Wiltshire, UK - May 2006 - Longleat Safari Park
Introduction | Westbury and Devizes | Avebury | Beyond Avebury | Stonehenge | Old Sarum | Salisbury | Longleat Safari Park | Lacock Abbey and Village |
Sadly, the next morning we had to check out of the Old Bell Inn, but we consoled ourselves with a trip to Longleat Safari Park.
You could easily spend all day at Longleat. Unfortunately we only had time to visit the Safari Park (there is the house and a host of other attractions to see as well). It's not cheap but it's well worth the admission fee.
First off comes the East Africa Reserve featuring Ostriches, Zebras, Camels, Giraffes and rather bizarrely Llamas.
Ostrich
Llamas
Zebra and Giraffes
Then you enter the Monkey Jungle - probably the best bit of the park. The monkeys clamber all over your car (and may chew your ariel and stuff).
Mother and child
Monkey Train
Monkey cuddles
Next you enter the Big Game Park. The Southern White Rhinoceros is the highlight of this enclosure. You'll also see Bactrian camels and Ankole Cattle.
Southern White Rhino
Bactrian Camel
Ankole Cow
Next you move on to the Deer Park. Here you can feed the deer - but watch out - you'll get deer spit splattered all over the inside of your car.
Mark feeding the deer
After the deer comes the Tiger Territory, the Lion Country and the Wolf Wood. The tigers and wolves proved very difficult to see although you did catch glimpses of them in their woodland enclosures. I guess it just depends on whether you get lucky and they are moving around as you pass by. Everyone drives very slowly through these areas so expect traffic jams and long waits.
The lions were much more visible and were quite active. They were still really difficult to get a decent photograph of though.
Longleat lions
At the end of the safari you pass by Longleat House. Everyone with safari tickets can park by the house and have picnics and visit the shops. If you have tickets then you can tour the house and go on safari boat trips (which did look like fun). If you buy a full ticket you don't have to do everything on one day either - I think it's valid for a year so you can come back to do the things you haven't done yet at a later date.
View of Longleat House
View of Longleat Park
