Opening hours 2026:

We are open from 1.6.2026
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Puuhapuisto Veijari

#temmellystakuu

SUSTAINABILITY

VEIJARI's sustainability path

#playguarantee for decades to come

At Veijari, we believe that the world’s best memories are made in pure nature, as friends to animals, and through the joy of active play. We want to continue offering these experiences for a long time to come, and it is vital that we take good care of all of this-both now and in the future. 

At the end of 2025, we embarked on our official journey toward the Sustainable Travel Finland label and the international Biosphere certification. Of cource, we don’t believe that a label on tha wall or certificate on  website automatically makes us sustainable. Rather, they are essential tools for us and, ultimately, proof of the concrete actions we take for responsible business. 

By many measures, we are already well on our way, but there is still much workto be done. Our journey toward even more sustainable tourism continues-read more on this site about how we operate.  

ANIMAL WELFARE

We know that keeping animals in enclosures raises thoughts and questions – and that is a good thing. At Veijari, our animals do not live wild and free in nature, but in surroundings and under care created by humans. This places a massive responsibility upon us, which we carry every single day. 

The well-being of our most important colleagues is a matter close to our hearts. For us, animals are not just on display; they are part of our family, and each one is a unique personality.  

Many of the animals at Veijari are traditional Finnish farm animals or pets – species that would not survive in the wild without human assintance. Many of these species have lived alongside humans for centuries. One of Veijari’s mission is to serve as a bridge between nature and people, teaching our visitors to understand, respect, and love animals. 

We are also home to exotic animals whose care and well-being require specialized expertise. All our exotic animals were born under human care – meaning they were not captured from the wild. Consequently, they would not survive in the wild, not even in their natural habitats. We provide our exotic animals with species-specific living conditions, ensuring the correct diet, humidity, temperature, and lighting. 

At Veijari, our animals are cared for exclusively by trained professionals or students in the field of animal care. Our staff is highly knowledgeable in animal handling and behavior. We also guide our visitors through clear signage and personal interaction, teaching everyone how to behave respectfully and safely around our animal. 

Get to know animals
Read more about activities

NATURE AND ENVIRONMENT

Our park is located in the heart of the most beautiful Finnish nature. We operate on land leased from the City of Saarijärvi, and we care for these 10 hectares as if they were our own. We leave natural areas untouched for pollinators and maintain our paths carefully to prevent unnecessa wear on the terrain. 

Have you ever stopped to think that most of our park’s activities run on the world’s cleanest energy – muscle power? When you bounce on a trampoline, drive a pedal car, row on the pond, or pause to watch the animals, nothing needs to be started. No motors, no fuel – just the joy of doing and “slow travel” at its best. In the summer 2026, we will add even more muscle powered activities to the park. 

Of course, we do consume electricity. Althrough we purchase a portion of our energy from renewable sources, we are systematically working to reduce our energy consumption wherever possible. We have upgraded our lighting to LEDs – one small step as part of a larger plan to cut down energy use. We have also conducted feasibility studies on installing solar panels; however, we have decided to postpone this investment for the time being.

We also recognize that building anything new always requires energy and materials. Therefore, we develop our operations with a long-term perspective – ensuring that the investments we make serve both us and our visitors for decades to come. 

WASTE AND RECYCLING 

Various types of waste are generated in the park, and we tackle this by reducing waste at the source and improving recycling for the waste that is produced. For example, we have replaced most of our restaurant tableware with reusable options instead of disposables. Additionally, we prioritize products and raw materials in our procurements that are recyclable and generate less waste. 

Visitors can sort their waste at the recycling points at Murkinatori and Kappelilammen Kuppila.

Our animals produce a significant amount of manure every day. This is transported to a local soil treatment site, where it is processed into soil and repurposed for use in landscaping.  

GETTING TO THE PARK

Most visitors arrive at the park by car, but since the summer of 2025, we have been developing the Saarijärvi Summer Shuttle (Saarijärven kesälinja) in collaboration with local partners and Matkahuolto. This makes it possible to reach the park using public transport on weekdays. More info about Summer Shuttle 2026 is coming soon.  

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Veijari is a place where everyone is welcome exactly as they are. We have zero tolerance for bullying or exclusion. 

Every year, our park welcomes numerous groups with special needs. In the future, we will further strengthen this commitment by creating new service packages specifically designed to meet the needs of visitors with special requirements. 

As a employer, we take great pride in being the first real summer job for many local youth. We are one the largest providers of summer employment in Saarijärvi. We focus on providing good orientation and a fair, supportive atmosphere to ensure that these young people’s journey into working life begins on a joyful and positive note.

LOCAL COMMITMENT

Supporting our local community is at the heart of everything we do. We work closely with other regianal entrepreneurs to foster growth and diversity in our area. For example local Ruustinna prepares delicious home-cooked food for our group diners. 

You can also find products from local artisans in our souvenir shop. 

Whenever possible, we prioritize Finnish and local products and ingredients. All the meat we serve is Finnish. For example our all-time favorite Murkinatori’s Burger features a high-quality Finnish beef patty. We also want to encourage a more plant-based diet, which is why we have expanded our menu with several vegetarian options and fresh salads – also prepared using Finnish ingredients. 

For many locals, visiting Veijari is a stable summer tradition, and we want to do our part encouraging local travel.  

For us, responsibility also means honoring traditions. Our park has a long history dating back to the 1980s, when it first opened as the Saarijärvi Water Animal Park (Saarijärven Vesieläinpuisto). As Veijari, we are proud to carry this story forward. We develop the park by carefully preserving its heritage while embracing modern standards with a firm and forward-looking touch.Â