African Lion Safari facts for kids
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Visitors in the reserves
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| Date opened | August 22, 1969 |
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| Location | Hamilton and Cambridge, Ontario |
| Land area | 300 hectares (740 acres) |
| Coordinates | 43°20′28″N 80°10′48″W / 43.341°N 80.180°W |
| Memberships | CAZA, WAZA, IEF, and IAATE |
The African Lion Safari is a special wildlife park in Southern Ontario, Canada. It's located near the cities of Hamilton and Cambridge. This park is about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of Toronto.
Here, you can explore seven large areas called game reserves. These areas cover about 740 acres (300 hectares) of land. Animals roam freely in these big spaces. You can see them from a tour bus or even your own car! There's also a walking area where you can see amazing birds, monkeys, and the park's herd of Asian elephants.
African Lion Safari is a member of important groups. These include CAZA and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). They also work with the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) and the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE).
Contents
Park History and Beginnings
This safari park was started by Gordon Dailley, a retired army colonel. It first opened its doors on August 21, 1969. Mr. Dailley bought four farms in the Rockton, Ontario area. These farms covered about 250 hectares (620 acres).
The park has always been privately owned. At first, the main attraction was the drive-through animal area. In 1971, the park began working with Asian elephants. By 1985, they focused on helping Asian elephants have babies. Over the years, the park has successfully bred 30 endangered species and 20 threatened species.
Exploring the Animal Habitats
The African Lion Safari has different areas where animals live. You can drive through large reserves or explore walking paths.
Drive-Through Reserves
In these seven reserves, you stay safely in your car. The animals roam freely in huge spaces. These areas can be from 2 to 20 hectares (4.9 to 49.4 acres) big.
Nairobi Sanctuary
In the Nairobi Sanctuary, you can see animals like Watusi cattle and llamas. You might also spot birds like the European white stork and Egyptian goose. This reserve is a large grassy field.
Cheetah Breeding Center
Between the Nairobi Sanctuary and Simba Lion Country is the Cheetah Breeding Center. This area is home to amazing cheetahs. It has several separate spaces where the cheetahs live alone or in groups.
Simba Lion Country
Simba Lion Country is where the African lions live. Like other reserves, it's a big grassy field. This area has a cool rock structure where the lions can rest and play.
Timbavati Lion Country
This reserve is home to white lions, also known as Timbavati lions. Just like Simba Lion Country, it has a rock structure for the lions to relax on.
Wankie Bushland Trail
The Wankie Bushland Trail features olive baboons, bongo, and Malaysian tapirs. The baboons have a special tower that acts as their house and playground.
Rocky Ridge Veldt
The Rocky Ridge Veldt is home to many animals. You can see Rothschild's Giraffe, Grant's zebra, and Wildebeest. Other animals include Ostriches, White Rhinoceros, and Addax. This reserve has grass, shelters, and rock piles for animals to climb.
Australasia Reserve
The Australasia reserve has animals like Himalayan Tahr and Tibetan Yak. You can also find Indian Rhinos and different types of kangaroos. Smaller fenced areas hold animals like Markhor and Sichuan takin. This reserve has a mix of trees, grass, and a pond.
North America Reserve
The North America reserve is home to animals found in North America. These include American bison, North American elk, and Spotted fallow deer. This reserve is mostly grassy.
Walking Tours and Rides
The African Lion Safari offers two fun tours that are included with your ticket. One is a boat ride, and the other is a train ride.
African Queen Boat Ride
The African Queen is a boat ride around a lake. On islands in the lake, you'll see different kinds of monkeys. These include Black-handed Spider Monkey and Ring-tailed Lemur. You might also spot birds like the Marabou Stork and Pink-backed Pelican.
Nature Boy Scenic Railway
The Nature Boy is a train ride through a natural forest. On this ride, you can see local wildlife. You might also spot some exotic animals like Fallow Deer and reindeer.
Helping Animals: Breeding Programs
The park is very involved in programs that help endangered animals. They work to breed Asian elephants, cheetahs, white rhinos, and cinereous vultures.
The park has also helped reintroduce birds into the wild. They have provided barn owls, burrowing owls, and trumpeter swans. They also helped with ferruginous hawks and a bald eagle.
African Lion Safari is known for its successful Asian elephant breeding program. In 2008, they had the first third-generation Asian elephant born in North America. The park has won awards for its excellent care of cheetahs and giraffes.
In 2010, an elephant named "Jake" was born at the park. This was special because it was the first Asian elephant in Canada born through artificial insemination.
Images for kids
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Demonstration of Asian elephants skills by staff
