We are not sponsored by Port Lympne Wildlife Park, but enjoyed our visit and thought you would too. Six guests purchased the tiger feeding experience and we were just in time to watch. However, there is an African & Asian Experience safari ride available at Port Lympne. Allowing tours and experiences help fund their conservation efforts. Absolutely embarrassing as there was a long line behind us at the shop because of the ticket situation. The food was delicious with wonderful presentation. Call the Midwife Location Tour in Chatham, Full Day Dover & White Cliffs Minibus Tour; Countryside, Culture & Castles, Leeds Castle, Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Day Trip from London with Guided Cathedral Tour, Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, Dover & Greenwich River Boat Ride, A private guided tour of World War 2 sites along the Kent Coast, Gangster Tour of Londons East End Led by Actor Vas Blackwood, Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and Cliffs of Dover Custom Day Trip, The Garden Room At Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. The trainer gave the guests gloves, masks, a large bucket of meat, and a pair of tongs. Simply visit our animal adoption pageand choose which one you'd like to support. Unfortunately, all of the day tickets, season passes and memberships available at both Howletts & Port Lympne are non-refundable and non-amendable. This section of the park looked out over the fields we went through on the safari tour, except the animals were much further away. We spent about 6 hours there, even despite some down pours and we loved it. There are small cats, monkeys, tapirs, lions, painted dogs and many more, some of which are on the circular walk. Hotels near St James Retail & Leisure Park, Dover on Tripadvisor: Find 23,514 traveller reviews, 11,114 candid photos, and prices for 188 hotels near St James Retail & Leisure Park in Dover, England. The moment lion cub was 'crushed' at Safari park run by Carrie Symonds' zoo charity as web cam viewers accused venue of a 'cover up' over its death. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC. If you are happy with this please Accept, otherwise you can. Disabled toilets are available throughout the park. Dear poppy222, My autistic son is 10 and daughter 7 and they both grinned from ear to ear. Our host jumped down from the cab and gave us the run down. Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is about a 25 minute drive from our home, the perfect sort of distance away for a short break! Felt like most of the animals had disappeared and barely saw any. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The only well kept area I saw was the gift shop. Most were too busy grooming themselves to pay us any mind. We recommend Howletts for our disabled visitors. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. However, there were stairs. Concession and carer tickets are not available to be purchased online, please contact the customer services team on 01303 264647 to book in advance or purchase at the Gatehouse on arrival. However, on the walking tour, an elevated section of walkway gave us good shots over the fencing. Over 800 animals live in the 600 acre reserve so you'll want to make sure you don't miss a thing! Members and season ticket holders can book encounters and safaris here. No, you will not be the only person. At least two complimentary bottles of water are also a must-have in accommodation where you pay more than 700 per night. If you don't find the answer you're looking for about our animals please contact us. Thank you for taking time to leave your review.Our animals always have the choice if they wish to remain inside, so if they do then they will be out of view from our visitors. Follow the Saxon Shore Way east and it will take you to Brockhill Country Park near Hythe. It was still a pretty area to wander around, but with most of the gardens dormant for winter, there wasnt much to see. they're all trying to adjust the same as we are. They serve good home cooked food and have a nice garden area to sit out in. There's so much to see and do at Port Lympne Reserve, we recommend around 3-5 hours to experience everything the 600 acre reserve has to offer from endangered animals, walks with stunning views and historic landscaped gardens to good food and even a little retail therapy in our Gatehouse Gift Shop! Reach Road, Lympne is 961 meters away, 13 min walk. If you wish to change the delivery address, please inform us within 12 hours of placing your order by emailing fundraising@aspinallfoundation.org, providing us with the change of address details. What they should do though is take their rubbish home with them and respect the parking etc . Leave the M20 at Junction 11 and follow the brown tourist signs to the park (about 5 minutes drive from the motorway). To give more room for the animals another estate at Port Lympne . A great day - we need to support local zoos and parks to get back up and running, not criticising them for things not being exactly as they were before. As well asshelter from the worst of the Great British weather under the trees of Dinosaur Forest, you'll also find some of the fiercest creatures that ever roamed the earth lurking amongst the undergrowth. Search 643 hotels near Port Lympne Wild Animal Park and Gardens in Hythe from 39. Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve offers exciting days out in Kent filled with discovery for the entire family. Book an unforgettable short break at Port Lympne and get back to nature in style and comfort. We loved the rhino experience; you got to feed and stroke the rhino and they are such gentle animals. A big thank you to the team here. Fromthe Port Lympne Wild Animal Park car park on Aldington Road we walked left along the road until we reached the first waymarker on the right hand side heading down a track signposted for the Saxon Shore Way. It had the room to sleep four. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN DOWN, OUR VILLAGE IS TINY AND CANT COPE WITH ALL THESE WALKERS, THEY ARE TRASHING OUR WOODLAND AND COUNTRYSIDE, USING OUR HEDGEROWS AS TOILETS AND LEAVING ALL THEIR RUBBISH, THEY ARE PARKING IN ALL OF OUR RESIDENTIAL ROADS AND THE RESIDENTS CANT PARK, OUR WILDLIFE HAS DISAPPEARED AND THE RESIDENTS ARE TOO SCARED TO WALK IN THEIR OWN VILLAGE BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WALKING HERE.WE DONT HAVE EXOTIC ANIMALS, THEY ARE SEEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL ALONG THE CANAL BANK, YOU DO NOT NEED TO COME THROUGH OUR VILLAGE TO SEE THEM!!!! Tiger Lodge: Amazing Experience at Tiger Lodge - See 61 traveler reviews, 174 candid photos, and great deals for Tiger Lodge at Tripadvisor. Giraffes dont handle the cold very well. Such a shame the safari wasnt available. It had the room to sleep four. As you walk through the gorillas were poking us with sticks. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The gorillas were amazing and theres a baby one which was very cute! The tour wound its way through South American, Asian, and African animal enclosures. Unnamed species . The online booking system unfortunately can not process members revisits and other tickets in the same transaction.Separate tickets can be purchased separately, alternatively book as additional members and purchase the tickets on arrival. Though the Port Lympne Wildlife Park website says it takes 4 5 hours to visit, we spent 7 hours and could have easily stayed longer if it didnt get dark early in winter. All in all we couldnt fault a thing all day! Follow MoonShot for some behind the scenes footage at Pro Bowl Games and Super Bowl LVII, and find out what the MoonShot team get up to! Many were caught with a fantastic catch! Please see the information boards around the reserve for details of our fun and informative animal talks - all included in your admission ticket! Port Lympne is 600 acres, including The African & Asian Experience Safari spanning over 100 acres of Kentish countryside. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. For Europe, please allow 14 working days for delivery; for the rest of the world 30 working days. Deforestation and slaughter for the bush meat trade are bringing many animals closer and closer towards extinction. Opened to the public in 1976, the 243 hectares (600 acres) of are home to a large variety of free-roaming wildlife. Port Lympne Reserve: Not a zoo! About this walk. How long have they had takins? Together we can make a difference. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. Do not come here if you are disabled! Here is my review of how our stay went! Review of Port Lympne Reserve Reviewed 1 July 2020 Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page. Walks And Walking West Hythe Walk In Kent Lympne Castle and Church. We followed this track to the outskirts of the Millennium Wood, just after Lympne Plate, and as the path started to bend to the left we walked right down the steep slope to steps. If you would like to contact us via our email - info@howlettsandportlympne.com and we will be pleased to respond to this. The popular park includes waymarked woodland trails, a lake, open grassland, streams, cascades and meadows. Once inside the pathways are muddy and covered in running water. The route continues east through Lympne village to Shepway Cross passing Lympne Castle on the way. If you have questions on our experiences, feel free to ask us! When walking around the park you can see the sea in the distance. Port Lympne lies in 600 acres ofhilly terrain and as a result is quite steep in places. Route B - Loop Route Follow Route A. Please note: the footpaths on this walk do not allow for social distancing as outlined in the latest government guidelines in response to the COVID 19 outbreak. Walks And Walking West Hythe Walk In Kent Stutfall