Guest writer: Anna Nilsson Spets
I search the archives of my memory and wonder when I was last at Kolmården, could it have been 30 years ago? Or 40? I don't really remember, but here we are; me, my son and my two granddaughters.
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ShareWell, I'm not a lover of animals in captivity but I do love my grandchildren and a trip to Kolmården was on the agenda during my last visit to Sweden in June.
The wallet was filled for a full day, we go to the pay car park early and check in to the park, pick up a winch for 75 bucks and the adventure can begin.
The hill up to the park is long and steep, we are panting and struggling with the heavy and unwieldy ratchet. And yes, there is an escalator for those without skids.
We end up directly at the home of Bamse and his friends who offer all kinds of rides in the form of spinning honey jars and aeroplanes. The queues in the morning are decent, the climax was in the afternoon with more exhausted children and their even more exhausted parents, hot as in a baking oven it was also.
We move on into Asia, not a single animal to be seen, they're probably huddled in the shade on this hot day.
The first animal to show up is the squirrel, which is looking for edibles in the rubbish bins of the wok.
Lunch is taken right there, it is supposed to be wok in Asia, it is served on disposable plates with wobbly cutlery and tastes like fast food.
The tigers appear in front of the glass panes, take a turn and move back into the shadows.
In Australia we visit the kapybaras who also don't do much in the heat, looks nice to be kapybaras.
His son Erik wants to go on a roller coaster, Wildfire has been named the best wooden coaster in Europe with a maximum speed of 115 km/hour. The queue is quite long and Erik comes back white in the face ...
The seals put on a show and we sit down to watch them do tricks on command - what's not to like about a fish? We learn about the life and behaviour of the seals and it is quite educational and interesting.
The biggest attraction is of course Hope, the dolphin show. From what I understand, it should have been closed but difficulties in selling the dolphins meant that it remained open. The queues are long, we have bought a guaranteed seat and can go in our own fast queue, recommended.
The lights in the hallway are dimmed, a big screen shows images of the Earth and a powerful speaker voice admonishes us to take care of our planet.
The show ... well I can only say that the audience and my grandchildren enjoyed it, 8 dolphins jumping, splashing the audience, being ridden in a well synchronised display.
My heart cries, dolphins should be in the wild, not in a pool.
Around the dolphin house there are all kinds of pubs, there is an incredible amount to choose from, we each choose a large ball ice cream that is consumed on a stone in the shade.
We pull the cart on towards Africa and its primates, who are mostly chilling, the gorillas have plenty of room and that makes me a little happier. The chimpanzees throw themselves between the lianas and amuse the spectators.
Opposite the monkeys are the gift shops with all their knick-knacks in the form of cuddly toys, mugs, fridge magnets and anything else you can buy to remember your zoo day. Alice and Elsa each choose a chimpanzee, Grandma pays.
Coffee is taken with a view of the savannah, we see giraffes and zebras. The coffee tastes good and the bread is not too plastic.
The safari track ... Of course we were going to ride it. The queue took 15 minutes even though it was quite fast.
Seeing everything from above is exciting, although the grandchildren found it a bit scary. The gondola glides over the different continents with a maximum height of 20 metres. We see moose, lions and giraffes. The trip takes 29 minutes and is actually worth doing.
A splendid view of Bråviken.
The grandchildren are getting tired and after a full day in the park, we head for the exit and further into the Tropicarium, which is apparently not the same company as the park itself, read the new entrance fee of 180 bucks per adult.
The Tropicarium is exciting for both adults and children, lots to see and discover. Scary hairy spiders and big snakes, we found Nemo and met real Skalmans. Outdoors there are ringtail lemurs that are curious and within an arm's reach.
At the end of the day, the grandchildren fall asleep in the car and grandma and dad take a breather.
Kolmården is huge, if you really want to see EVERYTHING and do EVERYTHING, I recommend two days. A map of the area is good even if it is signposted.
There are several tours to see: birds of prey, meerkats, tigers etc., some tours are included in the entrance ticket, others are booked separately. Private tours can be booked for those who want a little extra.
All in all, it was a successful day, empty wallet but happy grandchildren.
Visiting Kolmården
You reserve your visit to Kolmården in advance. The rides are included in your admission ticket, as well as some tours and the dolphin show.
cost
- Adult entrance ticket: SEK 579 (2023)
- Entrance ticket children 3-12 years old: SEK 479 (2023)
- Parking: 129 SEK per day (2023)
- Hire of a wheelchair: 75 bucks (2023)
Is it worth it?
- YES : From a child's point of view, yes, there are a lot of activities and attractions. The animals seem healthy and have plenty of space.
- NO: Expensive, long queues at some attractions and times. For those with a smaller budget, bring a packed lunch and your own trolley.
Accommodation
Nothing we used as we stayed with good friends, but there are various accommodation packages and other options in the neighbourhood.
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