Port Lympne Restaurant in Shepway

It was quite an interesting experience. We didn’t see much activity because the day was too hot when we went but we didn’t see a lioness on the prowl for a bird. This is more fun by foot I think because riding in the truck goes by too fast.

Beautiful grounds, however, it's a long walk to each encloser which 90% seemed to be empty, I left with 2 very disappointed children, and a lot of pain from pushing the buggy up steep hills. Which would have been worth it, had we of seen the animals. Unfortunately we won't be returning.

If you are not staying as a hotel guest, I would not recommend visiting this 'safari'. No animals were seen on our visit. My entire family were sadly disappointed. Unfortunately, we did not get to see any animals during our visit in May. We only saw a few monkeys from a distance. All other animals did not seem to be anywhere in sight. Considering Port Lympne charges £35pp, this was a really disappointing experience with the family. If there only specific times of the year when they animals are freely roaming within their closures and can be seen - this should be clearly advertised on the website or visitors should not be charged the full £35pp! The idea of the safari truck was great - however, NO animals in sight at all! Waste of a 1.5 hour journey to get here. Only good thing was the view from the safari.

Fantastic anniversary spent at this lovely safari, we stayed in the hotel. Each and every member of staff were friendly, helpful and we will definitely be returning. The facilities are second to none.

Wonderful day in the sunshine. A Safari xmas gift that we booked for May, including Sunday lunch in The Garden Restaurant. Great map to support understanding of routes. Steep hills in places. Tour was really interesting, and bumpy ride, but guide was knowledgeable and interesting. Staff and Keepers very helpful and friendly. Sunday Lunch was definately worth booking. Highly recommended to visit.

Stunning, well preserved, animals are free to roam and clearly cared for well. Food and drink are excellent and the location felt like we were on holiday in another country. Great family photos with a rare British countryside backdrop!

Had such a wonderful stay and made the experience all the more wonderful. Great staff who are so friendly and helpful. Food is amazing in all of the restaurants.

Brilliant safari, excellent staff knowledge

A day visit to just the safari park, Port Lympne was known by reputation and sadly one it didn't live up to on the day. Be prepared for a lot of walking up and down steep hills. The area is beautiful, and the mansion looks superb, but the trekking isn't for the faint-hearted. None of that is strictly a problem if you do a little reading and preparing ahead of time. Sadly, doing reading ahead of time gears you up for a list of animals on the website that simply aren't there. Painted wolves? No. Maned wolves? No. Zebras? We weren't informed that there were any and we saw none. Quite a few of the animals listed might be in the parks possession, but aren't on show - and not just one or two, quite a few. Those that were there were often difficult to see. I appreciate that animals rightly don't obey a human schedule, they're not there to perform for a bunch of tourists. I also love that the issue is sometimes that the enclosure is simply too large to spot anything - the animals have space, and as the park proclaims, conservation is at the heart of all they do. However some of the low visibility was down to dated-looking enclosures, and there were one or two animals that seemed a little less than happy - something I did not experience at Howletts, Whipsnade, London, Chester, Longleat... only here. The safari truck concept is brilliant in theory, but in practice was underwhelming. We saw a singular rhino that was still behind a fence (we saw many more on-foot), a camel, some deer, some capybara, and in the far distance were some giraffes behind fencing and some buffalo in another field. Different trucks seemed to take different routes, with ours not going so close to the giraffe enclosure as others. Whereas once upon a time the giraffes were viewable from an enclosure viewpoint near the giraffe house, we were nowhere near them and it didn't really count as something we experienced. There are no elephants, ostrich, or other typical safari fodder, the aformentioned lacking zebra, it was very bare bones - a 40 minute journey in a loop that spends more time traversing slopes and gates between enclosures than it does seeing anything. If you're going to make this a core component of the park, it has to showcase something a bit more than this. The vehicle is of course bumpy, which is fine and expected. It's seems to be a converted military truck, which had a strong fuel smell. Not an issue personally, but it made me question the impact of them driving around these animal enclosures all day long. The food options were particular poor, lacking, and expensive. They had run out of warm pastries at the 'Base Camp' cafe before it was even peak lunchtime, and there was little else on offer barring some crisps, or doughnuts that came in at near £4. There's a swanky food offering at the mansion, and a more regular food restaurant at the bottom of the slopes. The park could use a more centralised or collective food space for guests. What's more is that despite being a Saturday and a busy day with good weather that had been forecast ahead, everything also closed incredibly early. Food places were closed before 16:30 even for snacks, and despite being told on arrival that the gift shop would be open until the 17:30 closing time, that was also closed before 5pm. We had picked things we had intended to buy upon arrival, but waited so that we wouldn't have to carry more things around with us - we ended up going without, and the park lost out on our money. The highlight from the staff side came from a park van driver who offered us and some others a lift up the hill near the end of the day, sparing us another walk up the slopes - in the end this ironically became a better version of the truck tour. It takes a lot for me to be disappointed in a conservation park, but I left Port Lympne feeling underwhelmed, try as I might not to. I could nearly count on one hand the amount of animals I actually saw that weren't specs on the horizon, some seemed unhappy, others from the site just aren't there. If you want to support Aspinall, go for Howletts.

