75 years of Tuffi - on the trail of the flying elephant

Exactly 75 years ago, on 21 July 1950, a young elephant made history: Tuffi jumped out of the suspension railway - and landed in the Wupper. The story sounds crazy, but it's true - and is as much a part of Wuppertal as the suspension railway itself. If you are travelling with children and fancy a special city trip, you can follow in Tuffi's footsteps - including a ride on the suspension railway and a visit to the zoo.

Tuffi & the suspension railway: a story that made Wuppertal world-famous

In 1950, a circus wanted to advertise with an elephant ride on the suspension railway - but Tuffi had other plans. The then four-year-old elephant jumped from the moving railway directly into the Wupper - and became a living legend. Today, a 3.5 tonne sculpture in the Wupper commemorates the event.

Family holiday with a Tuffi feeling

Wuppertal Youth Hostel has turned the story into a great family programme: „On Tuffi's trail through Wuppertal“ is the name of the two-day offer for families with children - perfect for a weekend full of adventure.

• The starting point is the youth hostel above the Wupper with a view of the countryside.
• From there, take the unique suspension railway to Wuppertal Green Zoo, where large and small pachyderms still live in the spacious elephant enclosure.
• There is also plenty else to discover at the zoo: The new giant aviary Aralandia, the popular penguin tunnel and much more.

Time travel with the suspension railway & visual art

Wuppertal offers even more besides the zoo and suspension railway:

• The Suspended bodrom invites you on a VR tour through the history of the landmark.
• In the Visiodrome visitors can experience immersive art exhibitions - and from the Skywalk there is an impressive view over the city.
• You can find more leisure activities in the Bergisch capital in our blog article „Family time in Wuppertal“
• Our tip: With the ExperienceBackpack At the youth hostel, you can join Mona Mouse and Waldemar the hedgehog on a discovery tour in the forest.