I’ll never forget the drive to Burnham Safari in South Creake, Norfolk – a proper Norfolk jaunt that started with me taking a wrong turn just outside Fakenham and ending up in a muddy farm lane, swearing under my breath as the SatNav cheerfully announced I’d gone “off piste”. Classic me, isn’t it? We were only five minutes late arriving at this quirky little safari-themed lodge, but it felt like a comedy of errors with the kids in the back chanting “Are we there yet?” for the umpteenth time. Still, as we finally pulled up to the wooden lodge nestled in that peaceful corner of west Norfolk, all was forgiven. It was like stepping into a mini adventure straight out of a storybook.

The place is brilliant – a cosy cluster of lodges right in the heart of the Norfolk countryside, close enough to Burnham Market for a quick wander but far enough to feel like your own private safari outpost. Ours was one of those glamping-style spots with a veranda overlooking open fields, canvas walls that rustle gently in the breeze, and inside, proper beds, a little kitchenette, and even a wood-burning stove for that authentic lodge glow. First impressions? Pure magic. We arrived mid-afternoon on a drizzly Friday, the kind of soft Norfolk rain that makes everything smell like wet earth and promise. The kids – my two under-tens, Archie and Ellie – bolted out of the car, eyes wide at the life-sized wooden giraffe peeking over the fence. “Mum, it’s real!” Ellie shrieked, before I had to explain it was just part of the safari vibe. I couldn’t stop grinning; after a hectic few months back home, this felt like the reset button we all needed.

Unpacking was a right faff, mind you. I’d overpacked as usual – enough snacks to feed a small army, plus wellies that somehow ended up tangled in the boot like a game of human Twister. But once we’d dumped our bags and cracked open a flask of tea, it was time to explore. The lodge site itself is compact and family-friendly, with a shared play area just a stone’s throw away featuring swings, a slide, and those funny animal-shaped climbing frames. Archie was straight up the zebra one, pretending to be a lion on the prowl, while Ellie bossed him around from the monkey bars. Light chaos ensued when a football went rogue into a neighbour’s pitch, leading to a hasty apology and a new mate for Archie. Proper lodge life, that – a bit of organised mayhem amid the calm.

As the sun dipped low (Norfolk does golden hours like no one else), we fired up the BBQ on our veranda. Sausages sizzling, buns toasting on the griddle – nothing fancy, just simple pleasures. The views stretched out to rolling fields dotted with sheep, and in the distance, you could hear the odd tractor chugging along the lanes towards South Creake. It hit me then, sat there with a cider in hand, watching the kids roast marshmallows into blackened blobs: how often do we rush through life without these pauses? I’m guilty of it, always chasing the next thing, but here, with the lodge lights twinkling on and the stars popping out overhead, it was a gentle nudge to just breathe. No Wi-Fi pressure, no schedules – just us, a bit of gentle ribbing about my navigational skills, and the quiet hum of countryside night.

Wandering over to the site’s communal fire pit later, we joined a few other families toasting more marshmallows. Stories swapped about local sightings – roe deer in the fields at dawn, barn owls hunting at dusk. It’s that relaxed vibe that seals it: Burnham Safari isn’t about grand safaris or non-stop action; it’s the joy of arriving somewhere that feels instantly like home, with a dash of whimsy and a whole lot of family bonding. By bedtime, the kids were knackered and happy, conked out under the canvas roof. First day done, and I was already plotting tomorrow’s wellie walks around the nearby Burnham Westgate paths. Norfolk, you’ve got me hooked.