African Lion Safari

I went with my friends to the park in the weekend and we had a great time and so much fun. We rode the bus that goes for the tour and during this time we were able to enjoy watching the animals and the different species from Africa, Australia and other homelands. Walking in Kenya gate also was amazing especially around the cages of the eagles. I am in love with bald eagle and I spent around 20 minutes staring to it. Inside the place also, you will find different shops and cafeterias for snakes, souvenirs and other stuff. Overall it was a great trip and the place is highly recommended

We had such a wonderful time at African Lion Safari! All the staff were incredibly friendly, polite, and welcoming — you can really feel their passion for what they do. The entire place was very clean and well organized, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. It’s an amazing place to visit, especially if you have kids — they’ll absolutely love seeing the animals up close and joining the fun activities. If friends or family come to visit Toronto, this is definitely one of the places I’d recommend! 🦁🐘

We took 2 toddlers and a baby and had a great time. The oldest loved playing on the jungle gym set and the younger toddler loved playing in the younger section while we waited for the bus. They had a blast on the bus and loved seeing and being close to all the animals. We rode the train, watched some shows and looked at the elephants. Spent around 4 hours there but if the splash park was open it definitely would've been an all day event. Planning on going again when that's open

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This place is an amazing family experience! I recommend reading the full review so you know how to plan your visit and enjoy everything it has to offer. 👉 Tickets & Timing Book your tickets online in advance – prices vary depending on the month. I strongly suggest arriving at least 5 hours before closing; otherwise, you may miss out on a lot. 👉 Jungle Safari You can choose between the bus safari or driving your own vehicle. I highly recommend using your personal vehicle for a clearer, more flexible experience since you can spend as much time as you want watching wildlife. Going slowly, the safari takes about 1–2 hours. 👉 What to Do After Safari Once you finish the safari, park your car and head straight for the boating experience (included in the ticket). After that, ride the train around 2–3 pm and make sure to catch all the shows – they’re absolutely worth it! 👉 Shows There are 3 different shows: • Parrot Show • Birds Show • Reptile Show The Bird Show was the highlight – an unforgettable experience for both kids and adults. 👉 Other Attractions • Don’t miss the elephants – try to visit them in between shows or towards the end. • There’s a small splash area for kids, so pack extra clothes if they want to cool off. • Lots of food options available on-site, so you won’t have to worry about meals. ⏰ Important Tip: Shows, trains, and boats usually close by 5:00–6:30 pm, so plan your day accordingly. 📸 Make sure to check the pictures and videos to get a better idea of what’s waiting for you – it truly helps in planning. ✅ Overall, this place is totally worth the visit. With a little planning, you and your family can have an incredible full-day adventure filled with wildlife, fun, and memories!

I had such a wonderful time at African Lion Safari! 🦁 The safari drive was amazing seeing lions, giraffes, and rhinos up close felt like a real adventure. The bird experience was one of my favorites, the birds were so colorful and even sang songs, which made it feel so lively and magical. The boat and train rides were fun too, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Everything was clean, well-organized, and perfect for a family day out. Highly recommend visiting!

I had an amazing experience at African Lion Safari! 🦁🚐 From the moment we entered, everything was well organized and exciting. The drive-through safari was the highlight — getting to see lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and so many other animals roaming freely so close to the car was absolutely unforgettable. It really feels like you’re on a true safari adventure. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and always ready to help. The bird and animal shows were very entertaining and educational, making it a perfect experience for both kids and adults. The park was clean, well maintained, and had plenty of spots to relax and enjoy the day. It’s a must-visit place if you’re in Ontario — fun, safe, and a great way to spend time with family while learning about wildlife. I’ll definitely be coming back!

I had an amazing day at African Lion Safari—truly an unforgettable experience! The trip was smooth and so worth it. Seeing the animals up close was absolutely beautiful. From majestic lions and graceful giraffes to playful monkeys and powerful rhinos, every moment was exciting and awe-inspiring. The park is well-organized, and you can really tell the animals are well cared for. Everything was a joy to see, and I’d highly recommend this adventure to anyone who loves wildlife. Can’t wait to go back!

My family and I visited for the first time this weekend. This place did not fail to impress!! The tour bus was one of our many highlights! Funny, informative, and perfect time for amazing photo opps 👌 Our day was filled with memories and a cherished time spent as a family as we enjoyed all of the exploring and learning opportunities! We will be back next year as the only thing we missed was the water park! From the admission gates, the tour guides, the vendors, the presenters, the trainers, the grounds staff snd most importantly, the animals, you all made this a day we will all remember!! Thank you and see you soon!

I hadn't been to African Lion Safari since around 2005--or maybe even earlier--so my memory of it was completely different from what I saw this time. I was pleasantly surprised! I loved how it wasn't overcrowded with animals, and you can tell they're very careful about safety--everything is well-secured to prevent accidents or escapes. The lions... wow! Absolutely majestic. Honestly, all the animals looked happy and healthy, and it really felt like they were in their own element. The drive-through safari takes about an hour to an hour and a half if you take your time, but you can also go through in 30 minutes if you're just cruising. We didn't try the food, but there were lots of options available, plus a couple of gift shops. The staff were super friendly and welcoming. I'll definitely be going back! Whether you're with kids, your partner, friends, or even going solo--it's such a fun and unique experience. If you're in or around Toronto, this place is a must-see!

