Terms and Conditions

Opting out of donation

Opting out of voluntary donation.
Visitors will be admitted upon payment of the Standard Tariff if they choose not to contribute the additional 10% voluntary donation.

Entry conditions

Children 0-2 years of age are admitted free of charge to Howletts and Port Lympne along side a fully paying adult ticket or annual pass holder.

Children aged 16 years and under must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks reserve the right to refuse admission.

Entry to Howletts or Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks will only be granted on presentation of a valid print at home or mobile ticket, Season Pass or Membership card. It is the responsibility of the purchaser to present their valid form of admission on entry to the parks.  Season Pass and Membership is not transferable and the card holder must be present. A £5 administration fee will be charged for lost or damaged Season Pass or Membership cards.

Dogs and other pets are not permitted to the park. Please do not leave your dogs in the car. We recommend that you make alternative arrangements for your pets before visiting.

As parts of Port Lympne are quite steep, we offer reduced admission for disabled guests and have selected routes for wheelchairs. Please ask for advice. This discount is not available with online tickets.

One free carer will be admitted with a disabled guest when purchasing a concession ticket directly from Port Lympne or Howletts. Proof of eligibility, such as PIP, DLA, or an Access Card, will be required. Only one free carer ticket is permitted per disabled guest.

Our parks are very different from conventional zoos. The animals, which include rare and endangered species, are able to live and breed in conditions as close to their natural habitat as possible. This can mean that when the weather is inclement some of our animals will seek shelter in their indoor enclosures, which are always open to them but not on view to the public and you may wish to consider this when planning your visit.

Please do not feed the animals as they receive strictly controlled diets and you may cause them harm.

Please do not bang on windows at exhibits or climb on or cross the safety barriers.

In the interests of safety barbeques, balls, balloons, scooters, bikes, rollerblades or skates are not permitted in the parks.

Howletts & Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks reserve the right to alter or cancel any events, presentations or feeding times without notice if required. Visitors are reminded that any advertised exhibits, attractions or facilities may be closed, removed, altered or otherwise unavailable at any time for safety, operational or animal welfare reasons.

Refund policy

All tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable, non-amendable and not for resale. Tickets purchased are only valid on the date written on the ticket. Tickets may not be valid for special events which may attract a separate admission fee. Tickets will only be exchanged if The Howletts Wild Animal Trust, in its absolute discretion, chooses to do so.

At Port Lympne and Howletts we have large enclosures, designed with the animals in mind. We let the animals choose if they want to be seen by the public and we never shut the animals into ‘viewing’ areas.

In certain weathers, many of the animals will choose to take shelter in their indoor sections, or seek shade in the foliage of their surroundings.  With this in mind, please note that we do not offer refunds, even if visitors feel they have not seen a certain amount of animals.

Pre-booked tickets are covered by our Wet Weather Policy. We do not offer refunds for inclement weather for tickets purchased on arrival or affiliate/promotional tickets.

Experience, Safari and Encounters

1. Our Agreement
   • A contract (our agreement) is formed when we receive the required payment and you have received a confirmation. This will be deemed to be 24 hours from the systems automated booking confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation within this timescale, please contact us immediately. Required payment means the full amount due for your experience. Our agreement incorporates the entire portfolio of the services or products we offer, the confirmation and this agreement (which we sent to you following your telephone booking or which you accepted online at the time of booking). Our agreement with you binds you, (the person named on the confirmation), and all members of your party, including children and any day visitors. You must ensure that all members of your party are aware of, and accept, all of this agreement. Our agreement continues until the last member of your party has left the property.

