longleat safari accident

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Accident at Longleat Safari Park on 10th August 1969

Accident summary.

Longleat Safari Park

Train Operator

Longleat Miniature Railway

Primary Cause

Awaiting Information

Secondary Cause

Train split , runaway train portion , derailment , train fall from height

0 fatalities, 16 injured

Accident Investigation Status

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Longleat Safari Park: The incredible animals you can see up close

It is Wiltshire's only zoo, but how well do you know which animals you can actually visit at Longleat Safari Park?

• 12:18, 14 JUL 2021
• Updated 16:16, 14 JUL 2021

When you are planning a day out with the kids and you decide a trip to a zoo is on the cards, they’re bound to ask whether they will be able to see their favourite animal…whether it’s a wolf, a giraffe or some other exotic animal.

Wiltshire Live has put together a list of some of the most exciting and entertaining animals you could see up close at Longleat Safari Park - Wiltshire’s only zoo. Though if you’re in the north of the county, Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford, Oxfordshire is probably closer.

Located just outside Warminster, the 900-acre park is home to more than 500 animals - many of which can be seen in the lengthy drive-through, giving you a great view of them from the comfort of your own vehicle.

Read more: James Blunt, Robbie Williams, Zoella and other celebrities with Wiltshire connections

And if you’re a fan of cheeky monkeys, there’s a drive-through monkey enclosure too. Be warned though, the mischievous little beings like to remove bits of vehicles for their own entertainment so you’re able to skip that section if you want to - it’s probably best if you don’t fancy a repair bill.

So, what can you see at Longleat?

1. Elephants

Well, an elephant - just the one. Anna came to the safari park in 2011 after 55 years in the circus. She hasn't been around another elephant for the last 19 years.

2. Sea lions

You’ll need to be prepared to board a boat to see them. Californian sea lions can be found in the huge lake - but prepare to get splashed when they leap out into the air at feeding time.

While you’re cruising along on the boat watching the sea lions, you might spot two of the lake’s resident hippos - Spot and Sonia. But hippos being hippos, they may not be visible so prepare to be disappointed.

4. Gorillas

If you’re on the boat, on the lake, you’ll pass Gorilla Colony, an island home to several gorillas. If you’re really keen on getting up close and personal, Longleat offers VIP experience days - pay extra to feed them face-to-face with a keeper.

The park is home to two dozen lions, which can be viewed from your vehicle as you embark on the drive-through.

Siberian beasts, endangered Amur tigers can also be spotted on the drive-through. There are believed to be only between 350 and 400 adults left in the wild, so it’s quite the sight.

If you’re 10 years old, rhinos are probably pretty exciting animals to see. They’re huge, angry-looking characters with massive horns on their heads! Luckily, Longleat is home to four named Nanju, Marashi, Razina and Ebun. They’re known to charge, sometimes at vehicles - but armored tractors are nearby, ready to keep them in line where necessary.

If you’re feeling brave, drive through the monkey enclosure - it’ll usually give you a great laugh. If you'd rather avoid the possible repair bill accumulated by the rascals, you can easily bypass them.

Wolf Wood is home to plenty of grey wolves (though they aren’t always grey, they come in many colours). The park’s pack is made up of eight, but generally, you won’t be getting any special views during the day - they’re most active at night.

State-of-the-art Koala Creek is home to a group of Southern koalas and they are believed to be the only ones living in Britain.

11. Giraffes

In winter, the Rothschild's giraffes spend most of their time inside. If it’s reasonably warm outside, they’ll be roaming around their reserve. You can even purchase a VIP experience day, where you’ll get to spend time up close to the beautiful beings for a minimum of 30 minutes.

You can stay up to date on the top news near you with WiltshireLive's FREE newsletters – enter your email address at the top of the page or sign up to our newsletters here

Black and white beauties, everyone loves a zebra. They live in a 60-acre African enclosure with a group of giraffes.

13. Red pandas

Did we leave the cutest to last? Cuddly red pandas can usually be found snoozing in their open enclosure, which even allows you to view them when they're inside.