Castle Remains. Absolutely amazing!! We do not allow dogs into the parks. Starting at the car park in West Hythe follow the Royal Military Canal path west, after about 1km (you will be running parallel with Port Lympne zoo), there is a footpath on the right that takes you up through the park. We followed the track up to a stile and across a field to a gate where we then walked left up the lane to rejoin Aldington Road at Court-at-Street. Though there are cages on the property, most animals are in fields. It offers both family rooms and interconnected rooms, making things easier for bigger groups or families. Follow MoonShot for some behind the scenes footage at Pro Bowl Games and Super Bowl LVII, and find out what the MoonShot team get up to! Since we had our pick of the seats, our host advised us to sit in the middle or the back to avoid the truck fumes. There are, however, selected routes suitable for wheelchair users. If you were unavailable, your postman/woman may have left a card advising for it to be collected at your local sorting office. Almost everyone came out to enjoy the sunshine. If you don't realise that we're having to compromise at the moment, then don't go. Thank you for taking time to leave your review.Regarding our animals we design our enclosures with their welfare being paramount so there is lots of natural foliage and furniture to provide shelter and camouflage. If you only want to pay the standard admission, you will need to ask them to remove the donation. After this time, the adoption will be in the process for dispatch and unfortunately the delivery address cannot be changed. we saw Rhinos, Leopard, Tigers, Lions, Gorillas and many many more. Typically 96 services run weekly, although weekend and holiday schedules can vary so check in advance. All animals are safely locked in enclosures so theres no risk but its great fun! We then rejoined the Royal Military Canal Path with Lympne Castle now coming in to view on the right hand side. I am really surprised by the negative comments. We have endeavoured to ensure we can consistently deliver an inclusive environment for our visitors, providing an experience that can be used by everyone, regardless of age, gender or disability. With a range of indoor soft play facilities, it is the perfect place to unleash your inner explorer and go wild even in wet weather. We finished off having hotdog and chips overlooking the rhinos field. For example, our gorillas live in deep straw, simulating the forest floor, which allows them to forage all day for food as they would in the wild. The entrance to Port Lympne is via a ramped footbridge and there is a designated disabled parking area in the car park at the base of it. Howletts Wild Animal Park, 30 minutes for Port Lympne, might be a better option for wheelchair users, as it's a smaller site and entirely flat. Set within 15 acres of landscaped gardens in the beautiful Port Lympne Wild Animal Reserve, the Port Lympne Mansion Hotel features stunning views across the Romney Marsh, over the Kent Coast, and towards the English Channel. The room was fantastic. They blew raspberries at us to get our attention and one even blows kisses at you if you do it to them! As we came through, the pack was busy working together to pull apart a carcass. If you can't find the answer you're looking for below, please contact us. As did I. Def do! The efforts around Covid seemed acceptable from what we experienced, but it wasnt very busy so was easy to distance. Port Lympne lies in 600 acres ofhilly terrain and as a result is quite steep in places. The park is doing a great job of adjusting and we couldn't fault their efforts. After the safari tour we were keen to head out on the walking paths, but first we were hungry. I am afraid with nothing else to do you cannot blame people for talking a walk . Worth every penny. We continued our walk along the main track, passing the National Cycle Network blue waymarker to Rye where we found a small bridge over the Royal Military Canal. She didnt rush us feeding the rhinos and was full of facts and information about all the animals. We did get to see the gorillas, but it was hard to get good photos with the bars. Howletts - over 390 animals, 52 species (approximately)Port Lympne - 900 animals, 75 species (approximately). The staff made the effort to speak to us and they were very helpful. Wake up in a tigers world, experience an authentic safari without the air miles, check out the view from your treehouse, soak up the history and atmosphere at the hotel or cottages or watch the animals roam past in front of your own Shepherds hut. The journey takes visitors past the Island, which was a former home to the elderly male western lowland gorilla Nico, the oldest gorilla in Europe, until his death aged 56 on 7 January 2018 and is now home to Black-and-white colobus monkeys. The kind your customers really want. The other half live in the South American, Asian, and