Zoo Prague

Zoo Prague sits on a hillside above the Vltava River in the Troja district, consistently ranked among the world's best zoos and offering serious wildlife photography opportunities without the need for an expensive safari. The naturalistic enclosures give you clean backgrounds in many areas, particularly in the African and Asian sections where rocky terrain and vegetation frame animals well. Shoot early in the morning when the zoo first opens, as animals are most active before crowds arrive and midday light flattens everything. A telephoto lens in the 200-400mm range is ideal for isolating subjects through glass or across open enclosures, while a wide aperture helps you blur fencing and barriers that might otherwise intrude. Gorilla Valley and the large cat exhibits reward patience; arrive and wait rather than moving constantly. Weekdays in spring or autumn give you the best combination of good light, fewer visitors, and active animals. (Prague, Czechia)