Dorset - Sandford Park Day 7 - Longleat Safari Park

Day 7 and our longest drive out as we headed 42 miles inland to visit Longleat Safari Park. We have only ever been hear once before when the two boys were both very small and have been talking about coming back hear for some time. The two boys couldn't remember anything about their previous visit so it was kind of new and exciting for everyone.

We arrived as the gates opened and headed straight for the Mississippi boat cruise around the Longleat Lake. We were very fortunate to get on the first boat trip of the day which was amazing as the sealions were very hungry and vocal, the gorilla's were awake and moving around and the hippo's were in the lake sleeping. The kids got the opportunity to feed the sealions some fish and we learnt lots of interesting facts during the short boat ride. For example I never new a leat is a bed of water that joins 2 rivers and the leat at Longleat is very long, hence the name Longleat! Anyway the boat trip was a great start to the day.

Our actual drive thru safari was booked for lunchtime and must have taken about 2.5 hours to get around. I don't remember there being so many spectacular animals on the drive through and was pleasantly surprised. We had taken the roof box off so that we could see monkeys on the roof and Holly was sitting on Tina's lap in the front so that the boys had more room in the back.

I was somewhat shocked at just how many cars were going through the safari and at times we were nose to tail queuing .The monkey part started off a bit flat as it seemed like the monkeys were climbing on every car except ours!!! After a bit of frustration I was naughty and opened the window slightly to drop a few grapes down the window screen so that sat by the window wipers. From that point onwards we had non stop action with monkeys all over the car and one even graced the window screen with a dump!

The lion enclosure was also a bit thrilling for all of the wrong reasons! Jokingly I challenged Brandon to open his car door inside the enclosure with a pride of around 8 lions sleeping 20ft away from us. I didn't expect him to actually do it and when he did open his door his phone fell out on to the road. He then starts getting out of the car to retrieve his phone from the enclosure!!!!!! You couldn't make it up..... it's the sort of stupid thing you see plastered over Facebook or for the Darwin awards!

Anyway loads and loads of pictures from Longleat.

We arrived early at Longleat for when the gates opened.

Sleeping porcupines as we dashed down to the boat trip.

All aboard as we are on the first boat trip of the day.

The humps along the bank are the sleeping hippos.

The island in the middle of the lake houses some monkeys.

As it was first thing in the morning we were very fortunate to see the gorillas out and about.

The big silverback hiding in the grass.

More gorillas.

And more...

The sealions were very hungry and new that the first boat meant the first feed of the day.

The barking noise from the sealions was sooooo loud.

As you can see they would jump out of the water and catch fish that you could throw in to feed them.

View of Longleat House from the lake.

I have never got so close to red pandas and seen them so lively as we did at Longleat.

Beautiful animals.

Back on dry land and Holly with a hippo statue.

Another picture of Holly in the gardens.

Tina and Holly with a peacock.

Two large ant eaters playing around.

The meerkat enclosure is pretty amazing and you have the opportunity to walk through it.

A meerkat standing up to watch us walk through.

Holly and Brandon in the meerkat enclosure.

Look at this beauty just dozing in the shade.

Let's go find some reptiles.

Instead we headed in to feed the Lorikeets.

Tina had one land on her shoulder even though she had no food.

Then Brandon landed one.

Holly didn't get one land on her but still fed them from a distance.

Yes that is actually a picture of Joshua smiling whilst on holiday!

Brandon with a very colourful Lorikeet.

Our expectations were set high for the crocs!

But as usual it was small and just sat like a statue.

Koala's were all sleeping but you could see them very clearly.

Look at this lovely koala bear sleeping.

And another....

Finally time for our safari drive thru and Holly sat in the front with Tina.

The statues on the rocks by the gate give you an idea of what is to come.

Jurassic park style gates to enter the safari.

First on the drive was the zebras and giraffes.

And more.

Almost as many giraffes as Port Lympe.

The first animal to try and block our path through the safari.

A heard of gazelle type animals.

The highlight of the safari is the monkey drive thru, but at first they wouldn't come anywhere near our car.

Then a grape on the window screen and suddenly we have some action.

Holly absolutely loved watching the monkeys on the side mirrors.

We pretty much had one on each side of the car peering in looking at the tub of grapes.

"Give me a grape or I brake your car!".

"I can see them grapes!".

Look closely and you can see a tiny baby in this picture.

Another one on my wing mirror.

Amazing to get so close to them.

The moment one poops on the window screen.

Next was the camels who were very close to the road.

This one wanted to get very close and say hello.

Looks like an albino camel!

Then it was time to feed some pellets to some deer's.

Holly feeding some deer.

And Brandon.

And Joshua as well.

They don't mind sticking their heads right in your car window!

Brandon getting a stroke.

Some white rhino's.

And more.

Close up of another gazelle type animal on the safari.

A pride of lions about 20ft from our car and Brandon's mobile phone.

"Did somebody just drop something" - the lions ears prick up.

Holly in the new Moon exhibition at Longleat.

A bit dark but a picture of Tina and the kids under the moon.

Some impressive large hay statues - firstly a snail.

Then a fox.

A mole coming out of the ground.

Mum would have loved the owl which stood about 15ft tall.

The hedgehog must have taken hours to insert all the spikes.

Only Holly went on this little ride as the two boys are too big and grown up for this sort of thing.

At least Holly still enjoys it.

In the evening Joshua had his turn on the driving simulator and was diabolical! He managed to roll the car 3 or 4 times.