My husband and me went here today, it was fantastic we went on the safari. We also had an afternoon tea, it was delicious Hannah who served us was absolutely fantastic and very helpful. Would definitely recommend

Amazing place well with the visit

Stay in the lookout, fantastic. I also had dinner at the restaurant. Food was great The staff are all knowledgeable and helpful

Wonderful, we had the best time, lots of fun. The animals,the terrain, the view it's worth it.

One of the best weekends away/stay cations you can have in the UK. We stayed in the house, which is beautifully presented and preserved. The room was ample enough for our one year old to run around in and comfortable enough to sleep in. We didn't spend much time in the room because we were out all in the park all day. The park is great. With a room you get access to a golf buggy to traverse the substantial park. Plenty of animals of all sorts, lots of information boards and helpful staff. The experiences were also great. Giraffe feeding and the safari tour being the highlight. Food on site was OK, if not a little overpriced for the quality, but that's to be expected once you're in a park.

Our son bought afternoon tea and safari experience from buy a gift. I emailed to ask how to book using the buy a gift and I received an email asking to fill out the attached form saying when I wanted to go this I did and received an email with the booking confirmation detailing the day and time. When we arrived at the entrance the mature lady asked a QR code I told her I didn't have one there was no QR code attached to the email and I showed her the confirmation email she said she can't let us in without the QR code at this time there was a que behind us and myself and my wife felt very humiliated and embarrassed we told her we will leave the que and search for the QR code about 5 minutes later we rejoined the que after looking for the QR code but couldn't find one when we got to the front of the que at the other till the young woman asked for the QR code we explained we were not sent it so she looked on the computer using our name and found the booking then booked us in told us what time the tea was and when the safari was and marked it on the map then before we went in she said next time make sure we have the QR code in front of everyone waiting again we felt very embarrassed. The afternoon tea was fantastic and the young woman serving us was fabulous she couldn't do enough for us. We then went for the safari and waited at the Base camp and the driver asked us for a ticket we were not given a ticket at the main entrance and again there was a que behind us and we had to show the original email and after about minutes trying to prove we had bought the afternoon tea and safari he let us on the lorry once again we felt humiliated and embarrassed because everyone was looking at us. We were so annoyed and angry and did not enjoy my wife's birthday gift from our son and we will never visit you again it was our worst day out we have ever had in our 60 years of visits

Visiting this Safari park made a great day out for three generations of the family. The Safari was good, and the driver provided interesting info about the animals. A bite to eat afterwards in the restaurant completed the visit. The food was tasty (good vegan options), and portions were generous.

We had such a great day here - saw pretty much every animal and heard loads of informative keeper talks. We paid to feed the bears, which was completely worth it. In the negative side, the food prices are ridiculous - it's SO expensive to buy lunch- or even a coffee. I appreciate that they need to make money, but £10 for a less than average jacket potato was verging on criminal! Would definitely recommend a visit (well definitely go back)... but take a picnic!

Well overpriced, I guess you pay for land and posh accommodation that's available site. Not many animals, you need a long range lens to see any. Coffee £4 and it takes forever to get one the staff is great but the machine not so much - even staff complained about it. Overall - not worth a visit, paid over £100 for two adults and a child. Crazy. Great animal encounter with a squirrel - our highlight from today's visit. Also, time to upgrade the old diesel tracks for electric ones - cheaper to run and much more environmentally friendly.

Came here for afternoon tea and safari ride and was very impressed. Great selection of animals, some that I don’t think are at other zoos in the area which was nice to see. The size of each enclosure is pretty large as well so the animals have plenty of room to roam around and hide if necessary. The afternoon tea was enjoyable with a great selection of food and teas available. Service was really good and staff friendly and attentive, despite being a busy day. The safari was really good. Our guide Penny who was driving the truck was very knowledgable on each of the animals we passed and told some amazing facts and information about each of the animals, including natural habitats, behaviours and also the history of the park and the manor itself. Would definitely recommend and be returning in the future. It’s great to see the hard work that goes into breeding the animals and returning them to the wild where possible as well.

Great park full of things to see and do, wide range of activities for the children. An of course plenty of animals to see

Absolutely fantastic venue. The accommodation was great,well appointed as you would expect in a hotel,clean and tidy. Great children's play area. The only very minor issue was fan noise from the adjacent kitchen. All of the staff were very friendly, knowledgeable and professional. One of our party borrowed their wheelchair and there was a courtesy pick up from the furthest point which was extremely welcome as it is a hilly site. Plenty of live animals in generous enclosures with explanations of how many are returning to their native habitats. Also a Dinosaur trail with realistic full size models. Note,if you see Richard Attenborough,run!! Plentiful refreshment venues and toilets. Planning another visit.

