Casela Nature Parks Mauritius: lion walks, prices and how to get there

Walk with a lion? Feed a giraffe? Fly over a gorge on a zip line? At Casela, anything is possible! What you can find in this unique adventure park in Mauritius and why it is definitely worth visiting - more on that in the article below.

Casela Park - from a bird sanctuary to lion safaris

Casela Park is called the "World of Adventures" in Mauritius. It is a true giant of entertainment, spread across 250 hectares on the island’s west coast. Here, nature, wild animals and adrenaline are mixed into such a cocktail that it takes the breath away of both children and adults.

Casela opened its doors in 1979. At that time, it was a modest bird sanctuary, which over the years turned into a unique park that every tourist in Mauritius dreams of seeing.

Today, it is not just a zoo, but a huge ecological project that takes part in breeding programmes for endangered species, for example pink pigeons.

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Themed zones: the 5 worlds of Casela

The park is so large that it is divided into five huge zones, each of which can be explored for hours:

• African safari (Safari Kingdom): the heart of the park. Here you feel not as if you are on an island, but somewhere in the centre of the African savannah. Zebras, ostriches, antelopes and majestic white rhinos roam across the vast fields.
• Predator Kingdom (Predator Kingdom): a place where the predators of the jungle live - lions, tigers, cheetahs, caracals and servals. This is the only place in Mauritius where you can meet such large cats.
• Thrill Mountain (Thrill Mountain): a zone for those who do not have enough adrenaline in their blood. Zip lines, hanging bridges and jumps into the abyss.
• Pangia (Pangia Kids Park): paradise for the youngest visitors. There are rides, carousels, mini golf and a petting farm.
• Birds Paradise (Birds Paradise): home to more than 150 bird species from all over the world. You can step right into the aviary and find yourself surrounded by bright exotic birds.

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Main Casela experiences: what you need to book in advance

There are experiences in the park that always have queues, so book them at least 72 hours before your visit, and even better - a week in advance.

Lion walk at Casela

This is Casela’s “signature attraction”. For one hour, visitors walk through the forest next to young lions. No cages! Only you, the lions and a couple of experienced rangers with sticks. Goosebumps are guaranteed when a huge cat walks half a metre from your leg. You can watch them play, sharpen their claws on trees or simply lazily inspect their territory.

Important: only visitors over 150 cm tall and older than 15 years are allowed. This is a matter of safety.

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Breakfast with giraffes at Casela

If you have seen Instagram videos where people are having breakfast and a giraffe looks into their plates - this is the place! From 8:00 to 9:00 in the morning, you can order a full breakfast during which giraffes will come up to you. You will be able to feed them by hand and take a selfie that will get thousands of likes.

Close encounters with lion cubs

Have you always dreamed of stroking a lion cub? Now you have that chance! Ten minutes in close contact with these charming little cats. Watch them play, listen to their soft growling and enjoy tender moments under the supervision of professional caretakers.

Meeting white rhinos

The white rhinos Ella and Benji are the real stars of the park. During the 45-minute programme, you can come close to them under the supervision of the keepers, touch their powerful skin and learn why they are actually very vulnerable creatures.

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High-energy adventures in Casela Park

• Quad safari (Eco-Quads). The quad bikes here are electric, so they work almost silently. Animals are not afraid of them, which means you can drive close to zebras or antelopes. The ride lasts about one hour.
• Zip lines (Thrill Mountain). One of the longest zip lines in the Indian Ocean is located here - 400 metres of flight above the canyons! And for the bravest, there is Canyon Swing - a jump from a 40-metre platform into free fall.
• Tulawaka Gold Coaster. This is a rail toboggan track. You sit in a two-seater cart and rush down the slope through the forest. You control the speed yourself, but the bends are absolutely thrilling!
  
  

Fun for children: the Pangia zone

For the youngest visitors, Casela has created a whole “children’s country”:

• A mini farm where you can feed rabbits, baby goats and fawns with milk from a bottle.
• Rides: “Flying Hippos”, “Monkey Swings” and carousels.
• The programme “Zoo Keeper for a Day” for children from 8 to 14 years old. Under the supervision of park staff, children prepare food for the animals and help feed them.

How to get to Casela Park

The park is located in the west of the island, in the Cascavelle area, near the Flic-en-Flac resort. By car or taxi from Flic-en-Flac it is only 10 minutes. From Port Louis - about 40 minutes. If you take a taxi, it is better to hire it for the whole day so the driver waits for you, as catching a car at the park exit in the evening can be much more expensive.

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Prices and visiting Casela Park

Opening hours:

• Low season (May - September): from 9:00 to 17:00.
• High season (October - April): from 9:00 to 18:00.
• Closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Ticket prices:

• Adult (from 12 years old): about 34 euros.
• Child (4-12 years old): about 28 euros.
• Children under 4: free of charge.

The entrance ticket includes the safari bus, a walk through the bird aviary and one ride on the Tulawaka attraction. All other activities are charged separately:

• Lion walk: 105 euros.
• Cheetah interaction: 26 euros.
• Quad safari (2-seater): 111 euros.
• Breakfast with giraffes: 105 euros.
• Zip line (4 lines): 40 euros.

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Tips for visiting the park

• Shoes. This is critically important! You will not be allowed near the lions, onto the zip line or onto the quad bikes in flip-flops. Only closed sports shoes (trainers or sneakers).
• Change of clothes. If you choose quad safari or buggy rides, be ready to return dusty or muddy. Bring a T-shirt and shorts with you so you can change before lunch.
• Water and sun. Be sure to bring SPF 50+ sunscreen, hats and a supply of drinking water.
• Planning. Do not try to do everything in one day. The territory is huge, you need to move between zones on internal shuttles, and you need to be everywhere 15-20 minutes before the start. Allow 1.5-2 days for Casela.
• Food. The park has restaurants with familiar dishes, pasta and pizzas, but at lunchtime it can be crowded. It is better to book a table at reception as soon as you enter.

Casela is a place where you will definitely feel closer to African nature. Be sure to include this park in your Mauritius itinerary, because the emotions you get from walking with a lion or feeding a giraffe will stay with you forever!

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