They might not be included in the main list, but we should probably mention that you can also see cheetahs, otters, lemurs, deer, tortoises, penguins, parrots and much more.

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Derailment at Longleat Safari Park

• Thread starter ECML180
• Start date 20 Aug 2014
• 20 Aug 2014

At some point this afternoon the jungle express (light rail/narrow gauge) train derailed. It was treated as a major incident with numerous emergency services vehicles in attendance, ambulances were still arriving at least 2 hours after the derailment. It looked to be a disabled accessible carriage in the middle of the consist that had fallen off onto the inside of a bend but I can't be sure. All vehicles appeared to have remained upright. Staff were rude and unhelpful, moving on people who were looking after casualties had left but keeping a ride queue open right next to the train where even more were staring whilst people were still being treated. Looks like a minor incident but looking at the Park's response I have little faith in them being able to cope with anything more, they could barely even get the ambulances into the car park! Would this have to be reported to the RAIB?  

RailUK Forums

Ainsworth74, forum staff.

ECML180 said: Would this have to be reported to the RAIB? Click to expand...

Established Member

Longleat Adventure Park train crash leaves six hurt Six people were injured when a train at Longleat Adventure Park overturned. A woman suffered leg fractures and was airlifted to hospital after the crash at about 15:45 BST. Two carriages came off the track as the train - carrying 155 passengers - was coming into the park's main square, a spokesperson said. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said five people, described as "walking wounded", were treated at the scene of the accident. The train's rear carriage went on to its side and the other remained upright, leaving the other carriages on the track. Lisa Mowe from Coventry, who was one the train with her 15-year-old son Hadley and his friend Jason Thomas, said it was "a horrible experience." Click to expand...

Simplistically, gauge has to be over 350mm (14 in) and it has to cross a route on which the public can drive a motor vehicle (over, under or level).  

Veteran Member

nag67 said: Simplistically, gauge has to be over 350mm (14 in) and it has to cross a route on which the public can drive a motor vehicle (over, under or level). Click to expand...

There's a set of red/green crossing warning lights visible on the photo in the BBC story.  

edwin_m said: There's a set of red/green crossing warning lights visible on the photo in the BBC story. Click to expand...

Noticed today that it says (presumably as a standard sign) "If no light, telephone signaller" and there is no phone provided! I think it probably has gone green as the last 2 coaches derailed and so no longer activated track circuits? I used it a few times today and nothing unusual happened, it seemed to go green after the train had cleared the crossing by about a carriage length.  

• 21 Aug 2014

Hope everybody involved make a swift recovery. Wonder if it was the driver's fault?  

Scott M said: Hope everybody involved make a swift recovery. Wonder if it was the driver's fault ? Click to expand...

ECML180 said: At some point this afternoon the jungle express (light rail/narrow gauge) train derailed. It was treated as a major incident with numerous emergency services vehicles in attendance, ambulances were still arriving at least 2 hours after the derailment. It looked to be a disabled accessible carriage in the middle of the consist that had fallen off onto the inside of a bend but I can't be sure. All vehicles appeared to have remained upright. Staff were rude and unhelpful, moving on people who were looking after casualties had left but keeping a ride queue open right next to the train where even more were staring whilst people were still being treated. Looks like a minor incident but looking at the Park's response I have little faith in them being able to cope with anything more, they could barely even get the ambulances into the car park! Would this have to be reported to the RAIB? Click to expand...

Antman said: Everybody else seems to be full of praise for the staff at Longleat. Click to expand...

daikilo said: Quote "staff were rude and unhelpful" is not what is needed in such a situation. **** happens and there is no point in denying it. Close and cope. When all issues are resolved, reopen. Click to expand...

ECML180 said: Well what I witnessed was quite a shambles but I didn't witness the derailment. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make? Click to expand...

• 22 Aug 2014

BBC News reported last night that it had happened in the same location before and provided footage of a derailment 3 years ago, not sure if this was previously reported.  