Wanted to visit for a long time and finally with the weather behaving I went with my husband. I felt like the grounds were great. But in terms of animals... there was not much to see. Alot of the cages were empty. Some animals made me feel like they were not happy. Lonely. Would i visit again? No unfortunately. Also prices were ridiculously high! 2 icecreams cost us 9.00!

Day visitors, please read for an honest review! Many 5 star reviews are from hotel guests. We visited the park for the day on a Monday. The good points - The surroundings are beautiful, and animals are well kept in large enclosures. Staff are friendly, and safari guides are well informed and interesting. It is great to support animal conservation. But, this is a zoo and is not a safari experience. In the 'safari ride', you can see the animals in their paddocks on the same route you can return by foot. You ride through an 'open enclosure', but the giraffes are far away. There are camels and deer. The lions are in the biggest enclosure in Europe and can be seen from the vehicle, the same way you can see them by walking. On this particular day, a number of animals were inside or not let out, so it was comical to hear the guide repeatedly say, "they are in there, probably hidden in the trees." You have to pay more money for a closer experience. This is taking into consideration that you have paid over £30 for adults and £25 for children. If the website advertises themselves correctly as a zoo, including a ride around the park, then we wouldn't have expected to see more animals up close and "face to face." Often, in a zoo, the animals are hidden or not in sight, and this was the case with our visit to Port Lympne. It was also farcical to joke with other guests about the lack of animals they had seen or, in this case, not seen. In fact, it became a running joke. Another issue was the terrain and walking route of the park. It is hilly, and at some points, there is a steep incline. My parents are in their 70s, and there were many with prams/buggies. The route is very difficult to walk, and there is no option of a pickup/ drop-off service for elderly and small children. There are golf buggies and a route designated for golf buggies, which is flatter. However, this service is only available for hotel guests. The staff did inform us that on weekends and bank holidays, a bus is available. It doesn't make sense that this service isn't freely available throughout the week, especially if you are paying the same amount. The concept is excellent, but the execution falls very short. We will not be visiting here or any zoo anytime soon.

I’ve had the pleasure of photographing several secret proposals and subsequent engagement shoots at Port Lympne and it has been a fantastic experience throughout with the staff being incredibly helpful. A great choice for a venue to pop the question to your partner and celebrate!

lovely zoo, just perfect for the holidays a little on the pricey side but its okay its expected! the animals looked a little sad when we went which wasn't too nice to see but the zoo keepers kept a good eye on them.

The safari experience was good, I wouldn’t say it was extraordinary though. It took around 40 minutes to do their safari circuit, and my 2 year old went free and sat on our laps. He seemed to really enjoy it, especially seeing the giraffes. The things that could have been better… - £23 for a Caesar salad in the garden room was a tad steep for what it was (like half a breast of chicken) - the hills around the park are an absolute killer. We are a relatively fit bunch, but the 2 yo struggled when out of the pram and I am 8 months pregnant and really struggled! - we had one person from our party who was ill and couldn’t come and didn’t get a refund. Lots of people turning up on the day so wouldn’t recommend pre booking!

Stunning stay at Port Lympne. Would highly recommend! Such a unique experience staying in an actual safari park, waking up to the sounds of lions! Just incredible.

Lovely place to visit but I would give the basecamp cafe, horrendous service and food to match. Everywhere else staff were friendly and helpful, the treehouse accommodation we stayed in was amazing. Only let down by the cafe on our last day, otherwise a beautiful place to visit and stay.

The main cafe is very over priced. The old crumbs and stale food all caught in the cracks of the tables. Urhhh needs a good clean.

Spacious park with very good routing. Unfortunately, when we arrived at 12, the safaris were already fully booked. The English garden near the restaurant is an experience in itself. Be sure to eat/drink something on the terrace when the weather is good! You have a great view of the English Channel there.

What a great place really lovely grounds to walk around and getting the chance to be up close to tigers is amazing

Had a lovely day at port lympne, easy to get to, signs everywhere. Massive park, lots of animals, bears and monkeys especially, the safari trail was fun, staff everywhere on park helpful, friendly approachable. Value for money! Will be going again.

Night stay in the lodge must be a totally different experience but safari and day trip was pretty ordinary.

Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Price I was really looking forward to visiting Port Lympne Safari Park, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a big letdown. The ticket prices are outrageously expensive for what you actually get. We paid nearly £100 for. 2 adults and a child. Expecting to see a wide variety of animals, but there were barely any around. Most enclosures looked empty underwhelming with only a handful of animals in the distance. On top of that, the restaurants inside are just as overpriced. The food is average at best but costs way more than it should. For what we paid for entry and lunch, I expected something memorable — but the whole day just felt like a money grab. And the cleanliness? Don’t even get me started. Some of the indoor animal viewing areas were dirty like they hadn’t been cleaned properly in a while and the whole place feel neglected. For the amount of money charged, I expected a much better experience. It honestly felt more like a long walk through a large, empty park. Honestly, it felt more like a tourist trap than a wildlife park. Not worth the time or money. Save your money and look elsewhere if you're hoping for an exciting wildlife experience.

