23 km from the villa, about 20 minutes on the A9
Video : Sigean African Reserve
The Réserve Africaine de Sigean is the great wildlife park of the coast between Narbonne and Perpignan: more than 350 hectares of scrubland along the lagoons, several thousand animals and over 160 species of mammals, birds and reptiles. From Villa Container Fitou it is about twenty minutes on the A9 motorway: the perfect family day out, whatever the season.
A drive-through safari, then a walk
The visit starts with a 7 km safari in your own car, about an hour at walking pace among free-roaming animals: lions, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, antelopes. You then carry on on foot for 2.5 to 3 hours through eight parks: chimpanzees, pink flamingos, pelicans, cranes, crocodiles, snakes and tortoises. Most visitors spend the whole day there.
There are five places to eat on the walking trail, and picnics are allowed in the dedicated areas. Campervans can do the safari too. Drones are strictly forbidden, and once you leave the park you cannot come back in the same day.
2026 opening hours and prices
The reserve is open every day of the year, including Christmas Day and 1 January. It opens at 9 am, and at 10 am from 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027. In winter the ticket office closes at 4 pm and the walking area at 5.30 pm; in July and August the ticket office closes at 5 pm and the walking area at 7.30 pm.
- Adult: €34
- Child aged 4 to 14: €24
- Family ticket (2 adults and at least 3 children): €31 per adult, €21 per child
- Disabled visitor: €14.50
Tickets are sold online on the official reserve website, and places are limited.
Lumières d'Afrique, the reserve at night
From 25 October 2026 to 17 January 2027, at weekends and during French school holidays, the reserve lights up from 5.30 pm to 8 pm: a trail of more than one kilometre with twelve animal scenes in giant lanterns, set to the sounds of the savannah, the rainforest and the desert. It is included in the day ticket; an evening-only ticket also exists (€17.90 adult, €14.50 child).
Why build your stay around it
Villa Container Fitou is a luxury contemporary villa for eight guests, set on the heights of Fitou among the vineyards, with views over the lagoon and the sea. It suits this kind of day perfectly: leave after breakfast on the terrace, come back late afternoon, the children jump into the heated pool while the adults watch the sun set over the Corbières hills. During Lumières d'Afrique you can even have dinner at the villa before driving back to see the reserve by night, twenty minutes away.
The beaches of Leucate and La Franqui are a quarter of an hour away, and the Activities page lists everything there is to do around the villa.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the Sigean African Reserve from the villa?
The reserve is 23 km from Villa Container Fitou, about 20 minutes by road on the A9 motorway (exit 39 Sigean).
How long does the visit take?
Allow about one hour for the drive-through safari and 2.5 to 3 hours for the walking trail. Most visitors spend the whole day.
Is the reserve open in winter?
Yes, it is open every day of the year, including Christmas Day and 1 January. From 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027 it opens at 10 am.
How much is a ticket in 2026?
€34 per adult and €24 per child aged 4 to 14. The family ticket (at least 2 adults and 3 children) is €31 per adult and €21 per child.
Is Lumières d'Afrique included in the ticket?
Yes. From 25 October 2026 to 17 January 2027, at weekends and during school holidays from 5.30 pm to 8 pm, the light trail is included in the day ticket.
Can you picnic in the reserve?
Yes, there are picnic areas, as well as the five places to eat in the park.