By admin Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Our furry friends are out in full view during the warm summer months, so now is a perfect time to pay a visit to a zoo or a farm near you. There are so many great places across Ontario where you can pet the animals, feed them or just admire them from afar.

Animals in Southwestern Ontario

At the African Lion Safari in Hamilton, you can feel like you’re on a safari without going all the way to Africa. Take your car or ride the Safari Tour bus through the Game Reserve and get up close & personal with majestic animals from around the world. There are also many animal & bird shows to enjoy. In Guelph, you can visit with the sweet donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada.  Donkeys are lovely, gentle animals & you can learn all about how to care for them as you enjoy the beautiful grounds.

Animals in Central Ontario

A visit to the Elmvale Jungle Zoo will take you into the world of more than 300 animals from around the world including Australia, South America, Africa & Asia. Kids can visit the petting zoo, playground & pond in this lovely, family-run zoo. In Manilla, Ontario, visit the Salem Alpacas Farm where you can see the alpaca herd, tour the farm & shop in the gift shop where beautiful alpaca clothing & products are sold.

Animals in Ottawa

Parc Omega is located an hour outside of Ottawa and is an opportunity to come in close contact with many native Canadian animals like moose, bears, raccoons & wolves. You can hand-feed ‘safe’ animals that will come up to your car for treats, or visit the walking trails, playgrounds, picnic areas & restaurant. The Papanack Park Zoo is half an hour east of Ottawa and has many opportunities for visits with exotic animals.  There’s zoo camp, Senior Safaris, Overnight Camp & Night Safaris.

Animals in Eastern Ont

Eastern Ontario has plenty of fabulous farms & zoos to visit. There’s Waddle n Wags Hobby Farm in the Bonnechere Valley. This family-run hobby farm has over 50 species of animals like llamas, ferrets, turkeys, boa constrictors & more. Promise Land Family Fun Farm in Belleville is a great place for kids to interact with & learn all about farm animals. The Saunders Country Critter Zoo has over 60 species of animals from around the world.

Animal lovers will love Ontario’s fabulous zoos, farms & safaris and the opportunities to see some incredible animals out in the open.  While we have picked a few regions to highlight, there are animals in every region. So, don’t wait; pick a zoo and say hello to our friends in the animal kingdom.