Zoo de La Boissière Africa Lodges: sleep beside giraffes or rhinoceroses
Choose the animal plain first. The giraffe-side lodges look across giraffes, Nile lechwe, tsessebes, greater kudu, Watusi cattle, oryx and marabou storks. The rhinoceros-side lodges face rhinoceroses, zebras, wildebeest, ostriches and Nile lechwe.
Pick the animal view, then confirm the live package
Africa Lodges are inside the Zoo de La Boissière du Doré experience. The official package currently combines the lodge, two-day park access, dinner and breakfast, but room rates and availability vary by date and occupancy.
Which animals can you observe from each lodge?
These are living habitats, so no individual animal is guaranteed to be visible at a particular time. On the giraffe plain, giraffes are brought indoors around 30 minutes before the zoo closes and normally return between 8:15 and 8:45 in the morning.
| Animal setting | Lodge categories | What you may observe |
|---|---|---|
| Giraffe plain | Savane Lodges Watusi, Mrs Gray and Koudou; Family SPA Marabout; Cocooning SPA Girafe | Giraffes, Nile lechwe, tsessebes, greater kudu, Watusi cattle, oryx and marabou storks. The non-giraffe species usually remain outside unless weather conditions require otherwise. |
| Rhinoceros plain | XXL Zèbre and XXL Oryx; Cocooning SPA Rhinocéros | Rhinoceroses, zebras, wildebeest, ostriches and Nile lechwe from the large terrace-facing plain. |
What does the premium stay include?
The details below were checked against the official Africa Lodges pages on 17 October 2026. Confirm the final booking summary because packages, seasonal access and supplements can change.
| Item | Included or provided | Optional, excluded or to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Park admission | Access to the zoo for two days is listed in the lodge package. Lodge guests also receive earlier park access: one hour early from March to late June and September to November, and 30 minutes early in summer. | Operating dates and exact access times must be matched to your stay. |
| Dinner and breakfast | A dinner tray with an aperitif and breakfast are included. Dinner consists of prepared dishes supplied in jars for reheating; menu choices are requested before the stay. | Extra gourmet items, champagne and other upgrades are optional. |
| Bed linen and towels | Bed linen, bath towels, shower gel and shampoo are listed as provided. | The public pages do not explicitly state that every bed or sofa bed is made before arrival. A travel cot and booster seat are provided, but the cot mattress is not included. |
| Kitchen and food storage | Savane and XXL lodge descriptions list a microwave, kettle, refrigerator and crockery; their living areas are described as having an equipped kitchen. | Do not assume a full self-catering kitchen with a hob or oven unless your exact lodge description confirms it. |
| Bathroom | Toiletries and bath towels are supplied. Savane Lodges have their shower and WC at ground level with external access. | Check the layout of the exact XXL or spa category if step-free or indoor bathroom access matters. |
| Terrace and spa | All listed categories have an animal-facing terrace. The Cocooning SPA and Family SPA categories include a private hot tub on the terrace. | A hot tub is not part of the standard Savane or XXL categories. |
| Activities | Early zoo access, park goodies and discount vouchers for the zoo restaurant and shop are listed in the package. | Private animal encounters, keeper experiences, massage and other VIP activities are paid options subject to availability. |
| Parking, cleaning and taxes | A private, free and secured lodge car park is provided. | End-of-stay cleaning and tourist-tax treatment are not clearly detailed on the public package page; confirm them before payment. A €100 security deposit or card pre-authorisation is requested. |
| Transport | No transport to the zoo is included. | Train, taxi, car hire and the final transfer are arranged and paid separately. |
How to choose your Africa Lodge
Savane Lodges
Watusi, Mrs Gray and Koudou are raised 53 m² lodges with a 15 m² terrace. They work well for families who want a mixed-species savannah view and practical kitchen equipment.
Family SPA Marabout or Cocooning SPA Girafe
Choose Family SPA Marabout for a larger group of up to nine, or Cocooning SPA Girafe for a couple. Both add a terrace hot tub to the giraffe-plain setting.
XXL Zèbre and Oryx
Each XXL lodge sleeps up to eight. The two units can be joined for a group of up to sixteen after arranging it directly with Africa Lodges.
Cocooning SPA Rhinocéros
This couple-focused 58 m² category has a 25 m² terrace and hot tub facing the rhinoceros plain.
Getting to Zoo de La Boissière du Doré
The zoo is in La Boissière-du-Doré, east of Nantes. The official access page describes it as roughly 30 minutes from Nantes and Cholet by car.
- By train: Clisson and Ancenis are the nearest stations identified by the zoo, both connected to Nantes by regional TER trains.
- Last mile: the zoo says a taxi is required after the station. Reserve it in advance and coordinate it with the 17:00–19:00 lodge arrival window.
- By car: lodge guests first use the zoo car park for their visit, then drive to the secured lodge car park about 500 metres away for check-in.
- Electric car: the main zoo car park has charging points; check current access and availability before relying on them.
Booking and independent-guide note
ZooSleep is an independent editorial guide and does not manage Zoo de La Boissière du Doré reservations, prices, packages or availability. The zoo is covered editorially and is not presented as a ZooSleep partner.
Check current Africa Lodges availability
Prefer the original French editorial guide? Read Dormir au Zoo de La Boissière du Doré.
Frequently asked questions
Which animals can I see from the Africa Lodges?
The giraffe plain includes giraffes, Nile lechwe, tsessebes, greater kudu, Watusi cattle, oryx and marabou storks. The rhinoceros plain includes rhinoceroses, zebras, wildebeest, ostriches and Nile lechwe.
Are zoo tickets, dinner and breakfast included?
Yes. The official package lists two-day zoo access, a dinner tray with aperitif and breakfast. Extra gourmet items and VIP activities are optional.
Are bed linen, towels and a kitchen provided?
Bed linen and bath towels are supplied. Savane and XXL descriptions list a microwave, kettle, refrigerator and crockery, but travellers should verify the exact equipment of their chosen lodge.
Can I reach the zoo without a car?
Yes, with planning. Travel by train to Clisson or Ancenis, then pre-book a taxi for the rural final connection and match it to the lodge check-in window.