One of the places I want to visit that's on my bucket list is Africa. I want to go to an African lion safari. My day will come, but for now, I have found an African lion safari in Canada, which is an hour and 30 minute drive, maybe two, depending on traffic from the city of Buffalo. It was a really great experience. The price of your ticket gives you access to everything at the park, including a small waterpark, the animal safari itself, playgrounds, animal shows, a boat ride, and also a train ride. You have the option to ride in your own vehicle or pay an additional $5 to ride on a bus with others for the safari tour. They give you the option because the animals may damage your vehicle. There is free parking throughout the park. Definitely recommend for families with little ones.

Went for a quick trip to Toronto and this is a MUST see place for kids . Not too far from Niagara Falls (about an hour drive) and east to get there . We went on a weekend but we're early. Not much of rush getting in. They gave us 2 options - to drive our own car or use their bus . Try to drive ur car . It's fun. Just make sure you aren't too close to monkeys as they can get on top of ur car and scratch it. Lions are the main attraction but they were mostly sleeping :( wish they were awake . Just one lion was up and walking . There is generally lots of car parked next to lions . They also had leopards, elephant , rhino , lots of deers , giraffe , bison and many other animals . Kids did have fun . It took us about an hour to finish the tour. There was also a small splash zone for kids and lots of other things - like bird shows , aviary , etc . Many restaurants and souvenir shops around . A little pricey but worth it once a while ..

Took another visit to a great place! We had a lovely time the animals were great and the staff was very nice! Pricing was pretty good overall and there a lot of shows and things to see and do. You are able to drive your car through the safari but the bus available too. Great visit overall we thoroughly enjoyed it!

I was very upset and couldn't believe how this place had changed from when I took my children and now take my grandchildren and this is a high profit place now that do not seem to us the money on the animals or property. Bathrooms are disgusting with feces all over the floor and can't imagine what the restaurant kitchens are like . garbages not emptied and washroom stalls were filthy and change rooms at splash pad were worse . with the amount of traffic that went threw there the long weekend there should have been extra staff .. I complained to the employee and she did not care . Please don't support this dirty place I can't imagine what it's like for the poor animals!

I think I oddly had low expectations for this place based on my surprise of witnessing how run down Marineland was on my visit last year. Some sort of transferred expectation I guess. It's not to say African Lion Safari is run at Disney-calibre level, but it's in better shape - and better living conditions for it's animals, than Marineland. I expected it to be really busy in part due to seeming like a physical-distance friendly activity, but it wasn't too bad. It wasn't dead, but certainly not bustling. That played out to advantage however on the safari as we could go at our own pace when driving around and didn't feel much pressure to move on or have to wait. They really do have about everything you'd expect from the animal kingdom: lions, tigers, bears...actually there weren't bears but there were rhinos, giraffes and a bunch of other exotic and exciting animals. In fact, they also have animals from most of the continents too, so you'll see kangaroos, bison and others. It's up for debate if this is the best thing for the animals or not, but at the very least, they are in a very large enclosure with lots of room to roam around. Aside from the safari, there's a pretty big section where you walk and see other wildlife such as exotic birds and at the end of the walk, the big draw: the elephants. About the only thing I observed closed due to COVID was a fairly cool mini water park and playground which I'm sure my kids would've loved in normal circumstances.

Went to African Lion Safari yesterday with my husband, son, Daughter in law and granddaughter. We have been going there for about 40 years! They have added many new attractions over time. Large playgrounds and and 3 enormous splash pad areas good for all ages! The little ones always enjoy the train ride which is Fred snd short. The boat ride around the monkey islands was thankfully short also as it seems the monkey population has dwindled and only 2 could be seen- definitely wasn't worth a long wait! They no longer have an elephant show and both of them are on display quite a hike away from everything. The do have parrot, birds of prey and a reptile show that are short and even can hold the attention of a two year old! She was most excited about being so close to the animals as we drove through the reserve especially when a monkey jumped up on the car and she could see it through the sun roof! It has become quite pricey for a days visit! Food and souvenirs are outrageous! There are however picnic tables and they allow coolers and your own drinks. There are a few places that need updating like the rest rooms and changing areas near splash pad but it was a very enjoyable day spent with family and watching our little ones excitement! Will go again in a few years!

One of the best animal places we've ever visited! We started early with the drive through the open animal area (game reserves). We took our own car; this way we could go at our own pace. It took us 75 minutes to go through all 7 sections. There are 2 lanes throughout so easy to go your own pace. We saw over 100 animals of a couple dozen different types. Many close-up encounters. The "enclosures" are very spacious - treating the animals well. Most were close enough to the car to get a great view (and pictures). We did have a baboon hop onto our car. No damage at all - he just used it to cross to the next tree. For those concerned about it, there's a way you can bypass the baboon/bongo/zebu area and still see everything else. After that, we went to the other side of the park. First - the shows: We took in the birds of prey show - featuring a half-dozen different raptors - the staff stayed around for questions and were happy to share their knowledge. We took in the elephant show - which included camels as well - it was fantastic - the way the elephant is trained with all they can do; the professionalism of the staff - and again open for questions afterwards. Beyond that, the food was good and not overly expensive. We actually got to see some animals get fed. There's goat petting. There's a water play area for little kids. There's a small train ride that goes around the lakes for an up close encounter with gibbons. There's also a boat ride around the same area. For the adventurous, there are elephant rides - was a lot of fun - its short (around a small area) - but just the experience was worth it. Easily a 3-hour effort... Highly recommend.

