Casela is a bird park which about two years ago added big-cat interactions to their offering. This make it a unique opportunity to really interact with the animals and was the highlight of our trip (well, other than our wedding day of course!).

First we took the rickety safari bus to the big cat area, five minutes bumping away. You see deer, zebras, emus and various other animals along the way. There are three big cat experiences available - the Lion Walk, Cheetah Encounter and Lion Encounter. The Lion Walk needs to be booked in advance, the other two you seem to be able to book on the day - though perhaps safest to book these too. We originally booked the first two, but enjoyed them so much that we went back and booked the Lion encounter too.

Lion Walk - in a group of about 10 you are taken on a walk through the local terrain in the company of two lions. We had a fully grown male and female, but they swap the lions around for each walk so that they all get a turn and are used to walking with any of the other lions. You take turns to walk along side the animals, rest your hands on their backs, stroke them and pose for photos in various pretty locations. The "trainers" are very watchful and careful and tell you if they think you should drop back etc. The lions are trained not to come between you and the stick you are given to hold. It was a little muddy so wear trainers or something you don't mind getting dirty. Also, don't wear anything that flaps about.

Cheetah Encounter - We were with one other couple and the "trainer" amid a group of about five cheetahs. We individually stoked and tickled the cheetahs who lay sprawled on the ground appearing to enjoy the attention. They purred when tickled in the right spot and were really cute.

Lion Encounter - We initially didn't book this but went back in the afternoon to do it. As just our family group of three, we went into the main lion enclosure with a couple of trainers and stroked, petted and posed with the junior and baby lions. Again it seemed you could take as long as you wanted with the animals, who mostly were playing with a tire or generally sprawled out enjoying the sun.

Afterwards, we chatted with the man running the big cat encounters, who seemed genuinely keen to ensure we had a really good time and were happy. He was an ex-Zimbabwe farmer who had to leave in a hurry and so had returned to Mauritius, his childhood home, to set us this new part of the park. All the lions had been hand reared and seemed well treated and in good condition. Even though we were right up close to big cats, at no time did I feel in danger, the trainers were attentive and careful and the cats clearly used to constant interaction and very casual about it.

For the lion walk a DVD as well as professional photos were taken and for each encounter more photos were taken. We hadn't intended to buy these as we had our own camera but we were amazed at the price, only about £20 for the DVD and photos -- much cheaper than many similar places – so we happily bought it to supplement our own copies (theirs were better than ours too). When we compare what we spent on this day out with for example "swim with Dolphin" experiences, it was a fraction of the price and probably less staged/more enjoyable.

The rest of the park had nice views and lots of aviaries. The restaurant was good and the waiter carried our table outside because we wanted to sit on the lawns and admire the view down to the sea and distant magma core. The food was good and my daughter enjoyed feeding the peacocks and pretty wild birds with her chips.

They have a giant tortoise enclosure which you can enter and meet the tortoises. We learnt a cute trick when on safari in Kenya a while back. If you stroke and tickle them under their chins for a while, they stand up on tiptoe and you can almost see them smiling. My daughter had three of them going at once, rushing back to the first just before it descended back to the ground.

There is also a petting area with geese and goats, which is average, (with a pretty cockatoo who whistles that tune "Hitler has only got one….") plus lawns and lakes where some people fish.

If there is just one place you visit while in Mauritius I strongly suggest it is this park. We had an absolutely fantastic day and will remember meeting the big-cats for the rest of our lives. On top of that it was terrific value.