ECML180 said: BBC News reported last night that it had happened in the same location before and provided footage of a derailment 3 years ago, not sure if this was previously reported. Click to expand...

• 29 Aug 2014

A miniature train accident at Longleat Adventure Park is being investigated by the rail watchdog, the BBC has learned. Six people were hurt when the Jungle Express train derailed at the Wiltshire park on 20 August. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) said a similar incident in September 2011 was not examined by them as it was not aware of it. ... The ORR regulates health and safety for the entire mainline rail network in Britain, as well as London Underground, light rail, trams and the heritage sector. A spokesman said its remit also included monorails and added the Longleat railway fell within its jurisdiction as the track gauge is greater than 350mm (13.8 in). Click to expand...

Longleat safari park has hippos and beavers sharing UK waters for first time in 100,000 years

"I spotted something in the car headlights and I did a bit of a double take"

• 15:43, 17 JUN 2021

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Longleat wildlife park has become the first place in the UK where hippos and beavers are co-habiting in more than 100,000 years.

Experts believe the last time hippos and beavers were found together in the UK was during the Eemian period, which also saw elephants and monkeys roam the country.

Longleat lakes team manager Mark Tye said: “I was driving home through the estate back in October last year when I spotted something in the car headlights and I did a bit of a double take.

READ MORE: Loud bangs, explosions and gunfire in skies over Somerset cause alarm to local people and dogs

“At first I couldn’t quite work out what I was looking at, but it soon became very clear when I saw the huge paddle-like tail there was a beaver crossing the road in front of me.”

Beavers are large, semiaquatic rodents native to the northern hemisphere. They once thrived here but were heavily hunted for their fur, scent sacs and meat, with the last one thought to have been killed in the middle of the 16th century.

In recent years, groups of animals have been released at sites across the country and numbers are steadily increasing. The news of their arrival at Longleat has been welcomed by Eva Bishop of the Beaver Trust.

"We were delighted to hear of the arrival of beavers in the woods around Longleat, an exciting moment for the whole team there to witness their return and activities in action,” she said.

“Beavers are a gift in these changeable times, for their potential water and wildlife benefits, so to follow them establishing within the Longleat surroundings will be fascinating.

“More exciting still, this will be the first time in over 100,000 years that beavers have co-existed alongside hippos in Britain, where they once lived together in the giant swamps of interglacial Europe.

“It is also exciting for the many visitors to Longleat who may be seeing beaver evidence for the first time; the gnawed willow branches or classic beaver-gnawed tree stumps.

“Beavers are one of the large herbivores that have been missing from our landscape for 400 years so we want to share this excitement with everyone."

The beavers are not the only native wildlife returning to Longleat in recent years.

Alongside wild otters, red kites, owls, kingfishers and several species of deer, two giant white tailed eagles have also started visiting the estate. It is part of a reintroduction programme for the eagles, based on the Isle of Wight.

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“They were here, they should be here and, if we can get the habitat right, why shouldn’t they be here again?” said Longleat’s head of animal operations Darren Beasley.

“For decades we’ve been renowned for our exotic wildlife, but for me the return of these amazing native species is just as exciting,” he added.

Longleat's half-mile lake is an artificial water feature, dug by hand in the 18th century. It was designed by Capability Brown, the legendary landscape gardener. In 1804 it was further modified by garden designer Humphrey Repton, who also created the artificial island at the centre of the lake.

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Six people hurt after miniature train derails at Longleat Safari Park

Five people were hurt and one seriously injured when a miniature train carrying 155 people flipped over at a safari park.

A woman was taken to hospital with a possible broken leg after the train derailed at the main square in Longleat Adventure Park, Wiltshire.

