The cervids come close to your car window (Image: Personal archive)
If the thought of going to a safari park in one of the coldest countries in the world might seem like an unusual one to you, it’s because you haven’t hand-fed deer from a car window before.
During my trip to Ottawa – Canada’s capital city – we arrived at Parc Omega for lunch first, seated at a table surrounded by glass windows looking out onto a wooded area and a lake.
A few minutes into the meal, the moment we had all been waiting for – since coming across social media videos captured by previous visitors of the place – happened. A big mama bear, followed by her three cubs, wandered into view, just a couple of metres away from where we were sitting inside, separated by the windows, as the table dissolved into awws and giggles.
We got the same treatment moments later from two baby arctic foxes, tumbling over each other just outside.
That’s the kind of experience you can’t find at many places apart from Parc Omega: a 2,200-acre wildlife safari park located in Montebello, Quebec (about an hour from Montreal and Ottawa).
Before starting the safari, which was the main activity of the day, we had been eating lunch beside the park’s nursery, populated by the younger or more vulnerable animals, before they’re ready to be set free to roam the reserve.
From there, we went to collect carrots – sold at the Park House, though you can bring your own – before heading to the car driven by one of the park’s staff members and animal experts for the tour.
The first animals we spotted were the cute trio of bear cubs (Image: Personal archive)
A few practical tips are worth knowing before you go: bring binoculars if you want a proper look at the rodents and birds, tune into FM 88.1 during the drive for context on what you’re seeing, and try to avoid the 11 am-2 pm window if you can, since that’s when the park is at its busiest.
Then we were on our way – journeying through a route that follows a signposted 12-kilometre path, with a total driving time of around an hour and a half, winding through more than twenty species native to the northern hemisphere.
The first species we were greeted by weren’t at all shy – the deer came close to our windows in search of carrots, which we proceeded to feed to cervids – part of the park’s group consisting of fallow deer, red deer, caribou, elk and moose, all sharing the terrain in different pockets of the reserve, alongside bison, black bear, wild boar, and a wolverine.
Another kind of animal we were excited to see – although this time from a safe distance – were the wolves: grey, arctic and black. They are visible from the car, but also, if you have time, try to see them up close at the wolf observatory in Sector 11, separated only by glass, with presentations running three times a day.
Beyond the driving route, there’s a lot to see at Parc Omega: Sector 11 has an aerial boardwalk that takes you tree to tree above the reserve, a scattering of picnic areas dotted through the pedestrian zones, and several hiking trails winding through the park’s flora and fauna.
If you’re visiting with kids, a highlight is The Old Farm, dating back to 1847, a farmhouse with resident animals and its own picnic spots, open daily until 5.30pm.
For nature enthusiasts, naturalist-led presentations run throughout the day, covering beavers, wolverines and birds of prey – the latter run in partnership with conservation groups studying the park’s falconry programme.
The park also stretches into the Land of Pioneers, where you’ll find the free-roaming deer, more farm animals and a chance to learn about New France history; and Trout Lake, a peaceful stretch of water where you can feed fish as well as the deer, in summer or winter.
If the day visit is not enough – given the amount of activities available – worry not. Parc Omega also offers options for overnight stays, including Wolf Cottages positioned for direct wolf-watching, Panoramic Chalets overlooking deer terrain, cosy Pods, and Ready-to-Camp options deep in the forest.
The park is tied to a foundation actively working on species protection and habitat preservation, running conservation and breeding programmes for threatened species and partnering with local schools to teach the next generation about animal welfare and conservation.
A pack of wolves came into view from a safe distance (Image: Personal archive)
Book it
Parc Omega is in Montebello, Quebec, around an hour from Ottawa. Day tickets range from $19 for children aged 2-5 up to $49 for adults, with the park open daily from 9 am between June and September 2026.
Overnight stays in the Wolf Cottages, Panoramic Chalets, Pods, or Ready-to-Camp accommodations include park admission and require a car. Find out more and book at parcomega.com.
Air Transat offers direct flights from London Gatwick to Ottawa with return fares from £357 per person. Book at airtransat.com. The airline also offers year-round direct flights from London Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow to Toronto.
You can also find out more about Ottawa on ottawatourism.ca.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
