The African savannah 45 minutes from Paris, such is the promise of “dinner safaris”, a new, unusual and exclusive activity at the Thoiry animal park (Yvelines). Every Friday from mid-July, and until mid-September, the ZooSafari offers visitors an immersive evening of around 3 hours, the highlight of which is a dinner in the form of a giant barbecue in the middle of the African plain, under the intrigued gaze of zebras, antelopes, wildebeest, elephants and ostriches.
It all starts with a guided tour of part of the park in a bush truck, punctuated with anecdotes about the animals. We then pass on the tables d'hôte set up a few meters from the animals, secured by discreet rangers. There are also the barbecues of Kobus Botha, renowned South African chef, behind the caterer "Kobus Braai", which pays homage to long cooking at low temperature with the good smoky taste of the Afrikaners - made here with the wood of the trees of the castle of Thoiry.
The South African barbecue Kobus Botha ZooSafari de Thoiry
On the menu, cooked on the braai: pulled beef (cooked for 12 hours), pork belly (5 hours), Scottish salmon (3 hours) and boerewors (homemade South African sausages with beef and pork). But also lightly smoked bufala mozzarella, chakalaka (vegetables and legumes with typical Soweto curry), pap (porridge made from white corn flour), lightly candied sweet potatoes and grilled butternut salad, spinach leaves and feta. Without forgetting, for dessert, the malva (a South African pudding). All washed down with South African wines.
These dinners at sunset, prohibited for children under 12 for safety reasons, are a first for Thoiry, whose 50-hectare park where animals roam free can usually only be visited by car, with a ban on descending. Change of scenery guaranteed!
Safari dinners at the Thoiry ZooSafari (78). Every Friday until September 11, 2020. First departure at 6:45 pm, meeting point at the entrance of the Safari. Prices: 115 € for adults, 75 € for children (12 to 16 years old). Under 12 years old not accepted. By reservation online. Includes a walk in the zoo from 3 p.m. By reservation online .