2. Our Animals
   • As one of the most successful organisations involved in the conservation of a wide range of endangered species, the welfare of our animals is of the utmost importance to us. Their behaviour may also be unpredictable; therefore, you should never enter (including extending a hand, arm, foot, leg or other bodily part) into an animal enclosure unless by prior arrangement and under the strict supervision of an animal keeper or ranger.
   • Our animal enclosures are constructed in accordance with strict safety requirements and our operating procedures are assessed independently every year. In the very unlikely event that an animal may present an exceptional risk to our guests or staff, we have specific contingency plans which will be activated. In those circumstances, staff will provide you with directions and advice, which must be followed at all times.
   • We have our own vets operating at the reserve at all times. If you see an animal(s) which you believe has become injured ill or distressed, do not intervene yourself. Notify a member of staff as soon as possible and they will arrange for the prompt attendance of a member of our veterinary team.
   • We reserve the right to increase secondary boundary distances due to the welfare needs of our animals or other safety purposes.
   • We reserve the right to make amendments at any point to the experience for animal welfare or safety purposes.
   • No external animals, including guide dogs, are permitted on the premises.

3. General Terms
   • All animal experiences have a minimum age limit. Proof of age may be required. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a full paying adult aged 18 or over (excluding our Keeper Academy experience).
   • Please ensure the experience is suitable for the age(s) of any children in your party. If the experience is suitable for all ages, children aged 0-2 do not need to pay but must have a ticket. Please contact 01303 264647 or info@howlettsandportlympne.com to add a complimentary infant ticket.
   • The price of an experience DOES NOT include entry to Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve or Howletts Wild Animal Park UNLESS otherwise stated, or you are an overnight guest of Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve, or a Member / Season ticket holder. If you are not an overnight guest of Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve or a Member, then a valid day entry ticket will also need to be purchased, either on arrival at the gatehouse or online 24 hours in advance of your visit.
   • Additional guests without a valid ticket will not be permitted on the experience.
   • When the duration of the experience is mentioned, this is an approximate indication and may differ on the day of your experience.
   • Direct contact with animals is not guaranteed on any of our experiences.
   • Experience bookings are non-refundable and non-transferrable (refer to Amendments & Cancellations)
   • Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks reserve the right to ask any participant to leave the parks should they behave in an inappropriate or unsafe manner; no refund shall be given.
   • Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks reserve the right to refuse those who do not wear suitable clothing, no refund shall be given.
   • Regrettably, certain guests will be unable to take part in experiences, including people with relevant phobias or known allergies, pregnant women and immuno-compromised individuals. Please contact us before booking so we can advise.
   • We make every effort to ensure our range of experiences is as accessible as possible, however due to the nature of our working environment, regrettably we are unable to accommodate everyone. Please contact us for advice on any special requirements before booking.
   • A full safety briefing is conducted prior to the start of your experience. Failure to follow these instructions will result in being removed from the experience.
   • It is your responsibility to inform us if you have any condition that we should be aware of, in order to ensure your safety. Failure to disclose this information may mean that you will be unable to participate in the experience on the day.
   • During a safari, you must remain in the vehicle at all times, unless your guide informs you otherwise.
   • Do not attempt to touch or feed any of the animals whilst on a safari.
   • Do not at any time climb over any enclosure standoff barriers or try and feed any of our animals, unless as part of a keeper-supervised encounter. Any torches or light-emitting devices are prohibited to be directed into any enclosure
   • Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks reserve the right to alter the experience on any given day due to animal welfare, extreme weather conditions or changes to the animal collection, but will, where possible, replace the activity with a similar one.
   • Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks reserve the right to change or cancel any dates for reasons such as extreme weather conditions or animal welfare issues and will endeavour to inform you as soon as possible. The Howletts Wild Animal Trust cannot cover travel, accommodation or any other associated costs.
   • Late arrival beyond the start time will be deemed as a no-show. In this situation, your experience will not be rescheduled, and no refund will be given.
   • Guests must be at the correct meeting point / departure location 15 minutes prior to the start time.
   • All experiences are shared with other guests unless otherwise stated.
   • Food and drink cannot be consumed during safaris or experiences.
   • Smoking / vaping is not permitted while on safari or during an experience.
   • Face coverings are required to be worn for the duration of any experience that entails proximity to gorillas, primates and felines.
   • Staff withhold the rights to refuse attendance to the experience involving Gorillas, Primates or felines if they believe a guest is displaying cold or flu symptoms, the guest will be invited to rebook for an alternative date.
   • All guests are advised to wash their hands after coming into contact with any animal area. Guests are advised against touching their lips, eyes or face whilst in these areas.
   • All cuts, abrasions or bites which occur during your visit, no matter how small, must be treated and covered immediately and will require medical attention and a log of the incident placed in the company’s accident book.
   • If at any point during your experience, you feel uncomfortable or begin to feel unwell, please inform a member of staff immediately.
   • It is the responsibility of the guest to highlight any part of the experience that they feel will be too uncomfortable or difficult for them to undertake.
   • Howletts/Port Lympne accepts no responsibility for any loss and/or damage however arising whilst on our premises.
   • Howletts/Port Lympne will endeavour to ensure that you are not exposed to any unnecessary risks during your time with us, but we will not be held liable for any injury caused by any elements of your experience. We cannot take responsibility for any injuries sustained during experiences when health and safety rules are breached. Our endangered animals have the potential to be dangerous and cannot be guaranteed to behave in a predictable manner. Please ensure you listen carefully to health and safety information delivered at the beginning of your experience.

