African Lion Safari

For a family-friendly adventure like no other in Ontario embark on a driving tour through wild game reserves at African Lion Safari. With seven different wildlife themes, discover habitats and animals from across the African continent, the Australian Outback and even the high plains of North America.

From the safety of your vehicle, weave through different ecosystems and explore over 300 hectares with animals roaming free, including some species that are threatened or endangered. Spot lions, zebras, giraffes, white rhinos, ostrich, watusi, kangaroos, bison and more. After your “safari,” discover more about the park’s conservation efforts, breeding programs and research teams.

Just outside Cambridge, off Highway 8, African Lion Safari is only 35 km north of Hamilton.

For up-to-date information and details about African Lion Safari, we recommend visiting their website. For more information about the park and other places of interest to explore nearby, keep scrolling to see what Destination Ontario recommends.

A tower of giraffes drink from a pond

Photo credit: African Lion Safari

More about African Lion Safari

African Lion Safari combines entertainment and the joy if witnessing nature with wildlife conservation education, particularly for species classified as threatened or endangered.

While you ooh and ahh on your tour of the themed game reserves, experts work behind the scenes to research and conduct breeding programs to increase populations. African Lion Safari staff travel globally to provide extra care to animals in the wild. Since opening its doors in 1969, African Lion Safari has successfully bred 50 different threatened and endangered species.

The park provides features large swaths of bushland, grasslands and forest, with a vast amount of space for animals to roam and behave as if they were in the wild.

If you tour in your own vehicle, you’ll receive a quick inspection to ensure everyone’s safety. However, if you’d rather not drive, opt for the Safari Tour Bus. And don’t forget to bring binoculars – this is a safari!

9 km of driving routes lead through the Nairobi Sanctuary, Simba Lion Country, Timbavati Lion Country, Wankie Bushland Trail, Rocky Ridge Veldt, Australasia and The Americas. Over 1,000 animals and birds live in the open grasslands, shaded forests or the expansive marshy wetlands.

While making your way through the park reserves, listen to an audio tour recorded by experts. You’ll learn all about the animals in each, how to identify them, any special features and what they like to eat and do. The park also provides a general welcome tour and more information about their conservation programs, including the Cheetah Conservation Centre.

Combine your African Lion Safari adventure with other attractions in the area. Just south of the park is the Westfield Heritage Centre, which features more than 30 historical buildings across 204 hectares. Tour the museum with costumed interpreters. The museum’s property is an official conservation area with several walking trails through its meadows and woodlands.

North of African Lion Safari, Valens Lake Conservation Area is a great spot for outdoor pursuits like hiking, boating, camping and fishing, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. The 300+ hectares are managed by the Hamilton Conservation Authority, the region’s largest environmental organization that protects critical natural areas. Other popular nature preserves in the area include Dundas Valley Conservation Area and Christie Lake Conservation Area.

Head to the quaint town of Cambridge nearby for restaurants, cafes and boutiques. Set on the Grand River, enjoy a stroll through Mill Race Park which overlooks the river and features remains from an old mill. Visit the McDougall Cottage, a heritage site from the mid-19th century and the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge for musical and theatre performances.

Last updated: August 18, 2023

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