Longleat has long been known for its striking safari vehicles, painted up in distinctive zebra stripes, and now three brand-new additions are set to join the herd.
The Wiltshire estate has unveiled a trio of state-of-the-art hybrid Land Rover Defenders, each proudly bearing a nod to the animals of the park with registration plates featuring a short form of “hippo”, “lion” and “zebra”. Visitors can expect to spot them patrolling the Safari Park in the coming days.
The upgrade follows hot on the heels of another new arrival – a 98-seater safari bus launched earlier this year, kitted out with padded seating, Wi-Fi, USB charging points and full air conditioning. The bus was introduced to help more people enjoy the park in comfort, while easing the environmental footprint of multiple smaller vehicles.
James Dare, Head of Facilities at Longleat, explained:
“We were so pleased to be able to secure the hybrid model as this contributes to our efforts to be as sustainable as we can be, while ensuring we have robust vehicles for what can be rugged terrain.”
The Land Rovers will not only be a familiar sight to visitors but also a vital part of daily operations, supporting keepers and staff as they move through the safari’s more demanding routes. With their eco-conscious hybrid design, the Defenders are as much a nod to the future as they are to Longleat’s ongoing tradition of safari stripes.
