African Lion Safari

About African Lion Safari

African Lion Safari is a safari park situated about 100 km (62 mi) west of Toronto in Cambridge, Ontario. However its actually located is in Flamborough, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The park was first opened the gates for public in 1969 and the experience is completely different manner of exhibiting animals from the traditional approach; that is, the visitor is caged in the car, and the animals roam in 2 to 20 hectare (5 to 50 acre) reserves.

African Lion Safari have more than 1,000 animals, representing over 130 species of mammals and birds from across the world. Guests may tour seven game reserves (with a total area of about 300 hectares) traversed via tour buses or the visitors own vehicles where animals move freely in park.

Lion Safari is a great experience that allows you to view and photograph  unique and rare mammals and birds who are moving freely in large park same as like in jungle. The Safari Trail takes you through prides of lions, troops of baboons and herds of zebra. You will see big cats, baboons, white rhino, ostrich, aoudad, eland, giraffe and many other exotic and native species.                                                                                                                                      

Travel through the reserves in your own vehicle (Convertibles, motorcycles and other unsuitable vehicles will not be permitted to drive) or park your car and let an informative tour guide drive you through this wild kingdom in a air-conditioned Safari Tour Bus (additional cost). The drive through tour will take about one hour and the average stay for a family visit is five to seven hours.

The African Lion Safari also offers two tours for no additional charge; the first on boat around a lake whose islands are inhabited by various primates of the world, and the second by train through a natural wetland, which provides excellent opportunities of viewing local wildlife. The natural setting of the entire park provides excellent bird watching opportunities.

African Lions Safari Attractions

• A scenic railway tour                                                                     
• Jungle Playground (height restrictions apply)
• Drive Through Game Reserve (9 km)                                                
• Parrot Paradise show
• Misumu Bay Wet Play area  
• Take a cruise aboard the “African Queen”
• Birds of Prey (flying demonstration)
• Pets’ Corner
• Elephant Swim

Hours of Operation

African Lion Safari is open from the first weekend in May to the weekend of Canadian Thanksgiving in October.

African Lion safari has different timing of operation depends on the session.

Spring 2012 - May 6 to June 22

Mon - Fri : 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Saturday, Sunday & Holidays : 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Summer 2012 - June 23 to September 3

Mon - Fri : 10:00 am to 5:30pm.

Saturday, Sunday & Holidays : 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.

Fall 2012 - September 4 to October 8

Mon - Fri : 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Saturday, Sunday & Holidays : 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Admission Fees

Spring 2012 - May 6 to June 22

Adult(13-59)    -  $24.95 

Senior(60+)     -  $22.95

Children(3-12)   -  $19.95

2 and under       -  Free

                             (Plus Taxes)

Summer 2012 - June 23 to September 3

Adult(13-59)    -  $29.95 

Senior(60+)     -  $27.95

Children(3-12)   -  $24.95

2 and under       -  Free

                            (Plus Taxes)

Fall 2012 - September 4 to October 8

Adult(13-59)    -  $24.95 

Senior(60+)     -  $22.95

Children(3-12)   -  $19.95

2 and under       -  Free

                            (Plus Taxes)

Safari Bus Rates

Adult(13-59)    -  $4.95 

Senior(60+)     -  $4.75

Children(3-12)  - $4.75

                          ( Plus Taxes)

  

Niagara Falls

About Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara, south eastern Ontario, Canada, a port on the Niagara River opposite Niagara Falls, New York. The Falls were given its name by the area’s first know inhabitants, the Neutral Indians. They called it “Niagara,” which means “thundering waters.” The Neutrals were the first know inhabitants in the Niagara region. The Niagara falls are about 12,000 year old and Falls were formed when melting glaciers formed massive fresh-water lakes(the Great Lakes) one of which (Lake Erie) ran down hill toward another (Lake Ontario).The rushing waters carved out a river in their descent and at one point passed over a steep cliff like formation (the Niagara escarpment).From the original going over the Niagara Escarpment, the water began to wear its way back up the river. The path that it left is known today as the Niagara Gorge. The Horseshoe Falls are 180 feet (57 meters) high and allow 6 million cubic feet (168,000 cubic meters) of water over the crestline every minute during peak daytime tourist hours (that is about a million bathtubs full of water every minute). The Niagara River flows at approximately 35 miles/hour (56.3 kilometers/hour). There are actually two waterfalls in Niagara, the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Canadian Falls is bigger and 6 times more wateras compare to the Falls on the American side. Hydro Electricity generated in Niagara Falls at the Sir Adam Beck 1 and Sir Adam Beck 2 power stations from redirected water flow serves the electrical needs of Southern Ontario and Western New York.

Niagara Attraction

• Queen Victoria Park.
• Historical museum at Lundy's Lane, site of a brutal battle between American and British forces in 1914.
• The maid of the mist, Marineland, with friendship cove which provide interaction with Killer and beluga whales.
• Skylon Tower and Pavilion , containing revolving restaurant and an observation deck for overlooking the Falls.
• The Butterfly Conservatory at the Niagara Parks Botanical gardens.
• Several Golf Courses.
• Niagara Casinos.
• Spanish Aero car ride provide the spectacular trip across the famed Whirlpool rapids a few miles down from the actual waterfalls.
• Niagara Winery Tour.