A great place for a day's entertainment. I had heard a lot about this place previously so couldn't wait to come here and see what's it all about. We took our own car and drive around which was fun. People do have the option to park their cars and do the local bus there. Once you enter the safari area, there are signs all over asking not to roll down the windows.. a valid request given that you are going to be very close to lions and other wild animals without any sort of cage. We did hit a lot of traffic inside and in general movement was slow which was not as fun but because this was a weekend traffic was more compared to other days. If you can, please try to come on a weekday when the crowd isn't too bad so that you can enjoy your time looking at the wild animals rather than getting stuck in line and simply waiting. Other than the wildlife, there are plenty of other shows - birds and elephant shows and a train and boat ride. Those were all enjoyable. I did feel that the wildlife portion was a bit short.. so perhaps in the future they have scope for more animals in the park. The bird shows don't have covered seating so on a hot day, you need to have a hat or umbrealla to protect you. Definitely an amazing experience and I recommend this place to folks visiting Ontario.

Have very fond memories of the African Lion Safari! Maybe because it was the first drive thru safari we ever visited that makes it so special to us. 8/16/07 visit. Paid $26.95 per adult back then. We learned about this place through some friends. They told us to be prepared for the monkeys to be all over our vehicle. We weren't worried about that. We even purchased LDW insurance for our rental vehicle to cover any damage that might occur. Unfortunately, our red mustang rental car did not attract the monkeys! Still, we had a great time! Different sections to drive through. All the many animals are not living in the same area. If you do not want to drive through with your own vehicle, then you can ride on their Safari Tour bus. Costs a bit extra, but worth it. There are plenty of other attractions. A boat cruise, petting area, elephant swim, bird & animal presentations plus so much more. Have been there twice over the years, and I would return more times if we were in the area. They are just a short drive from Toronto or Niagara Falls!! Worth the price of admission!!

Don't just look at all the positive reviews and assume this will be a great experience like I did. Consider the dynamics of your family and the actual cost. This was recommended to me by my brother who visited from the US when his kids were young. I took his advice and added it to our list of things to do. Long lines to get into the park. This experience was very pricey for sitting in a traffic jam of cars most of the time there. $125 admission for 3 and about $15 for the bus. Yes, you pay even more if you ride the bus through. I was in a rental car and couldn't chance an animal damaging the rental car. An animal can end up inches from or on your car which is cool if you're not in a rental. The park is not responsible for damage to your car. This park may be cool for younger kids but mine are 12 and 13. I wish I'd simply chosen the zoo. Went to buy pizza for my daughter and was told by the cashier they were out before she even looked. I asked how long before more was ready and she said "I have no idea". There was pizza but she didn't look before being eager to say they were out. I would never visit this place again.

We loved African Lion Safari! The animals come so close to your car, and the variety of animals is wonderful. It's as close as you will get to going on a safari in Canada :) amazing place to go for kids and adults alike. My favourites were the lions, giraffes and monkeys!

Clean compound. Polite staff. Beautiful animals. Good family environment. I would definitely recommend.

Hard pass. Exploitation and neglect is the name of the game at this zoo. Just like all the others unfortunately. I came here thinking something would be different as the website seem nice and the reviews were good, of course that was obviously just a sham. Is there nothing good in this world anymore? They make it seem positive and fun oh, it's a drive-through game reserve--great so you can accidentally hit an animal when you're not paying attention. It's sad when you see these animals confined as they're obviously stressed as they're pacing back-and-forth, and don't like the vehicles and people around. As someone who's a wildlife biologist I can attest that these animals belong in the wild, most if not all of them are captured illegally from the wild, with some being born into captivity like these places. Many are used for props or entertainment purposes and it's beyond reprehensible. It's a shame this place isn't truly trying to help these animals but I guess money talks. I won't be back and I hope others decide not to come here either.

It's getting close to that time of the year where we would be deciding where to go for a short road trip during the weekends. African Lion Safari is always top of that list for us. This is a great place for families and small groups of friends. It's about an hour or so outside of the city and the drive is nice during the warmer months. It is a very popular destination so be prepared to wait in line for both parking (if you are choosing to use the facility transportation or stopping to eat at the main area) or to drive into the actual safari experience. There are animals from all over the world but the main attractions are the very interactive monkeys who will literally hold up the tradfice by sitting on your car and picking at the side mirrors. The big cats were very cool to see upfront but they generally stay quiet and sleep during most of the day so you can zip through their section pretty fast. My favourite was however the amazing giraffes. You can see these giants across the hills as their tall heads bob up and down trying to forage from the surround trees in their enclosure. This is a full day experience. This is a great educational experience for young kids and adults as well. Come prepared with lots of cold beverages that you can store in the car. Snacks for yourselves while you are stuck for hours waiting for the monkeys to let you by. DO NOT OPEN YOUR DOORS OR WINDOWS. You've been warned for your own safety.