We visited over half term, the park wasn’t super busy which was lovely. The safari on the truck was well worth booking, both the children and adults enjoyed it and thought our guide was fantastic (male dark hair but didn’t catch his name). The facts were helpful and sometimes funny, but the ride was spoilt by some children shouting at the top of their voices - RHINO at the gorillas and so on for the entire trip. ALL staff we encountered were friendly, helpful and smiley. We asked questions and they weee always happy to help. Food and drink was pricey, £1.50 for an orange and £2.50 for a bottle of water as no refill stations anywhere - so be aware of this. The pizzas we had at the restaurant (I forget its name) were really lovely but we aware you have to wait for a table, but after the main lunch hour it was extremely quiet! Ice creams were on the higher side at £4 for 1 scoop in a tub. Smoking we noticed was an issue the park are trying to sort, people were using vapes in the play area or areas with benches for lunch which made people get up and leave but I did see them being asked to put it away which was great! Lastly I’d say it’s not necessarily somewhere my children would ask to visit again as the boards infront of animals were not fun for children, no activities like paper trails to follow or anything like that so once they’d seen one type of monkey the rest weren’t that exciting. But we adults absolutely loved watching the bears play, but again be aware ahead of time there is a lot of walking and some paths are very very steep!

Amazing visit would definitely recommend

We had lovely day out the safari ride was very informative we got to see animals that you couldn't see from the walking route the hills are quite steep. The animal enclosures are large, and the surrounding areas are very natural lots of trees etc making it feel very different from your average zoo. There is even a dinosaur forest that seemed very popular. Ideally you should pre-book the safari but if you don't it is possible to book on the day. If they run out of pre-booked slots, it still might be possible to get on the safari if there are spaces where people haven't turned up. We spoke to the member of staff at the queue and explained what we had been told, we had to wait and see if there were any spaces, there were so we got on.

Only safari ride is good..otherwise it too much to walk with hardly any animals

A great experience with the family. A beautiful must-see place to visit.

We stayed in the Rex room in the hotel with a view out to the hippo pond at the front of the property that also had a partial sea view. The room was stunning, bed comfortable, lots of amenities such as tea, coffee, biscuits, water,hot chocolate. There was a bathrobe and slippers, ironing board and iron, safe and plenty of space to hang clothes. In the bathroom the shower had good pressure and a bath. There are toiletries that smell gorgeous including shampoo, conditioner (nice surprise as most hotels only offer shampoo) body wash and lotion all were great quality. There was a TV. We would only have one complaint which is that the bar closes early and once you have dinner there isn't really anything else to do but that being said you walk so much doing the safari and seeing the animals that a good night's sleep is on the cards anyway. Check in and out was faultless and we enjoyed using the golf buggy to get around. Would recommend the hotel to anyone.

We didn't stay, we just did the safari park and safari. You will do loads of walking. Food and drinks were expensive, so I advise you to take your own, plenty of picnic areas.

Disappointed the safari was fully booked but still charged full price, and a lot of animals were unable to review. Food and drink options were limited and very overpriced.

Rubbish zoo. Poor layout. Not many animals. Safari ride is terrible.

Its ok but not not value for money.

We had a fantastic time, the glamping pods are fantastic. Our family had a brilliant experience and I am looking forward to our next stay.

Really interesting selection of animals that appear to be being treated well.

We really enjoyed our stay there. We chose the cabins right next to the lion enclosure. Clean cosy and tranquil. Bathrooms and showers are very clean and modern. We were so lucky to sit by the fire and hear the lions and tigers roar, amazing experience. The restaurant by the hotel serves amazing food. It's not the cheapest but it's excellent quality and for a birthday treat weekend is totally worth it.

Had a good time here on a safari day. I thought the safari was good, animals etc were excellent, but the trip wasn't great. Firstly smelly diesel fumes from WW2 trucks wasn't nice, and our "guide" was so loud on the tannoy speaker, coupled with not speaking well, it was actually a painful 45 minutes where the kids hated the loud noise and the adults hated the commentary. Also, the info just isn't very good about the restaurants, we planned our day to have lunch at the "lookout cafe", which we thought, given the lcoation would be very plesant. It was two shepherds huts selling undercooked, warm Panini and Burgers with some picnic benches, looking at the side of a hill. It was neither a lookout, or a cafe. The highlight of our day was the shuttle back up the hill from near the lookout cafe, which was excellent, we saw the animals, the older guy gave a shorter but much better safari tour. My recommendation would be, go down the left side of the park, past the primates, have lunch at baby dolls near the dinosaur forest, walk along the bottom and get the shuttle up from near the lookout cafe. I wouldn't do the safari again.

