Safari Stay in England: A Night with the White Lionesses

When you think of lions, tigers, elephants and hippos, your mind probably wanders to an African safari. Kenya or Tanzania, perhaps, where days are spent travelling through the wilderness in search of wildlife.

My children are fascinated by wild animals, especially lions, thanks in no small part to The Lion King. But booking an African safari as a family isn't quite as simple as the dream. A long-haul flight with children, navigating airports and dealing with travel sickness doesn't exactly scream relaxing family getaway.

So, when I discovered we could enjoy a taste of that safari experience much closer to home, around two and a half hours' drive from London, I was sold.

Our destination was West Midlands Safari Park in Worcestershire. We would be spending the night in a lodge overlooking five beautiful white lionesses. I was excited about the wildlife, but I hadn't expected just how special, and surprisingly relaxing the experience would be.

The adventure begins

After arriving at the park, we dropped off our bags before getting back into the car to explore the famous four-mile safari drive.

There is something special about being so close to wild animals from the comfort of your own car. It's very different from seeing them in the zoo or on TV. We spotted Grevy's zebras, giraffes, African elephants, lions, deer, Congo buffalo, ostriches and Bactrian camels. The only animals we didn't manage to spot were the cheetahs. Perhaps they were tucked away enjoying a nap!

We were also lucky enough to have a beautiful deer and a giraffe come right up to our car. They simply stayed there, staring at us. It was such a special moment. Getting so close to these beautiful animals was one of those unexpected encounters that made the drive even more memorable.

At times, we had to sit tight and wait patiently as animals, including lions, giraffes, rhinos and African wild dogs, crossed the road in front of us. It was a lovely reminder that we were visitors in their environment.

Every sighting brought fresh excitement. The safari drive took us around two hours to complete, giving us plenty of time to take in the wildlife before heading back to our accommodation.

But the real highlight was still to come.

A room with a view: meeting the white lionesses

Our home for the night was Hwange Lodge, one of West Midlands Safari Park's four White Lion Lodges.

Stepping inside was a real wow moment. The interiors and dim lighting created a warm safari feel, but it was the huge windows overlooking the lionesses that really stole the show. We had spectacular views of them from two bedrooms and the living room. There was also a covered outdoor decking area, giving us another spot to sit and watch them up close.

We watched as they wandered and roared. Each time they roared, it made us stop what we were doing to listen and take it all in. There is something quite remarkable about hearing such a powerful sound while sitting comfortably inside your lodge.

The five lionesses were Lara, Kiara, Portia, Pandora and Willow. What made the experience even more fascinating was getting to know the lionesses and learning about their individual personalities.

West Midlands Safari Park shares some interesting insights into the personalities of its five white lionesses:

“Our Pride's Personalities:

• Lara & Kiara – Full sisters, but have contrasting traits. Lara is curious and adventurous, while Kiara is quieter and playful.

• Portia & Pandora – Another sister duo. Portia is shy and reserved, while Pandora is confident and outgoing.

• Willow – Quiet and calm but she loves her enrichment activities.”

Knowing their names made our time with them even more personal. We found ourselves trying to work out which lioness was which and watching their individual behaviour.

What makes white lions different from other lions?

We scanned a QR code to watch an interactive video featuring Paul, a carnivore keeper at the park, who helped us understand what makes white lions so distinctive. You might assume that white lions are a separate species, but they're actually part of the same species as tawny lions.

Their colouring is caused by a genetic condition known as leucism. This reduces pigmentation in their fur while leaving the pigmentation in their eyes.

In the video, Paul explained: “They're very much still part of that kind of tawny African lion species.”

The video also highlighted some of the challenges lions face in the wild, including habitat loss and conflict with humans. West Midlands Safari Park supports the WildCats Conservation Alliance, which helps fund conservation programmes to protect wild cats.

It was a reminder of the importance of protecting these beautiful animals and their habitats.

Why is watching wildlife such a lovely way to unwind?

I had expected the stay to be exciting, but I hadn't quite anticipated how calming it would feel.

There was something lovely about sitting with a cup of coffee and watching the lions. One might stretch out in the sunshine while another wandered around the habitat. Others settled down to rest. We could sit together, chat and enjoy the view without feeling we needed to be doing something else.

One of my favourite moments was waking at 6am and seeing one of the white lionesses staring back at me through the bedroom window. It was strangely satisfying and thrilling at the same time, and certainly not something you experience every day!

For us, watching the lionesses gave us the chance to slow down and be present. There were no queues to join or attractions to rush off to. We could just enjoy being together and sharing something that genuinely fascinated us all.

The children's curiosity also led to conversations about animal behaviour, wildlife and conservation. It made the experience as educational as it was enjoyable.

What is included in an overnight stay at West Midlands Safari Park?

Our stay included dinner and breakfast, the safari drive, the safari walk, unlimited access to the theme park and rides, and exclusive after-hours wildlife encounters.

This meant we could enjoy the excitement of the safari experience while also having somewhere comfortable and special to retreat to afterwards. We also enjoyed some of the shows and events taking place around the park, as well as attractions such as the Land of the Living Dinosaurs, featuring life-sized dinosaur models.

For our family, it felt like the best of both worlds: adventure during the day and a slower, more intimate wildlife experience back at the lodge. The accommodation became part of the attraction, too.

From white lions to playful sea lions

The following morning, after checking out of Hwange Lodge, we headed to the California sea lion show. This was another memorable part of our visit.

Megan, a sea lion trainer and Discovery Trail keeper, provided the excellent commentary. Aaron, deputy head keeper for the Discovery Trail, interacted with the sea lions and helped bring the show to life.

Two of the stars were Bounty, aged 17, who arrived from Belfast Zoo, and Callum, aged 20, who came from Amsterdam Zoo. Both had plenty of personality.

Bounty was wonderfully playful, spinning through the water, jumping up to hit balls, and waving and saluting the audience. Callum was equally entertaining. He spun, played with a basketball, waved to the crowd and blew bubbles underwater.

We also learned that Callum has cataracts. Interestingly, sea lions use their sensitive whiskers to detect movement and vibrations in the water. This helps them locate prey. It was fascinating to discover how much these animals rely on their other senses.

After the quieter experience of watching the lionesses from our lodge, it was lovely to be laughing and cheering together.

What else is there to discover?

Afterwards, we explored the walk-through Discovery Trail, where we got to see some of the animals up close that we hadn't spotted during the safari drive. These included Sumatran tigers, red pandas, hippopotamuses, penguins and snakes.

We also spotted the cutest pygmy marmosets, and completely fell in love with them. They are the smallest monkeys in the world, but it was one of my children's reactions that made us laugh the most. They asked if we could buy one as a pet and take it back home to London! Needless to say, we had to explain that wasn't quite possible.

A little wildness, a little wonder

What I loved most about our stay was the mix of experiences. There was the excitement of the safari drive, along with the chance to learn more about the animals and conservation. Then there was the novelty of staying at Hwange Lodge with white lionesses just beyond our windows, as well as the fun of the theme park, sea lion show and walking trail.

But what stayed with me most were the quieter moments: sitting together watching the lions, hearing them roar and seeing the children become completely absorbed in what was happening outside.

We often spend so much time planning activities and keeping everyone entertained that we forget how lovely it can be to slow down. This stay gave us the chance to do just that.

Maybe you don't need to board a long-haul flight or travel halfway around the world to experience the wonder of a safari. We found it much closer to home, with the chance to spend time together, learn something new and reconnect with wildlife.

I know we'll be talking about our night with Lara, Kiara, Portia, Pandora and Willow for a long time. These five beautiful lionesses made our stay feel truly unique.