Perfect vacation destination for family with young kids or just about anyone who loves to support animal conservation work. The drive through game reserve is a must for seeing lions, giraffes, and many more animals. Easily can spend the entire afternoon here! They have a large selections of animals both land, aquatic and flying to look at. Coming back when I have kids of my own for sure and I will take them around their large Wet Play area, which is perfect for hot summer days! Water Safari and cargo trains are options to best enjoy the safari as well and they are both included in the entrance fee! I really enjoyed all of their animal presentations at their parrots paradise, bird of prey sanctuary, and elephant conservation site. The elephant show was especially entertaining as you get to see it perform a test of strength, stand on one feet and wave hello and artistic demonstration by using its trunk to paint a shirt that which can then be bought at the nearest gift shop.

WOW! I did not think of having so much fun! It was a great day out for families with children. The safari drive was amazing and its more fun when you take your own car and there is a patch to avoid the baboons and monkeys. You can have close encounters with animals crossing the road in front and behind your car. They also have a relaxing boat and train rides meant more for the kids. You can also check out the birds and elephant shows, which last about 30 mins. The water zone area was amazing and the kids loved it. Over all a good day out. P.S. you get a discount if you are a CAA member.

The perfect family get away, African Lion Safari provides a wonderful experience for the entire family.. You will enjoy the free animals running around, throughout the different areas..nicely setup by region, with extensive security and guards scattered all over the place in Safari trucks. You will also enjoy one of the many live shows, which are great entertainment especially for kids and younger ones. Shows duration range between 30 minutes-1 hour. The Safari also have a large water playground for kids, with many slides, swings and water games..this spot is always busy, and kids can spend hours here. It also have different attractions such as boat rides, trains and wagons throughout the safari land, etc..Some fast food restaurants/quick bites are also available. Highly recommended for all families, to have some real great time and enjoy a full day of cool activities.

We went on the busiest day they have seen in a while. They still managed to have lots of room on the tour bus and it was a lot of fun. Just wish my 2 year old was more excited to see the animals but I guess we just might have to wait a bit longer. The rest of the place is very nice as well. They have lots of events going on and lots of ways to interact with different animals. Plus they have a water park if you want your kids to splash around. Overall lots to see and learn for kids and might even be a good date location to show your connection with nature.

Really great place to see animals that you would never be able to see without jumping on a plane and going to another country. What I like is that the animals have lots of space to roam, it doesn't feel like at zoo at all. Our favourite part was to go on a drive in our own car and go through each habitat and see what awaited us. Our kids really loved the massive spray park as well. The cafeteria had a large selection of food, and quite reasonably priced. We also gained a lot of information in the bird shows as well as the elephant show. The price seemed steep to begin with, but considering all of the unique experiences you can have in the day, it is well worth the money. It is entertaining and educational. We didn't have long wait times as some of the other Yelp reviewers said. I am not sure why that is, we went during the week in August and it was quite busy, but we arrived first thing in the morning? Anyway if you enjoy animals give this park a try!

Oh my goodness what an awesome experience love love loved this place ... not only are they helping the animals that are going extinct but also saving the ones that are endangered of going on those lists ! Also we got to see two babies born today so beautiful!!

Honestly, I am conflicted about this place. On one hand the drive through exhibits are fantastic. I enjoy free roaming areas where animals can roam around happily and people are contained. It works out well. There are many different animals to see through the free roaming area from lions to baboons and they offer either going through with your own car or taking one of their own buses I would recommend taking the bus because all the reviews are spot on. The baboons will pull on the windshield wipers, the plates, and sometimes the mirrors to see what they can pull off. We witnessed that from the comfort of the large tour bus which was nicely narrated by our guide. I loved seeing the zebra herds, the rhinos, the giraffes chomping on the hay high above the heads of other animals. It was fun watching the white lion play with her cubs. Sure, it was a distance, but it was nice and a great change of pace. I enjoyed the bird show. It was fantastic and fun to watch. Then we watched the raptor show which didn't go as smoothly as the bird show since it was the first show for many of the birds. That's understandable. Animals are animals and they'll behave how they behave. I think it wasn't just the first show for the animals either as many of the presenters also seemed lost and a bit confused as what to do when the animals wouldn't quite perform. I imagine by now the people also have found their groove. For those items I would have given it a four star review. But the elephants bothered me. We've learned a lot about elephants in these last two decades. We know that they need a lot of space. We know that they're not dogs to perform tricks. We don't even have orca do this anymore because we recognize this isn't acceptable behavior to force on these very intelligent creatures. Yet, out of morbid curiousity I watched the elephant show and found myself wondering why we haven't grown past these. The area was small and confined. People are yelling and cheering. Kids are being kids. And these elephants are doing circus tricks. When I saw the elephant exhibit I was also struck with how small it was. Many zoos have gotten away from having elephants because the space requirements to keep them all happy is hard to provide. Of course, this may be the public viewing area and the private area is larger which is a hope. It just made me squeamish.

The park was extremely crowded on the rainy day we went. I shudder to think what it would have been like on a nice day. The crowds meant that the bus ride through the animal reserves was agonizingly slow and significantly tempered our enjoyment of the animals. The shows were very good. Plenty of seating, fun, and not too long. Glad to have done it but would likely not return.

