A guide to PAIRI DAIZA, the best zoo in europe!

We have always been big fans of the zoo, especially when it is evident they’re doing a good job with animal protection and conservation. The kids love learning about animals of the world in person, and it seems they have new “favorites” each time we go. Because we lived so close to Pairi Daiza, and as it was named the “Best Zoo in Europe” recently two years in a row, we decided to snag season passes so we could go as often a we want, even if just for a stroll, a trip to the playground, the gift shops, or some good food. The Pairi Daiza website is tons of fun to peruse, and I recommend it before you visit. This is a quick overview of what to expect, plus a few tips and suggestions depending on what you have for time and money to spend on this experience! Pairi Daiza website here.

LOCATION: The zoo is located in Brugelette, Belgium about 5 minutes from Chievres Air Base. For military members, base lodging is a great option if an overnight stay on the zoo property is outside the budget. This is approximately one hour from Brussels, three hours from Paris, and four hours from Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

The most impressive part of the zoo are the various accommodations available inside the park, from gnome-like berm bungalows and cottages to a big main lodge and underwater rooms. Prices are steep for the package deal (from approx $160/pp per night – $800 for a family of 5 for a two day, one overnight stay), but for people visiting from away, it’s probably worth the splurge as it includes meals and two full day passes to the park. This place is so huge you need at least two days to appreciate it all!

HOURS/TICKETS: Opening dates are usually from mid February to the first of January of the following year. Tickets are € 42 for adults and € 36 for children, with discounts for seniors and people with disabilities. You will pay for parking as well (€ 11) and additional if you’d like to rent a wagon (€6) or other mobility aid. Season passes are free for locals who live in Brugelette, but cost about $100 per person age 12-59. More info can be found here.

We have visited countless times and are always finding new things. Pairi Daiza is also always growing – construction is in the works now for a massive new section called the “Sanctuary” that will have a huge glass roof, underground caves, lodging above and below ground, and serve as a tropical biosphere slated to open to the public in 2025. Just prior to us moving from Belgium they opened the brand new beautiful welcome courtyard and pavilion. It’s world class! Below are photos of the brand new state-of-the-art entrance that opened in 2023:

One of the highlights of Pairi Daiza is the attention to detail, especially seasonally. The zoo does an awesome job with decorations, so repeat visits are never dull. Halloween and Christmas are especially notable! In the winter they also freeze a big section in the land of the cold and you can ice skate. See below for some of the unique holiday decor:

OVERVIEW: There are many unique Jardin des Mondes, or “garden of the worlds” in Pairi Daiza, all themed according to their region. Architecture, animals, and themed food make each world region come alive. Our favorite part about the park were all the wild storks in massive nests that reminded us of Hungary, as well as the wild peacocks that make their home here and wander about freely, showing off tail feathers. We saw peacocks flying here, which was such a treat! There is a petting zoo with farm animals, terrific gift shops, and plenty of eateries and kiosks for food and snacks. The kids also keep their eyes peeled for bowls of birdseed they can scoop a handful of to feed the peacocks. Although wandering the worlds is the best way to rack up the steps, the kids are always looking forward to playground time and get their fill of climbing, running, sliding and jumping! The playground is one of the best in the region (see below).

The lands are as follows: The Land of the Cold, Kingdom of Ganesha, The Middle Kingdom, Cambron-Abbey, Cambron by the Sea, The Land of Origins, Southern Cape, The Last Frontier.

The Kingdom of Ganesha is an Indonesian themed world where temples and statues depict the region’s main deities of worship. Asian elephants, orangutans, white tigers, komodo dragons, rare Sulawesi macaque monkeys, birds of Bali and more make up this world perched high on a hill. It is crowned with a large Balinese “flower temple,” depicting traditional Hindu culture and even a village of Timor cottages. Hot tip: visit here mid day on warm days to watch the elephants parade down to the lake and take a bath! Ask the visitor’s center what time it will be (it has been at 10AM or 2PM in the past). Also keep an eye out for the secret tunnels through the temple on the way up the hill. It’s so fun to explore!

In the Middle Kingdom, Chinese temples, gardens, great food and Asian animals invite visitors to experience the heart of ancestral China. Fish and birds, including a coy fish touch pond, various mountain species, red pandas, Asian black bears, and the giant panda are among the big draws in this section of the park. The layout is beautiful, with walkways through a “path of healing,” connecting several islands, surrounded by water that expertly separates different animal groups including gibbons and langur monkeys. Here you can also experience a traditional Buddhist temple overlooking the park and bang the gong for good luck, or climb up two stories to the narrow suspension bridge that connects this area to the playground. Don’t miss the tea shop in the middle of the path of healing, right next to the Chinese garden that is meant to be appreciated barefoot! Here in the Middle Kingdom you can also partake in a fish pedicure in the Cabinet of Dr. Yu. I also love walking through the huge bird sanctuaries. If you’re lucky, birds can land on you!

