DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN GO ON SAFARI IN THE UK?
By James Weatherup
When someone mentions going on safari, your mind probably wanders to the big game reserves in South Africa.
The trouble is you need to travel 12 hours and 6000 miles and part with " Mucho Dollar " to get there.
But did you know we have our very own unique safari experience in the UK , set in 600 acres at Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve near Hythe in Kent ?
It's an incredible immersive experience with a great family atmosphere and well cared for animals.
I set off to experience it for myself with my family to celebrate my 70th birthday which included 8 adults and five grandchildren.
And we were not disappointed as the park boasts 900 animals ,including lions, tigers, gorillas,giraffes, bears, camels and rhino.
You need to book in advance for an overnight stay and there is plenty of accomodation to choose from, it just depends on your budget.
For instance a luxury family tree house would set you back £699 for the night or a room for two at the historic hotel from £309.
To get the best of all worlds, I chose Bear Lodge - a luxury glamping tent , which starts from £389 per night and two cabins at Leopard Creek with stunning uninterrupted views over the Kent coast.
It's not cheap, but this is a blend of luxury hospitality with conservation-led tourism. Ticket revenue supports breeding and conservation and there are a lot of endangered species being raised and cared for.
The cabins came with the addition of two golf buggies which were very handy while exploring the park as it is quite hilly in parts and there's a fair bit of walking to do if you want to experience as much as you can.
Our lodge was a bit like a five star old style gypsy caravan with fabulous views and a really comfy bed and all mod cons, with shower and coffee making facilities.
The Bear lodge luxury tent was about 20 minutes away and combined cosy accommodation with wildlife views offering a fabulous mix of adventure, wildlife and nature.
There's a variety of dining options at the park to suit all tastes. There was a slight mix-up on our reservation , and we ended up ordering from Babydoll's - lovely pasta and pizza - but eating on the terrace at the hotel which was marvellous. Other options included The Garden Room, which offers a sunday roast or a splendid afternoon tea in the mansion with champagne.
We all arrived at different times on the Saturday and met up along the many sections to explore. The highlight for us was the safari tour on the Sunday where we all climbed aboard an open sided lorry and entered the different compounds where the lions , tigers, camels, monkeys, bears, and rhinos were roaming nearby. It was a close up and personal experience and our trip lasted around 45 minutes but there are options to book longer.
My son Simon and his wife Nicole and toddler Mia were spellbound watching the wolves being fed , whilst my other son Mark and his wife Edwina and children Colby and Eden went back to check out the wonders of the bear enclosure. Lucy and Tom and sons Jesse and Carter walked their legs off and loved everything about the park.
While the kids then went exploring - there's an amazing model dinosaur section - my partner Jilly and I took ourselves off to the wonderful hotel terrace where we toasted a job well done. VERDICT : Pretty good for a 70th birthday family celebration.