Travel & Transport
Where to eat
Where to stay
July 2004
Zoo Cap Ferrat is on the St Jean Cap Ferrat peninsular which juts out between Villefranche and Beaulieu. It is only a short walk from the mainland. There are wonderful views of Villefranche and Mont Boron on this short walk. You also will pass the St Jean Cap Ferrat Tourist Office so you can collect local information if you want and you will pass the entrance to
Villa Ephrussi. The start of the 'littoral' or coastal circular walk around the Cap is just below the Tourist Office.
The Zoo is a very easy bus trip from Nice. Catch the 111 if you want to be dropped off right outside the zoo (about 25-30 minutes bus ride) or if you don't mind a short walk, get the 100 bus to the last stop in Villefranche, called 'Ange Gardien' by the Hotel Bahia on the low coastal road - the Corniche Inferieure and walk to the zoo - about 15 minutes bus ride plus 10 minutes walk.
The bus 100 is the best option inspite of the walk as it is very regular, usually about every 20 minutes wheras the 111 has only about three trips a day. We caught the 111 to get to the zoo (12:17 at the Port) and when we had enough of the zoo, we walked back to the 'mainland' to catch the 100 back to Nice. This worked very well.
From Jan 2005 there is a new way to get to the zoo. The Nice network of local buses - ligne dazur has extended out and the bus 81 has a regular service from the main Bus Station or Gare Routiere in Nice toSt Jean Cap Ferrat, stoppiong at the zoo. This gives you even more flexibility when planning your trip. More information below on the left. It looks as though the 81 only stops at the zoo from Nice. To return to Nice, there are a limited number of stops on Cap Ferrat, and the zoo is not one of them.
The zoo is small, (3 hectares) neat, green and shady. Although it was July, it never felt too hot and it wasn't even that smelly.
The cages looked large in relation to the number and size of animals. Most of the animals were awake and very active, only a handful were snoozing. The monkeys were my favourite; they were very entertaining and stretched their hands out for food which pleased the daughter. You buy bags of animal food (popcorn) for 1 euro at the ticket office.
Most of the animals could be hand-fed - there were clear signs when it was forbidden.
There was a good mix of apes and monkeys and a large collection of tropical birds. We also saw tigers, zebra, peccaries, bears and otters.
The only animal I saw that looked in any kind of distress was one of the bears which was trying to get back in its cage. The animals looked well-cared for and the cages were clean and had fresh food and water.
There is a petting zoo for children, smelly goats mostly and a children's play area with climbing equipment.
The 'Jungle cafe' looked very reasonably priced with a selection of salads and paninis, We didn't eat here as we had brought a picnic but I had a coffee, 1,60 euros and the daughter had a fancy ice-cream for 3 euros. I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of a restaurant but next time, we'll eat here and not bother with a picnic. If you DO bring your own picnic, there are many benches around the zoo plus a dedicated picnic area with tables and litter bins.
There is also a souvenir shop which was full of expensive tat in rubber and fluff.
I had planned to catch the 111 back into Nice but I hadn't realised the zoo would be so small. It really can be covered in about an hour, stretched out to 2-3 hours maybe with lunch and a play. The return bus 111 wasn't due until 18:18 which is why we changed our plan and how I discovered the more flexible option of the 100.
A lovely afternoon out. It could perhaps be combined with the circular 'littoral' walk all around the peninsular of Cap Ferrat or a vist ot the Villa Ephrussi, only about 5 minutes walk from the zoo, if you wanted to make a day of it.
You are also very close to a nice public beach, La Plage du Passable, just below the tourist office if you are being pestered for a swim.
Practical Information (2004)
Zoo du Cap Ferrat
117, Boulevard du Général de Gaulle
06230 SAINT-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT
Tél. + 33 4 93 760 760
Fax. +33 4 93 760 736
Open every day from 9:30
11 years - adult 12 euros
under 11 years 8 euros
under 3 years free
zoo map and guide free
bag of animal food 1 euro
There is a very reasonable cafe or you can take your own picnic - there is a specific picnic area plus benches dotted around the rest of the zoo,
From Nice, bus 111 (2,10 euros) to outside the zoo or the 100 (1,70 euros) to the bus stop 'Ange Gardien' by the Hotel Bahia just past Villefranche, then a ten-minute walk.
Zoo Cap Ferrat website:
www.zoocapferrat.com
See map below (from their website) to see location of Cap Ferrat Zoo in relation to Nice.
(use the back button on your browser to return to this site)
(info accurate fro 2004)
Transports Alpes Maritimes
Use the TAM site above for travelling out of Nice on public buses or coaches. You can find the 111 route to St Jean Cap Ferrat. The cost to the zoo, one-way on the 111 is 2,10 euros (free day return to Nice from the corresponding bus-stop, just show your bus ticket to the driver)
The 100 bus is not listed, curiously, but I have scanned the information:
bus stops Nice- Mention 100 line
The bus departs Nice at the Gare Routiere -bus station, Place Garibaldi or the Port.
Get off for the Zoo at the last stop in Villefranche, Ange Gardien, from the timetable the stop just before Pont St Jean:
Bus 100 timetable, Mon-Sat
The 100 is only 1,70 euros with a free return to Nice as above.
Further info about using the TAM network
For some brief information about St Jean Cap Ferrat try the following:
http://la-cote-dazur.com/stjeancapferrat/
do a super one of Nice (left) which also includes Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint Laurant du Var too.
4,80 euros
For more details or to buy this book please click here
The map above (from the book) shows the route between the Zoo and the bus 100 stop, 'Ange Gardien'.
It is too small to make out the road names but, from the bus stop, take the road that crosses over the train line and head down avenue Denis Semena. After you have paassed the tourist office on your right, bear right up avenue Albert 1er then take the first right up boulevard General De Gaulle. The zoo is a couple of minutes' walk up this road on the right. To walk back to catch the bus 100 back to Nice, do the walk in reverse.
Don't forget the bus 111 will drop you right outside the zoo and take you back to Nice but there are only about two buses a day; the walk to the 100 is worth it - there are buses every 15-20 minutes. Or take the new bus 81, you will need to calculate the return bus stop; it doesn't stop at the zoo on the return trip but the retrun bus stop will be closer than the Ange Guardian for the 100, more information from the links on the left.
Plan of the 81 bus route
www.lignedazur.com
for all information about the new network.
