IT'S the start of a beautiful summer's day and we are up early.
Our little gang of four stood eagerly at the gates of Marwell Zoo in Hampshire at 9am - one hour before the zoo opened.
What would a family be doing up and dressed so early on a Sunday morning?
We are being let into the zoo extra early so we can get to our own special base camp for the day.
As our guide collects us on a buggy, we zip through the huge site, past zebras, rhinos, giraffes, flamingos and much more, and make our way to the old manor house.
Set up in a private garden behind the house are four tepees, stocked with items such as cold drinks and comfy seats, to make a full day at the zoo a truly VIP experience.
We have one tepee, and the kids are so excited they immediately want to stay there all week.
"Can we sleep here Mummy?" - my three-year-old has clearly taken a liking to tent life.
READ MORE: Marwell Zoo welcomes locusts and crickets to Arid Lands exhibit
The garden the tepees are set in has lots of space, and there are garden games to enjoy - and the kids love roaming about on the lawn. There's also a lockable gate to keep your stuff safe.
We are given a quick tour of the zoo - looking for tigers, peeking at meerkats and gazing across to the gazelles - all the animals are out as it's cool and quiet.
The zoo is nice and peaceful before the gates open. As the gates open, and the public pour in, we head back to our tepee for brunch, which is brought to us in a picnic hamper with coffee and plenty of snacks for the kids.
After we refuel, we set out around the zoo by ourselves, there is so much to see that you really can make a whole day of it.
The kids love the play parks, which are dotted around the site, as well as spotting all the different kinds of animals.
For lunch, we head back to the tepee and our friends join us in the next tepee along.
It's a lovely lunch, spread out on the lawn, with the sun shining and kids playing happily.
It's such a beautiful, calm, tranquil setting, it's easy to forget you are at the heart of a busy tourist attraction.
Part of the tepee package sees a fire pit lit, very exciting for the kids, on which we toast marshmallows for pudding.
The staff at Marwell are very friendly, and nothing is too much trouble. We then take part in a craft session, painting pebbles, so the kids are in their element.
SEE ALSO: Marwell Zoo Hampshire welcomes cotton-headed tamarin triplets
The adults get to chat, while the kids are occupied. A win-win for everyone.
With brightly-coloured pebbles now locked in our tents, we set back off around the park to see the tropical house, pandas, and wallabies.
We are even lucky enough to see three baby cotton-headed tamarins, freshly born, they are clinging to the mother's back - a real highlight of the day.
At 4pm, it's time to head home, but the day has been so magical and beautiful, and there are so many things to do, that everyone wants to come back again.
The Secret Garden Bell Tents are bookable for up to four people and cost £295 for non-members or £200 for annual members.
To book go to marwell.org.uk or call 01962 770599 or email events@marwell.org.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here