 Amendments & Cancellations

4. • You may change your booking with us for any reason, provided the change is made 14 days or more before your start date. If you change the date of your booking, the cancellation terms are based upon the original booking date. Each change is subject to availability and an amendment charge to cover our administration costs. You may only change your start date once, and you must select your new start date at the point of requesting the change, otherwise the change will be treated as a cancellation and charges will be applied.
   • We have the right, at our sole discretion, to refuse to confirm any booking. Where we have indicated that we will not accept a booking from you or accept your presence at our properties, we reserve the right at our sole discretion to cancel any booking you may have made or refuse to allow you to enter our properties or to ask you to leave our premises. If we do so, we will refund any payment made but will not pay any compensation. We have the right to cancel your booking, or to instruct you or your party to leave the Reserve immediately, without compensation or refund, should you or any of your party not comply with this agreement.
   • All experiences are non-refundable from the point of booking.
   • If you are unable to attend your booking, we will allow a modification of the name / attendees up to 24 hours prior to the start date.
   • Cancellations received for short break bookings by the reservations team are not accepted as notification of cancellation for an experience. It is the guest’s responsibility to inform the experience team.
   • In the event of an accidental or duplicated purchase, we must receive notification within 24 hours of purchase to cancel or amend this purchase. After this period, normal terms and conditions apply.

5. Safety
   • We take all reasonable steps to ensure our parks are a safe place for our guests. We ask for your cooperation and you to exercise some personal responsibility in the following circumstances by:

• Take particular care not to do anything which might cause a fire - dispose of cigarettes responsibly.
• Do not enter or attempt to use any facility that is closed.
• Do not under any circumstances enter an animal enclosure unless authorised to do so and accompanied by one of our animal keepers or one of our rangers.
• In the event of an animal escape, please be prepared to be taken to a place of safety. You must ALWAYS comply with the instructions of our Reserve staff at all times.
• Be aware of the movement of service vehicles operating across the reserve, particularly when they are passing groups or young children.
• Our properties cover an extensive natural area. If, whilst moving around it, you observe any potential hazards, please report these to a member of staff as soon as possible.

• Social distancing rules may be in effect during your stay.

6. Children’s supervision and parental responsibility
   • Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. This is particularly important in all children’s play areas, in licensed areas, close to waterways, viewing our animals, and when in close proximity to large service vehicles. Adults leading parties with children who do not appear to have reasonable supervision of, or control over, the children’s behaviour may be asked to put appropriate arrangements in place or to leave the relevant facility. Children’s activities are unsupervised unless otherwise stated.
   • It is our policy to investigate any incident or allegation of concern or assist any proper enquiries about a child in our care and to refer the matter to an appropriate external organisation should we consider it necessary/appropriate.
   • There must be at least one adult over the age of 18 participating in an experience (unless otherwise stated).
   • Buggies or push chairs are not permitted on our Safari Experience or on some animal encounters; a suitable buggy park is provided for your use whilst participating in these experiences. We reserve the right to remove the child buggies / push chairs from our traditional offering.

