Bonjour lecteurs! We love sharing with you fabulous places in Kent. So aujourd’hui, let’s go to Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve. We come and visit the wildlife reserve every year as it makes a great family day out. En plus, we truly love the premises and the work the Aspinall Foundation is doing to help endangered species! C’est parti!
?If you fancy a visit, enjoy 10% off your day tickets for Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve with my code FRENCHIEMUMMY ?
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve
Port Lympne Park is Kent’s largest animal park.
With over 700 animals from 90 species, you are in for a treat in the 600-acre wildlife reserve & safari.
Be prepared to meet some of the most majestuous animals. Gorillas, lions, tigers and so many more will be there!
And more importantly, every time you purchase tickets, you also support the Aspinall Foundation projects. The charity works closely with conservation park to rear animals that are close to extinction and release them back into their natural habitat when possible.
The Aspinall Foundation
You can read more on the Aspinall Foundation’s website but in a few words…
So far, the charity has released more than 70 gorillas back to the wild as well as 33 Javan gibbons.
And the reserve has also transferred back 8 black rhino to Africa in their natural habitats.
More importantly, it is probably the biggest animal reserves I have ever seen. As so, animals have a lot of space and you don’t feel sorry for them to be in a tiny cage that is way too small for them. The group is very careful to reproduce their wild natural habitat.
Stay At Port Lympne
We spent last Sunday at the reserve. But if you fancy a closer experience, you can also book a stay at the park.
The place offers a large variety of short stays and you can even enjoy an Afternoon Tea!
The Lion Lodge, the Tiger Lodge, the Treehouse Hotel, the Port Lympne Hotel, the Giraffe Cottage, The Bubble or even glamping pods…
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve has it all so that you can stay the night and be close to the animals in the wild!
It is an experience you can only have once in your life! But time to share our family adventure in Kent!
Basecamp & Port Lympne Hotel
The place is huge so it is easy to keep your distances and remain safe while enjoying the company of some of the most majestuous animals.
As per new regulations following COVID 19, you need to pre-book online your tickets in advance.
This way, there was no queue when we arrived. We were quick to come in and after passing the Lion and the Tiger Lodges as well as the glamping pods ‘Pinewood’, we were by the Port Lympne Hotel.
Straight away, the tone is set! You can enjoy an amazing view of Kent, more particularly Dymchurch and Hythe, two of our fave spots for a day out!
Port Lympne Hotel
Once you go down the fameux Trojan Steps, you then reach Port Lympne Hotel.
Time to relax in its beautiful gardens and enjoy the view from the balcony.
The place is truly stunning! Have a look at my videos on Instagram if you want a closer look.
It’s like in a movie! Nothing less! There’s even a piano!
Palace Of the Apes
Baba was extremely excited to see the gorillas so we went down the Lime Walk straight away! We come down to Port Lympne Port Hotel & Reserve every year so he knows his way around! ?
And we got to see some gorilles very close. What I like about Port Lympne is the space available for animals.
Everything is done so that they stay as close as possible to their natural habitat.
We then carried on the path. Be prepared to walk! But you are in the shades of the trees so it is rather lovely!
Dinosaur Forest
After a quick snack break, we continued to the Dinosaur Forest.
And let me tell you that Baba really enjoyed that bit!
You have a circular walk that takes you through history.
Be ready to encounter some of the biggest creatures ever! As always with the park, it is a rather full experience!
Past that point, you would usually be able to jump on-board a safari truck to discover more wild animals in the wild. Especially its iconic giraffes.
But due to social distancing requirements, this service has been suspended.
Asian Experience
Never mind! We went up the hill for a bit more exercise.
We still managed to see a bit of the Asian Experience you would usually have on the trucks.
We came across the red pandas and some beautiful rhinoceros.
Encore, the reserve is made so that animals have as much space as possible.
Yet, we got a very good view of them!
We could even see some deers in the distance. They all looked so peaceful!
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve – Le Verdict
But it was time to walk back up the entrance. We got a new cuddly toy and it was us done!
Once more Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve did not disappoint! Everyone was happy!
We got some fresh air. Baba saw many cool animals and I got to walk over 15K steps! Hurrah!
Plus sérieusement, it was a lovely day out and I really recommend to visit it! It is a very pretty place and you can enjoy some amazing wildlife.
Take a picnic and make a day of it! The kids will learn so much too!
And next time, why don’t you stay overnight for the full experience? I think I would love to try the Bubble but the other options look good aussi!
Furthermore, all profits go to the Aspinall Foundation’s conservation work of the charity.
