Four kilometres north of the city centre, this excellent zoo – France’s second largest, covering 60 hectares – has an enormous population of wild residents that span the world’s continents, including a rare white rhinoceros, three young leopard brothers (called Tao, Tango and Twist) and a family of Atlas lions. It’s laid out like a safari park, with most of the animals roaming free in open enclosures – so be prepared for walking.
Admission to the zoo is free, but there’s a charge for the Serre Amazonienne , a gigantic tropical greenhouse which replicates the humid world of the Amazon rainforest, complete with piranhas, alligators and reptiles.
Take tram 1 to the St-Eloi stop, from where you can either walk to the zoo or catch a free shuttle bus (labelled ‘La Navette’).