Two carriages came off the track and caused the rear carriage to overturn while the others remained on the track.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/longleat?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-192941-https://twitter.com/hashtag/longleat?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#longleat</a> train incident <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&amp;id=222025&amp;p=http://t.co/oBoCRdfVzn" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-192941-http://t.co/oBoCRdfVzn" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/oBoCRdfVzn</a>— elh (@emmalh) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/emmalh/statuses/502218614607740929" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-192941-https://twitter.com/emmalh/statuses/502218614607740929" data-vars-event-id="c23">August 20, 2014</a>

A spokesman for Longleat said: “Staff immediately instigated the emergency procedure to safely evacuate all passengers from the train and the emergency services were notified.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">The park will be open today as usual however the train will be out of service whilst an investigation is carried out: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&amp;id=222025&amp;p=http://t.co/DhnQdyjC7i" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-192941-http://t.co/DhnQdyjC7i" data-vars-event-id="c23">http://t.co/DhnQdyjC7i</a>— Longleat (@Longleat) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Longleat/statuses/502375549533442048" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-192941-https://twitter.com/Longleat/statuses/502375549533442048" data-vars-event-id="c23">August 21, 2014</a>

"Staff are currently undertaking a thorough investigation into what caused the incident and the railway will remain closed during this time."

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said that a woman was taken to hospital with what was believed to be leg fractures.

The other passengers were described as “walking wounded” and treated at the scene.

Emma Hanks, of Trowbridge, was queuing to ride the train with her daughter when she saw staff running along the platform and panicking.

She said: "Shortly afterwards two fire engines arrived outside of the entrance to the train platform.

"Longleat provided a variety of entertainers including a frog on a unicycle, a princess from frozen, a transformer and postman pat to divert attention from the unfolding emergency. However, no amount of people in funny costumes could distract from the fact that something very serious had happened.

"Outside of Longleat house on the main lawn I saw an ambulance and an air ambulance. There was also a strong police presence around the estate."

A spokesman said: “Now confirmed only one person taken to hospital following the Longleat incident earlier.

“Handful of walking wounded. Firefighters been helping with first aid but train made safe before we got there. Happily no-one trapped."

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Six people hurt in miniature train accident at Longleat Adventure Park

• Rear carriage of Jungle Express overturned, causing the injuries
• Visitors to the park managed to right the carriage while ambulances came 

By Kieran Corcoran for MailOnline

Published: 16:22 EDT, 20 August 2014 | Updated: 16:25 EDT, 20 August 2014

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Six people were hurt - and one seriously injured - when a miniature train derailed at a safari park yesterday.

The rear carriage of the Jungle Express at Longleat, Wiltshire, overturned, trapping one person underneath and injuring five others.

Firefighters and paramedics were sent to the family attraction. But by the time they arrived the trapped person was reportedly pulled free by frantic visitors at the park.

Struggle: Visitors to the park fought to turn the train upright as one person was trapped underneath

A total of 115 people - including many children - were on the train at the time.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said two crews were dispatched to the scene at 3.45pm today.

Three ambulances and an air ambulance were also sent amid fears of a major incident at the popular attraction.

A fire service spokeswoman said: 'We were told that their little train had overturned and we sent a crew from Warminster and one from Westbury.

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'Six people have been injured - five had minor injures.

'One person who has been underneath the overturned carriage but had been released by the time we got there.

'I think they are being transferred to hospital by ambulance. From our perspective the train had already been made safe.

Attractions: Longleat Safari Park is home to elephants, sea lions and gorillas

'We remained at the scene, just helping the ambulance personnel with just looking after people - just extra bodies to keep people calm.'

The steam locomotive has nine carriages and is one of the attractions at the park's Jungle Kingdom.

It takes visitors past the sea lions, bird sanctuary and gorilla pens.

A spokesman for the park said:  'One carriage went on to its side and the other remained upright, the other carriages stayed on the track.

'Staff immediately instigated the emergency procedure to safely evacuate all passengers from the train and the emergency services were notified.

'There were 155 people on the train at the time.

'At this time there are three people confirmed to have sustained injuries and have been taken to hospital.

'Staff are currently undertaking a thorough investigation into what caused the incident and the railway will remain closed during this time.'

Share or comment on this article: Six people hurt in miniature train accident at Longleat Adventure Park 

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