Visiting Gembiraloka Zoo Yogyakarta

Gembiraloka Zoo

The zoo well known as Gembiraloka is the only zoo in Yogyakarta. Although it is a zoo, Gembiraloka is still categorized as a museum included in category of zoologicum museum or fauna museum and special museum. Seen from the historical perspective, Gembiraloka is  the second oldest museum in Yogyakarta after Sonobudoyo Museum.

In 1933, the idea of the development of the zoo around Gajah Wong River emerged from the King of Mataram, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII. The Sultan wanted a tourism or entertainment area for the people in the form of botanical garden (kebun rojo). Then, Sri Sultan consulted this idea to an Austrian architect named Kohler. Nevertheless, the establishment of this zoo just could be realized by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX and Ir. Karsten (an engineer) in 1953. Still in the same year, on November 10th, 1953, Gembiraloka Zoo, which was managed by Gembiraloka Foundation, was officially opened by the Sultan himself. At that time, this foundation was led by Sri Paduka Paku Alam VIII.

Elephant Attraction

In the development, due to many managerial reasons, the Gembiraloka Zoo has changed its manager for several times. Although it has experienced many difficult situations   this zoo still becomes one of the main tourism objects in Yogyakarta. The data from Tourism Agency of Special Region of Yogyakarta for the last five years shows that the number of visitors to Gembiraloka in every year is more than to the Museum and Monument of Jogja Kembali. The quantity of the visitors in Gembiraloka can only be compared by the visitors of Yogyakarta Palace and Malioboro area.

Unlike other zoos in general that only show “ordinary” or rare fauna for display in the iron bars cage or wooden fence, Gembiraloka also presents dried preservation of some animals in a special room similar to a museum. The museum presenting this preservation animals is located in the side of the artificial lake in the zoo area. In 2007, Gembiraloka built not only the particular building for the preservation, but also a natural laboratory for flora and fauna as a studying media for people, especially for children. In this place, the visitors can enjoy various kinds of insects, vertebrate or invertebrate.

The zoo area which has been more than a half century is facilitated by a beautiful park,  decorated by various kinds of big and shady old trees, and beautiful flowers. As an arboetorium, Gembiraloka provides an observation area for forest plantation and the seedbed area which grow naturally. These various kinds of plants are not well-managed to show the “natural” atmosphere like other zoos in general.

Penguin Jascas

Besides getting real knowledge about various kinds of fauna and flora in the zoo, the tourists who take their children are also provided by tour boats look like a swan that is rowed (usually called genjot bebek). For the visitors that have not been ridden an elephant, the Gembiraloka Manager provides a special recreational facility, such as traveling around the zoo by tame elephants. Moreover, a children playground and an artificial cave are also provided as the supporting accessories of the zoo.

Gembiraloka Zoo Location

The address of Gembiraloka is in Kusumanegara Street, Yogyakarta City, Yogyakarta Special Region Province. This zoo is about four kilometers from Giwangan Terminal, Yogyakarta. If the tourists are from the downtown, Malioboro or the Yogyakarta Palace, the distance is about six kilometers. 

This zoo is opened everyday for public from 8 A.M. until 5 P.M. The visitors can use any kinds of public transportations in Yogyakarta to reach this tourism object. They can go by becak (pedicab), andong (four-wheeled carriage drawn by one or more horses), city bus, Trans Jogja bus, and also taxi. If the tourists choose becak or andong, they have to make sure that they are not too far from the zoo because the cost will be more expensive. If the tourists want to use a bus, chose number 9 or 7 which costs IDR 2.000,00. If the visitors choose a Trans Jogja bus, they may come to a Trans Jogja bus station and go with the bus route 1B. This route will stop in the station nearby Gembiraloka Zoo. The cost of Trans Jogja bus is IDR 3.000,00.

The ticket cost is still in confirmation. However, there are two kinds of ticket costs that are valid in this zoo. The first ticket is the personal ticket and the second ticket is the group ticket (more than twenty people). The lines of the shops that sell souvenirs, children toys, food, and beverages, can be found around the parking area. This zoo also has a large parking area for big busses, cars, and motorcycles. Besides, the rest rooms and musholla (small building for the Moslems to pray) become other facilities in this tourism object.