Pairi Daiza Zoo

About Pairi Daiza Zoo

An impressive zoo, theme park and gardens all in one!

We love this zoo. It is huge but beautiful! Attention has been given to every small detail, from the fairytale toad stools to the many different sculptures and decorations seen throughout.  There is so much to see but there is a logical route which ensures you don’t miss out on anything and it is easy to turn back and see bits again. You can take the zoo train, a proper steam train, should you want to give your legs a rest. Pairi Daiza is more than just a zoo really as it is a beautifully landscaped botanical garden with Asian sculptures and statues as well as two large lakes in the middle and a big playground.

It is split into sections corresponding to continents of the world which not only have the animals from that part of the world but also some stunning architecture such as the Chinese pagoda. There are 5,000 animals at Pairi Daiza including the giant panda, giraffes, hippos, white tigers and elephants and there is even a little petting zoo at the entrance which toddlers love. There are set feeding times which you can plan your day around and the animals have a lot of space to roam which is nice to see. We loved watching the sea lions being fed and also the aquarium just before the exit is mesmerising. Toddlers love watching the funny shaped and colourful fish swimming around near their faces.

If mum or dad fancy it there is a spa centre where you can enjoy a fish pedicure (depending on how ticklish you are!)  This is where you dip your feet into a pool of water full of little fish which nibble away at your feet! Which, whilst extremely tickly, is also strangely relaxing and leaves you with very soft skin on your feet!

Right in the middle of the zoo is a large, sandy play area with lots of different equipment for all ages. There is a toddler area closest to the snack bar which has a little train to play in and various toys to bounce on! Our 3 year old actually spent most of her time on the big slides in the main area but played happily with her little brother in the toddler area as well.

Whilst it is large it is also buggy friendly and there are easy paths to navigate which take you to the top where you can enjoy some lovely views over the whole park. You can definitely spend a whole day here and enjoy a picnic or try one of the many snack bars. As you would expect being in Belgium, they also serve some very nice beers!

Located about an hour south of Brussels and an hour and a half from Bruges and the Belgian coast, it’s also a good place to stop off for a few hours en route if you’re driving between the Ardennes and the famous cities of the north.