So that you can support all the work this gorgeous place does to help endangered species!
We will definitely be back!
Disclosure: We received press tickets for the day. All opinions remain my own.
Another great day out for you. Lots to do and see and good weather too
Looks a wonderful place for the kids to visit, thank you for sharing, we have bookmarked this for next month, hoping to incorporate it in our holiday
Oh I am so happy you have it on your list. It is really a nice place. Feel free to get in touch if you want to know more places to visit in the area 🙂
Loving all those giant dinosaurs!
How amazing that they released animals backpack into the wild
Wow this is definitely one to add to the list of activities, and possibly accommodation, when I get down that way
Looks an excellent and quite exciting day out for all
Looks like you had a lovely day out.
This looks and sounds like a great day out, thanks for the post
Looks like you had a great time. We used to go to Port Lymphe a lot when the children were little but all they were interested in in the end was the play area haha. Now they are older it is nicer.
What a wonderful time you had! The photos are beautiful. Oh I do miss going to see the animals. Perhaps soon.
Looks like an amazing place!
Looks lovely 🙂
this looks lovely place to stay
will deff have to pay a visit here with my nieces and nephews
I would love to take my grandkids there!
Heavenly bliss what an amaxing place – would love to visit too
So tranquil and no crowds. Vast open space and so much to see and do. It’s on my To do list now.
Wow! a really fabulous day out or stay. I didn’t know there was so much there.
It’s good to read that the animals have lots of space while at the zoo and that they do such wonderful work.
It sounds like a lovely day out!
I love Port Lympne, so much to see and do
love the monkeys
This looks like a great day out. I shall have to take my granddaughter there next time we go to visit her.
this looks like a lovely day out
That look amazing, definitely on our ‘to visit’ list.
ID love to take my nephew Max here
def going to have visit here–looks great
Definitely a day out to cherish and remember!
definately a great place for a family day out
stunning part of the country
another place i really need to visit
GREAT PICTURS
amazing day out —looks great
my niece got married there , its certainly a beautiful place
Definitely a great day out, looks like you had lots of fun
another stunning spot in the uk -ive yet to visit
its me again–looks a great day out
its me again
Looks like a great place to visit 😀 might have to make a trip next time we are down south x
The children would love to visit.
They have obviously put a lot of thought into the park. Love the big dinosaurs. Knowing it helps the animals is wonderful.
This looks like a lovely place for a family day out. My daughter loves seeing animals.
Such fun and the kids are always learning on trips such as this one. You are doing such a fab job keeping Baba happy!
Looks like a great day out
looks like a fun day out
another great day out
Looks like a beautiful place would be a great place to visit
absolutely stunning—great day out
what a fantastic childhood your lad has
It looks really nice, we love going to places like this.
It looks like you had a lovely day!
That looks fab, my grandchildren would absolutely love it there.
Your post has reminded me to read about the Aspinall Foundation. Their website is very informative and very moving.
Wow what a fab day out ?
Looks an amazing day out.
My children would to visit somewhere like this its looks a great day out
Looks such a lovely place!
cant wait to visit with my family
now official on my bucket list of uk places to visit
Looks like a fabulous day out xx
stunning looking place –cant wait to visit after lock down
lovely.lovely looking place
Definitely one added to the list of family day’s out x
stunning-absolutely stunning
big family visit next summer being planned
What a fantastic day out you look like you’ve had – it looks like you had so much fun
I love that the profits go to the Aspinall foundation. Such important work being done to protect these amazing animals!
Awh it sounds lovely!
lovely ,lovely looking place
Lovely to read this, Port Lympne is one of our favourite days out
really stunning
What a fabulous day out x
O my goodness it looks and sounds beautiful here
stunning cant wait to visit here
Seems like a good place to visit.
Looks like a great day out. I’ve missed so many day trips during the Covid lockdowns.
Each time I dip into this post I find myself in awe at the beauty and magnificence of the animals. It’s fab being able to see them so close.
cant wait to visit
Wow! It looks incredible there! Is it open to everyone or just people who stay at the hotel?
You can book tickets to visit the park and you don’t have to stay. But I reckon it is a lifetime experience. I would love to stay overnight one day!
This place looks fantastic x
Been wanting to visit here for ages!! Fab blog post!!
Lovely blog. Thank you for the read.
Looks like a lovely place to visit
Port Lympne is amazing – I went for a hen weekend last year and stayed in their awesome tents for two nights, it was soooooo good!
Another great day. I would like to take the kids there.