Amazing place and great experience and our kids loved it. Being a Blogger I featured this on my You tube channel: Alif's Diary. You will love this place. Enjoy and have fun! Here is my You tube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrETU6MXjqI

Very good experience. We took the bus guided tour. Much more info than just driving through. Very informative. Baboons, cheetahs, lions, rhinos, deers, goats, sheep, bison, zebra... Elephant, birds- Eagles in particular. :) Family had a great time. 2 year old thinks it's the best thing-still talking about it. Down side: Was hot. ?31 degrees I think. Bit expensive. Bit out of the way. Conclusive remarks would be: just do it! Well worth it!

This place was EVERYTHING! I went with my relatives in Toronto and they opted for the guided bus tour which was fine but secretly, I wanted to drive myself to be even closer to the animals. Ostriches, zebras, gazelle, giraffes, elephants all came up to the bus! The lions and baboons were SOOO close. This really was an amazing experience. The petting zoo was also cool and the food was pretty tasty. The birds of prey show was da bomb and I learned so much. The elephant feeding in the lake was also awesome and admission was way less than the San Diego Zoo! I highly recommend this attraction for all families, couples and educational groups!

I love this place. I have come 3 times and live about 6 hrs away in NY state. I brought my kids all the way up here (from NY) just recently because of how much fun it is to drive through the game reserve. The animals are up close to your cars. It is beautiful and amazing to see them up close. The monkeys often jump on the cars - which makes for great pictures. You have to check this place out and definitely drive through the game reserve.

This is such a great place for young kids. There is a huge splash pad as well as dry playgrounds for kids of different ages. It keeps them busy which means us parents can take a break on the bench here and there. I really appreciated the set up for the kids. The shows are interesting. I missed the elephant bath wish they had more times. And we almost forgot to do the safari drive we were so busy at the splash pad! We took our own car-you can detour around the monkey area which is clearly marked with a sign warning you rush of vehicle damage. Or you can take the shuttle. Which I did in the past. It's a better experience in your own vehicle. There are many places to eat, but mostly pizza fries and ice cream. We brought our own cooler lunch and there are plenty of picnic benches scattered. They need more water fountains for drinking water

The African Safari feels like you are in a zoo. The only exception is that, the animals are watching you and you're the one locked up in a cage this time. Your cage is your car! We came here and the entrance was filled with cars, as a lion mascot and an employee walked around to greet us and give us heads up instructions. Tickets can be a little pricey, costing $35 per adult during peak season and around $31 per adult during may and in fall. We exchanged our tickets through our aeroplan points, so we didn't need to pay for that admission. At the ticket booth, we showed the employee our points and we were then provided a map. We followed the rest of the cars in our car through the gates. There were plenty of animals including cheetahs, lions, rhinoceros, goats, giraffes, deer and my favourite part - the monkeys! There was a monkey that hopped on everyone's car and that's where the "traffic jam" began because non of the cars wanted to move when the monkey was on our car. The zebra painted safari cars had to come and tell people to continue moving, also reminding us to not feed the animals. The monkeys didn't make any dents on our car, even though they jumped on it, which is an extra bonus. The safari also has a boat ride after you're done the safari and additional souvenir shops for you to visit! It's a pretty cool experience if you've never been to a safari!

Such a cool experience. The monkeys stole the show and are very active with jumping on cars. We didn't have any damage on our car and had 6 monkeys jump on!

Lions, tigers and bears... Oh my! Okay you won't see any of the aforementioned at African Lion Safari except for the lions, but you get the picture here. Much like the Wizard of Oz, you will follow a yellow brick road through a maze of adventure and possibility. I confess, this analogy may be a little exuberant, but you will actually take a vehicle through a windy safari full of animals. Excellent for families! We decided to go for a quick road trip to visit African Lion Safari. We had an amazing time and it was certainly an experience to remember. All of the animals were so beautiful and appeared to be in much better condition than what you'd typically see in a zoo. If coming from Rochester, Buffalo or Syracuse, the drive to Hamlin isn't very far from Western NY, but make sure to map out the actual address of the park because it is several miles away from the expressway. There is plenty of signage available for guidance, so be sure to look around to ensure that you're heading in the right direction. The total drive took us around two and a half hours from Rochester. When visiting the safari, plan to take your time and stay for the day (especially if you're bringing little ones). My husband and I were able to effectively cover many of the main attractions within four hours or so. The entry fee is around $30.00 Canadian, but AAA members can get a discount at the gate if you present your card upon arrival. Within the park, the main attraction is obviously the safari, but there's plenty else to keep you occupied. There's a boat, train and elephant rides available as well as a kiddie waterpark area for small kids. Of the several shows they offered, we checked out the elephants and birds of prey. The elephant one was definitely better and worth seeing. Food options are limited, so most families pack their coolers for a picnic. There are several picnic areas on the premises, so I'd recommend bringing your favorites along the way. There is a large food court that serves sandwiches, fries and pizza, however a slice will run you about $5 each and the pizza is subpar. Visitors have the option to either pay extra and take the tour bus or drive your own car through the reserves. I have done both. This time around, in order to protect my vehicle, we opted for the tour bus. It was nice because the guide was able to point out all of the species and locations of each animal. It was worth the extra $5 fee. If driving your own car, you can tour through the reserves as many times as you'd like. There are no barriers between your vehicle and the animals. It was cool getting an up close and personal look as many animals crossed in front of us and walked near the roads.

