Who wants (or can afford) to board a plane, fly to a too-hot country and walk around for hours in the hope of seeing a wild animal? Skip all that. You can see the greatest sights of Africa only an hour from Birmingham – from hippos and elephants to cheetahs, tigers and lions at West Midlands Safari Park. And the best part? You can spend the night!
Taking the game of ‘sleeping lions’ to its logical conclusion, West Midland Safari Park offers a range of Safari Lodges where you can spend the night overlooking the enclosed habitats of wild dogs, red pandas, giraffes, rhinos and more animals. These luxury lodges are designed to give you an “up-close and immersive overnight wildlife experience like no other.”
Unsurprisingly, Safari Lodges have been recognised at Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2024 – placing them among the top 10% of listings in the world. The award honours those who consistently earn authentic, first-hand and positive reviews on Tripadvisor. West Midlands Safari Park’s Safari Lodges currently holds a score of 4.6 out of 5.
“We are over-the-moon to have achieved the 2024 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award,” said Vikki Green, Head of Marketing. “This is the second year running to win this accolade based on customer reviews, so it is the best endorsement we could achieve, and we are honoured to be included amongst guests’ favourite locations, once again.”
“I’m immensely proud of all the team who have helped to win this award, from our guest hosts and reception staff, to the kitchen team and housekeepers. It’s a real team effort every day to ensure we’re creating an amazing and memorable experience for our guests. It’s fantastic to see all the lovely feedback and we look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors in the future.”
Safari Lodges first opened in 2021, with eight lodges overlooking elephants and cheetahs. Three years later, there is a choice of 26, additionally offering spectacular overnight stays with views of giraffes, rhinos, red pandas, tigers and lions. West Midlands Safari Park is set to open a further eight lodges this July, with views of hippos and African wild dogs – the first of its kind in Europe.
What are the Safari Lodges like?
You may be living with the animals, but you’re not living like animals. West Midlands Safari Park’s Safari Lodges are pure luxury! For example, the Lion Lodges can sleep up to six people with bedrooms and living quarters featuring giant windows that provide panoramic views of the enclosure.
This unique experience lets you eat, sleep and relax while the park’s four male lions play and explore their home. The four brothers – all born at the attraction in the summer of 2019 – are called Havoc, Hodge, Harabi and Hercules. You’ll get to know them quite well during this unique stay. (Havoc has the darkest fur in the group!)
Meanwhile, the Tiger Lodges have their own hot tubs and private verandas, and Elephant Lodges include a spacious balcony with outside seating. Each is as unique as their animals, but all come with breakfast and dinner, and two-day admission to West Midland Safari Park’s other attractions – including the Adventure Theme Park, African Walking Trail and Tiger Tropics.
To learn more about West Midlands Safari Park head here and to book a stay at one of its Safari Lodges go here.