Living in the zoo… sounds like a 4-year-old’s fantasy, doesn’t it? Like a fairytale where a little protagonist is friends with all the animals in the world, feeds the rhinos and talks to giraffes. A dream from the childhood, a wild plan that’s never gonna happen because who lives in the zoo?!?!? How and where? Have you ever heard about a zoo where you can actually live? Where you can stay over not being an employee or a guard? Me neither… until recently!

 

To live in the zoo would be an attraction for an adult let alone a kid! Most of them love animals with eternal love, want to see them, caress them, feed them and even dream about fluffy cats and rabbits. A night at the zoo is a bit like an adventure from a fairytale and Maks was able to live it during our stay in Normandy. We spent the last night and the last day of our stay in a zoo.

 

Normandy, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

Normandy, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

Normandy, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

 

Located near Lisieux, 30 km from seaside Deauille and Trouville-sur-Mer Parque zoologique de Cerza was our last stop on our trip to Normandy. Perfect moment since we needed some time to relax at that time real bad. The zoo is not only known for its size (huge!) and countless species of animals but also because you can actually live in it. It’s a perfect solution since the area is so big that it’s hard to see everything in just one day. There are three types of accommodation available. Big (safari lodges) and small (zooobservatories) houses or yourtes. Each has its own balcony so you could sit down in the evening and watch the animals passing by. What animals… sometimes antelopes, sometimes a rhino, maybe even chimpanzees? Don’t be scared though – the houses are situated so that you could see the animals without them invading your balcony. Zoo is locked up for the night and there’s no way a lion or a bear could come peeking into your bedroom 😉 The only animals present close to the houses are KANGAROOS! 🙂 It’s amazing how close to the houses, people and cars they come. We even managed to spot a little kangaroo jumping into his mother’s pouch! 🙂

 

We arrived in Zoo de Cerza late evening. So late that Maks was already asleep. Waking up in a zoo must have been quite a surprise for him. We on the other hand had the opportunity to sit down on a small terrace, with a glass of French wine and a good view of what’s going on in the zoo.

 

Normandy, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

Normandy, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

Normandy, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

 

On the next day, after breakfast, we left to see the area and meet the animals. At first we got a guided tour with an employee from the zoo who told us about the place from behind the scenes. You can book such a tour too. We visited the rhino, listened about how he’s taken care of, stroked him (I prefer stroking cars ;)) and Maks fed him with apples. We saw the kitchen where all food for the animals is being prepared and it looked quite amazing – like a proper restaurant with meat on one side and salads on the other 😉

 

Then we took a little train ride to make Maks happy – 20 minutes long. As you can imagine, it’s a great thing for all kids who still aren’t into walking everywhere on their own feet. We tried a similar thing in New Zoo in Poznań.

 

Normandy, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

 

There’s plenty of animals and it’s great that some (who are allowed to ) stay close to people, you can approach them, hold them in your hands (i.e. little goats) or stroke them. Quite an impressive place!

We didn’t manage to see everything but we were absolutely amazed by giraffe feeding which we attended during our tour. An amazing experience! First their caretaker showed us how to give them their leaves and then everyone could do it on their own. Maks who was a bit scared of the rhino, didn’t want to leave the giraffes at all 😉

 

Normandy, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de CerzaNormandy, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

ormandia, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerzaormandia, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

ormandia, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerzaormandia, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

ormandia, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

ormandia, France, Zoo de Cerza, live in the zoo, travelling with a child, France with a child, Parque Zoologique de Cerza

 

A visit to Cerza is a perfect addition to any trip to Normandy, especially if you’re coming with a child. It’s also a great place for the parents. They can chill out close to the nature after seeing all the charming little towns. And for the child – it will surely be no.1 attraction!:)

More information can be found on their website – HERE!

 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

Zoological park CERZA

Départementale 143

14100 Hermival les Vaux

Normandy, France

 

*We stayed at Zoo de Cerza thanks to Atout France – French Tourism Development Office and Normandy’s Regional Tourism Committee .