We’ve all heard of ‘the tiger that came to tea’, but why not sleep where the lion sleeps tonight?
For a truly hilarious getaway, London Zoo offers once-in-a-lifetime accommodation experiences, including nightly zoo tours, gourmet dining, and overnight stays in the country of the famous lions.
But don’t worry. It’s not as scary as you think.
Guests can sleep soundly (very) safely in one of nine Scandinavian-style log cabins, located right next to the world-famous lion enclosure.
The lodge has everything you need for a winter getaway, including a welcome drink of hot chocolate and mulled wine and a fireplace for toasting marshmallows, but the sounds of gibbons, monkeys and macaws remind you of the chilly heart of London. It feels more like a tropical rainforest. .
Arriving at dusk, my 12-year-old son and I were loudly welcomed by the zoo’s lion king, called Banu, who confirmed that it was indeed a mane attraction.
After settling into our cozy lodge with private bathroom, our VIP evening zoo tour began.
This all-area access experience allowed us to see some of the amazing after-dark activities that keep the zoo functioning, and also allowed us to get up close to some of the nocturnal animals.
The zookeeper’s kitchen also prepared some tasty treats, including a basket of nuts. His son hand-fed it to the spiny porcupine, but winter wreath soaked in cinnamon proved attractive to the mongoose.
Our knowledgeable guide answered questions and gave us a behind-the-scenes look at being a conservationist and animal expert.
They also worked as waiters for delicious gourmet dinners served at the zoo’s restaurant.
A visit to the Spider House may not be everyone’s idea of an ideal after-dinner activity, but it definitely kept every guest alert and awake. Additionally, we were treated to a special visit to the Nightlife Habitat to see beautiful bushbabies and endangered potatoes. And the pygmy slow loris is the only venomous primate in the world.
The tour ended at 10pm, but forget about the roaring fire in the log cabin.
While Bhanu continued to bark till late into the night, we fell asleep.
One of the many perks of lodge living is exclusive access to Lionsland starting at 7am. So, before heading to a hearty breakfast, we explored an Indian-style town that is home to the endangered Asiatic lion.
Our final tour saw some of the zoo’s most popular animals before it opened to the public at 10am.
We watch as zookeepers prepare all their cages for the day, including a new home for giant tortoises, gibbons Jimmy and Yoda, and a fearsome Komodo dragon that eats 80% of its body weight at a time. saw. Much like my cheeky son.
Another highlight was a private visit to the popular Penguin Beach. There, curious birds waddled over to greet us.
But the fun didn’t end there.
As a parting gift, every child was given a stuffed lion and all visitors were given a free pass to Whipsnade, the zoo’s sister park.
A messy sleepover.