Speaking of the suspension bridge, it is one of the coolest features of the park! The kids love walking through the treetops and ending up at the playground. Fair warning – it’s VERY wobbly and only one way!

The Land of the Cold and the Last Frontier are regions dedicated to the northern hemisphere and countries like Canada, Alaska in the United States, and Siberia. Here you can see the great Siberian tiger, polar bears, American bison, raccoons, reindeer and walruses as well as Eurasian brown bears, sea lions, grey wolves, deer, moose and the American black bear. This is also one of the areas of the park where the resort lodging is located, in case you want to spend Disney-level dollars and wake up with animals peeking at you through a large picture window. The lodges are behind gates that allow the deer to wander freely about so you can be completely immersed with them. These regions also has great food options! Our kids love the spiral potato chip sticks. It’s fun to watch the sea lions being fed here, too!

The Land of Origins is among my favorites, as it houses the great apes and giraffes. African design and architecture are honored in this centrally located region of the park with stilt houses and Temerba homes. Traditional African foods can be sampled (some of my favorites and the most creative dishes in the park) while perusing the animals including cheetah, lion, lemurs, African elephants, giraffe, rhinos, wildebeests, lemurs, tortoise, hyena, zebra, ostrich and other African birds, various monkeys and gorilla, hippos, and hogs. This area is celebrated as the “cradle of civilization,” and visitors could spend an entire day here taking in the sights. Keep an eye out for the poutine food truck – my favorite!

Cambron by Air and Cambron by Sea are original areas of the property dedicated to the Cambron Abbey, a 1,000 year old Cistercian abbey that has since been converted into this award winning zoo. Some of the buildings still remain – including the original Abbey building that is a huge aquarium and a must-see for sea creature lovers. The crypt tower is especially wild – you can walk in and be surrounded by bats, and exit via an underground tunnel! It was closed during covid, but has remained one of my kids’ favorite creepy spots to visit. These two sections are dedicated to birds, fish, seals and penguins, and are well appointed with sculptures and flowers in the gardens.

Here you can also walk amongst the penguins and watch the seals play. It’s truly immersive! Also near the huge lake is a giant green ship that serves as an animal sanctuary for reptiles. My youngest LOVES this spot and doesn’t want to miss it when we go! It also houses a decent restaurant, so it’s worth checking it out.

The Southern Cape is the last “world” creatively depicted in Pairi Daiza. Located in the center of the park adjacent to playground and Cambron by the Sea, the Southern Cape houses Australia’s famous wallaby, koala, kangaroo, wombat, and various exotic birds. From here you can take a break and let the kids go hog wild at the playground; it stretches over 200 meters with a sandy bottom and more playground options than anywhere around. It is easy to be socially distanced here, especially during the week! It is easy to see why this zoo has garnered so many awards. It is a sight to behold!

Another highlight of the zoo is the train. You have to pay extra for it (they justify this by saying they can’t accommodate all guests so it is first come first served and tickets have to be purchased in line) but it’s a truly awesome way to get a full overview of the park if you don’t have tons of time to see all the things. It’s a real steam train, so if you have a train lover in your family, you’re in luck! There is also a steam train warehouse “museum” in the land of the cold.

MUST DO THINGS:

• Get a Liege waffle.
• Walk the high path along the bear enclosure, past the sea lions as they are being fed, and among the deer.
• Scoot past the wolves and white tigers to see the walrus from under water (some say this is their favorite place to stay overnight).
• Walk through the orangutan temple and past the elephants – if you’re lucky you’ll spy the elephants bathing and the orangutans playing outside on their enormous jungle gym.
• Take a shortcut through the middle of the park peeking at the Australian animals on your way to the Kingdom of Ganesha.
• Pet the fish in the coy pond, bang the gong, walk the suspension bridge, and pick out a tea at the tea shop in the middle of the peace walk on your way to the pandas. Enjoy the Japanese gardens along the way – stunning!
• Play at the playground.
• Ride the train.

This is hands down the best zoo in Europe for a reason – it rivals Disney Animal Kingdom and is an immersive experience unlike any other! If your kids are real animal advocates and zookeeper wannabes, you can pay extra for a variety of experiences including feeding certain animals and interacting with them, too. Learn about those experiences here. Pairi Daiza also used to offer summer camps for kids, so keep an eye out for that as well (it may only be available in French or Dutch, though). Overall we didn’t have any issues communicating here, but if you have issues, just use your translator. Feel free to message me if you have questions – but if you’re considering going, just do it. You won’t regret it!