You’ve heard of sleeping lions, but this luxury accommodation just 90 minutes from London allows you to join them. Two unique lodges within the Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve offer up the chance to be immersed in the lives of Kamari and Hasani, the reserve’s majestic African lions.
Picture a cool, Manhattan-style loft and plonk it in an lion enclosure in the UK, and you’ve got a rather unbelievable staycation situation. There are beautiful picture windows in both the master bedroom and the living area, meaning guests are merely a pane of glass away from the lions and their spacious habitat.
You can also enjoy gorgeous views of the Kent coast from your private balcony, and explore the surrounding 600 acres of savannah on your very own golf buggy. Inside, you’ve got an open fire for cosy evenings, a king sized bed, a swanky wet room with a monsoon shower, and the crème de la crème: a large, outdoor Scandinavian bath that overlooks the lions.
A stay at one of Port Lympne’s Lion Lodges includes an exclusive safari experience, taking guests on an adventure through South American, Asian and African areas, where you’ll see the likes of bears, zebras, giraffes, and camels. You’ll also get general access to the park, which is run by the Aspinall Foundation, as well as a full English breakfast, welcome drinks, and access to the park’s many onsite restaurants.
An overnight stay at Port Lympne’s Lion Lodges doesn’t come cheap, with prices starting from £1650 for four people. The hotel does have other (cheaper) overnight experiences, where you’ll have the chance to wake up with tigers, rhinos, giraffes, wolves, and more. Find out all about the different accommodation options over on the hotel’s website.
You’ll find Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve just past Ashford, Kent. It’s 60 minutes from London St Pancras on a high-speed train to Ashford International, or 90 minutes from Charing Cross or Victoria. From there, it’s a short bus or a taxi ride away.