Best Time to visit Niagara

Winter: Gamble, see Falls, Stay in nice hotels and eat at nice restaurants, with discounts on the hotels. Catch a play at the Shaw as well; 30 minute drive for awesome theatre.

Spring: Best time to go if you want to see the flowers in Niagara; the botanical gardens and Floral clock are beautiful. Fireworks are usually weekly when you get into the Spring on weekend evenings. Light show at the Falls. Shaw Festival winding down, early Spring your best bet if you want to get a play in.

Summer: Incredibly hot on a hot day, very little shade near the main falls. Table Rock is only slightly air conditioned as of summer 2008. Many tourists. IMHO best avoided in the summer unless you plan to something "off-book" like hiking.

Fall: The best time to go in my view as well. When the kids are back in school you will still see a lot of tourists but not the pressing throngs of summer. Cheaper hotels and gorgeous trees combine to make this the best season for me in Niagara.

CASA LOMA

About Casa Loma

Casa Loma, meaning "House on the Hill",Casa Loma continues to be one of Toronto, Ontario  tourist attraction place, with more than 350,000 tourist visit annually.This 98-room Castle features unique architecture and beautifully decorated suites, high ceilings, rich wood carvings and marble. In Toronto's Majestic Castle Casa Loma you will be able to discover secret passages and an 800-foot tunnel to luxurious stables. Stroll through five acres of the Estate Gardens in bloom from May through October.Casa Loma is owned by the City of Toronto and has been operated by the Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma since 1937.

History of Casa Loma

Casa Loma is the former estate of Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, a prominent Toronto Financiar, Industrialist and Military man. Sir Henry engaged the architect E.J. Lennox to help him realise a life-long dream - the creation of a "medieval" castle on the brow of a hill overlooking Toronto. Begun in 1911, it took 300 men nearly 3 years to complete, and cost $3,500,000 at that time.Sir Henry enjoyed Casa Loma for less than ten years before financial misfortune forced him to abandon his castle home.

Highlights within Casa Loma include: 

i) Great Hall: This is the main point of the castle. Notice the carefully crafted sculptures. 

ii) The Conservatory: The floor marble is Italian but the side panels are of Ontario marble. In winter, steam pipes keep the flowers healthy.

iii) Peacock Alley: This passageway was modelled after a passageway in Windsor Castle. 

iv) Sir Henry's Study: On either sides of the fireplace are secret doors

Admission Fees

Adults (18 - 59)     $ 20.55

Seniors (60 +)       $ 14.63

Youth (14 - 17)     $ 14.63 

Children (4- 13)     $ 11.32

                           (Include all taxes)

Parking Rates

Per Hour charge   $3/hr

Max cahrge           $8

Hours

Casa Loma is open daily from 9:30 am to 5 Pm ( Last entry at 4 pm).

Casa Loma closes at 1:00 pm on Christmas Eve.

Casa Loma closed on Christmas day.

Royal Ontario Museum

 About Rom

The wonderful Royal Ontario Museum is the largest museum in Canada and fifth largest in north America , with more than 6 million things in its collection and up to one million visitors annually. It was established by an Act of the Ontario Legislature in April 1912.It opened to the public on March 19, 1914. The Royal Ontario Museum  maintain its existence to the efforts of many people. The founders, including Sir Byron Edmund Walker and Dr. Charles Trick Currelly, began with a vision for a provincial museum in Toronto. Over the years, the careful planning of numerous employees and volunteers has expanded that vision and today the ROM is a well-known international museum. Many people have devote their time and their own personal resources to help shape the growth and continued success of the Museum . A massive expansion of the ROM, scheduled to be finished mid-2007and was budget to cost $200 million, consists of the renovation of 75% of the existing museum as well as the addition of about 80,000 square feet of public space thanks to a new annex known as the Michael A. Lee-Chin Crystal. Named after the lead donor, the magnificent glass and aluminium clad annex was designed by Daniel Libeskind who is also known for his extension of the Jewish Museum in Berlin.

Museum Attraction

·      One of Canada's largest permanent collections of dinosaurs like skeleton of Allosaur Dinosaurs   in a spectacular setting.

·  Chinese temple art that boasts three of the world’s best-preserved temple wall paintings  and Tomb dating back from the Yuan Dynasty.

·       Museum Department of natural history draws object from 12 collection and hands-on biodiversity gallery. Galleries include displays on birds, reptiles, other animals communities , and  bat cave that is family favourite.

·     Many others artifacts and other items in museum collected from around the world.  This includes Chinese Temple Art and Sculpture, historic textiles and costumes, West Asian and Europe arts and crafts, and displays featuring items from the First Peoples of Canada.

·   The Michael-Lee Chin Crystal is with hardly a right angle in sight, the crystal's aluminum and glass clad walls jut and soar, creating a dramatic interior and unique perspectives for visitors.

  ROM hour of operation

·      The ROM is open 7 days a week from 10 am – 5:30 pm, expect Friday when it’s open from 10 am to 9:30 pm.

·         Closed only on Christmas.

 ROM Admission Fee     

Cd$24 adults, Cd$21 seniors & students (w/ID), Cd$16 children 4-14, free for children 3 & under; free admission Wed 4:30-5:30pm; half-price admission Fri 4:30-9:30pm.