“You are now approaching Lion Country. Watch, read and obey all signs.”
Those words greeted visitors as they entered a pioneering new attraction six decades ago, and now Longleat is taking guests back to the moment when Britain’s first drive-through safari park roared into life.
The Wiltshire estate has opened a new exhibition, Lion Country: 60 Years of Lions at Longleat, celebrating the anniversary of the famous Drive-Through Safari and exploring the story behind one of the country’s most popular wildlife attractions.
The exhibition, housed within Longleat House and available as part of both self-guided and guided tours, delves into the ambitious plans of the 6th Marquess of Bath, Henry Thynne, who worked alongside renowned safari park pioneer Jimmy Chipperfield to create a groundbreaking visitor experience.
Visitors can explore a fascinating collection of original documents, newspaper reports, souvenirs, photographs and home movies from the early days of the safari park, offering a glimpse into the excitement – and controversy – surrounding its arrival.
Among the items on display is the original planning application for what was described simply as a “mesh wire fence to restrict movement of certain animals at Longleat Park”.
Longleat Archivist Emma Challinor explained that the identity of those animals was not immediately revealed.
“The earliest document on display is the planning application form and plan for the ‘mesh wire fence to restrict movement of certain animals at Longleat Park’.
“It wasn’t until two months later, after the application had been approved, that it was revealed the ‘certain animals’ would be lions, which caused some uproar in the press.”
The exhibition also features some of the treasured memorabilia that marked the beginning of the safari adventure, including the first pound note received when the reserve opened, an original windscreen pass issued to visitors entering the park and the instantly recognisable ‘Lions of Longleat’ car sticker.
Since opening in 1966, Longleat’s Drive-Through Safari has become a much-loved part of the estate’s history, introducing generations of visitors to wildlife from around the world and changing the way people experienced animals in captivity.
Lion Country: 60 Years of Lions at Longleat is open now and will run until Sunday, 1 November, giving visitors the chance to discover the story behind the lions, the legacy of the safari park and the people who helped bring the idea to life.
