Meet Shaka!
The GIANT New Arrival Joining Kent’s Only Elephant Herd This May Half Term
There’s a big new arrival stomping into Kent this May half term… and we really do mean big!
Howletts Wild Animal Park has officially welcomed Shaka, an impressive adult bull elephant, to the park’s famous herd just in time for Springfest 2026. Towering, confident and already making his presence known, Shaka has swapped Bristol for Kent as part of a carefully planned elephant exchange with Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm.
And while there’s definitely excitement around the new arrival, there’s also a little bit of elephant melancholy too, as two of Howletts’ cheekiest young bulls, Impi and Mchumba, have packed their trunks and headed off on their own big adventure.
Visit Shaka - Kids go for £10 all half term!The boys are leaving home…
At fifteen years old, Impi and Mchumba have officially reached elephant adulthood. In the wild, young male elephants naturally leave their family herd as they grow older, heading off to establish themselves independently or alongside other males.
So while it might sound dramatic, this elephant “swap” is actually all part of growing up.
Impi
Mchumba
The two young bulls, known among keepers for their playful personalities and occasional mischief-making, have moved to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm near Bristol, where they’ll continue developing socially in a herd structure better suited to adolescent males.
Collections Manager at Howletts Wild Animal Park
Richard Barnes
Young males leaving the herd is a normal stage in their development. We will miss Impi and Mchumba, they have become firm favourites among our keepers, known for their playful and cheeky personalities.
Enter Shaka…
With the youngsters moving on, it was time for a new leading man to step into the herd and Shaka has arrived ready for the role.
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Shaka arrived at Howletts on 12th May and has already started settling into life with Kent’s only elephant herd. A striking adult bull with a calm but commanding personality, he’ll play an important role in helping maintain balance and stability within the group.
Think less “new kid at school” and more “headteacher arrives on the playground.”
As the dominant bull, Shaka naturally helps regulate interactions within the herd and supports healthy elephant social dynamics, something that’s incredibly important for the welfare of these intelligent animals.
And yes, he’s absolutely enormous!
Come and meet Shaka this May half term
If you’re looking for family days out in Kent this May half term, Springfest at Howletts is the perfect chance to see Shaka for yourself and spend time with the UK’s largest herd of African elephants.
Running from Saturday 23rd May to Sunday 31st May 2026, Springfest is packed with affordable family fun, including:
- Elephant activity trails
- Enrichment making in the Conservation Station
- Creative crafts
- Face painting
Plus the chance to learn more about elephant conservation.
Better still, the hugely popular Kids Go for £10 offer is back for the entire half term.
That means children can visit for just £10 when booked online, saving families £12.50 on standard child ticket prices.
A jumbo family day out without the jumbo price tag
From watching the elephants roam to spotting gorillas, lemurs, tigers and more, a visit to Howletts Wild Animal Park offers a full day of adventure for families of all ages.
And now, with Shaka settling into his new home, there’s never been a better time to visit.
