Wow Safari Thoiry

Wow Safari Thoiry, in the village of Thoiry (Yvelines), sits about 40 kilometres west of Paris and ranks among the largest zoological parks in France. Spread across nearly 160 hectares, it's home to roughly 1,300 animals from around 150 to 180 species, living in large, densely planted enclosures rather than cages.

What's the story behind the name?

Until 2024 the park operated as ZooSafari de Thoiry. The rebrand to Wow Safari Thoiry — short for Worlds of Wild Safari Thoiry — didn't change how the place works. The park opened on 10 May 1968, the first zoo in France to keep animals in semi-freedom rather than behind traditional fencing.

How do you get there?

Thoiry sits within easy reach of the Paris region, and driving is by far the simplest option — expect roughly 45 minutes to an hour from central Paris depending on traffic and route, via the A13 or A12 motorways. There's parking right at the entrance. A car is actually part of the visit itself: the safari drive takes you straight through open enclosures where animals move freely around the vehicles, so driving becomes an attraction in its own right rather than just transport. Travellers without a car should look into organised day trips from Paris — worth checking current operators before the visit, since offers shift by season.

What will you see inside?

The visit combines two formats: a drive through the safari zone and a walking tour through the park section. On the driving route, expect elephants, lions and Somali wild asses moving freely close to the cars. On foot, the standout feature is a set of glass tunnels running straight through the big cat enclosures — lions, Siberian tigers and hyenas pass just centimetres away, with no bars or barriers in the usual sense. The Lemurtreck adds another close encounter: a walk-through enclosure shared with lemurs and other small mammals. Beyond the headline species, the park also keeps rarer animals such as snow leopards, dholes, Amur leopards, cassowaries, eclectus parrots and matoutou tarantulas. A maze at the heart of the grounds keeps younger visitors entertained, and daily keeper talks add another layer to the visit.

When's the best time to visit?

Opening hours and season length shift throughout the year, so it's worth checking the current calendar before planning a trip — spring and summer bring longer hours, while winter visits run on a reduced schedule. Covering both the safari drive and the walking sections properly takes anywhere from half a day to a full day. Arriving early helps you skip the queue at the safari entrance, especially on weekends and during school holidays, when the park gets noticeably busier.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need my own car to visit Wow Safari Thoiry? The safari route is built around driving your own vehicle, though the park does offer alternatives for visitors without one — worth checking when booking tickets.

How long does a full visit take? Covering both the safari drive and the walking areas typically takes 4 to 6 hours.

Can you see the animals up close? Yes — the glass tunnels through the big cat enclosures and the Lemurtreck walk-through both put visitors right next to the animals, with no cages in the way.

How many species live at Wow Safari Thoiry? The park houses around 150 to 180 species and roughly 1,300 animals across almost 160 hectares of grounds.