Where is Port Lympne/Howletts?
Howletts is in Bekesbourne and is signposted off the A2, three miles south of Canterbury. We’re just 90 minutes from London.
Howletts How to Find us Page
Port Lympne is in Lympne near Hythe. Leave the M20 at Junction 11 and follow the brown tourist signs to the park (about 10 minutes drive from the motorway).
Port Lympne How to find us Page
How much time does it take to go round the parks?
To fully enjoy the parks we recommend that you allow about 3 hours for Howletts, and about 4-5 hours for Port Lympne.
Do you drive through in your car?
No, your car is left at the car park and you walk through the park, however there is an African Experience safari ride available at Port Lympne.
What is the entry fee for the parks?
Adult £14.45
Child £11.45 (4-16years, under 4’s go free)
Students cannot purchase tickets on-line with an NUS card – have to show card on gate on entry
OR Buy your tickets online here!
Which park is more accessible for the disabled?
Howletts is the smaller and flatter of the parks and is therefore more accessible for the disabled. Port Lympne lies on hilly terrain and as a result is quite steep in places. There are, however, selected routes suitable for wheelchair users. Movement can be assisted by using the Park Hopper service, which takes passengers around the park in peak season (subject to availability and a small additional charge). Please request more detailed advice on arrival. There are reduced admission prices for disabled visitors.
How much does it cost to run the parks?
It costs around £5 million per year to run the parks.
What other activities are there?
Gift shops, African Experience at Port Lympne, keeper talks during school holiday periods and other seasonal activities e.g. Easter, Halloween.
How many animals/species do you have at the parks?
Howletts – 400 animals, 44 species
Port Lympne – 500 animals, 50 species (approximately)
Who owns the parks now Mr Aspinall has passed away?
The parks are owned by The John Aspinall Foundation a registered charity. Mr Aspinall’s son, Damian, now runs the park with Mr Aspinall’s half brother, Mr James Osborne.
What do Howletts & Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks do?
Howletts and Port Lympne are extensively involved in exchange and breeding programmes throughout the world and have had many breeding successes for e.g. 24 black rhinos and over 100 gorillas bred between the two parks. Howletts was the first to breed African elephants in the UK.
The parks are not only involved in conservation at home but across the world with two protected areas in the Congo and Gabon in Africa of around a million acres of forest for the rehabilitation and reintroduction of gorillas into the wild.
The John Aspinall Foundation in conjunction with Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks are devoted to saving rare and endangered animals and returning them to protected areas in the wild.
How much is Wild Explorer Club membership?
- 1 Adult £41.00
- Joint Adult £80.00
- Student £34.00
- Senior Citizen £35.00
- Joint Senior Citizen £68.00
- 1 Adult/1 Child £67.00
- 1 Adult/2 Children £90.00
- 2 Adults/1 Child £105.00
- 2 Adults/ 2 Children £130.00
- Additional Children £25.00
Are the parks open to the public?
Yes. Both open everyday except Christmas Day. Summer – 10am until 6pm, last admission 4:30pm, Winter - 10am until 5pm last admission 3:30pm. Summer and Winter begin and end when the clocks change.
How did the parks start?
Mr John Aspinall founded both parks. He purchased Howletts in 1958 and opened the doors to the public in 1975. He then purchased Port Lympne in 1973 to house the ever increasing population of animals at Howletts and opened to the public in 1976.
What are the sizes of the parks?
Howletts – 95 acres, Port Lympne – 500 acres with 15 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens and a historic mansion, which is open to the public at certain times. The mansion is often booked for weddings and private functions so please check whether the mansion is open, prior to your visit on 01303 264647.
Can I bring my dog?
Unfortunately we do not allow dogs into the parks. Please do not leave dogs in your car. We recommend that you find alternative arrangements for your dogs while you visit.
Animal FAQs
Are the animals in cages?
No, the animals are in large enclosures designed to resemble their natural habitat as closely as possible. The most recent enclosures built are the open top monkey enclosure at Port Lympne and the walk through Lemur enclosure at Howletts.
Is it right to keep animals in captivity?
Deforestation and slaughter for the bush meat trade are bringing many animals closer and closer towards extinction. It is of course best for animals to live in the wild but until such time that the poaching and cutting down of forests ends, organizations such as ours help secure their survival.
The parks keep the animals in as near natural environments as possible and provide a lifeline for many of these species.
Howletts and Port Lympne have in fact been pioneers in the way we keep animals. Our animals are not exhibits, but live in conditions as close as possible to their natural habitat. For example, our gorillas live in deep straw, simulating the forest floor, which allows them to forage all day for food as they would in the wild. They receive over 200 different types of food and live in family groups. Keepers are encouraged to bond with their animals improving the standard of life for both keeper and animal.
How much does it cost to feed the animals per annum?
Just under £1 million per annum. We grow hay, maize, beet, kale and Lucerne on land that we own. We also have woodlands that are used for harvesting browse for animal feed.
