A 90-minute African safari experience from London. The sound of a lion’s roar lulls you to sleep in a stunning glamping bubble.

For many people, waking up to the roar of a hungry lion just a few feet away can be frightening. But I was excited.

I was happy for them to come up and bark loudly to make my morning a little more special.

This is the safari resort of Port Lympne, near the Kent coast, where I had just spent the night in the new Lookout Bubble, a transparent dome located within a groaning distance of the lion enclosure.

dark Sky The top of the bubbles showed that it was still early.

So I picked up where I left off the night before and went back to sleep gazing at the stars and listening to the lions’ bratty chatter. It was more of a comfort than a cause for concern.

Even though we were right next to the big cats, we couldn’t have been safer.

This bubble provided me with a cozy refuge from Europe’s largest lion enclosure and the elements.

It’s also cleverly angled so that the early birds wandering through the park can’t catch a glimpse of me lying on a marshmallow-soft king-sized bed housed inside an inflatable glamping dome. ing.

This was also a well-earned lie-down as I had spent the previous day being as exhausted as possible.

It began with an epic safari tour of the 600-acre property in a truck, led by the park’s highly qualified and enthusiastic guides.

I was introduced to 900 fascinating creatures, including ostriches, wolves, baboons, vicuñas, antelopes, and camels.

Each animal here plays a role in the Aspinall Foundation’s Back to the Wild initiative, which aims to prevent the extinction of endangered species and reintroduce as many species as possible into the wild.

To date, we have rescued and rewilded more than 1,000 animals, and our work in Port Lympne is a critical part of that effort.

Afternoon tea

The tour included a rhino and giraffe feeding, which we happily participated in during our visit. I had so much fun offering leaves and celery to the gentle giants that I didn’t mind the saliva they left behind.

I thought that was their way of saying thank you.

After washing our hands thoroughly, it was time to eat. For lunch, the afternoon tea at the resort was perfect.

Delicately cut finger sandwiches, cakes and pastries satiated my appetite in the glamorous setting of the mansion where Sir Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin once dined.

For those looking for a more hearty meal, the on-site Garden Room and Restaurant offers hot and cold breakfasts, a light lunch menu including sandwiches, and hearty evening meals.

For dinner, we chose lasagna and pitivier, which is a type of pie, but they also have great steak and vegetable dishes.

Time between meals was spent exploring the rest of the park aboard the comfortable golf buggies available to anyone staying in the Lookout bubble.

But as much as I enjoyed schooling and seeing the animals, I was happiest when it was time to drive back to the dome and park in the parking lot for the night.

At that time I had a view of the Kent countryside. First under the stars, then in front of the bright morning sun.

Moments like this are what make a stay at Lookout Bubble so much more than just a trip to the zoo.

Sun readers only

SUN readers can stay in Pinewood’s glamping pods, which normally cost up to £269 per night, for just £125 per night for two, £150 for three or £175 for four.

Includes breakfast and dinner, entry to Port Lympne Reserve, seat on the truck safari and free entry to Howletts Wildlife Park.

Use code “SUNSTAY” at checkout to reserve by February 29th. Visit aspinallfoundation.org/thesun.