Parc Safari is the largest zoo in eastern Quebec, it’s an hour from Montreal and three hours from Ottawa. Its also only 10 km away from the border with the US so it sees a lot of American visitors. Thankfully, the border is closed so the already outrageous wait times didn’t get worse. I spent 45 minutes just queuing up to get inside even though I already bought my ticket, I wish there were separate lanes for prepared and unprepared visitors.
While Parc Omega features mostly Canadian wildlife, Parc Safari features mostly foreign animals from Africa and Asia. Inside the enclosures are giraffes, elephants, zebras, emus, and alpacas. There are more than 500 animals in the park.
There’s also a waterpark that is accessible by paying an extra fee. You could also choose to stay the night in an air-conditioned Coolbox, which is a bunk bed and a toilet in a 40-foot cargo container. You’ll have to bring your own bedding and pillows and food even though you pay to stay there. Is it worth it? You decide.
The feline tunnel is great for getting up close with lions as they end to sunbathe on the top of the tunnel. The aviary is pretty bad for taking photos because the netting is made of thick string that obstructs your view. You can walk right into the deer enclosure to feed Bambi, but the very endangered square-lipped rhinoceros stays far away from humans.
The drive-in portion is scenic, but slow. Most animals will approach cars to get fed so they will stick their heads into your car. Lots of fun but also lots of cleaning up animal drool. You’re stuck on a one-way road with Quebec-plated cars for about an hour, so expect inconsiderate traffic conditions.
