Are you looking for an original activity for your vacation? Why not exploring “semi-freedom animal parks“? The advantage of these parks is that the animals are not locked in small fences. They are more “free” of their movement. The visit will be able to satisfy the youngest as well as the oldest. Here is our Top 5 semi-freedom animal parks in France!
Nestled in the heart of the Mercantour (Alpes-Maritimes), the Alpha park is home to three packs of wolves in semi-freedom over ten hectares.
In the central zone of the Mercantour park, the wolves live in semi-liberty next to newer residents, the chamois and several hares that are normally hard to see so well in the wild. In the Mercantour, the wolf is truly a legendary animal. Situated between 1500 meters and 1800 meters high, the Alpha Park invites the rambler at any season to get involved in the life of three wolf packs. It’s time to find out for yourself the way the wolves live from the shelter of hides specially created for observation. To observe these fearful animals without disturbing them, feeding remains the privileged moment. Through its various activities, the establishment’s mission is to establish a constructive dialogue with the public on the return of the animal to the region.
The Sigean African Reserve opened to the public in 1974. Over the years, the Sigean African Reserve has continued to grow and its herds contain more and more species that are the subject of European breeding programs (EEP). Some of the protected species have a range that goes beyond the African continent alone, particularly the case of migratory birds. Others, although non-African, like the Tibetan Bears, have been entrusted to us for conservation reasons.
The only constraint to ensure the good success of these breeding operations is to choose species capable of adapting to the Languedoc climate characterized by good sunshine and generally mild winters.
Today nearly 900 Mammals, 600 Reptiles and 2000 Birds are bred at the Réserve Africaine de Sigean. These figures are of course only an estimate. A permanent inventory of species living in total freedom is impossible.
Unique park in France, Planète Sauvage takes young and old alike for a day through 5 captivating worlds to discover 1,100 animals of 120 different species:
- The Safari Trail
- The Marine City
- The Bush Trail
- The Inca Trail
- The Jungle Temple
Across 15 plains of several hectares where the animals evolve in semi-freedom, they travel as close as possible to the wildlife at the wheel of your car, or in a 4×4 Raid (bush truck driven by an animal guide): see giraffes, stop to observe lions, rhinos or a herd of wildebeest. In this park, visitors can travel through the longest Safari Trail in France!
Located in the heart of the Monts d´Azur, 1 hour from Nice, Animal Reservation of The Monts d’Azur is an exceptional model of experimentation with “re-wildness”.
There are several hundred species of all kinds (mammals, birds, insects, fish, etc.). It is the first animal reserve in Europe whose vocation is to reintroduce ancestral and astonishing species of fauna and flora dating from the Neolithic era, and which rub shoulders, in FULL FREEDOM!
The Birds Park, in the heart of the Dombes, is home to a fascinating universe of 35 hectares where nature reigns supreme and birds reign supreme. With more than 40 years of existence, of experiences, of lives… the Birds Park is today one of the most important ornithological parks in Europe due to the richness of its collection and the quality of its facilities. It is a real paradise where birds from all over the world come together to the delight of winged lovers. Remarkable landscape reconstructions offer visitors a real world tour to discover the atmospheres of all continents: tropical forests, volcanic lands, Asian bamboo groves,African savannah etc.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post on our Top 5 semi-freedom animal parks in France. These our our “coup de coeur”. Animals are loved by kids, teenagers, adults and elders. This can be a great way to gather as a family during your trip to France.
If you are interested by one of our other Top list, I recommend you to read Joel’s blog post on his Top 10 downhill ski resorts in France.
