. 

To maximize time for the excursion, catering is provided throughout the day: to-go snacks on arrival, a lunch snack ('soup pot'), and cake at the castle reception.

The catering fee is €20 per person (excluding drinks at lunch). Payment is in cash on site.

Tierpark & Zoological Garden Berlin,  © Tierpark & Zoological Garden Berlin