Lions, Tigers and Bears oh my. While we were on vacation in Ontario we spent a day at Safari Niagara, which is home to many animals including Lions, Tigers and Bears. This was our second trip to the park but it had been three years between visits, so my almost four-year-old had no memory of his first trip. He was a little apprehensive when he learned that the animals were alive! Sometimes I forget the innocence of my little people, but once he learned that he would be safe while seeing animals he was ready for the adventure.
We started the day with a ride on the Gator Express tram to see the Big Cats, along the way we saw the Flamingos, Tapirs and Birds of Prey. The tram includes an audio tour about the park and the animals, and was big enough to accommodate our stroller (or the wagons for rent). We walked through the Big Cats area at noon so most of the animals were out in plain view having lunch. It was a good experience for the kids to see the animals eating, and made for some interesting discussions. Next we walked so see the Reindeer which were all walking together in circles, the kids thought that they were training to fly Santa’s sleigh. Next up was the Rhinos, Bears and River Otters followed by a ride around the Pedal Bike Go-Kart track. We hoped back on the tram to head for lunch.
Safari Niagara allows you to bring in your own food and drinks which is an awesome feature especially for those with food allergies. We opted to stop at the Merembe House for lunch, which provided huge servings of pub style food. After lunch the kids wanted to try the Adventure Zone rope course. Our youngest took on the SkyTykes while our oldest took to the SkyQuest course.
Next up was the playground, and then on to the Bounce-A-Rooz which are large trampoline type pillows. Our oldest had a blast, our youngest did a header almost immediately. He was fine just a little scared. Next up we headed to see the primates and gibbons. The kids enjoyed feeding the primate’s health snacks from the vending machines (bring loonies if you want to feed the animals).
It was a very hot day when we visited Safari Niagara but thankfully they have a splash pad where we could cool off. Bring swimsuits and towels for the kids, and for yourself as well if you want to get in on the fun. My husband got right in on the splashing action, I got my feet wet, which still worked to cool me down. We hoped back on the tram and saw the rest of the park on our way back to the entrance. No visit would be complete without a stop at the gift shop for a stuffie which the kids cuddled as they slept all the way home in the car.
The kids had a blast at Safari Niagara, there was lots to keep them entertained. As adults I honestly think that my husband enjoyed the animals more than the kids did, and my favourite part was the sculptures. I enjoyed the animals as well, but the sculptures were an added unexpected bonus. A few of the staff members exceeded my expectations. The young man on the ropes course helped my son when he was scared, the young woman on the Bounce-a-Rooz got ice for my injured bouncer, and a tram driver put our stroller in the back of his gator when there wasn’t any more room on the tram, all of which made for a better visit to the park. If you haven’t been to Safari Niagara I would suggest planning a trip before the summer if over!
Tips for a good visit with kids:
- Bring a stroller, wagon or rent a wagon all of which can fit on the trams
- Snacks, coolers, drinks can be brought into the park, but the food for purchase is good as well
- Wear runners if you want to use the ropes course
- Plan to spend the whole day at Safari Niagara as there is lots to see and do
- Bring a bathing suit and towel to enjoy the splash pad
The fine print: I reached out to Safari Niagara to see if they would be interested in a blog post in exchange for admission, they obliged. The opinions in this post however are 100% mine. If you don't believe me ask my mother or my husband how opinionated I can be :).
Making A Life 
Great photos! I was there last week but did not get photos even close as nice as yours, especially of the big cats. I used a Canon Rebel T5. What did you use?
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Hi, Thank you! I shoot with a Pentax KS-2. My first film camera was a Pentax and have been a loyal user for 20 years. The lens was a 70-300.
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