7. Photography and Image Rights 

• We encourage visitors to take and share photos while enjoying their park visit. All images and video taken by guests and patrons are allowed free of charge, provided the images are used only for personal, non-commercial use. For the welfare of our animals and your safety, it is essential that visitors respect the barriers and warning signage around both sites. Any visitor witnessed bypassing barriers, hanging over enclosures, including the use of selfie sticks or other equipment, risks being ejected from the site with no refund being given. The sale of photographs, digital images or video recordings for profit can only be done with prior permission (please contact marketing@howlettsandportlympne.com).
• Before posing for images with members of our staff, or where they might be potentially compromised by an image taken of them, please be mindful to ask for their consent first. To protect the privacy of our staff, use of continuous recording devices such as body cams or GoPro cameras is not permitted. 

• If we authorise the capture of still or video images, we retain the intellectual property rights in such circumstances, and reserve the right to claim a percentage of the sale of images in such circumstance. We also reserve the right to prevent the publication of any such image used in a manner that might unreasonably portray a false representation of actual events or be detrimental to the reputation of The Aspinall Foundation, the Howletts Wild Animal Trust and Howletts and Port Lympne Estates Ltd. 

• We may commission professional photographers, film crews and the media to carry out photography and/or video recording on the Reserve from time to time, which may feature guests. You will not intentionally be included in any pictures or video footage of this type unless you are happy to do so. If you believe that your image has inadvertently been taken without your consent, please make it known to those responsible to arrange for your image to be redacted. 

• Any person found to have contravened any part of the above clauses will be required to leave the reserve, no refunds will be given, and we reserve the right refer the matter to a court of law.

8. Acceptable Behaviour 

• Offensive, violent or aggressive behaviour or language towards our staff, other visitors on site, or our animals will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to remove from the park, without any right to a refund, any person whose presence or behaviour may affect the enjoyment and/or safety of other guests or staff, or the welfare of our animals. We also reserve the right not to accept any future bookings from that person or any member of their party. 

Short Break Terms & Conditions

Please read our Short Break T&Cs carefully, as together with your booking confirmation, and the entire portfolio of services and products we offer, they make up your agreement with us. See full short break terms & conditions here.

Gift Vouchers

• Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from the point of purchase, unless otherwise stated directly on the voucher.
• Gift vouchers are non-amendable and non-refundable from the point of purchase.
• We reserve the right to withdraw gift voucher products without prior notice.
• We are under no obligation to replace or refund gift vouchers that are lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed whether they have been redeemed or not.
• Vouchers re-sold or transferred for profit or commercial gain will be void.
• Upon expiry any remaining balance will be lost.
• Gift vouchers can be used for part of full payment, no change will be given.
• Gift vouchers are only redeemable against the products stated.
• Gift vouchers can not be used to purchase other vouchers or gift cards.

Our Privacy Policy can be found here.

Port Lympne Illuminated

By purchasing a ticket to the Port Lympne Illuminated Festive Lights event, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

Ticket Validity

• Tickets are valid only for the specific ticket holder type, date and time selected at the time of booking.
• Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable to another date unless rescheduled in accordance with these terms.

Rescheduling Policy

• Requests to reschedule tickets must be made at least 48 hours prior to the booked arrival date.
• Rescheduling is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed
• No-show tickets will not be entitled to a refund, credit, or transfer.
• In the unlikely event that the experience is closed Port Lympne reserves the right to offer a refund or reschedule your booking to alternative date/time

Entry and Attendance

• The time indicated on your ticket is the start time of your illuminated trail experience.
• Late arrivals or attempts to join the trail at a different time will not be admitted and no refunds or transfers will be issued.
• Visitors may arrive at the venue from 2:00 PM on the booked date. Entry to the park will not be permitted before 2:00 PM.
• Standard entry conditions and prohibited items policies remain in place.

Weather Conditions

• The event will proceed in wet or inclement weather tickets will not be refunded or exchanged due to adverse weather.
• Our standard Wet Weather Policy is not applicable for this event.

Right of Admission

• We reserve the right to refuse entry or remove any guest from the premises for reasons including, but not limited to, safety concerns, inappropriate behaviour, or failure to comply with these terms.