We made a few stops on our way up to Toronto a few weeks back. The first was a visit to the African Lion Safari outside of Hamilton, Ontario and just an hour or so outside of central Toronto. Last year my family and I went through northern Ohio's African Safari Wildlife Park, and this one is similar to that but even wilder. In addition to the deer, bison, bongo, zebra, and giraffes, the African Lion Safari's drive through game reserves also feature African lions, cheetahs, and baboons! There is nothing between your car and any of these animals. Feeding of the animals is not allowed, though one of the cars in front of us was feeding the baboon bananas causing the group to climb all over our cars. This was definitely the highlight of the drive through safari. Though it was also really cool to see the African lions up close and without a cage blocking the view. After exploring the game reserves we spent even more time taking in the elephant round-up show, looking at the bird aviaries, petting the goats in the petting zoo, and playing in both the jungle playground and Misumu Bay wet play area. The elephant show featured Asian elephants showing their strength, playing sports, and even making a painting that would later be for sale. As much fun as my kids had seeing the animals, they had as much fun in the play areas, even the wet play when the temperature couldn't have been more than 65 degrees. We came for the drive through safari but enjoyed the other aspects of the park just as much. In the end we stayed for hours longer than I initially thought we would. With so much to do it is easy to spend the entire day there.

I'd recommend taking the safari bus because you'll learn more about the animals that you'd be seeing. Their names, their family members, how old they are and all those interesting facts! On a busy and crowded day, buses also move more quickly than driving your own vehicle through the Game Reserves. You might miss out on the baboons jumping up and down on your car with a banana on their hand but you can still enjoy such sight on other people's cars from the tour bus, lol. I got to see so many animals. I wish I could have seen them more up-close. Some memorable ones were: Lemur, Giraffe, White Lion, Zebra, Ostrich, Black swan, Stork, Vulture, Elk, Falcon, Llama, Elephant, Turtle and Rhino. Stuff to do all included in the price of admission: -Animal shows & Bird shows -Boat ride -Train ride -Petting zoo for kids -Water park for kids -Parking Kids can ride an elephant or pony for extra charges. There are so much to do so a family with kids could easily spend the whole day here. I think they added more attractions since the last time I had visited this place many years ago. Staff are very professional and they do a great job of managing traffic inside and around the Game Reserves. The official address is in Hamilton, but the safari is actually located about half an hour drive away from downtown Hamilton. It is close to Cambridge, Ontario

My wife and I just visited African lion safari, the first time I have visited since I was 10 years old ( more than 20 years ago ). As an adult, I obviously have a different perspective and was hesitant to even visit this place. All in all there some positive elements to the park ie. Splash pad, educational areas, and some food. Buuuuuttt, the conditions upon which the elephants and large birds are kept are terrible. As the falcons and eagles are kept in cages half the size of my house with barely any room to fly. There is an area where 3 elephants go round and round in a circle giving rides to guests. This was hard for us to watch, to see these beautiful animals reduced to this existence for the whole day to provide amusement to us. Then the elephant show where they are made to perform ugghhh. I don't typically make my reviews political or controversial, but at some point an hour into this I couldn't take if anymore...we just left. I'm not claiming any mistreatment, but it seemed unnatural and plain wrong. Safe to say I won't be returning here, or likely any other zoo like attraction.

Game Reserves: Driving yourself is awesome and there isn't any other experience like it in the north east. Especially for the rate they are charging, very fairly priced. I didn't go to all the shows, most just the game reserves and the elephant swim. There really isn't any other comparison to the game reserves, you can't beat a lion walking along your car. Food options were okay, not really all too great, I would just pack a nice lunch. Definitely gets busy on weekends, we got there at ~930 for 10AM game reserve opening, was perfect. Not lots of traffic, was very busy after though. Not one for the shows, but the game reserves were awesome to see animals not be confined in cages.

This place is wonderful. You are able to drive your car into the park; it is so exciting. When you first enter, it is as if one is entering into Jurassic Park; a worker sits above in a high tower and as you approach, the huge gate opens. You can drive as fast or as slow as you want, and stop and take pictures of the animals wandering around. We were able to get up close to giraffes, lions, ostriches, and zebras. Of course you must stay in your car and keep the windows rolled up. There are hundreds of different animals and birds. As adults, we loved it! The scary part is before you enter, you are told that there is a possibility of your car being damaged by one of the animals. We had a close encounter with two zebras chasing each other and ran towards us. What an experience! If you don't want to risk damage to your car, you can ride a tram. After you drive through, you can park your car and enter into an amusement park. It is great for young school age children as there is a boat and train ride. There is also a fabulous water park and an elephant show. If you are in the area, I recommend you stop and visit.

This was my first time here and we had so much fun, everyone should try it, it's not only for kids. We did the Safari in the so-called enclosures with our own vehicle, they will warn you though that they are not responsible if the animals will damage your car, we didn't realize that it was possible until we came inside. Lions were just there watching the visitors taking pictures (in their cars of course-please don't open windows). We saw other animals and it was nice, the baboons were so fun to watch, they climb in cars, including ours, this is when we realize the animals can damage vehicles, an Ostrich went near our car and peck on the window.

