Status: 02.10.2023, 09:00 a.m.
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At the Port Lympne Safari Park in the UK, adrenaline junkies can book a night in the lion enclosure. Predators and visitors are separated only by a pane of glass.
The lion is considered the undisputed king of animals. The majestic big cats are as impressive as they are feared and can be dangerous to us humans in the wild. Who doesn't remember the countless headlines a while ago when a free-roaming lioness was allegedly spotted in Kleinmachnow near Berlin? Fortunately, the animal in the accompanying video turned out to be a wild boar in the end and peace returned to Kleinmachnow.
In their natural habitat, the African savannah, lion prides, on the other hand, still pose a potential risk to life and limb. However, in contrast, the threat posed by us humans to big cats is many times greater. Shrinking habitat, extended droughts due to climate change and, last but not least, illegal big game hunting are a continuing threat to the remaining lion population. If you want to see the impressive animals face to face, you might want to refrain from a trip to Africa and instead go to a safari park. Many of these facilities consider themselves pioneers in animal welfare and also offer the opportunity to get dangerously close to the lions living there during a visit. A particularly interesting offer can be found in the "Port Lympne Safari Park" in Great Britain. Visitors can even spend the night in the lion enclosure here.
The "Port Lympne Safari Park" is one of the largest facilities of its kind in Europe
The "Lion Lodge" in the British "Port Lympne Safari Park". © Jonathan Buckingham-Dudley
Only about two hours from London is the "Port Lympne Safari Park" in Great Britain. The facility is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and impresses with a particularly extensive site with a total area of over 600 hectares. The amusement park is part of the "Aspinall Foundation", which has been committed to the breeding and release of rare and endangered animal species for many years. Visitors can see rhinos, gorillas or antelopes, among other things, in the "Port Lympne Safari Park", but the resident pride of lions is understandably by far the most popular attraction of the facility. So that you can experience the majestic animals up close, the operators of the park have also come up with something very special. In the middle of the lion enclosure is the "Lion Lodge", whose rooms are only separated from the run of the big cats by a pane of glass.
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A night at the "Lion Lodge" is anything but a relaxing getaway
The television journalist Vivian Bahlmann (32) recently visited the "Port Lympne Safari Park" as part of an RTL report. Of course, the reporter did not miss the opportunity to examine the unique "Lion Lodge" in detail. In a video on the RTL website, it is not difficult to see that Bahlmann was quite queasy during her stay in the unusual apartment despite the glass pane. Understandable, because in the clip a lion is tearing up its food with relish right outside the window. "Oh my God! How crass that is," Bahlmann describes her impressions in the video. "You know you're safe," she explains, looking at the glass partition, "but it's just too blatant. It's really such an instinct." According to the report, a stay at the "Lion Lodge" is anything but a relaxing getaway. For adrenaline junkies and passionate wildlife lovers, on the other hand, the overnight stay in the lion enclosure could certainly be worth a trip.
The overnight stay in the "Lion Lodge" is unfortunately not a bargain
However, if you are already planning an adventure holiday in the "Port Lympne Safari Park", you will most likely sit up and take notice when it comes to the price. As RTL reports in its video report, a night in the "Lion Lodge" costs around 2,500 pounds, which is the equivalent of about 2,900 euros. The short trip to the lion enclosure is therefore anything but cheap. For those who can loosen up the necessary change, however, the trip is definitely worth it. Incidentally, the "Lion Lodge" also has its own garden, which overnight guests can use freely. However, the lions have no access there.
