We were really back to nature. With two bedrooms, a flush toilet and shower, chandelier, wood burning stove and Mummy's Pimm's bar.
Just outside, we had a swing chair and fire pit all to ourselves.
On the first evening, we went to see the small cats being fed. We loved Pablo the ocelot.
And the Pallas cats were very funny (though not as funny as the little wildcat, the size of a kitten, who thought he was a tiger).
As the sun went down, we took in the view across Romney March.
Then set about toasting marshmallows over our fire.
Jim and Maureen got cosy in our themed 'Snuggi' blankets.
Because we were out in a field, our tent did already have a few residents - harvest spiders. So Lily insisted on sleeping with Mummy and Daddy. Bringing her cuddly toys too (all of whom ended up with more of the bed than either Mummy or Daddy).
Next day we were free to explore the park. We started with lions and tigers.
The tigers were a LOT bigger than the cats we'd seen the night before.
There were black rhinos...
...and we even caught sight of Lily's favourite animal, the red panda.
The gorillas only appear at feeding time. And luckily, we just managed to catch them.
We took a little break and grabbed some lunch ourselves.
We even managed to catch the well-spotted snow leopard. (ps - it has been pointed out that this isn't a snow leopard. But we did see a couple.)
We spent the afternoon back at our tent on the hottest day of the year. Can it still be called chilling out when it's 28 degrees?
Lily changed into a special outfit in the hope of attracting a particular type of animal on our evening safari.
We climbed aboard the truck and headed off.
All aboard.
We had to hold on tight as the truck rumbled and bumped over the winding tracks and pot holes
And they came right up to see us.
The heat. The view. You really could be fooled into thinking our safari was somewhere far more exotic.
We kept having to stop for animals in the road.
Especially 'Old Blue.' We were told he was cantankerous, and he knows the truck can't pass if he's too near. So he walked round us at least three times, just to let us know who's boss.
We took things easier on Sunday, with a quick trip to Whitstable for fish and chips. When we got back, it was a bit rainy, but it cleared up for our evening's big cat feed.
Rather him than me...
We saw the tigers and cheetahs being fed great big chunks of meat.
Lily had prepared a special 'Save The Lions' picture which the ranger was absolutely chuffed to receive.
That evening, the heavens really did open and the rain hammered down. But we didn't care.
We were all dry and Snuggi.
Here is a nice picture of Lily with Nanny Maureen and Nanny Rachel (that Daddy photobombed).
So the time came to depart. We'd packed so much into our few days away.
We cleared all our stuff out (note the chandelier and massive dining table).
Then we headed to the site restaurant for a cooked breakfast.
All packed and ready to go.
One last group shot.
Then it was a long, snoozy drive back to Nanny's.
These sunflowers were only knee high last time Lily was here (so she told us).
Then we made our way back to Essex, for feeding time with our very own small cats. Who were very pleased to have us and the Snuggis home again.
