What could be better than lunch with a view of our lions?
Following the success of our ‘Breakfast with the Lions’ experience, we’re excited to introduce ‘Lunch in the Lions’ Den’ – a brand-new way to enjoy some special time watching our magnificent African lions.
There is one important difference between the two experiences. ‘Lunch in the Lions’ Den’ does not include the behind-the-scenes visit to the Lion House or the tong-feeding session. Instead, the experience takes place entirely in our VIP viewing room, where you’ll enjoy a delicious continental lunch while watching the lions through the specially reinforced viewing windows.
And yes, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to get that all-important close-up lion photo!
The idea for ‘Lunch in the Lions’ Den’ came directly from feedback from our guests. Since launching ‘Breakfast with the Lions’ earlier this year, we’ve heard from lots of people who loved the idea of seeing the lions up close but wanted a similar experience that could be enjoyed by younger children.
So, we listened!
We also wanted to make sure the timing was right for our lions. After moving into their new home, they needed time to settle in, become familiar with their surroundings and get used to their new routines. We’ve now had several months to see how they’ve responded to the ‘Breakfast with the Lions’ experience and, most importantly, make sure they’re comfortable with it.
They’ve adapted really well, which means we’ve now been able to add more dates to the ‘Breakfast with the Lions’ booking calendar. It’s been fantastic to see how much the lionesses are enjoying their new house.
Now that our lions are well settled and familiar with their new routine, we’re delighted to be able to introduce another way for you to enjoy seeing them up close.
‘Lunch in the Lions’ Den’ takes place entirely in our VIP viewing room, with private use of the room for your group. This means you can enjoy your lunch, lion views and all-important photographs without having to share the experience with strangers.
This experience is for a minimum of three and a maximum of eight guests, with at least two paying adults required per booking. There’s a minimum age of 5 years, so younger members of the family can join in too.
The experience starts at 1pm and lasts for two hours, with full-day admission to the park included. You can arrive from 10am and make a morning of it before heading to the VIP room for your lion experience.
Once there, a member of our Education Team will spend some time telling you all about our lions before leaving you to enjoy your lunch, with the lionesses providing a rather spectacular lunchtime view.
And what’s on the menu? We’ve put together a delicious spread of savoury favourites, including soup of the day, smoked Scottish salmon and leek tart, honey roast ham and cheddar tart, homemade sausage rolls, macaroni cheese pots, Scottish cheeses and oatcakes, and a selection of charcuterie including smoked duck breast, honey roast ham, chicken liver parfait and prosciutto.
There’ll also be a basket of crusty bread and butter, as well as beetroot piccalilli and tomato chutney to tie everything together. Basically, plenty to enjoy while you sit back, tuck in and watch the lions!
We’re delighted that our lionesses have settled so well into their new home and routines, and that we can now offer even more opportunities for families to spend time watching them. Whether you join us for breakfast or lunch, we hope you’ll leave with some fantastic memories – and a new appreciation for these incredible animals.