Visited this safari while visiting Canada last weekend and I have to say I was underwhelmed. The wait time to get inside the safari was about a half hour, we went around noon and there were a lot of people waiting to be let in. Once inside, we walked around the "water park", "birds exhibit", and saw the elephants. That part was nice, albeit a bit small. Then we drove our own car through the safari and waiting behind all the other cars to see the animals made me feel like I was sitting in traffic. The lions were cool to see but it was hard to get a good look at them with all the other cars hovering. My favorite part was the baboons, they would hop on your car and it was cute to see them so up close. I think staff at the safari should only let a certain amount of cars for a specified time so there's not so many cars just sitting there waiting-maybe have allotted times for each car/group. All in all, I think you're better off visiting very early on a weekday when it's not so busy.

It's my first time here. There's plenty parking once inside. You can bring your own food - picnic or snacks and drinks. They also sell fast foods as well. The highlight is definitely the safari tour. We saw lions, baboons, zebras, giraffes, rhino, ram, parrots and so many more animals. Suggest you go early around 10:30 and book your tour as soon as you get in. Otherwise there will be lineups. You can take your car to the safari tour or get a ticket for a tour bus. One thing is with bringing your car, I was told the monkeys can damage your car. I recommend to take the tour bus. The food was ok and it is not crazy overpriced like other parks. If you have kids, bring bathing suit and towels as there is a splash pad for kids. Also a petting zoo - get some food for $1 and you can feed the animals.

We only had time to do the driving tour and it last us an hour and a half. It does seem a bit expensive if you are just doing the driving portion, but it is well worth the price when you compare to a zoo we have back home where you have to get on a bus. Driving yourself is the way to go, but you may want to go on during the week to avoid some of the high tourist crowds. We saw signs for this place off the interstate and were confused why there was a "safari" in Canada. After reading the reviews, I wanted to take my chance getting close to the lions and monkeys. The lions were kinda lazy - Except for one baby cub who keep trying to run around. The money's were awesome - we spent the most time there because there was a lot of traffic and adventure. The monkeys would ride on top of people's cars and on top of the bus. We also saw a never young monkey who was adorable. We didn't have any monkeys jump on our car but we did see a bunch of them running because of the Rangers. The only thing I don't like were the Rangers. They ride around in their car and just are very aggressive. Sure - the animals will get out of the way, but how do I know I won't run them over? I didn't explode the other parts of the park but the driving portion was very entertaining for three adults.

Just okay. - Even though the place opens at 10am, a lot of the food stalls weren't open until an hour or two later. - The free train ride is useless. Not much to see except Canadian wildlife like Canada Geese and a few turtles resting on a log (I drove an hour for that?). You get a glimpse of elephants towards the end but you can also see them on foot. - Birds in cages, cheetahs in cages...can't help but feel bad. - The actual game reserve you drive into can get pretty congested. I thought I was on the 401 with all the waiting around I had to do. To the park's credit, they have employees in zebra-striped pick-up trucks who try to wave people along, though admittedly it often goes poorly. - Monkeys like to climb on cars. There is a monkey bypass route. - Sometimes the animals stay in areas where you can't get a good view. Elephant rides are $10/person for about 3 minutes. Get there early. At 10am there were about 30 cars in the parking lot. By 1pm people were parking on the grass. Outside the drive-thru safari, this place is geared more towards kids and families. You'll find stuff like playgrounds and a little water park. Couples/adults/teenagers may find themselves bored at times. Overall, not great but not too bad if it's not busy.

Been here about 6 times. Whenever relatives come visit, and want to go sightseeing, this is one of the places we put on the list. For the reviewers saying, that the animals are too far, you have to remember, they are wild animals in their comfortable habitat. They do not want to run up to cars whenever they drive by. Yes, sometimes, you get lucky and you get the chance to see a rhino or giraffe up close, but you can not expect that the minute you drive into the area. Animals are not getting paid by the hour to stand there and have you stare at them. If you want that, then the safari would have to force the animals to be closer by giving them smaller living space, and fence them in closer so they have to be 5-10ft from the road!! Anyhow, if you get the chance, try both experiences!! Taking the tour with the safari bus, and doing the drive thru - preferably with a rental car (with full damage insurance). The baboons will damage your car whenever they have the chance!! Rip your weather stripping off, bend your antenna, pull off your wipers, etc. With going through the drive thru, you can pull over anytime on the the side of the road and just enjoy the scenery. This is the best part. You can spend a whole day there, ok, maybe a half a day. If you have not been here, it should be on your list. Great for kids!! Kids will love it.

