insideKENT Magazine Issue 25 - April 2014 | Page 107

DAYSOUT
Wildwood Discovery Park

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park

© Dave Rolfe

Thanet © Explore Kent

Go Wild IN THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND
IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY, YOU’RE SURE OF A BIG SURPRISE…
When you picture Kent, what do you think of? Country houses, romantic historic castles,
farms, orchards and picturesque fishing villages? No one can dispute that the county is
famed for its calm, serene and traditional landscapes, but, if you know where to look, you
may find that the Garden of England is not as tame as you think.
At Kent's wildlife parks, you can go on a safari
without going south of the equator. Fingertips
brushing against fur, it’s often hard to believe
that you are in South East England – just a short
drive from the English Channel.

enthralling and endangered species, with big
cats, dogs, elephants, hoof stock and primates
making up just some of the residents here. And
with their home set in 90 acres of beautiful ancient
parkland, it is certainly ideal for the keen explorer.

When it comes to wildlife in Kent, Port Lympne
Wild Animal Park, near Hythe, is an absolute
must-visit – not only for the park's unique safari
attraction, but also for the opportunity to come
face to face with a vast collection of wild beasts
from around the world. From majestic predators
like tigers and lions, to the human-like monkeys
and gorillas; here, visitors really can experience
life on the wild side.

Both parks are run by The Aspinall Foundation,
an internationally renowned conservation charity
that strives endlessly for the protection of
endangered species and runs successful breeding
programmes around the world.

One of the largest wild animal parks in the UK,
Port Lympne not only offers close-up animal
encounters, but also incorporates its historic
mansion and landscaped gardens into the visit,
as well as hosting events and on-site courses,
such as wildlife photography.
Equally exciting is Howletts Wild Animal Park,
just outside of Canterbury. As Port Lympne’s
sister park, Howletts is home to even more

But, the fun doesn’t stop there. Celebrating all
great things in the Garden of England, the onsite working farm at Kent Life in Maidstone looks
after all manner of farmyard life, from sheep,
cattle and donkeys, to rabbits, chickens, ferrets
and ducks – all of which are waiting to be greeted
and fed. For the more unusual species, The Rare
Breeds Centre near Ashford boasts 100 acres
of unspoilt countryside, and cares for lesserknown farm animals, ranging from rare breeds
of cows and owls, to pigs and lambs.
You will encounter hoards of British wildlife –
past and present – at Wildwood Discovery Park

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in Herne Bay, whereby more than 300 native
animals live in a 40-acre forest. Here, visitors can
standby to meet anything from wolves and owls,
to beavers, badgers, bison and boars. Meanwhile,
at Wingham Wildlife Park in Canterbury, the
animals range from ants to wallabies, with
countless creatures in between. This reserve also
specialises in exotic birds and small animals, and
visitors can sign up for a number of experience
days, from meeting the tigers to shadowing a
reptile keeper!
However, it is not just mammal mayhem in Kent;
you can get your claws amongst th