We visited port lympne today. We have avoided zoos for about 20 years as the animals always seem sad but felt like a safari location might be somewhere we could support. The animals range over a huge expanse of land. There is a safari truck to ride that was included in our standard ticket. It was good to have a guided tour on the truck to see the animals that were further away. Generally speaking we could admire all these animals- rhinos, camels, antelopes and capybaras however the giraffes were disappointingly far away. You have to pay even more money to see these up close. There were a few enclosure renovations happening when we visited (which should have been completed ) but meant we didn’t get to see the orangoutangs as they were inside. There were many trials you could do on foot, so we saw many areas again and more closely. There was an incredible dinosaur exhibition in the dinosaur forest…this was one of the highlights. The port lympne mansion was breathtaking. The staff let us admire the 2 specially painted rooms which were amazing!! Was a little pricey for drinks but not unaffordable- £16 for 2 coffees and 2 colas. We brought a picnic-lots of picnic areas available!

I love coming here, the experience is amazing. I would highly recommend coming for some family fun. An added bonus is you can stay here and look over some incredible enclosure.

We visited for the day with 9yo and 13yo. The jeep safari is well worth it for covering ground and enclosures you won’t get to by foot. We took lunch in with us. Walking was also good but you are likely to leave yourself with a reasonable uphill walk to finish - harder with tired small legs.

Absolutely amazing! I took my partner here on Saturday and he loved it! I purchased tickets through Groupon + it was such an easy process. I had to reschedule my booking as well and the staff were extremely lenient + accommodating. The safari tour went for 45 mins and then you can stroll around the park to get a closer view of all the animals. It takes 2 hours to walk around depending on what animals you want to see. Also I wish I knew this before, but it’s impossible to get uber from here.

Port Lympne is one of the best places I have ever been to. We stayed for 2 nights, first in hog deer creek, which was amazing! We received complimentary marshmallows and roasted them in the wood fire. Under the stars it was a surreal experience, we had dinner at baby dolls wood fired pizza which was some of the best pizza I have ever had. the staff in the restaurant and pretty much everyone else was super kind and friendly. The most friendly staff I have ever seen in any place ever! The cabin was very cosy and yet very modern. In the morning we had breakfast in the bear lodge restaurant. It was also very yummy, The full English is very good 👍. We went on an ultimate safari which is the main attraction and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We got to feed giraffes and rhinos, see all the animals, learn a lot about them and go to places that aren’t open to the public. I definitely recommend to try this it’s worth the price. For lunch and dinner we ate at the garden room restaurant and the chicken wings and chicken gyoza were really nice, and the chicken goujons were reminiscent to kfc! The chicken Caesar salad was very nice as well. The rooms in the main hotel were very clean and comfortable, and the main area was the pinnacle of luxury. Oil paintings everywhere, giant marble pillars, and oh dont get me started on the Moroccan courtyard. The animals themselves were phenomenal. The Sumatran tiger was super cool especially when it jumped onto a tall wooden pole! The silverback gorillas were also fascinating, I loved it when they swung around and went down the slides 🤣. Don’t worry! There are loads of photo opportunities all around the reserve. Some of the animals are, lions, tigers, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, gorillas, monkeys, red pandas just to name a few! The reserve is also partners with the Aspinall foundation and is great to know that they release loads of animals back into the wild. The reserve is really fascinating, extraordinary and heartwarming, many memories were made here, and will definitely come again.

I stayed at leopard creek and it was amazing, The service from all the staff was great and the experience was brilliant. Food at the garden room was brilliant and didn't have to wait too long for high quality food. I took my wife and 3 year old daughter and both had an amazing experience and loved travelling the park on a golf buggy

Great setting with amazing views and an enjoyable walk locating fantastic animals

Great place for a day out. Prepare to walk a lot. Zoo is located on a steep hill, which may cause problems to anyone with a disability. There is something for everyone here, including dinosaurs.

Fantastic day out, the animals are stunning and obviously well cared for, the staff are very friendly and very approachable, the views are breathtaking, absolutely loved it and would definitely recommend

Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Hype or the Price I regret choosing Port Lympne Safari Park for my daughter's birthday. The safari truck takes you around the park, but you can barely see any animals — most are behind fences or so far in the distance you can’t make them out properly. It felt more like a bumpy bus ride through a field than a safari experience. The cafe we visited had a very poor selection — only two sandwiches were available. Not what you'd expect at a family-friendly attraction with high ticket prices. A couple of years ago, we visited Woburn Safari Park, and it was a completely different (and much better) experience. There, we drove our own car, animals like monkeys jumped on the car, and rhinos and lions were walking right next to us — exactly what you'd imagine from a safari. I was hoping for something similar at Port Lympne, but instead it was a real letdown. To get close to any of the animals, you have to pay £80 extra per animal experience — which feels like a total rip-off after already paying for entry. Unfortunately, it just didn’t live up to expectations and I wouldn’t recommend it if you're looking for a true safari-style experience.