Event Availability

• All tickets and event dates are subject to availability.
• The event may be cancelled or rescheduled due to exceptional or unforeseen circumstances. In such cases, ticket holders will be notified as soon as possible.

Photography and Filming

• During the event, photography and filming may take place for promotional and archival purposes.
• By attending, you consent to the use of your image for marketing, social media, and other promotional materials by Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve.
• Guests are welcome to take personal photos, but commercial photography is not permitted without prior written consent.

Dog Policy

• Please note that dogs (excluding assistance dogs) are not permitted within Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, including during the Illuminated Festive Lights event.
• Assistance dogs must be declared in advance and comply with our access guidelines.
• Please refer to assistance dog policy for more information

Donations

• Where a ticket includes a voluntary donation, this will support The Howletts Wild Animal Trust’s charitable work.
• Donations are non-refundable and subject to Gift Aid eligibility where applicable.

General Conditions

• Guests must comply with all venue rules and staff instructions throughout their visit.
• Failure to adhere to these terms may result in denied entry or removal from the event without refund.
• Trail dates may be reclassified at any time, and pricing is subject to change without notice. Bookings are only guaranteed at the rate and date selected at the time of purchase.
• Children must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times throughout the event. This applies to all areas of the trail, including entry, exit, and any interactive or rest zones.
• One free carer will be admitted with a disabled guest to Port Lympne’s Illuminated event when any valid ticket is purchased directly from Port Lympne. Proof of eligibility, such as PIP, DLA, or an Access Card, will be required. Only one free carer ticket is permitted per disabled guest.

Blue Peter Badges

Port Lympne Reserve does not accept blue peter badges.

Howletts will no longer accept Blue Peter badges from 31st December 2024.

Tesco Clubcard Vouchers

Tesco Clubcard vouchers are accepted online for Howletts Wild Animal Park and Port Lympne Reserve for standard day admission tickets or annual passes. These are solely redeemable on the allocated Tesco Clubcard booking portal located on the Clubcard webpage.

You must exchange your Clubcard vouchers for a Reward Partner code – we (the supplier) do not accept Clubcard vouchers directly on our booking pages or within our gatehouse. Vouchers can be used for full or part payment for a booking.

Partner codes cannot be used in food outlets, shops or accommodation stays. They can only be used against single visit admission and cannot be used for special events and/or shows and does not apply to and is not redeemable against group bookings. 

Visitors under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 or over.

All standard Tesco.com and Clubcard Reward Partner scheme terms and conditions apply, these can be found on the Tesco and Clubcard websites.

Carers tickets: One carer can enter free of charge alongside a standard day ticket.

The disabled person, companion or carer must show the following identification to qualify for complimentary access; Benefit Award Letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (e.g. for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Incapacity Benefit).

To add a carer onto your booking please contact the team on 01303 264647 or info@howlettsandportlympne.com with your booking confirmation number. 

We reserve the right to refuse admission, restrict dates and amend the packages without prior notification.

Check out our handy guides for booking your Tesco Clubcard tickets on desktop and mobile devices:

Booking Tesco Clubcard Tickets (Desktop)    Booking Tesco Clubcard Tickets (Mobile)

Dog Policy

The safety and wellbeing of all animals, including yours, is our absolute priority.

To protect our animals and your own, dogs and visiting pets are not permitted at Port Lympne or Howletts Wild Animal Park, except for registered assistance dogs.

If you are bringing an assistance dog onto site, day visitors must notify us no less than 72 hours before arrival. Overnight guests must let us know when booking.

We ask that you meet with the Duty Animal Manager on arrival and present evidence of your dog’s registration (e.g. ADUK booklet) and vaccination records. One of our friendly experts may also conduct a quick health check of your dog, to make sure they are well enough to enter the park. 