Was just here a few days ago, and this is by far our favorite place. Sure it is not as big as the zoo and as many animals. But on certain days, when you do all the walking at the zoo,you may still end up not seeing many or what you want to see. Here, the animals are out and about, and you can easily see them. We drove our car and actually went around 2.5 times. We left the first time to see the elephant in the water, which I though was something more exciting, but it was just that, elephant in the water..So will definitely avoid that in the future. lol. Was here on a Friday, and while the lots were full later on, it didn't feel that bad overall. There was a short line going into parking, but moved pretty quick. I don't think you get all the animals coming up to your car like the old days, I believe it's only the monkeys now. Kids loved it that the animals can get so close and had a blast with the monkeys climbing on people's cars. The also liked the pony ride. There is a walking section for the splash pad, shows, rides. We only had time to catch 1 show, the parrots, and that was fun. Kids would have like the boat and train, but being our first time, we didn't want to waste much time in line. Splash pad is fun, has sections for different sizes/ages. Didn't stay too long but definitely a bonus to have one there. Will definitely return to check out other things we missed and spend more time at the splash pad. Was there pretty much from open to close. The drive was very nice too, we enjoyed that. A bonus that this is not in the same direction as most other attractions.

We love seeing the animals but there is so much to do here! There is a splash park lots of food beer and ice cream to be had too. The elephant and friends show was fun. Mostly little one acts with the small clippet with the lephant at the end thatt paints a tshirt with his trunk and some paint. Small gift shop and lots of shadybpkaces and clean bathrooms. The animals are such a special treat to get to drive through and be so close to them. You can drive through orbstay at each area as much as you like too. All the employees are friendly just don't break the rules. We saw people throwing food out their windows. Why would you try to hurt the animals and ruin a good thing. We also witnessed one accident and some almost accidents from people not paying attention or getting impatient. Just be careful and patient and enjoy your time.

This is a total waste of money. They tell you it is against the rules to feed the animals and then they turn their heads when people do so. Here's what happens. The cute monkeys sit on your car IF and only IF you feed them food. Of course human food is terrible for them and for the most part people abide by the rules but there are those idiots who are feeding them drawing the monkeys to their cars, there you sit in your car with your kids abiding by the rules and the rule breakers get the monkeys. It was sad and ridiculous because the park policy is that you'll be kicked out if you feed the animals but ultimately they don't care. Also, you could be stuck behind an idiot driver for up to 20-30 minutes. Some idiot will cut off traffic and sit there so their precious children can see the animal while blocking everyone behind them for the next 20 minutes. This place is over priced, cruel to the animals and those following the rules and I recommend that you just don't do it. You'll be happy you still have your cash and you won't want to punch all the idiots surrounding you-seriously!

We decided to spend the day here on our way home from our trip to Toronto and I'm glad we did. A lot has changed since I was small. We easily spent the whole day even tho it seems like there isn't much to do. We decided to use the tour bus through the safari instead of our suv because of the baboon stories. I'm glad we did. We seen them sitting on side mirrors of other cars. Also on the bus the driver tells you about the animals ( names, where from, etc) It was hot while we were there so the kids used the water park. It is pretty big with lots to do. They could've stayed In there all day :) We did every animal talk/show. They were entertaining and informative. The park overall is very well kept and clean. The staff was wonderful and friendly.

35.00 per person. Extra 5.00 per person to take the bus. The shows were good. The actual safari was entertaining. Our guide was great but I couldn't help but feel a bit sad for the cheetahs. Not enough space for any of the animals. If you want to drive through, beware the baboons. They love sitting on top of the car or hanging off the rear view mirror. The ostrich will come close as well. Bring food as there are not many choices.

If you want an interesting place to visit.. Choose this one. This is a drive through safari park where the animals are free roam. You might expect to see some deer or some other common animal here but that's definitely not the case. You will see lions, monkeys, zebras, buffalo, giraffes, rhinos and many many more. You have the option to take a bus but we drove through with our rental car and had no problem at all. Although the monkeys do like to climb on the cars and sit on the side view mirrors. You've been warned. My only complaint was that the safari park police or rangers or whatever they are (the people driving around the trucks with the large wood guards on the front) are dangerous. They fly through the park, mostly in between the lanes of traffic and expect you to get out of their way. I was waiting on one to hit someone and this is why I have removed a star. This place also has a massive cafeteria area and multiple gift shops.

The last time I came here, I was about 9 years old and had the time of my life. I went again today, about 13 years later at the age of 26 and had a great time again! Obviously being a kid, you enjoy it much more than you would as an adult, but it has a lot of great things going for it to be considered a fun, family day out. I'm also good at math. The safari is the whole point of this place - driving around in your own car to have animals all around you. Unless you have a sh*t box of a car like I do, I wouldn't take your own car as some of the animals love to peck at windows, pull side mirrors, etc. Monkey's are the major source of the issue, but the risk is probably what makes it so much fun. If you have a car better than mine, and most of you guys probably do, you can pay to go on a bus through the safari, which is a great option if you're worried. But then you can't go at your own pace. After the safari, you can check out a small petting zoo, some animal shows featuring parrots, elephants, and prey birds; a scenic boat ride and train ride, a water park and jungle gym for the kids. Actually, most of this is just for the kids. I went with a friend of mine, and regretted not kidnapping some child before heading over here so we didn't feel awkward. We just walked close to families and pretended to be a part of the group. It worked. We didn't have any of the food, but after seeing the prices, I'm glad I had a big breakfast. Bring your own food unless your're willing to cough up the big bucks. Overall, this place isn't that big- but for what it is, it's great for the kids and a must-see at least once. It's like the zoo, but cooler since you're driving around, and not walking the entire time killing calories. If you're lazy like me, this should appeal to you. Conserve those calories and check out this place!