What types of animals are at the parks?
Mostly rare and endangered animals.
Howletts is home to the largest herd of African elephants in the UK and the largest breeding group of Western Lowland gorillas in human care in the World.
At Port Lympne there is the “Palace of the Apes” one of the world’s largest family gorilla houses, Barbary lions, and the largest captive breeding herd of black rhino outside Africa.
Both parks have many more rare and endangered animals including leaf-eating monkeys, wolves, tapirs, bongo, red pandas, tigers, clouded leopards and Pallas cats.
Fundraising FAQs
If I adopt an animal, will I be the only person who adopts that animal?
No, you will not be the only person. The adoption schemes have named animals that act as figureheads for each species. Everyone can adopt the same named animals for each species, and the money raised goes towards The John Aspinall Foundation's conservation work. This makes it easier for us to provide feedback on a few adopted animals, rather than many individual ones, and keeps our administration costs to a minimum, ensuring that more of our valuable funds are used for our conservation work.
Please note: the legal ownership of the animal you adopt or sponsor will remain with Howletts Wild Animal Trust who has the responsibility for animal welfare and care. It will not always be possible for one of our keepers to help you identify the animal you adopt if you are visiting our parks; on the outside of each enclosure are the names of the animals being cared for within.
Why is there no more SOS scheme?
The old SOS species sponsorship scheme has been replaced by the NEW Adopt in a Box which will allow you to adopt an individual animal and still receive a gift box in the post.
Have a look at our Adopt in a Box products
What happens if my adopted animal dies or is sent to another collection?
If your adopted animal dies or moves away, we will let you know as soon as possible, by writing to you individually. We will continue to use your donation for the conservation work saving rare and endangered animals. When we write to tell you what has happened we will usually be able to offer an alternative named animal to replace the one that has been lost.
Adopt an Animal Administration Details
Adopt an animal here
Please note that for administrative reasons not all of the package benefits are available immediately, and some of them will be sent over the coming months.
- On our receipt of your completed online animal adoption form we will thank you for your kind support and send the wallpaper of your adopted animal immediately – this will also act as confirmation your adoption was successful.
- Each month you will receive your edition of WildCry online providing you with the latest news and events from the Wild Animal Parks and overseas projects. This will be sent to the email address you provided at the time of adoption, please feel free to forward a copy on to anyone you think would be interested in our work.
Each quarter we will include in your newsletter an update on the animal you have adopted.
- Within 4 weeks of adopting your animal you will receive your personalised adoption certificate and species fact sheet. These will be sent to the email address you provided at time of adoption.
- At the time you adopted an animal you will have been asked to choose an image or ringtone for a mobile phone. Due to the number of adoptees such as yourself this will be sent out to the mobile phone you indicated on your form within the first four months of your support.
Please note that we are only able to fulfil this choice if your phone is compatible with the products we offer.
- As an Adopter or defender you will receive your free entrance ticket during the first year of your adoption no earlier than six months after you started adopting your animal
- As a Protector or Guardian you will receive your two free annual passes, valid for 12 months, during the first year of your adoption no earlier than six months after you started adopting your animal
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 want to consider this when planning your visit.
If you have any questions please call our Supporter Care Team on 01303 234 147.
If you are a loss making charity, how do you survive?
Visitors help pay for almost half the running costs, the rest is met from donations from the public and trusts.
Find out How You Can Help
How can I support The John Aspinall Foundation?
There are plenty of ways to support the charity, such as direct debit donations, one off donations, payroll giving, animal adoption, Gift Aid and legacies.
Find out How You Can Help
What is door to door fundraising?
Professional fundraisers visit homes to collect, via Direct Debit, regular monthly donations for charity. In the case of The John Aspinall Foundation, the teams of fundraisers work through a fundraising organisation, Fundraising Initiatives Ltd (FIL).
Why does The John Aspinall Foundation use this method of fundraising?
Door to door is a proven method of recruiting new, regular donors and is cost-effective. It is particularly successful in recruiting younger and more affluent donors who tend not to respond to other types of fundraising. At any one time an average of 39 charities are involved in door to door activity.
Who are the fundraisers and how will I know they are genuine? The fundraisers are typically aged between 18-30. They work between 12.30-8.30pm, wear a suit plus a logo'd John Aspinall Foundation cream waistcoat with the registered charity number on it and carry an ID card with their photo.
What information is needed in order to action a complaint?
Date and time of incident
Name, address & telephone number of the person making the complaint
Fundraiser's name and ID number if possible
A full description of the incident
Is this type of fundraising regulated? The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA) is a self regulating membership body established to co-ordinate fundraising activity and promote quality, integrity and transparency. The PFRA works with charities, professional fundraising organisations, Local Authorities and the Police to ensure high standards in the industry and to resolve complaints. All fundraisers carry a copy of the PFRA Code of Practice.
www.pfra.org.uk
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