The Longleat Safari and Adventure Park is more than just a mere zoo- it is an exciting opportunity for the entire family to explore the UK’s number 1 Safari Park, on foot AND from the comfort of your own car. This beautiful 900 acre park opened to the public in April 1966, the very first of its kind outside of Africa. It is also world renowned as the home of BBC’s popular program, Animal Park, which first aired in 2000 and gives viewers a look at a day in the life of a Safari park.
The Safari Tour explores the African and Australian Outback, where visitors can get up close and personal with elephants, zebras, llamas, camels, and antelope. During this first part of the Safari, visitors may park their car and get out to take pictures of giraffes, wallabies, and goats. Pre-booked group tours may even get the opportunity to hand feed the giraffes at the giraffe watering hole! As you leave the Africa reserve you’ll pass through Flamingo Valley and catch a glimpse of one if the 40 flamingos.
Next in the tour is a fan favourite- the Monkey Drive Thru. Guests can opt to skip this section, if they are afraid of damage to their cars, but it is an experience you may not want to miss! The 100 small rhesus monkeys that live in the enclosure love to play and joke with drivers, climbing over the cars, and sometimes prying off loose parts from vehicles- including hub caps, aerials, and wiper blades! Deputy head warden Ian Turner says, “The Longleat monkeys are one of the key attractions of the Safari Park, creating fond memories for many thousands if not millions of kids over the years, and probably the same number of frustrating memories for dads!” Indeed, the enclosure to the Monkey Drive Thru is littered with various paraphernalia removed by the playful little primates.
Don’t forget to keep some spare pounds in your pocket and purchase some deer feed at the deer enclosure. Beautiful woodland are only too happy to nibble feed directly from your hands as you offer it to them through the window of your car.
Double gated enclosures house the beautiful and majestic lion pride, which frequently boasts beautiful new lion cubs. Tigers prowl and play close to the cars, occasionally brushing right up against one as they stalk by. If you wait long enough, you may even get to see an exciting (albeit gruesome) feeding occur when the zoo keepers come around with a fresh carcass. Longleats lions eat about 40 tonnes of meat per year!
Before leaving the Safari Park, enjoy a playful pack of beautiful wolves and their playful puppies. Watch as they run, chase, and tackle one another, dig holes, and play in the grass.
Once back in the Adventure Park, cars should be left in the parking area and the zoo explored on foot. Guests are welcome to enter the meerkat enclosure, where meerkats and chipmunks mingle freely with people and rainbow lorikeets suckle honey from your hand! Keep your eyes open for flying nocturnal creatures who come within inches of you, to the delight- and sometimes terror!- of those who dare to enter the Bat Cave.
Take a walk on the wild side while you explore the many attractions in the Adventure Park. Don’t forget the Gorilla Island Cruise leaves every 10 minutes to visit the home of the world's second oldest gorilla, 50-year-old Nico, who enjoys watching television, especially Sponge Bob. Keep an eye out for two giant hippos as they sun themselves along the bank, and buy some fish to toss to the sea lions that frolic near the boat vying for treats.
Meet up at the train station for a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine, a 10-15 minute journey through the park. As you cross the bridge over the water, watch out for sea lions!
Other attractions at the Safari Park include the hedge maze, Longlea House, the Secret Garden, Tea Cup Ride, and the Sweet Shoppe. Prices can be found on the website at http://www.longleat.co.uk/.
References:
http://www.longleat.co.uk/ Retrieved Oct. 8th, 2011.
Kelly Denine - Kelly Denine works as manager at a Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo dealership in Newfoundland. She is also the President of the local auto ...
