Wow Safari Thoiry, Wildlife park and safari in Thoiry, France
Wow Safari Thoiry is a wildlife park where around 1300 animals from different species live in large open enclosures designed to resemble their natural habitats. Visitors can observe these animals in settings that allow them to move and behave freely across the extensive grounds.
The park opened in the 1960s with an innovative concept that allowed visitors to drive their own vehicles through animal reserves, an idea that was groundbreaking in Europe at that time. This approach to wildlife viewing influenced how similar parks were designed and operated elsewhere.
The park serves as a learning space where visitors connect with conservation work through direct interactions with animal caretakers during daily demonstrations. These encounters help people understand the importance of protecting wildlife in its natural form.
The park is best explored by car, with a marked route to follow through the different sections. It helps to check the seasonal opening hours before your visit, as the park adjusts its schedule between summer and winter months.
Visitors can spend the night in elevated wooden cabins scattered throughout the park, offering views of animals as they move about after dark. This unusual experience reveals how active these creatures are during hours when most visitors have left.
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