For those seeking an African wildlife experience, Worcestershire’s West Midlands Safari Park is a top choice. Emily Chaplin, a reporter and animal lover from Birmingham Live, recently spent a night at one of the park’s newest hippo lodges.
She reported that a single night’s stay for two people costs a minimum of £515. This price includes accommodation with prime views of the hippo enclosure, dinner and breakfast, two days’ access to the park including the safari drive and theme park rides, and a 20 percent discount in the restaurants and gift shops.
There are also lodges overlooking the habitats of tigers, lions, cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, elephants and red pandas.
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Emily, her husband, best friend, and her best friend’s two young children arrived at the park in the afternoon. Unable to access their lodge immediately, they decided to complete a lap around the 4-mile safari drive, planning to return for the safari walk later.
Check-in was straightforward. They parked in the nearly full Safari Lodge car park, where a helpful staff member at the front desk explained everything – directions, timings, what the passes included, and who to contact with queries.
The group received special golden wristbands (which allow for after-hours access to certain areas of the park), a map, a general guide and a key to the Zambezi Lodge before setting off.
During the half term, The Safari Drive was bustling with visitors, causing the circuit to take longer than expected. Despite the crowd, the group of five managed to spot all their favourite animals, although from a greater distance than in previous visits due to a new rule prohibiting feeding the animals.
Emily noted that the animals had adapted well to this change, keeping their distance from the slow-moving vehicles. After their drive, they returned to their accommodation, an African-inspired haven complete with thatched roofs and lush palm gardens.
The spacious yet cosy interior featured a living area, a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, a double bedroom and another room with bunk beds upstairs. All rooms offered stunning views of the hippo enclosure through floor-to-ceiling windows, and there was also a wheelchair-accessible washroom.
The attention to detail was impressive, with the entire decor reflecting the safari theme, including adorable hippo-shaped home accessories scattered around. However, it was the balcony view that truly captivated the group, where they could watch hippos Mavis, Hilary, Gussie and Friday lounging in the mud, wandering on the grassy slope and basking in the sun, just a stone’s throw away.
During a late afternoon outing, the group had left their spot to explore the Safari Walk. The kids were thrilled by playful penguins and the impressive Land of the Living Dinosaurs exhibit.
However, they soon found that by the park’s closing time of 5pm, all attractions and amenities had shut down, and many animals had gone off for their dinners or to sleep, much to their dismay. What made it even more disappointing was when they got back to their lodge, only to realise that the hippos next door were now out of view.
Emily reflected that getting to the park earlier might have been a smarter move.
Still, the evening was salvaged with lovely moments, including listening to the wild roars of big cats after dark, which made them feel worlds away from home, as Emily noted: “We could have been on the other side of the world.”
For dinner, guests pre-select their meals; Emily’s choices included Asian chicken and braised beef cheek with dauphinoise potatoes, accompanied by soup with fresh bread.
The little ones enjoyed sausage and mash. Food is stored in the fridge inside the lodge for guests to warm up for themselves.
Though some dishes warmed up better than others, Emily reported that the dining experience was overall quite pleasant.
The most unexpected moment of the trip occurred at 6am when they were awoken, not by an alarm clock, but by a sound similar to something out of ‘Jurassic Park’. It turned out to be the resident hippos groaning and grunting as they woke up.
Breakfast was served in the form of savoury croissants and a salmon bagel, providing Emily and her friends the chance to watch the hippos munching on their morning meal while they enjoyed theirs. The check-out time was at 10 am, but guests staying at the lodge weren’t rushed; they were treated to an exclusive sealion show that entertained them until the park gates opened at 11am.
After enjoying another walkthrough of the Safari experience, Emily reflected on their stay: “We’d have planned our day out better to make the most of our time and maybe visited in the summer instead, when the animals are likely to be out and about for longer.”
However, the trip clearly left its mark, with Emily adding: “It was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience we’ll all be talking about for years to come, which alone, makes it worth the money for those that can afford it.”
To discover more about the lodges and experiences on offer, head over to the West Midlands Safari Park website.