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The 10 most beautiful zoos in France to do with your grandchildren

The 10 most beautiful zoos in France to do with your grandchildren

It's summer school vacation time and you finally have the pleasure of receiving your grandchildren. You will be able to enjoy them and share exceptional moments. For this, you can plan some activities to do with them. Among the attractions that attract them the most, you should know that zoos come first in the top 50, because they love animals. You can therefore devote a few outings by planning one or more visits to the most beautiful zoos in France . Here is a list of the 10 most beautiful, but it remains, of course, not exhaustive.

1 - Beauval Zoo

Close to the castles of the Loire, the Beauval Zoo is one of the most beautiful zoological parks in the world and the largest in our country. Recording 450 births per year, it is also a shelter where the animals feel good. Beauval is a thousand things to see, 2 shows not to be missed as well as many daily activities. 15 places to eat and 2 picnic areas are at your disposal. You will be able to see more than 800 species of animals, birds and reptiles , like:

  • The Alligator
  • The chimpanzee
  • The African Elephant
  • Giraffes
  • Cheetahs
  • The Gorilla
  • Hippopotamus
  • The koala
  • The African lion
  • The wolf
  • The sea lions
  • The white rhinoceros
  • Raccoon
  • The Tiger

And many more, but the highlight of the show is always the pair of attractive pandas young and old. In addition, this year, Huan Huan, the female panda is expecting twins in the summer .

2 - The Sigean African Reserve

Just 15 km from Narbonne, you will be able to discover this African reserve located around a pond called the eye of Ca. This animal park, dating from 1972, opened to the public in 1974, is undoubtedly the one of the most beautiful in our country. For an hour, you will discover many animals roaming free . Ostriches will even knock on your windows, but do not open them for safety. You can also admire:

  • Giraffes
  • Impalas
  • Zebras
  • Springboks
  • Buffaloes, etc.

All these little people benefit from large spaces reproducing their natural environment. You will cross a second park with:

  • Lions
  • Bears from Tibet

Your car journey will end once you arrive at the last park or resident:

  • Donkeys from Somalia
  • Warthogs
  • White rhinos, sitatungas, etc.

For 2.5 hours, you will continue your visit on foot. On site, it is possible to have lunch, have a drink in the dedicated area or have a picnic. You will also have time to admire many animals such as:

  • Cheetahs
  • Camels
  • Chimpanzees
  • Chameleons
  • Meerkats
  • Reptiles in a vivarium
  • Wolves
  • Flamingos, etc.

If you wish, the African Reserve of Sigean also organizes a VIP Safari by minibus or a VIP discovery day . You can participate in various workshops.

3 - La Palmyre Zoo

Very close to Royan, discover many animals at La Palmyre Zoo located in a pine forest. In the middle of summer, you can stroll quietly while admiring 110 species of animals grouped into six main categories:

  • Birds
  • Primates
  • Carnivores
  • Ungulates
  • Marine mammals
  • Reptiles

Again, the animals are pampered and feel good, because lately, we can note the births of cheetahs, red varis, chimpanzees, zebras, mandrills, Cercopitheques de Brazza and many others.

4 - La Fleche Zoo

In the center of Sarthe, discover 120 species of animals classified by continent. Thus, from Africa, to America, via the Arctic, Asia, Europe or Oceania, you will be able to see:

  • Elephants
  • Cheetahs
  • Many monkeys
  • Hippos
  • Otters
  • Seals
  • Polar Bears
  • Wolves
  • Red pandas
  • Panthers
  • Kangaroos, etc.

Animations are visible there like:

  • The penguin snack
  • The presentation of sea lions
  • Meeting the Tigers
  • Giraffe snack
  • The encounter with the elephants, etc.

5 - Amnéville Zoo

In a natural park of 17 hectares, come and see 2,000 animals near Metz at the Amnéville Zoo. This animal park is also magnificent, because it is planted with bamboo and banana trees. You can also see the largest holographic cinema in the world . It also has the particularity of presenting rare animal species such as:

  • The panthers of love
  • Cheetahs
  • Pinched tamarinds
  • Tamanduas

This park actively participates in the preservation of these species. The animals are happy there since many births can be noted there each year. Among the essentials, do not miss:

  • Sky Predators
  • Jungle Orangutan
  • The tropical vivarium
  • The gorilla's camp
  • The peruvian bay
  • The Jungle Amazon
  • Sea Lion Bay
  • The African plain

6 - Thoiry Zoo

Thoiry Zoo is located near Paris. You can discover it by car by taking part in a mini-safari where more than a hundred animals live in freedom. You will still have the chance to see lions face to face, but in complete safety, thanks to a glass tunnel . Thoiry is also a castle, a plant maze, many games and activities and a little train to visit if you are tired. A self-service is open to eat from February to December as well as a sandwich shop and a picnic area.

7 - zoological and botanical park of Mulhouse

The zoological and botanical park of Mulhouse is home to more than 1,200 animals . It is mainly devoted to arctic fauna and its polar bears , its polar foxes, its musk oxen or its great gray owls that you can discover while strolling over 25 hectares. You will also see it evolve:

  • Lemurs
  • Primates from South America
  • Asian big cats
  • Hundreds of birds

Within the park, there is a mini-farm allowing children to pet and feed the animals. Finally, there is also a snack service and a picnic area.

8 - Cerza Zoological Park in Lower Normandy

Located in the town of Herminal-Les-Vaux, the Cerza zoological park extends over more than 60 hectares. You can explore it on foot, by small train or mini-safari . On site, you can admire, among other things:

  • Lions
  • Giraffes
  • Zebras
  • Cervids
  • Rhinoceros
  • Antelopes
  • Brown bears, etc.

More than 1,200 animals live in large spaces in semi-freedom. To the delight of your grandchildren, a mini-farm is available for them to pet certain animals. On-site catering is available as well as a sheltered picnic area.

9 - Beaumarchais d’Autrèche reserve and its safari train

Near Amboise, in the heart of the Val-de-Loire, board the Autrèche train safari to visit the Beaumarchais Reserve. You will see a large number of animals along your comfortable route. Thus, you will be able to observe:

  • Stags, hinds and their fawns
  • Boars and their boars
  • Moufflons from Corsica
  • Deers
  • Emus
  • Rheas
  • Ostrich
  • Wallabies
  • Bison, etc.

It is possible to eat in an inn serving game, to have a dinner and a themed evening. A picnic area is also available. The baby ostrich nursery will also fascinate young and old, from incubating eggs to the nursery.

10 - Savage Planet

Planète sauvage is an animal park located a few minutes from Nantes. You can fully immerse yourself in the world of wild animals by going on a 4X4 safari . Thus, you will be able to rub shoulders with:

  • Lions
  • Rhinoceros
  • Ostrich
  • Giraffes
  • Impala
  • Cheetahs
  • Tigers
  • Black Bears
  • Bison
  • Zebras
  • Gnus
  • Elephants
  • Dromedaries and camels
  • Hippos, etc.

If you want to immerse yourself even more in the midst of all these magnificent wild animals, lodges are at your disposal. You can watch them evolve at various times until sunset while being comfortably installed in a lodge with refined decor and behind large bay windows and a private terrace.

With these few addresses, you will experience an unforgettable holiday with your grandchildren, whose eyes will be amazed by all the wonders they may have encountered. In any case, be sure that you will see animals well treated with the greatest respect by the trainers providing them with daily care, giving them rich, varied food adapted to each species. Your grandchildren will enjoy being able to give a bottle to an ovine or a few seeds to a beautiful, very colorful bird. So book quickly in the animal park you want to visit or the closest to where you are.