Until further notice
We are closed
In light of the recent government advice regarding COVID-19 It is with a heavy heart that we will be closing Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve and Howletts Wild Animal Park to the public and will remain closed until government guidelines allow us to reopen. We are in contact with the relevant authorities and will work to reopen both parks to guests as soon as it’s appropriate to do so.
As a charity, we appreciate your support and understanding. This is an unprecedented situation but please rest assured that we are committed to the well being of our guests, visitors, animals and teams here in Kent and overseas.
More information
VISIT KENT'S AWARD WINNING WILDLIFE ATTRACTION
See conservation in action at Howletts
Visit Howletts, Kent's original wildlife park, it's a unique adventure like no other! As a dedicated animal conservation charity, your visit directly helps us to protect wildlife here in the UK which, in turn, enables us to send animals back to the wild in conjunction with The Aspinall Foundation.
Our commitment to conservation, through captive breeding, education and reintroduction into the wild allow us to gain a greater understanding of some of the world’s most fragile environments and the endangered animals that live there.
Great days out
The animals
Howletts is home to over 390 animals, including Kent’s only giant anteaters, the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, and more gorillas, leopards and monkeys than any zoo in the county, Howletts offers a fun packed, wild day out for a great price!
Visit our popular amur tiger, Arina and see our family of western lowland gorillas. There are so many rare and endangered animals waiting to meet you! With new babies arriving throughout the year, there’s always something new to see.
Learn more about our animals here.
Your day out
Explore a 90-acre adventure in beautiful ancient parkland that is ideal for great days out in Kent with the entire family. No gimmicks, no nonsense, Howletts Wild Animal Park is committed to one thing, the conservation, breeding and reintroduction of rare and endangered animals.
Over 30 years later, our mission remains the same!
Join in our free animal talks, watch our animals being fed and visit our education centre, all included free with your entry ticket. Why not pay us a visit and see why we keep winning a TripAdvisor certificate of excellence year after year?
Your visit will directly help our charitable work continue.
Book online to save up to 15% and get access to our wet weather policy!
How your visit helps
Your ticket will help to fund not only the care of the animals here at Howletts Wild Animal Park but will also support our overseas projects. Thanks to the generosity of visitors like you, we - in conjunction with The Aspinall Foundation (charity number 326567) - have released more than 70 gorillas back to the wild and our released gorillas have had over 35 wild births! In Indonesia, we have released 33 Javan gibbons, 12 Javan grizzled langurs and 90 Javan ebony langurs. The Indonesian primates have over 30 wild births. We have also transferred 8 black rhino from our Kent parks to Africa, who have produced 25 offspring between them.
Explore: Animals of the Ice Age!
Discover a world lost in time, as you marvel at the life size prehistoric creatures taking over the Woodland Walk. Wonder at the mighty mammoth, stare at the savage sabre toothed Smilodon and delight at the sheer size of the giant sloth, plus many more. Our new outdoor exhibition, is the coolest thing in Canterbury!
Find out more
Walking with Lemurs
You can walk alongside our lively lemurs in their natural leafy enclosure as the playful primates explore the branches overhead. See ring tailed lemurs, crowned and red-bellied lemurs in this ever popular walk-through lemur experience found in the heart of Kent – it’s a must visit!
Experience the treetops just like our primates!
Treetop Challenge
If you like adventure and a challenge, Howletts has an extra surprise in store. On site is our Treetop Challenge – this exhilarating high ropes course, for explorers over 1.2metres tall, will show you the park from a monkey’s perspective!
1 Challenger - £7
2 Challengers - £12
4 Challengers - £20
Yearly Membership - £49 (does not include entry to the park)
Also available for parties and group bookings.
Open weekends and school holidays, 10am to 4.00 (last entry).
Please note this activity is subject to weather conditions and availability. Open weekends and school holidays. Please call us on 01227 721286 to check availability before your visit.
Treetop Challenge
Adventure play park for your little ones
Animal Adventure Challenge
For young adventurers (aged 2-5 years), we have our Animal Adventure Challenge; a fun course for children featuring slides, a telescope and periscope, children’s zip-line, bird’s nest swing, monkey bars and more! Admission £2.50 per child.
This activity is subject to weather conditions and availability. Please call us on 01227 721286 to check availability before your visit.
Book an experience for that extra special day
We have a brilliant range of experiences available from photography days to animal encounters.
Book Now
Memberships
Book your Season Pass or Annual Park Membership online today and enjoy exclusive benefits just for you, while being part of real conservation that makes a huge difference to countless endangered animals from all over the world.
Get your membershipTripadvisor
Amazing day out!
We went expecting a small and relatively quick day out, but this place is full of lovely surprises and amazing animals! The best day out I had while we were in the area of Canterbury!!
Tripadvisor
Another fantastic day out.
Have been lucky to visit here and sister park Port Lympne many times. Every time see something new. Listened to the goriila talk and the rhino talk given by Emily, very interesting. Lucky to watch the baby rhino Mizzy? with her mum. So sweet .
Tripadvisor
What a great park!
We were the 2nd customers through the door just after Christmas and it was perfect. We had the Park almost to ourselves and even better all the animals were out having just been fed. Within 5 minutes we had seen 2 magnificent Black Rhino and several African Elephants at close quarters.
