A wildlife adventure from the comfort of our car.
I’ve never felt particularly inclined to embark on a true safari through the Serengeti. It strikes me as one of those, once in a life time experiences to see wild animals in their natural habitat, but demand a tolerance for the unknown I simply don’t possess. Living in the Capital affords the opportunity to see these animals native to the hot climate of Africa in the suburban environment of a zoo near Baker Street. But this was my first experience doing something a little bit different, dipping my toes into the world of a Gentleman explorer from yesteryear, venturing on a Safari adventure in my own car through the gentle terrain of the English Countryside. One moment you are driving along through quiet villages and tall hedgerows, the next, you are surrounded by lions, wolves and monkeys. Not an everyday experience for a man from London.
It’s not a quintessential Brown Sign adventure in the usual sense, in fact, Longleat was probably the busiest attraction we’ve visited in some time. Yet it offers an experience that feels comfortably adventurous: the chance to see the wildlife of Africa at a slow, unhurried pace. Set within the Marquess of Bath’s estate near Somerset, Longleat combines a beautiful historic house, a miniature railway, a riverboat cruise, and of course its signature drive‑through safari. You may not be sipping a cool gin in a treetop lodge overlooking the savanna at dusk, but you can enjoy the same spectacle from the comfort of your air‑conditioned car, nibbling on a mini cheddar as lions and tigers wander past, and still be home before the motorway traffic turns perilous. That, to me, is the perfect level of gentlemanly adventuring.
If the monkeys don’t get you, the lions might
It’s a fun family experience for all ages, even for two London professionals visiting relatives in the West Country and taking a three‑year‑old on safari in a car with a rooftop window. One of the undeniable highlights is the monkey enclosure. These small creatures have no fear and an impressive ability to cling on where angels fear to tread. They’re known for causing the occasional bit of car trouble, so you simply hope you don’t meet an especially mischievous one (or you bypass the enclosure entirely). I’m not convinced Suzuki introduced the 360‑degree camera on the S‑Cross to entertain a three‑year‑old, but it worked. And there’s something wonderfully wholesome about the joy a monkey perched on your car brings to explorers both young and old, especially when you can watch their antics from every angle.
Nearly all the animals had a wonderfully endearing, distinctly English characteristic of apathy and mild disinterest. The lions were stretched out enjoying the afternoon breeze, and the wolves watched the parked cars with the sort of casual curiosity you might expect from a neighbour peering through their curtains. Driving close to a camel and a zebra was certainly memorable, though neither seemed particularly inclined to come over and say hello. Your adventure begins in a village setting, where you can visit the giraffes on foot, a delightful experience at feeding time, when they get up close and personal with the observation platforms. From there, the road meanders through the various enclosures on the estate. Entering each new section felt like a sedate, countryside interpretation of Jurassic Park; every warning sign on a closed gate seemed far less ominous when accompanied by warm seats and snacks.
There’s a certain driving etiquette to observe: park on the left, pass on the right. It means you can stop and admire the animals at your leisure, though one or two of the more popular residents do create the occasional traffic jam. You don’t exactly picture a row of cars politely queuing for the best viewing spot on the Serengeti – but we English do love to queue, so even on safari there are moments of waiting your turn to admire the lions and tigers before moving on. You can choose to experience the safari in a guided tour vehicle, which takes you a little closer to the action, or simply take your own car inside. That is, of course, if you feel brave, and don’t mind a few monkey paw prints on your bonnet when you leave them behind. I’m still convinced one of those cheeky chaps clung on to my car driving back to London.
A particular highlight was a humbling moment for the two grown‑ups in the car, when Anna’s three‑year‑old nephew calmly identified an animal as we approached it. Raised to recognise and pronounce dinosaur names from an early age, this was no challenge for him. We were impressed; for him, it was simply another day, another safari. As the experience drew to a close, we followed Anna’s sister back to hand over our young guest after our first safari adventure as a couple. It certainly adds a new dimension to the day when you’re quietly outperformed by a toddler. And within two hours we were back in London, carrying home a handful of wonderful memories. But perhaps that’s one of the joys of growing older — discovering new and incredible things, even after all these years.
Closing Thoughts
Arriving home, it felt almost surreal to think that only two hours earlier we had been surrounded by lions and tigers, and now we were back in suburban London. No long flights from the African continent, no intrusive vaccinations, no period of readjustment. We enjoyed our safari from the comfort of our own car – our chariot in the wilderness and a smooth, familiar ride back to the capital. There was an alternative, of course: a private guided tour or a bus ride through the enclosures. But for us, the preferable option was to experience it at our own pace, in our own way, discovering something extraordinary without ever straying too far from home. Adventure doesn’t require hardship, and comfort is not the enemy of wonder – two simple truths that perfectly capture a whimsical, spontaneous day out.
From pulling into the first enclosure and watching monkeys perch on the car as we rolled along, to being quietly humbled by a three‑year‑old with a firmer grasp of the natural world than either of us, it was an experience to savour. It may not be a traditional Brown Sign adventure – and it certainly cost more than our usual cheap‑and‑cheerful visits to quirky museums – but it was worth every penny. Sometimes spending a little more buys you a unique experience enjoyed in ease and comfort. A few hours among lions and giraffes was enough to shake the dust off the everyday and leave us feeling just a little more alive. Not bad for a spontaneous afternoon in the English countryside.
Thank you for reading.
Brown Sign Chronicles 
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