The experience was awesome, some amazing views. I had to make some changes and the customer service was spot on

An absolutely wonderful day. We did the truck safari and I was totally hooked on every word our driver Norman was saying. His knowledge and passion for the animals and work they do at Port Lympne shone through and made for a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Afterwards we walked the rest of the site which took about 3 hours at a chill pace. We managed to see almost every animal, and many of them up close including bears, wolves, and gorillas. We went on a Friday daytime and it didn't feel busy at all - we were rarely stood with other people whilst looking at the animals and there was space on our truck during the tour. It is a lot of walking on uneven and uphill terrain if you want to see everything, but there are plenty of benches dotted around for rest breaks. I would recommend bringing a packed lunch as the food on site is incredibly sparse and expensive. I found that the attitude and demeanour of the café staff didn't match the standard of quality displayed by the rest of the staff at the park. This however did not detract from the experience of being able to see these beautiful, rare animals so closely. All in all a brilliant day, and will happily visit again and consider booking one of the animal feeding experiences etc.

Truly an awesome day out. Booked on for a Truck Safari and have to say that Norman was an excellent guide. Full of information, friendly and had a wonderful energy & passion for the animals. I’m sure all other staff are also providing great tours! Managed to see almost everyone up and about in their enclosures on Friday and it was a delight. Would love to see some water fountains or bottle refill stations set up around the walking route.

Top, par. Against during the safari sit on the left in the truck, you will thank me

Great day out and love the ethos. Worth spending the day there so you're not rushing around. Definitely take a packed lunch though, the food is pretty pricey and could easily get heavy for a family. This is the only reason for 4 stars.

Currently on this “safari” adventure which is just a truck driving 2mph to show you a few ENCLOSED “nature reserves” I can’t believe we have been scammed out of 70 pound, we saw 4 deer, 2 camels and a rhino from about 30 metres away. If you are lucky the lions will be at the front of their ENCLOSURE and you might see them with a bit of luck. Please save your money from this enclosured farm tour. Every single animal was behind a trapped in enclosure which makes it impossible for an authentic safari experience. The cafe also want to charge 3 British pounds of my money for some water, but if you want some hot water and hot chocolate powder from the pound shop you have to pay 5! Avoid avoid avoid avoid avoid avoid

My friend and I rang the previous day to know if we could experience the safari if we didn’t book prior ( we were not sure we could go). Over the phone we were told we could. We turned up the next but unfortunately did not get to ride on the carts (safari), we were told we had to have booked before showing up (although we were told differently on phone). We didn’t mind though. We walked round as much as we could. The land is vast, we saw as many animals as we could possibly see on foot. At the end of the day, we were exhausted but it was worth it. We did not stay over, although the cabins looked really nice. Tip: Book ahead!

We booked through buy a gift and we felt quite let down by what was advertised to be honest. The picture showed the giraffes right up close to the safari trucks, along with the other animals too. It also said the safari was 1.5 hours long. The safari was 45 minutes, the giraffes were in their gated off enclosure that you could see across the field and the only animals not caged were some deer and camels. You don't stop to feed them or to take pictures you just drive through. I wouldn't pay to do it again. I've given a 4 star rating because the only thing to save the day was the afternoon tea which was out of this world! We were there to celebrate my wifes birthday and our anniversary. The room was stunning, our server Liz, was absolutely wonderful! What a beautiful human being she is! She instantly made us feel welcome and comfortable and made the over all experience 10/10 for us. If I was basing my review on the afternoon tea it would have been a sold 5star but the safari advertising is misleading. Liz, if you're reading this, we absolutely loved you! Thankyou for a wonderful afternoon!

What a complete waste of time. I was there 90 mins with my toddler only saw one tiger that was pacing up and down which shows he was just stressed and bored! The cafe was hideous £2.75 for a small packet of crisps! £4.95 for a small mocha that was made by what looked to be a child. Don't waste ur time or money coming to this so called Wildlife Park, you won't see any animals and just get ripped off in the cafe.

I was completely blown away! I visited Port Lympne to celebrate my birthday and I've never had so much fun. The weather wasn't great by that didn't stop us. All the staff were incredibly friendly, with everyone saying hey and asking if we needed any help locating certain animals. The safari itself was so insightful and so interesting regarding the work the reserve are trying to achieve. We booked our safari for 1.30pm which gave us plenty of time to wonder round. I would recommend working from the back of the zoo to the front. An amazing experience ✨️

Absolutely fantastic time here. Went with my daughters and their 2/3 and 4 year old children. They loved it. Our ranger Dom was a real hit with us all. So passionate and knowledgeable about the animals and the park. He answered endless questions from the children. Also so cheerful and friendly. We stayed in giraffe cottage which was a real treat. Our two chefs were so nice and friendly and the food was delicious. All the staff at Port Lympne could not have been more welcoming and helpful.

