Han-sur-Lesse Wildlife Park
The Wildlife Park : get up close and personal to the European fauna!
The Wildlife Park, an expanse of 250 hectares, is a haven of peace and quiet. More than that it is also a feast for your eyes : a panorama on the old Lesse valley or the discovery of the mysterious Belvaux Sinkhole, where the river embarks on its underground course. A diversity of animal species complete this setting. Both animals that live in our woods today : stags, deer, wild boar... and rarer and protected animals such as the ibex, the Tarpan horse, the Przewalsky horse or the European bison can be seen in the Reserve. And finally, you may also admire impressive predators such as the wolf, the lynx or the brown bear. The fact that the animals are happy and well taken care of can be deduced from the impressive number of births that take place every year. A specially designed safari-car for optimal safety will take you on a guided tour of this wonderful wildlife reserve.
Tickets : available from the front desk, in the village centre of Han-sur-Lesse, just opposite the church.
On foot or by safari bus?
There are 2 options for you to explore the Park:
- The safari bus tour, a big open vehicle that allows you to appreciate your tour without getting tired.
If you take this option, the safari bus starts from the village centre for a tour of the Park. On the return trip, it drops you off at the play area where children can blow off some steam, or where you boarded the bus, opposite the reception office, to allow you to continue your tour of the Domain and visit the caves for example.
- Explore the Reserve on foot via the new walking trail:
This nature trail which is 5,5 kilometers long, allows you to discover the upper part of the Park at your own pace.During your walk, panoramas, lookouts and vantage points will immerse you in a lovely natural environment and take you up close and personal to the animals. If you prefer this option, the safari bus will pick you up in the village centre and drop you off at the highest point of the Massif de Boine. At the end of your tour, it will pick you up again at the Tivoli, and you can finish of your tour by being driven through the plain where a number of wild animal species roam semi-free (2 hrs 15 min. minimum).During the trip back, the safari bus will drop you off at the play ground or in the village centre, where your trip started.
New : discover the canopy in the Wildlife Park: a fantastic treetop adventure!
This 200 m long bridge travelling through the tree tops is a recent addition to the park. From the bridge you can enjoy stunning views of the former river valley as well as a number of more secretive animal species who reside in the tree tops!
More information? Take a quick peek at our website: www.grotte-de-han.be
The Belvaux Sinkhole
During your visit to the Wildlife Park, you definitely be impressed by the unique Belvaux sinkhole, one of the most famous karst sinkholes of our Geopark.
Here, the river disappears into the limestone subsoil. The absorption capacity of the sinkhole is limited to 25m³/second. And yet, during periods of heavy rain or when the Ardennes snow melts, the Lesse river flow achieves a far higher rate and an overflow gathers upstream of the sinkhole which suddenly reaches the level of the old alluvial plain. The Lesse then flows back into its former river bed and floods the entire valley.
Sometimes, this phenomenon takes place several times a year. The Ayets (nickname of the villagers of Han) then say that the Lesse “turns”....
