“Do you hear the Wapiti?” Tune into the resident radio station as you slowly drive through the wilderness park in Montebello, Quebec, about an hour's drive from Canada's capital city, Ottawa, and you’ll hear this phrase.
Wapiti is what French-speaking Canadians call an elk and these large curious creatures will attempt to shove their massive heads inside your car window looking for a carrot or two as you navigate the route around their habitats.
Parc Omega, which opened in 1991, is arranged across five distinct areas representing the geography of Canada; meadow, forest, mountain, lake and boreal region. Since 1991, it has invited visitors to drive through all four seasons and see deer, moose, bison, bears and wolves. But in the last few years, it has expanded far beyond its initial vision to become a glamping spot with a difference. When you reserve a tipi, wi-tent or cabin you are completely immersed in nature.
You’ll also be given access to a private boardwalk to observe bears and wolves at play. By camp light, as you toast your marshmallows, you’ll be serenaded with the slightly unnerving sounds of predators all around.
This spring, a new accommodation option opened and it’s a first of its kind in North America. The two Alpha and Omega wolf cabins have impressively large floor to ceiling windows across the entire wall of the bedroom and lounge and are located inside the gray wolf habitat.
You’ll feel like one of the pack, as the animals come right up to the glass to check you out. Both beds face the windows and before you snuggle down to sleep, by the moonlight, you can watch the wolves watching you! This new addition is the most luxurious of the accommodation options as it features its own ensuite bathroom with a hot shower and plumbed toilet. There's also a small kitchenette, a fire pit outside and of course that view of the pack, which is unmatched.
Hours, admission and accommodation prices vary with the season.
By Fiona Tapp