African enclosures and are only visible from the safari tours. It will not always be possible for one of our keepers to help you identify the animal you adopt if you are visiting our parks. Animal welfare is definitely not Lord Aspinalls priority. Turn your visit into a short break by discovering Port Lympne's authentic safari accommodation options. When we got to the till the lady explained where things were and suggested we took a photo of the map as they couldnt hand any out. For instance, the popular rooms with views into the lion or tiger enclosures. Howletts is in Bekesbourne and is signposted off the A2, three miles south of Canterbury. Spinosaurus makes a great umbrella while the kids explore the rest of the 3 acre woodland! We grow hay, maize, beet, kale and Lucerne on land that we own. Click on the Bus route to see step by step directions with maps, line arrival times and updated time schedules. Necessary cookies are stored in your internet browser. Personally it doesn't bother me but I know some people have got stroppy in the past, thinking it was too hard to walk round. Obviously, this post would be massive if we wrote about all the animals we saw. Even though we lost out on the gardens, we didnt have the summer crowds the UK is known for. Port Lympne Wild Animal Park Port Lympne 2018. When at the top of the hill it joins a road with no footpaths, and you cannot easily take a circular route. Take a break from exploring and enjoy tasty dishes with local wines and Kentish brews at our restaurants or grab a quick snack and a delicious coffee at our seasonal kiosks. Please see terms and conditions. There is a small local supermarket, butcher, baker, newsagent, micropub, pub with food, fish & chip shop and weekend pizza restaurant. The adoption schemes have named animals that act as figureheads for each species. ), you'll be ready for a steaming coffee or hot chocolate and a tasty treat at one of our restaurants. Please note the castle is private and generally not open to the public. This is a very easy 4 mile circular West Hythe walk in Kent along a short section of the Royal Military Canal Path, up through Port Lympne Wild Animal Park and then back along the ridgeway to Shepway Cross and the car park at Lympne Park Wood. All the cages are totally dilapidated, overgrown and the wooden climbing things look completely rotten. Second, complementary bottled water in the accommodation. Do not go here. Location Get directions. the pedestrian route is well marked and yes the safari is currently closed for obvious reasons but this is made clear on booking. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. But cannot fathom the safety aspect. Just before you leave dont forget to go and see the lions, there are separate from the rest of the park. Categorized as necessary, some cookies are essential for the basic functionality and security of the website. Laid-back, unpretentious British plates packed full of flavour and quality ingredients. It's located to the west of the route and requires an entry fee. Home to the largest herd of African Elephants in the UK, Howletts Wild Animal Park is one of Aspinall's award winning parks committed to the conservation, breeding and reintroduction of rare and endangered animals. Thanks, No I dont think there is a best time to do it. We followed the one way system around which was easy to follow, those who say it wasnt Im not sure how you couldnt. I cannot understand how it is not an accident waiting to happen. A small cottage was inhabited by an employee. Our conservation work overseas is reliant on public support - put quite simply, we need you! How do you get to your lodge safely ? Everyone can adopt the same named animals for each species, and the money raised goes towards The Aspinall Foundation's conservation work. For Port Lympne visits, please go to the bookings page and click on the members prebook tab. Log in or Sign up. We were surprised to see that there was not a single bottle of water in the tree house and that all water was for an extra charge of 4 a bottle and the only way to get it we to go all the way down to the common area during heavy rain. Roughly 15-20 on the safari and the rest from walking the park. If the weather really has dampened your spirits,our Rainy Day Guarantee for all day visitors who have booked in advance means that you can return to the Park free of charge within 30 days of your original booking. All in all a great effort by the team and we had a lovely day! From the bookings portal you can login and update your details by pressing the profile icon (small person). The County Members is in a good spot close to the castle. Thank you once again. