Zoo La BarbenThe zoo is home to Africa’s most famous big cats. The cheetahs, the fastest animals, live in a large enclosure: you can watch these four brothers running, playing or just basking in the sun. Further on, a lion and a lioness run together on happy days, under the pleasant sun of Provence. You will also be able to see a pack of hyenas at the Barben, whose laugh will make you quiver.
Giraffes are one of the most beloved animals among visitors. Regularly, giraffes come to enlarge the family, and evolve with their wobbly gait in the midst of their parents. From their height of 5.7 meters, they dominate the African savannah with their elegant silhouettes. The Barben Zoo is also home to an Asian elephant. Although smaller than its cousin, it is one of the heaviest and most imposing land animals. A couple of hippos are also among the zoo’s heavyweights: such an animal can weigh up to 4.5 tons!
With more than 130 different species, the Barben zoo offers you a trip to all the continents to discover a varied fauna. Wolves also cohabit with their funny cousins, maned wolves from Central America that look like foxes on stilts. Rather shy, they only show themselves to the most patient. Capybaras, native to South America, are the largest rodents in the world and can weigh up to 65 kg. Meerkats, fennecs, and red pandas, for their part, are very affectionate to all visitors, children and adults alike. You can also discover, during your visit, animals from our latitudes such as fallow deer, goats, deer…
A visit to the Barben Zoo also allows you to become aware of the pressure that weighs on many animal species, threatened with extinction due to poaching or the disappearance of their natural living areas. The Barben Zoo is committed to supporting various animal protection programs and has created its own association, Ecofaune. Many zoological parks in France, Europe and around the world, including the Barben Zoo, also participate in programs to save and reintroduce endangered species.
Throughout the year, activities are offered to visitors. You can attend the feeding of the animals and thus take advantage of a unique opportunity to observe them closely. The different species of birds, with birds of prey and waders in the lead, also regularly put on a show in the skies over Provence. The Barben zoo regularly stages its birds in a breathtaking show. To know the dates of the next animations, you can contact the animal park by phone or check the website.
Other optional activities are available. Guided tours and VIP visits are very popular. They allow you to approach the animals and discover what goes on behind the scenes at the Barben zoo. The “Passion Soigneur” discoveries are an activity designed for children, who will be able to discover the animals from (very) close up.
A snack bar welcomes you in the heart of the animal park, with a shaded terrace and a covered area. You can also enjoy picnic tables and a children’s playground in the heart of the park.
A store and a food court also await you at the entrance to the Barben zoo, so you can leave with a vacation souvenir!
The Château de la Barben, whose construction began in the 12th century, has remarkable gardens. You can also visit nearby the city of Salon-de-Provence, whose castle houses a museum dedicated to ancient weapons, or the city of Aix-en-Provence, famous for its historic center and its many museums. There is a wide range of accommodation on offer in the surrounding area: hotels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, etc.
