28th November 2025 - 3rd January 2026
Giraffe Cottage Nightlights Package
Treat yourself to a luxurious festive getaway with a nightlights stay at Giraffe Cottage. Hidden in a quiet corner of Reserve and accessed via safari truck, Giraffe Cottage offers a peaceful retreat from the outside world where our team take care of everything for you. Your personal chef will prepare a three-course dinner and hearty breakfast for you, your personal Ranger will take you on an unforgettable adventure across our safari area and you will be invited to join the festive celebrations of Port Lympne Illuminated before retreating to your cottage sanctuary for the evening. Your nightlights package at Giraffe Cottage includes overnight accommodation, access to Port Lympne Reserve, access to Howletts Wild Animal Park and access to the Port Lympne Illuminated festive light trail!
The Experience
Your Accommodation
Location
Exclusive Access
Safari Experience
Eat & Drink
Pricing and booking
The Experience
Hidden away on the hillside overlooking the sprawling expanse of The African Experience, you'll spend a cosy night with family or friends enjoying good food, spectacular views and all the creature comforts you could wish for.
Whilst you're discovering the abundant wildlife on a guided safari and finding out all about our overseas conservation work from your expert ranger, your personal chef will be busy preparing a four course feast made with locally sourced ingredients. Retreat to the garden or the comfortable snug and relax with after dinner drinks as the sun sets over the plain and the animals visit the watering hole one last time before night falls.
Your Accommodation
This lovingly restored former keepers cottage with two storeys can comfortably accommodate up to eight guests in two double bedrooms with ensuite and two twin rooms with a shared bathroom. Fluffy towels, dressing gowns and indulgent Molton Brown toiletries are included. A country-style kitchen, a cosy snug and private garden create a home from home experience in the heart of the Port Lympne Reserve.
Location
Giraffe Cottage has a prime location looking out over the African Experience at Port Lympne. You can lounge in your private garden and gaze over the Reserve to views sweeping all the way to the coastline.
Exclusive Access
Included in your stay at Giraffe Cottage is the entrance to both our wildlife animal parks Port Lympne and Howletts from 9.30am on your arrival day to closure on your departure day (seasonal opening hours apply at Howletts). You will have exclusive access to Port Lympne Reserve outside of normal visitor hours.
The check-in time for your stay is at 2.30pm and the check-out time is at 10am.
Safari Experience
All of our short breaks guests have a truck safari included in the cost of their stay. Your safari will take you on an adventure to see spectacled bears, giraffes, camels and more.
Eat & Drink
Your stay at Giraffe Cottage comes with a personal chef who will create a tempting set menu dinner for your group and a full English breakfast allowing everyone to have a stress-free break.
During the day you can choose from a variety of home cooked dishes, using local produce and ingredients grown in our kitchen gardens at our onsite restaurants and cafes. Enjoy gluten friendly pizza and authentic Italian dishes at Babydoll’s Wood Fired Pizza, or relax in the picturesque atmosphere of The Garden Room at Port Lympne Hotel.
Sample Dinner Menu Sample Children's Menu Breakfast Sample Menu
Pricing and booking
Prices from £1299 per night for 8 guests including dinner, breakfast, and a private chef.
For our availability or for more information call 01303 234112 Monday to Sunday between 9am to 5pm, or book online.
Your Accommodation
Your accommodation at Giraffe Cottage also includes:
- Stay for up to 8 people at Giraffe Cottage (2 double ensuite rooms, 2 twin rooms sharing one bathroom)
- Half board stay with Full English Breakfast and Dinner prepared by a private chef (dinner is a set menu 1 x starter, 1 x main and 1 x dessert for the entire party)
- Bedding and towels
- Molton Brown toiletries
- Hairdryer
- Welcome drink
- Free WiFi
- Free on site parking
What's Included?
As well as an enchanting overnight stay in your choice of our stunning accommodations, your Nightlights package includes:
Nightlights packages include full access to our 600-acre Reserve and after sunset you will be invited to step into the secret after-dark world of Port Lympne to celebrate Port Lympne Illuminated. Forest fairies have enchanted the woodland walks and gardens of the Reserve to create a dazzling, illuminated celebration of their animal companions. You will discover a vintage-inspired funfair, fairy disco, delicious food and drink and 13 beautiful lighting installations celebrating the beauty of winter.
Arrival time: From 9:30am on day of booking
Departure time: 2pm on day of check out
Please note: During the Port Lympne Illuminated light trail (2pm onwards) guest access to golf buggies (valid at selected accommodations only) will be restricted to allow the festive fairies to work their enchantment over the Reserve.
Itinerary
Giraffe Cottage is open all year round so you can experience the African savannah in all its glory, whatever the season. Whether you prefer the new life and misty sunrises of a spring morning or the clacking of antlers and moody skies of the autumn, you'll be enchanted by your African staycation - right here in Kent!
Please note timings are approximate and itinerary is subject to change.
2:15pm
Check-in & Safari
You're welcome to enjoy the reserve from 9:30am before heading to guest services to check in. Your experienced Ranger will guide you to all the best locations to spot the free roaming giraffes, zebras, rhinos and wildebeest as well as the more elusive antelopes. Once you know how to spot them amongst the scrub you'll want to keep your camera at the ready!
3:15pm
Arrive at Giraffe Cottage
Enjoy a welcome glass of bubbly in the pretty walled front garden, with far reaching views across the African experience to the Kent coast beyond. Your luggage will be waiting for you when you arrive.
7pm
Dinner
Your pre-booked menu choice is served in the country kitchen/dining room. Made with locally sourced produce, you'll enjoy three delicious courses prepared by your private chef.
8pm onwards
And relax...
Relax in the garden with after dinner drinks and use your new-found safari spotter skills to observe the animals preparing for nightfall in the fading light of the setting sun. Retreat to the snug and settle into the comfortable sofas by the open fire place for the evening.
9am
Breakfast
With a full day of adventuring ahead of you, you'll need a good breakfast! Tuck into a full English breakfast, included in your stay.
10am
Return trip
Time to leave the seclusion of your country cottage and take one last look at the animals as you head back through the African Experience and return to Guest Services.
10:45am - 5pm
Reserve access
Spend the morning exploring the 600 acre reserve and spot the rest of the animals that make their home at Port Lympne, enjoy beautiful landscaped gardens and wooded walks. Admission to our sister park, Howletts Wild Animal Park, near Canterbury is included in your stay. Just a short drive away you'll discover even more rare and endangered animals including elephants, gorillas, leopards, primates and big cats.
Meet the animals
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is home to over 900 animals and 75 species. See these magnificent animals during your stay. With rhino right on your doorstep there's plenty to keep you occupied but you can also see wolves, bears, giraffe, zebra and many more.
Explore the reserve
There's so much to see and do at Port Lympne that you'll want to stay even longer! Enjoy our amazing animals, visit our landscaped gardens, take in the views from the Trojan steps and even visit our new attraction Dinosaur Forest. There's plenty to keep you entertained during your stay.
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With 14 different ways to stay, we're certain we have the perfect accommodation for you at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve. Don't forget that our unique accommodations can be booked as part of your conference or private event.
Back to the Wild!
With your visit and stay you contribute to our greatest mission, getting the animals 'Back to the Wild'. This initiative has already seen an impressive number of animals born at Howletts and Port Lympne returned to their natural habitats. Your help is vital for our worldwide conservation projects.
Book online
For more information or to book your Giraffe Cottage Nightlights Package, you can call 01303 234112 Monday to Sunday between 9am to 5pm, or book online.
Check availability and prices here.
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