What an amazing experience aspinal foundation is such a well kept place with amazing staff - big shout to Penny our safari guide - she was excellent and so knowledgeable - clearly very passionate about the park

Loved the reserve. If you aren’t physically fit then it’s very hard to navigate around the whole reserve especially when walking uphill. Quite depressing to see the tigers pacing back and forth and growling, but amazing to see them so close up! I think they need a bigger enclosure. The food is VERY expensive, so I’d advise you to bring your own food!

Absolutely amazing Safari Park. Make sure if you just go for a day that you book the Safari. Super informative guides. Excellent place for Families or couples. Amazing staff throughout.

Very tired in places and exceptionally expensive for the encounters.

The safari was an amazing experience and definitely worth it. The staff were lovely and very helpful. Staying overnight in the forest hideaway was an amazing experience you get a really nice view though the main road next to you maybe more of a problem for other people. The use of a golf buggy was very pleasant and made the exploration experience even better.

Port Lympne Safari Park is an excellent choice for a day trip, offering a unique and immersive wildlife experience. The park is massive, giving animals plenty of space in their enclosures while allowing visitors to explore a wide range of species up close. From big cats to rhinos and giraffes, there’s so much to see, making it a great experience for all ages. The safari ride through the reserve is a highlight, and the staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, always happy to share insights about the animals and conservation efforts. There’s also a restaurant on-site, which is convenient after a day of exploring, but I’d definitely recommend booking in advance as it can get busy.

Me and my boyfriend went to the zoo on Friday and it was amazing, since we got home I showed my mum some photos and she would love to go, however she is disabled and has very poor mobility, I called the zoo today to ask if we could hire the buggy cars to drive her around and we was told no as these are for people who are staying in site, I then asked could we get someone to drive us around for the day as we could not hire the buggy, I was told no to this as well. So if your disabled and don't have your own wheel chair that's electric, or family that can push you around unfortunately anyone with reduced mobility will not be able to go. I was very disappointed with this from the zoo, I said to the lady on the phone unless your rich, or have saved all year around to stay the night no one, disabled in my mum situation can go to the zoo. If the zoo did accommodate for disabled people i would have given 5 stars, but because they discriminate. Against disabled people they get a 1 star VERY VERY POOR ZOO FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

I cant rate the rooms as I did not stay but went for a day, I did go past the accommodation on the safari and it looked good, I can imagine the views are amazing. From the moment I walked in to the moment I left , every interaction with staff was so positive and friendly. The animals seem well cared for and I like the information on the different animals and their journeys and how the sanctuary has helped them. It was cold so naturally the cafes did get busy but the service was efficient and quick regardless. I'll defintely visit again when its warm and spend more time.

Nice Park, different animals, the safari was fun. Lots of hills, definitely recommend.

The closest you will get to being on an African Safari in an authentic vehicle without leaving England. There are a wide range of animals including giraffes, lions, rhinos and gorillas at this conservation focussed attraction. The site is very beautiful and set on a slope looking out towards the sea. The landscape formal gardens and house are stunning. There are walking trails and the guided truck safaris and animal experiences for additional fees. There could do with being more places to eat and you need good fitness to get around. It would be good if child cars and adult and older children only cars could be provided for the safari trips as several screaming young children took away from our experience. Well worth a visit but a bit awkward to get to on public transport, our bus from the train station did not turn up. A shuttle from the station would massively help with access for none car drivers. We did not stay overnight but the accommodation options look fantastic.

It was a cold February day, and our expectations were not high, but we didn't see that many animals. The gorilla's were all in doors so you couldn't see them. The highlight is that virtually all the big cats were out.

Can’t fault this brilliant place. Everything just flows so nicely. Lots to see and do and all set in a fantastic, picturesque location. My wife and our two kids stayed in Pinewood in the smallest pod you can get there but this was adequate for us and actually really cost and fun for one night. As night fell you could hear the sound of fire pits crackling, families chatting and laughing and Lions roaring -as it was just next to one of the the enclosures. Everything settled right down come 9pm and we all slept soundly. We did the safari tour day 1 which was great (definitely worth getting g a map and familiarising yourself with the lay of the place first!). After exploring for the afternoon we got a shuttle/cab to the bear lodge restaurant. Everything is so interesting and exciting given you have amazing animals all around. The staff at the restaurant couldn’t have been more friendly (a theme throughout the whole of the estate) and the food, whilst not the cheapest, was absolutely delicious (again another theme - really great quality). After a lovely chilled night of moonlight walks, marshmallow toasting etc we had breakfast in the garden room restaurant which was really lovely (the light breakfast options were included in room cost and could be incorporated into the large bfast options which was cool). Set amidst the main mansion house of the estate and its exquisite grounds. From here we talk a walk across the park seeing gorillas, gibbons, bears, cheetahs, tigers, rhinos - everything! And really close up and personal. Nothing like a zoo, but everything like a well-run, well cared for animal sanctuary. Loved every moment and was sad to leave.

