With a squeal of delight, my five-year-old called out my name: ‘Mummy! I can see the zebras.’
He was pressed up against the window of the upstairs bathroom with a pair of binoculars about the size of his head, as I was unpacking our overnight bag next door in the beautiful master bedroom of Keeper’s House at Longleat Safari and Adventure Park.
Located on the east side of the estate, the 220-year-old property provides the most incredible view across the park’s East African reserve.
Earlier, when we arrived and rushed out of the car, we were greeted by a herd of ostrich, with a single Rothschild’s giraffe just visible in the distance. The reserve is also home to wildebeest and painted dogs, with cheetahs and lions featuring elsewhere on the estate.
It’s a struggle to ‘do’ Longleat in a day – so staying overnight is the perfect way to visit.
Lisa Snell and her family checked in to the 220-year-old Keeper’s House (above) at Longleat Safari and Adventure Park in Wiltshire
Keeper’s House affords guests views of the zebra herd in the East African reserve, which also features a herd of ostrich and Rothschild’s giraffes
Having left London in the morning, we arrived with time to explore some of the attractions, including the Adventure Castle and Rockin’ Rhino ride.
Then, as quiet descended over the 900-acre Wiltshire estate and day visitors made their way home – the last safari entry is 4pm – we discovered our digs for the evening, located at the start of the animal drive.
By the time we arrived, there was a feeling of absolute calm – apart from my over-excited children, desperate to explore.
The house is homely and cosy, the walls adorned with photographs charting the park’s history.
The interior design pulls inspiration from all of Longleat’s most famous animals – the leopard print cushions on the beds are a personal favourite.
In the beautifully designed kitchen, complete with Rangemaster oven and hob and coffee machine, guests are greeted with a large hamper sat atop the ample island. It contains everything you need for a tasty breakfast including a loaf of sourdough bread, eggs, croissants, muffins and strawberry jam, with milk, butter and orange juice waiting for you in the fridge.
Above – the Keeper’s House master bedroom, with nods to Longleat’s famous animals
The stunning bathroom features luxury products and views across the park
Lisa’s children warm up in the beautiful freestanding bath after a bank holiday downpour
Driving in and out of Longleat is straightforward, as we discovered when we nipped to a local pub for a Sunday roast.
Unfortunately for us, the weather was appalling for our visit, although we did insist on a bank holiday weekend, so only have ourselves to blame for the rain.
After dinner, all we wanted to do was dry off and warm up, which meant a lovely big bubble bath for the children, pyjamas and a snuggle on the sofa.
The constant interruption when yet another ostrich or zebra was spotted out of the living room window sparking fevered debate about whether it was dry enough for the entire family to descend outside. Again.
Given we had made the journey from London to Longleat in a hire car, I didn’t fancy risking the drive-through safari the following morning so after a relaxing breakfast, then a maddening rush to convince my two and five-year-old to peel themselves away from the windows to get dressed, we left the house and headed for the safari bus.
The kitchen features a Rangemaster oven and guests are treated to a welcome hamper
The cosy living room – the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring
The second animal-inspired bedroom can be configured as a twin or double room
I made some silly decisions in relation to this trip, including not bringing the kids’ waterproofs or wellies, despite checking the forecast before leaving, but getting the safari bus over doing the drive was not one of them.
Those Longleat monkeys clawed out parking sensors on cars like it was an Olympic sport. And it was highly amusing smugly watching this mischievous behaviour from a double-decker bus, as drivers sat behind their wheels, none-the-wiser.
The car with the most damage had a banana placed strategically on the dashboard, so I can’t help but think that particular owner brought it on themselves.
The bank holiday traffic through the safari extended our bus tour by approximately an hour. There is somewhere to stop for supplies and a toilet break before starting the journey, so it’s advisable to stock up on snacks, especially if it’s busy and you’re travelling with young children.
Lisa and family enjoy the Longleat safari aboard a double-decker bus
Anne the elephant has been happily enjoying her retirement from circus performing at Longleat since 2011
Our toddler missed the big cats as he was taking a nap, but this section of the safari didn’t disappoint our older son.
He hadn’t stopped talking about cheetahs for days, so when one stalked the bus he was delighted.
But the absolute highlight was a rare sighting of Anne the elephant, only the seventh time our driver Dave had seen her out of her paddock.
This beautiful animal, with such a tragic tale of life as a circus performer, has been very happily living out her retirement at Longleat since being rescued in 2011.
She enjoys a state-of-the-art residence at the park and is left free to roam as she pleases, and as such spends a lot of time inside.
She’s not used in any marketing for the park and often visitors miss her, making this up-close and personal experience extra special.
It was a special finale to a wildly memorable stay.
For more information visit www.longleat.co.uk. Longleat is just off the A36 between Bath and Salisbury. The park’s on-site luxury stays cost from around £500 per night.
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