Get up close and personal
Join one of our expert keepers as they introduce you to the animal of your choice – learn interesting facts, feed where possible and enjoy behind the scenes access as you immerse yourself in our amazing animal world. The perfect gift for animal lovers, our 15-30 minute group animal encounters can bring you face to face with some of the most iconic and endangered species including critically endangered western lowland gorillas, black rhino, lemurs and other primates, big cats and more.
Black Rhino Encounter
January-March on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am, April-December every day at 11am. Duration: 30 minutes. Minimum age: 7. Price: £75 per person.
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Wolf Encounter
Wednesdays and Fridays at 4pm. Duration: 30 minutes. Suitable for all ages. Price: £45 per person.
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Spectacled Bear Encounter
Every day from April till September at 11am and 3pm. Duration: 30 minutes. Suitable for all ages. Price: £30 per person.
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Amur Leopard Encounter
Wednesdays and Fridays at 3pm. Duration: 30 minutes. Minimum age: 7. Price: £75 per person.
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Giraffe Encounter
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, April-Oct at 3pm, Nov-Mar at 2pm. Duration: 1 hour. Suitable for all ages. Price: £75 per person.
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Tiger Encounter
Sundays & Mondays at 2pm. Duration: 30 minutes. Minimum age: 7. Price: £85 per person.
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Lion Encounter
Saturdays, Tuesdays & Thursdays at 2pm. Duration: 30 minutes. Minimum age: 7. Price: £85 per person.
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Cheetah Encounter
Sundays & Mondays at 4pm. Duration: 30 minutes. Minimum age: 7. Price: £50 per person.
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Small Cat Encounter
Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday at 3pm. Duration: 30 minutes. Minimum age 7yrs. Price: £75 per person.
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Meet the white rhino
Fridays and Saturdays at 12pm. Duration: 30 minutes. Suitable for all ages. Price: £50 per person.
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Primate Encounter
Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays at 2:30pm. Duration: 30 minutes. Minimum age 7yrs. Price: £75 per person.
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Drill scatter feed
Sundays, Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12pm. Duration: 15 minutes. Suitable for all ages. Price: £15 per person.
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Guinea Baboon ScatterFeed
Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 12pm. Duration: 15 minutes. Suitable for all ages. Price: £15 per person.
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Gorilla Encounter
Daily at 12pm & 3pm. Duration: 30 minutes. Minimum age 7yrs. Price: £85 per person. Please note this experience takes place on the rooftop of the Gorilla enclosure so you'll need a head for heights!
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Gorilla Scatter Feed
Daily at 12pm & 3pm. Duration: 15 minutes. Minimum age 5yrs. Price: £30 per person.
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Meet the Gorillas
Daily at 10am. Duration: 1hr 30 minutes. Minimum age 7yrs. Price: £150 per person.
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Bison Scatter Feed
Daily at 2.15pm from June to September. Duration: 15 minutes. Suitable for all ages. Price: £15 per person
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Red River Hog ScatterFeed
April-July weekends only. Everyday in August. Sep-Dec weekends only. at 11am. Duration: 15 minutes. Suitable for all ages. Price: £15 per person
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Tapir Encounter
Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 4pm in the summer, 3.30pm in winter. Duration: 30 minutes. Minimum age: 9yrs. Price: £75 per person.
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Michaela Jordan
We were made to feel like VIPs with our own jeep which took us back to the main entrance after our encounter, which was a small but significant touch. Both my parents have recently encountered major health traumas and my dad is registered disabled. For the driver to offer this might be a small exra to others but made for a magnificent finish to the day for my parents who did not have to walk up the final hill!!. My mum has still not stopped smiling and talking about the giraffes.
How your experience will be different
At Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, a fundamental part of our mission is to create incredible experiences for animal-lovers. We place the utmost importance on the safety and wellbeing of our guests, animals and teams.
We have completed a series of thorough risk assessments and introduced a range of new health and safety measures that seek to reduce the risk associated with the presence of COVID-19 that are in line with government advice and the requirements of local health authorities. We have also ensured that our teams are provided with the correct PPE, follow social distancing guidelines and carefully monitor their own health to minimise risk.
Gloves and a face mask will be provided to you and must be worn for the duration of the encounter, and we ask that you not touch the animals. Please ensure that you adhere to the 2 metre social distance between yourself, the keeper or ranger and fellow guests. Hands must be washed before and after your animal experience.
Thank you for your consideration and cooperation to help ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable visit.
Prices & Booking
Animal Encounters range from £15 to £150 for a 15-30 minute group experience. Terms & conditions apply.
The price of this experience DOES NOT include entry to Port Lympne Reserve
UNLESS
you are an overnight guest of Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve OR a Member or Port Lympne season ticket holder.
If you are not an overnight guest of Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve or Member/Port Lympne season ticket holder then a valid day entry ticket will also need to be purchased either on arrival at the gatehouse or click the 'continue shopping' button from your basket when you book your experience online.
Important information
- Your group encounter will include time with one of our expert keepers at Port Lympne as they introduce you to the animal of your choice - learn interesting facts, feed where possible and enjoy behind the scenes access. Exclusive encounters are also available - please call 01303 264647 to check availability.
- Please note that gloves and masks must be worn at all times during your encounter. Our keepers will give all the instructions and feeding will be carried out either using grab sticks for carnivores or you will be asked to throw food items for scatter feeds. Some animals may be hand fed at the discretion of the keeper present. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee feeding at all times, as it depends on the animal's behaviour. In case feeding is not possible, we will ensure you are happy with your experience or we will provide an alternative encounter.
- Due to the nature of the experience, it may happen that we need to cancel an encounter due to animal welfare. In this case we will ensure you are offered an alternative beforehand.
- Weather is unlikely to affect the encounters but we suggest to be prepared to be outdoors in any weather, e.g. with a windproof jacket and boots.
- Our team are always on hand to discuss specific needs, especially for guests with reduced mobility.
- Children can take part in every animal encounter. Please read the minimum age requirement for each encounter. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a fully paying adult at all times.
For more information please email ranger@aspinallfoundation.org to enquire about any of our animal experiences.
