A little bit of Africa in Toronto, just an hour or so away from it! The African Lion Safari is a wildlife park with a difference. Here, things happen the other way round. Unlike conventional zoos, the animals here roam free, while the visitors are in cars, windows up and doors locked. This drive through Wildlife Park was opened in 1969 and had only 40 lions at that time. Today, it has grown to gigantic proportions with more than a thousand animals and birds to enthrall the visitors.

As mentioned before, this park is something quite different. A trip through the park may be better described as a safari as visitors have the option of taking their own cars or going for guided tours in the Safari Tour bus. However, if you think, you are going to zip around in your fancy convertible or zoom around in your noisy bike, forget it. The park is very strict about the kind of vehicles that can enter the park, and if your drive is deemed unsuitable, you will have to hop into the bus, for an additional fee, of course.

Apart from the Safari, the park has various other attractions like the Misumu Bay wet play area, animal demonstrations and performances, Jungle playground, a lake cruise on the “African Queen’ boat, and a trip in the “Nature Boy” railway. If you are lucky, you may get to see little ones of the animals too thanks to the captive breeding program that’s been quite a success so far.

As you pass through the park, you are sure to point out in excitement in every direction as you see lions, baboons, zebras, white rhinos, giraffes, and ostriches. You will probably spot some exotic, native animals that you may never have seen before or even heard of, such as aoudads and elands.

On your cruise around the Water Safari Lake, you will be pointed out several inhabitants of the area, which would include several kinds of monkeys. The Ring-tailed lemurs, Spider Monkeys, Ground Horn-bills, and Angolan Colobus monkeys, which, by the way, happen to be endangered, are just a few of the animals that you are likely to see. As the ‘Nature Boy’ makes its way through the forest, some more unique wildlife and bird life is sure to catch your eye. Speaking of which, keep your eyes wide open for some snapping turtles on this route!

Among the live performances you can see the Parrot Paradise Show, a flying demonstration by the Birds of Prey, and an Elephant Round-Up program. Visitors are encouraged to make their way to the seats before the allotted time as all programs begin punctually.

Finally, if you feel like a bite or two, go over to the licensed Mombasa Market Restaurant, famous for their flame-broiled burgers. But, you also get pizza, fries, and other snacks. The other option is the Cabana Grill, also licensed, located on the back patio.