Any recommendations to make a day at Longleat Safari park successful?

[HonorMatopoeia]

We're off to the safari park tomorrow and have never been before so was just wondering if anyone has been and what are the do's and don'ts? What time is it best to arrive? Picnic or buy food there? What time to go round the animals etc? Any help much appreciated!

Leave the kids at home

wonder if that would work?! If only!!

Will prob be busy!

Usually havr to queue for train and boat.

We alwwyas take a picnic as there is lenty of space to sit and eat.

have a feeling that the safari bit opens a bit after the rest.

Are yuo planning to do it ll in one day?

Never ever go with a tiny baby and leave the bottle in the boot. Having to stop in the pouring rain and run round to get it when you think you aren't in an animal enclosure but can't be quite sure, is really not good for your heart, especially when your shoe falls off in the mud

I would have an early picnic then try to get round the animals at lunchtime when everyone else is eating. And I would avoid the monkeys, you get the option whether to drive through or not, much better for your car.

Afraid we only have the one day littlerach, which is a shame. Will take a picnic then as Dd is a fussy wotsit! I'm dreading it being hugely busy but then again these are the sacrifices we make for our kids eh?! If it was up to me I'd spend the day sat ontop of Malvern hills with no one around (but then again, I'm a miserable b**r!)

Good advice Kittypickle - that is so the sort of thing that I would actually do as well!! Picnic early sounds good, thank you.

I seem to remember on our last visit, the monkeys wrecked our windscreen wiper blades, much to the amusement of everyone else.

Do the safari park first, the monkeys were brilliant they climbed all over the car. We decided that next time we'd wipe banana over the bonnet to get them really keen!!

We had a great day, never did find the middle of the maze and didn't make it into the butterflies. Excellent day out.

you might struggle to do it all in one day but your ticket is valid for a year.

don't worry about the house - not really for young dcs

safari park first or last - but saying that the first time we went we were directed straight to the safari.

you'll have to queue for the boat - found this the longest queue of all.

take your food - if you get in really early then you'll get parking very close to the picnic area.

if you've got pre-school dc's then you'll no doubt spend alot of time in the postman pat area - its a mini greendale.

best maze i've been in and we got to the middle!