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. From the Royal Military Canal car park at West Hythe we walked left along the main Royal Military Canal Path which also a part of the Saxon Shore Way. Thank you for your review. Online reviews warned of disappointment on the lack of visible animals in the winter. Though Port Lympne Wildlife Park has a variety of monkey species, most seemed unhappy with the cold. The jeep Safari included in the package was also good, lasting about an hour and a quarter but we were freezing cold by the end of it. Amazing!! Spent about 90 minutes here after expecting a day out. Keepers are encouraged to bond with their animals improving the standard of life for both keeper and animal. Please see opening times for Howletts and Port Lympne. Please ignore the negative reviews - I think many people have forgotten what is happening at the moment.We went midweek and at some points it was like having your own private zoo to wander around. What restaurants are near Port Lympne Reserve? Port Lympne is near Hythe on the Kent Coast. If you prefer to travel to us by Coach, find your nearest service to Ashford International before connecting with the Stagecoach bus service. What an amazing experience, so personal, you go into a secure area within the gorilla indoor cage and then up on the roof! Of all the animals we saw, we found the peculiar painted dogs the most fascinating. The park is a combination of hilly and flat terrain that can sometimes be steep and uneven. The Accommodation Our Pod at the Pinewood Pods facility was lovely. From Bexleyheath, Bexleyheath 274 min From Bluewater, Greenhithe 339 min From Dover Beach, Dover 91 min From Folkestone Bus Station, Shepway 49 min From Cineworld, Ashford 77 min If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. Services are operated by Stagecoach South East. The medievalcastle dates from the 13th century and is now used for corporate events and weddings. For more walking ideas in the area see the Kent Walks page. Later, on the other side of the park, we found Babydolls Wood-fired Pizza which looked good and had a mostly Italian menu. I had a Nikkor 80 400 mm lens on my DSLR, which gave me plenty of reach. And is an open small buggy safe in what is essentially a stay in a lion enclosure ? AAA safari very expensive. Learn how your comment data is processed. Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve offers exciting days out in Kent filled with discovery for the entire family. Membership and Season Tickets can also be purchased online or on entry to the parks or alternatively a ticket purchased online can be upgraded to a Membership or Season Ticket at the admissions desk. Opening Times. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Port Lympne Wildlife Park is less than five-miles from the beachside town of Hythe. We saw hardly any animals, some were otherwise occupied, some were hidden or too far to see clearly and some I think, didnt even exist! The menu was mostly cold sandwiches with outdoor seating, which wasnt what we wanted. The bottom area of the park is reopen to you can walk down to see the African Wild Dog, Back of the Tigers and also the Bison. However, we do think going on a sunny day could make a difference. Our stay was great even though it was raining all time. We stayed in a pinewood pod and did the rhino experience. Boxing Day 10:00-17:00, last admission 3pm. We hope to welcome you back in the future! Sporting a Fu Manchu beard, these fellas usually live in the forest regions of Central and Western Africa. We recommend that you find alternative arrangements for your dogs while you visit. Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve lies on the B2067, and is just past Ashford, Kent, 5 minutes from J11 of the M20. We are immensely proud of what we achieve with the resources we have, and we enjoy sharing the results with you on our social media and e-newsletters. Though we aim for accuracy, travel is an ever-changing world. Port Lympne doesn't have the feel of a zoo. Suggested duration More than 3 hours Features animals Learn more about animal welfare in tourism Suggest edits to improve what we show. This was fine for our winter weekend, but we imagine it would be painful if the hotel was busy. And if there are lions roaming around your lodge; out again ? Giraffes were another animal we saw up close. Yes. All waste from Howletts and Port Lympne is carefully sorted for recycling off-site. Port Lympne houses many rare and endangered species and the largest breeding herd of black rhinos in the UK. Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a world-renowned wild animal park set within 600 acres of Kentish savannah. Customer Services at Port Lympne. Hopefully once venues re open things will calm down . Howletts is in Bekesbourne and is signposted off the A2, three miles south of Canterbury. For those wondering, the trainer was very clear that despite being born and raised at the facility, the tigers were very wild. (Clouded Leopard) has returned from France and is on show near the Basecamp. You need some counselling if you need to see free animals, which there are none in our village..the zoo park are losing a lot of money through people like you not paying to see the animals and then they will close and there will be no animals, and if you think it is ok to trash our village and leave all your rubbish then we dont want people like you walking here anyway!!! Get instant job matches for companies hiring now for Bank jobs in North Foreland like Chef, Head Chef, Chef de Partie and more. It's located to the west of the route and requires an entry fee. Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page. See current Membership and Season Ticket prices for Howletts or Port Lympne. We recommend andusethese companies to arrange our travel plans; they make travel planning easy and affordable. Set in 600 acres, and housing over 650 rare and endangered animals, Port Lympne offers a treat for everyone. HowlettsPortLym T, Guest Relations Manager at Port Lympne Reserve, responded to this review, This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Fresh sourdough pizza, pasta dishes and seasonal salads. This includes an average layover time of around 1h 19m. Port Lympne Reserve: Large zoo but very expensive - See 2,552 traveler reviews, 2,640 candid photos, and great deals for Lympne, UK, at Tripadvisor. Stay close to Port Lympne Wild Animal Park and Gardens. Wished we hadnt bothered. perfectly reasonable but I'd rather have known beforehand so I could walk around one . Set in 600 acres, and housing over 650 rare and endangered animals, Port Lympne offers a treat for everyone. This is a popular trail for hiking and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Since the safari pick-up location was only five-minutes from the Main Entrance, we selected the next available tour. This worked well for winter, but in the busier months, late afternoon tours are less crowded. We purchased tickets at the main entrance, but they were also available online. This means that there is a substantial amount of walking and some very steep inclines to go up and down. Our favorite fellas, the meerkats, were out sunning themselves on the large mounds. Please note: the footpaths on this walk do not allow for social distancing as outlined in the latest government guidelines in response to the COVID 19 outbreak. Tags: . Warning the circle route is extremely steep and uneven -103m height gain! To fully enjoy the parks we recommend that you allow about 3 hours for Howletts, and about 4-5 hours for Port Lympne. These funds are used to send rare and endangered animals from our partner parks, Howletts and Port Lympne, back to the wild; provide food, medication and shelter for rescued wildlife; provide protection and monitoring for entire ecosystems and to invest in assisting local communities and education programmes. Just under 1 million per annum. The team work was interesting to watch and they were strangely beautiful, but also terrifying. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. PORT LYMPNE RESERVE - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. This is a huge perk as theres a lot of walking, but you cant rent the golf carts. To enable us to discuss this further, please contact us via our email - info@howlettsandportlympne.com and we will be pleased to look into this for you. Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve offers exciting days out in Kent filled with discovery for the entire family. Where are Howletts Wild Animal Park and Port Lympne Reserve? Nothing was to much trouble for her on both safaris and this really made our stay memorable . Though, you can probably hear the kings roar throughout the park, these little cabins give a front row seat. Again loads of different species of primates to see. Plus, we didnt have to deal with the summer crowds. Allowing tours and experiences help fund their conservation efforts. The rooms are clean and fresh and have all the . At the bridleway signpost we walked right up the main track through Port Lympne Wild Animal Park where the blackberries were as plentiful as the views of many different animals we saw. We also have woodlands that are used for harvesting browse for animal feed. Following the path past three paddocks of Black Rhinos, we made our way to Wayfinder Sign 13. We apologise that you were disappointed by your experience and we hope you will consider visiting us again in the future to enjoy Port Lympne at its best.Thank you once again. I would love to stay but don't see how it is safe ? Otford Palace: Henry VIII's lost Kent mansion reduced to ruins in people's back gardens. You can then pick up the Saxon Shore Way and head north before turning east past Lympne Place. Follow MoonShot for some behind the scenes footage at Pro Bowl Games and Super Bowl LVII, and find out what the MoonShot team get up to! From the Royal Military Canal car park at West Hythe we . The journey time between Brighton and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park is around 4h 17m and covers a distance of around 123 miles.