Beautiful and modern zoo with (mostly) spatious enclosures for their animals, many rare species to see, and various successful breeding programs. Amongst the unusual species you'll find here are a pair of giant panda - the zoo's star attraction - as well as snow leopards, white tigers, jaguars, koalas and manatees, to name a few, in addition to more commonly encountered species such as lions, panthers, tigers, elephants, rhinos, hippos, penguins, giraffes, crocodiles, gorillas, flamingos, parrots, and much, much more. The enclosures in which you'll find the animals have, for the most part, been designed such that they not only mimic the animals' natural habitat, but moreover provide an area for the animals to retreat to from the eyes of the public. As such, it can be difficult to spot the small and coy red pandas amongst the leafy branches of the trees in their enclosure, the rhinos in the distance of their "savanna", or the jaguars (including a melanistic one) on their platform. Most enclosures, however, have been built to provide the viewer with a broad spectrum of the animals' behaviour while remaining as unintrusive as possible. The hippo-enclosure is a perfect example of this, as the adjoining building offers views from three different levels: underwater, ground level/level to the water-surface, and from above. Similarly, the white tigers can be viewed from above; the penguins on both ground level and underwater; and the lions from both inside (by means of a viewing-tunnel) and outside of their enclosure.

It's obvious that plenty of attention has also been paid to the design of the rest of the park, as most sections of the zoo are beautifully and thematically decorated, with numerous intertwined pathways guiding visitors along hillside pathways, raised walkways, and more. Plants play an important part in this theming too, with some stretches of the park feeling narrow and confined amongst trees, while others feel like the open landscape of the savanna. As such, the zoo presents its visitors with an immersive experience that can easily compete with the best of theme-parks - all the while remaining respectful towards their animals. How impressive this all is, is best appreciated from the gondola that carries people from one end of the park to the other.

With unlimited photo-opportunities and various playgrounds, Beauval has a lot to offer - no matter whether you're a couple, family with kids, or single. Highly recommend.