Eram Zoo is a nostalgic Tehran classic — a compact wildlife park beside a lake and an old-school amusement park that still draws families.
Tehran’s wide variety of sights gives you plenty of choice. On weekends especially, the city’s many attractions offer numerous options for fun and relaxation. The Eram leisure complex — home to an amusement park and Eram Zoo — is one of the city’s best-loved attractions and has created happy memories for Tehranis from past to present. In this piece from Alibaba Travel Magazine we’ll visit the zoo and learn a little about its history and different sections. So travel with us to get to know this destination.
Eram Zoo is one of Tehran’s attractions, located inside the green Eram leisure complex. The earliest signs of a zoo in Iran — often referred to as Tehran Zoo — go back to the Qajar era.
Everything began when Iranians became acquainted with European-style zoos during their travels. The first Iranian zoo was called “Majma‘-ol-Vahsh.” It was founded during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah and was then located where today’s Takhti (Saadi) Street lies.
But founding Tehran’s zoo in the style of Naser al-Din Shah, with only a few caged animals at Majma‘-ol-Vahsh, did not end the story. The shah’s later journeys to Europe and his emulation of what he saw there increased public fascination with animals and zoos.
The serious push to establish Eram Zoo came in the 1970s thanks to Rahim Ali Khorram, and in 1974 Park Eram — known then as Khorram Park — opened. After the revolution, in 1990 the zoo was added to the leisure complex.
Today the zoo covers roughly five hectares. The Eram green leisure and sports complex, with its exciting playland, extensive zoo, Eram Lake and more, operates on the Tehran–Karaj Highway near Ekbatan Metro Station.
Eram Zoo, Tehran, boasts a notable diversity of animals. Its collection includes mammals, reptiles, aquatic species and birds. To better describe what the zoo houses, know that it accommodates a variety of reptiles, birds, domestic animals and wildlife.
In addition to native species, you can also see animals from other parts of the world, such as Africa. The keeping conditions for most of these animals are suited to Eram’s climate.
Notable residents include maral (Iranian red deer), African lions, Iranian lions, Persian fallow deer, European roe deer, the Iranian leopard, Bactrian camels (two-humped), zebras, horses, kangaroos, giraffes, Bengal tigers (listed as “Bengal tiger, Iranian”), Siberian tigers, rhesus macaques, baboons, chimpanzees, Sri Lankan elephants, squirrels, hyenas, wolves, foxes, and the Gilan brown bear — among other impressive and even rare species living in Eram Park Zoo.
From the reptiles collection you can see animals such as short-snouted crocodiles, pythons and turtles. Among the birds are Egyptian vultures, eagles, peacocks, starling species, pelicans and cranes — species suited to Eram’s geographical and climatic conditions.
Beyond the pleasure of meeting different animal species, Eram Zoo provides additional recreational facilities for visitors, which we briefly introduce below.
The Traditional Restaurant and the Island Restaurant are tasty attractions for spending time in Eram’s amusement park and zoo. The Island Restaurant is located in the amusement-park area of the Eram complex and serves guests outdoors.
While the menu offers variety, do not expect extremely high-end cuisine; the food quality is broadly satisfactory.
Food stalls are placed around the leisure complex for visitors’ convenience, offering snacks and simple drinks.
There are several cafés in the amusement-park and zoo area where you can enjoy hot and cold drinks, cakes and desserts. Island Café is one example; alongside its food menu it also serves a café selection.
Eram provides a grocery/food shop or shops so visitors can buy various supplies while they enjoy the park and zoo.
A prayer room is available as one of the site’s welfare facilities so visitors can perform religious duties.
The zoo runs educational workshops such as astronomy sessions and fire-safety training. Thus, alongside entertainment and creating joyful moments, the complex also offers educational value.
Eram Lake is one of the leisure complex’s treasures: a large, beautiful area for Tehran visitors. In addition to boating, fishing enthusiasts can enjoy a pleasant day by the lake.
Eram Amusement Park lies about one kilometre northwest of Eram Zoo and is one of the capital’s older, well-known amusement parks. It is a source of nostalgia for many Tehranis who spent childhood weekends there with family picnics in the green park and rides that left lasting memories.
The park offers many rides. Besides thrilling mechanical attractions, you can find video and mind-game arcades. A notable feature is an indoor complex called the Magic Castle, which completes the leisure offering.
Eram Amusement Park, Eram Lake, telecabin rides and lakeside fishing are other recreational highlights. The complex includes restaurants, cafés, toilets, parking and other welfare facilities.
Adjacent to the zoo is the open-air Eram swimming pool, a summer highlight. Tehran’s hot summers become much more enjoyable with a visit to the Eram pool.
In the first half of the year: daily from 08:00 to 22:00.
In the second half of the year: daily from 08:00 to 17:00.
Address: km 4, Tehran–Karaj Highway, after Shahid Setari Highway, beside the right-side exit of the Shahid Bakeri overpass (slow lane).
The zoo is, at once, adventurous and one of the city’s saddest attractions. Watching the captivity of beautiful creatures that might otherwise live free in nature is painful. While people are keen to learn more about wildlife, we hope a solution will be found that better combines animals’ freedom with human curiosity and learning.
City outings are a favourite weekend pastime, and amusement parks and leisure centres are top choices for fun. Eram Amusement Park and Eram Zoo have provided joyful moments for Tehranis from the past to the present.