This place is incredible. We didn't stay in the accommodation, just visited for the day. We just about managed to get around the whole park with a rhino experience and a ranger-led safari too, but if you stay over you'd have more time to enjoy the park. The rhino experience was incredible, the keeper was very knowledgeable and loves her animals. The ranger-led experience was also great, an hour and a half drive through Asia and Africa learning about the free roaming animals that can only be seen via the safari. Again the ranger was so knowledgeable and fun. We drove 3 hours to visit and it was so worth it.

We had the pleasure of staying in the treehouse with a view of the rhinos. Upon arrival, the property was warmly welcoming, with no issues regarding heating. The grounds were beautiful, offering a serene environment for leisurely walks. The service throughout our stay was exceptional, and our dining experience at The Garden Room was of the highest quality. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and highly recommend this experience.

Fantastic..this is our second visit..the fact you can walk around the zoo once its closed was brilliant!! Highly recommend

The Charlie Chaplin room was full of character, loved it. The mansion and gardens were absolutely stunning, the garden restaurant not cheap but food was great, service very good and overall the staff were excellent , I nearly forgot the bonus you have a zoo at the bottom of the garden incredible. Thankyou 👍

Beautiful park with lovely animals. The safari trip is certainly worth doing as you see so much that you can't see when walking.

We have wonderful time at this safari - my Doughter love it along with other family members - maybe Will will be back next year - sad part is they give as lathe coffee which was cold , I don’t won’t to complain just enjoy ❤️

This place is absolutely amazing ! I honestly can’t understand how there can even be negative reviews. The animals are clearly cared for and we did the gorilla feeding which was amazing how close you can actually get to them. The staff are so kind and very informative and clearly care deeply for the animals(if you do a feeding experience you will see this). I would suggest not the best place for young children lots of walking and stairs.

We had the most amazing stay at Tiger Lodge 2,celebrating my husbands special birthday. The staff were all amazing,Penny our safari experience driver was so knowledgeable and brilliant at her job,full of enthusiasm,and you could tell she loved the animals.It was a must to also have the golf buggies to get around,as husband was suffering from poor mobility with his knee.The most amazing experience was to see the tigers sleeping against the window in out Tiger Lodge 2.I highly recommend this experience,as the zoo really thought about the animal,and had lots of space for them. Can't wait to return in the future.

A great day out. Definitely go on the safari tour. Great to see such passion in animal conservation.

Simply superb. Everything about this place is just amazing. The kids especially loved the giraffe safari. The lodges are stunning for any special occasion and when you're looking to really treat yourself.

I went there with my family to celebrate my Birthday … it was amazing more than I expected! We booked Forest hideaway den ( it is way luxurious for a den!) which was LOVELY! We had our in room wood burner and we have our own outdoor fire pit, this is were we enjoy our marshmallow bbq! We had our golf cart which is kind of must as the place is huge! We fed the cheetahs, rhinos, Giraffes it was spectacular experiences … we also booked 2 and half hours private safari and here I must say thank you for becky ( I hope I spelled your name right) Becky was amazing, super friendly and highly knowledgeable ! The food was great !!! Specially the wood-fire pizza !!! We are planning to go back soon!!!

Garden room Restaurant terrible had steak had to send back twice do not recommend eat anywhere just not here.

We were visiting the Safari park itself we were not staying in the hotel. But the safari park views and the whole experience was outstanding. If was such a sunny and warm day that kids really felt like transported to proper African safari. Especially when we could see giraffes and stroke them

Lovely day - organised, friendly, easy and all in great condition.

Spent the day at the park on Sunday for my wife's birthday We have difficulties getting about and my wife suffers from arthritis and has limited mobility the staff could not have been more helpful Some of the steep paths were very challenging for us but big thank you to the team there who arranged a lift back up to the exit which meant we could see more of the animals

An amazing family getaway, you wake up with the wild life around you and it’s such serenity. Just the peace of the wild and the few other people in the camp! Definitely going again!

I visited the zoo recently and i was amazed at this place! The animals are treated well and in great conditions. The safari is amazing! It lasts about 1 hour and it’s perfect to get to know more about the animals. The staff are lovely and very informative about all the different animals! Will definitely be coming back once the weather is warmer

We had the most magical ultimate safari experience at Port Lympne celebrating our birthday. It was a surprise organised by our parents and my sister and I couldn't have imagined what was in store. Huge thank you to Richard for making our day so memorable. Your expertise was mind-blowing and you made the trip so fun and engaging, thank you!!

Great safari park. The park has a great location with beautiful views. Due to its hilly and extensive terrain, you can see the expanse of the enclosures very well. Despite the size, you can see plenty of animals (without binoculars or similar) :) Just remember that you should have enough stamina and strength, as there are many inclines to climb up and down. Even if you've explored the park on foot, the track tour is worth trying out as you'll see even more things. Really great!