The gorgeous lodge is a great place to find some animals (Image: Emily Chaplin/Birmingham Live)
For those looking for an African wildlife experience, Worcestershire's West Midlands Safari Park is the perfect destination. Birmingham Live and Animal Enthusiast Reporter Emily Chaplin recently spent the evening at one of the park's newest cobalt lodges and received a very entertaining wake-up call in the morning.
She reported that a one-night stay for two would cost a minimum of £515. This price includes major views of the Hippo enclosure, dinner and breakfast, two-day park access including safari drives and theme park rides, and a 20% discount at restaurants and gift shops. The park also has a lodge overlooking the habitat of tigers, lions, cheetahs, rhinoceros, giraffes, elephants and red pandas.
Reading the beautiful village with the “big beer garden” is my favorite place to visit
The lodge overlooks some of the animal habitats (Image: Emily Chaplin/Birmingham Live)
Emily, her husband, best friend and two young children, arrived at the park in the afternoon.
They had planned to complete the lap around a four-mile safari drive before returning to the safari walk. Check in was easy – they parked in the almost complete Safari Lodge parking lot. There, helpful staff at the front desk explained everything – what included instructions, timing, paths, contacts with the query.
The group received a special golden wristband (which allows for out-of-hours access to certain areas of the park) including maps of the Zambezi lodge, general guides, and keys before they left.
The Safari Drive was bustling for a half-year break and the circuit took longer than expected. Despite seeing my favourite animals from a distance than usual, the group of five managed to see them all.
The park recently implemented new rules banning animal feeding.
Emily noted that animals adapt well to this change and maintain distance from the vehicle without incentive to approach.
After their drive they returned to the accommodation. The African-inspired interior is suggested by Thatch's roof and lush palm gardens, with spacious and cozy living areas, fully equipped kitchen and dining areas, double bedrooms and second-floor rooms with bunk beds.
The view from the lodge was very impressive (Image: Emily Chaplin/Birmingham Live)
All rooms featured floor-to-ceiling windows and an accessible bathroom with a major view of the Birch enclosure.
The attention to detail is amazing, with the entire decoration reflecting the theme of the safari, including home accessories in the shape of a fun hippo shaped that are scattered around it.
But it was the balcony that really captivated the reporter and her group. Hippo, named Mavis, Hilary, Gussy and Friday, could be seen relaxing in the mud, wandering down the grassy slopes, basking in the sun just a little further away.
Late in the afternoon, the gang left the viewing location and discovered a safari walk.
The little ones were delighted with the sight of the living dinosaur land, where penguins play and live. But by the time the park closed at 5pm, all the food stalls, rides and restaurants were closed, and most of the animals that could be visited retreated at dinner or bedtime.
The fridge was fully equipped with everything I ordered. (Image: Emily Chaplin/Birmingham Live)
Unfortunately, when they returned to their lodge, they discovered that the nearby hippo was out of sight. Emily pointed out that it might be better to scatter the park a little earlier.
However, the evening did not lose its charm. The loud roars of big cats serenaded them in the evening, carrying Emily and her party to faraway lands.
Dinner was pre-packaged. It satisfies the youngest appetite chosen by Emily and the company to satisfy the youngest appetite of flavorful Asian chicken, juicy steamed beef cheeks served with doufinois potatoes, hearty soup paired with fresh bread, and traditional sausage and mash.
Food was varied when reheated as guests were kept in the lodge's fridge to warm up. Emily pointed out that they were all very appealing.
The most unexpected moment of the trip came at 6am. The group woke up to a noise that sounded like something from a scene in Jurassic Park, but turned out to be a resident hippo groaning and groaning when they woke up.
The group enjoyed a breakfast of flavourful croissants and salmon bagels and salmon bagels delivered to the lodge, watching them being fed to the hippo.
After checking out at 10am, they were treated to an exclusive sea lion show, which helped them spend time before the park opened at 11am. They took a safari walk before they got home.
“We would have planned our day to make the most of our time and instead planned to visit in the summer when there was a longer chance that animals would be out.”
However, the trip left a clear lasting impression, and Emily added:
For more information about the lodge and experience, visit the West Midlands Safari Park website.
