On safari... IN THE UK

You don't have to get on a plane to encounter exciting wildlife. Here are six places in the UK where you can get close to some awesome animals

- CHRIS MORLEY

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London Zoo

Not many people associate the capital with animal-watching, but at London Zoo in Regent's Park, you can sleep over in a wooden lodge within roaring distance of Asiatic lions. An overnight stay gives you the chance to wake up to a cacophony of exotic animal noises (think chattering monkeys and honking flamingos) and enjoy a private view of the animal residents. You'll also get an after-hours tour, a meet-and-greet with a zookeeper, and free zoo entry on either side of your stay. * Entry to the zoo starts at £26 per adult; lodge sleepovers start at £192.50 per adult, zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo

Port Lympne Reserve, Kent

Spread over 600 acres, this reserve cares for 900 animals, including gorillas and tigers. Parts of the reserve can be explored on foot but for a real safari experience, take a truck tour of the parkland, where herds of zebras, giraffes, and wildebeest graze, snooze and mooch about under Kent skies. Port Lympne also offers amazing accommodation with views across the reserve or over waterholes, from glamping under canvas to a 'bubble pod' for two, with a freestanding tub on the deck. * Entry is £20 per adult; safari tickets £6, aspinall foundation.org/port-lympne