Terms & conditions:

• No visiting pets are allowed on site at Howletts Wild Animal Park or Port Lympne Reserve except for registered assistance dogs with an accredited provider.
• Pets are not allowed to be left in cars in our car parks – even with ventilation and access to water.
• Assistance dogs in training are not allowed into the parks.
• We do not have any kennelling facilities on site.
• Any dog visiting the parks must be fit and healthy and must not have shown any signs of ill health, including diarrhoea or vomiting, in the previous 24 hours.
• Any dog visiting the parks must have been a resident in the UK for the last 6 months.
• Any dog visiting the parks must be up to date with their vaccinations (both the mixed distemper/leptospirosis/adenovirus/parvovirus vaccination and the kennel cough vaccination).
• Dogs must always be kept on a short lead and under strict control.
• Dogs must remain calm and quiet and be kept 2 metres away from any animal enclosure boundaries.
• We strive to keep our parks clean and hygienic for our animals and visitors. With that in mind, please try and make sure your dog has a toilet trip before entering the parks. If a dog does defaecate anywhere in the park grounds, it must be cleared immediately by the owner.
• We do not provide dog waste bags on site, so please make sure you bring your own.
• Some of our animals may be spooked when they see a dog. For this reason, assistance dogs are not allowed on the Truck Safari trip, safari experiences, or in any walk-through exhibits. They also cannot attend animal encounters or experiences.
• If you notice that any of our animals are anxious or uneasy after seeing your dog, we ask that you move to another area.
• Assistance dogs are permitted within all our catering areas, bars, and restaurants on site.
• Water can be provided from any of our outlets, but no public water bowls are available, so please bring your own for your dog.
• If you are attending a wedding or an event on site, your assistance dog will be permitted to attend throughout, excluding any animal experience or safari.
• Assistance dogs are welcome within selected Short Break units. To keep our animals safe, assistance dogs are not permitted within any of the animal lodges, tented or inflatable accommodation, or any accommodation that borders the remote African experience.
• Dog bedding is not provided within the Short Break units and guests should bring their own if required.
• Assistance dogs are not permitted to travel on golf buggies.

Please note that the above policies apply to all guests onsite. This includes day guests, short break guests, anyone visiting the restaurants or bars, any of our suppliers, etc.

Thank you. We look forward to welcoming you and your furry assistance friend.

Photography & Image Rights

Our parks offers unique opportunities to capture breathtaking photos on cameras, smart phones, and other devices, and we encourage our visitors to do so. We ask that the images are shared only for personal use. 

When capturing photographs or videos in a commercial capacity or otherwise, you will need to fully comply with each or any of the following clauses: 

• Before posing for images with members of our staff, or if you think they might be in shot, please ask for their consent first.
• You are not permitted to capture photographs or video within our parks, accommodation or facilities for personal gain or any other commercial activity, unless authorised by ourselves in a written contractual agreement beforehand.
• If we authorise the capture of photographs or video, we retain the intellectual property rights, and reserve the right to claim a percentage of the sale of any images. We also have the right to prevent the publication of any such image used in a manner that might unreasonably portray a false representation of actual events or be detrimental to the reputation of The Aspinall Foundation, the Howletts Wild Animal Trust and Howletts and Port Lympne Estates Ltd.
• We may commission professional photographers, film crews and the media to work at our parks from time to time. You will not intentionally be included in any pictures or video footage unless you are happy to be. If you believe that your image has inadvertently been captured without your consent, please make it known to those responsible to arrange for your image to be removed.
• We hold the image rights and copyright for all images and material published on our website, promotional products, and merchandise. You may not copy or reuse this material without gaining our permission.
• Any person found to have violated any part of this clause will be required to leave the park. No refunds will be given, and we reserve the right to refer the matter to a court of law.

Gift Aid

When you purchase an admission ticket, you are given the option to contribute a voluntary 10% donation towards our conservation work which enables us to reclaim tax paid on your ticket through the Government’s gift aid scheme (Gift Aid). 

The price stated on our site includes this voluntary donation of 10% to support our vital conservation works.

You will have to confirm that you are a UK taxpayer and understand that you pay less income tax or capital gains tax then the amount of gift aid claimed on all your donations it is your responsibility to pay and difference. 

Should you wish to change your mind and cancel the Gift Aid declaration, you must let us know in writing within 30 days of the date of purchase

All donations made through our site, unless otherwise stated are made to The Howletts Wild Animal Trust, a registered charity, charity number 1100845