On Thursday, 6 November 2025, Royal Burgers' Zoo will begin an extensive renovation of the Desert, which is expected to be completed by mid-2026. The world's largest indoor desert is being updated with new animal species and enclosures, as well as a new entrance and exit, among other things. The current Desert Restaurant will be removed, and the route through the American rocky desert will be extended. The Arnhem zoo is offering a sneak peek and sharing a few 'artist's impressions'.
Burgers' Zoo is constructing a new entrance and exit to the Desert right next to the elephant enclosure, making it easier for people to find and visit the Desert. Currently, visitors access the Desert through a subterranean tunnel connecting the Bush to the Desert. They leave the covered American rocky desert near the tiger enclosure in the Rimba.
The Desert Restaurant has been out of use for a while. As such, the Desert Restaurant is being removed to make space for new enclosures and animal species. Among those are several reptile species that are new to Burgers' Zoo, as well as a new 'open top' enclosure.
The expansion will bring new animal species. Among those are several reptile species that are new to Burgers' Zoo.
In addition to new animal species, new enclosures will also be added to the Desert. An open-top enclosure will be built.
Visitors can continue to visit the Desert during the renovation. All animal species will also remain available for viewing. The part of the rocky desert under construction will be shielded with special dust baffles during the construction process.
