XII Months Zoo. Open 365 days a year in the open air – a rhino, giraffes and over 200 animals near Kyiv

White lions at the XII Months zoo
A fairy-tale style building at the XII Months zoo
A macaw and a leopard at the XII Months zoo
A white lioness at the XII Months zoo
Brown bears at the XII Months zoo
Visitors in a covered gallery at the XII Months zoo
Giraffes at the XII Months zoo
White lions at the XII Months zooA fairy-tale style building at the XII Months zooA macaw and a leopard at the XII Months zooA white lioness at the XII Months zooBrown bears at the XII Months zoo

A private zoo near Kyiv where more than 200 animals live in the open air among a lake, a castle and greenery. It is open all year with no days off, including public holidays. Here you can hand-feed a giraffe or a rhino, and kids can enjoy playgrounds and a petting area with goats, mini pigs and ponies.

Why visit

  • Archibald, the only white rhino in Ukraine, lets you feed him watermelon right from your hand.
  • The giraffe family – Mykola Stepanovych, Mari and Vito – come up to visitors and take treats right from their palms.
  • The orangutans Yosia and Mahda build themselves a nest of branches every evening, just like in the real jungle.
  • More than 200 animals of almost a hundred species live on 16 hectares among a lake, a castle and greenery.
  • The park is open every day, 365 days a year, whatever the weather, season or holiday.
  • In summer a pool with a jacuzzi and a waterfall opens, plus a separate pool for little ones.

Good to know

The box office closes an hour before closing
In summer (April 1 – October 31) the grounds are open 10:00–19:00, box office until 18:00. In winter (November 1 – March 31) the grounds are open 10:00–18:00, box office until 17:00.
Admission for children
Children under 3 get in free. For a child ticket (ages 3–6 or under 120 cm), you may be asked at the entrance for a document confirming age.
Discount for defenders
Combat veterans get a discount on admission.
Seasonal pool
From June 1, a pool with a jacuzzi and a waterfall for adults and a separate children’s pool are open on the grounds.
Parking
There is free parking for visitors in front of the park entrance.

The XII Months Zoo (also known as the Happy Animals Park) is in the village of Demydiv in Vyshhorod Raion, about a 30–40-minute drive from Kyiv. It is the first private zoo in Ukraine open all year round with no days off – hence the name. Its 16 hectares combine animal enclosures, an artificial lake with flamingos, a Neo-Romanesque castle and several children’s play areas. Its residents include a family of giraffes headed by Mykola Stepanovych, Archibald – the only white rhino in Ukraine – the orangutans Yosia and Mahda, Bobby the capybara and a hippo. Most of the animals can be fed with special feed sold on site, and you can hand-feed a giraffe or the rhino under the supervision of park staff. In summer the park opens a pool with a jacuzzi and a waterfall for adults and a separate shallow pool for kids. The castle has a Bavarian restaurant, and nearby there is a food court and an area where you can cook your own food on a grill. In spring 2022 the park found itself in the combat zone, but it has since reopened to visitors.