In Kent, Howletts Wild Animal Park is popular with visitors, and run by the Aspinall Foundation and is the sister attraction to Port Lympne Reserve.
John Aspinall purchased Howletts in 1957 to support his growing animal collection, with Howletts opening to the public in 1975. Aspinall ultimately believed that animals belonged in the wild and endeavoured to return them to safe areas where possible.
A reserve in the Congo was established in 1987 to protect the critically endangered lowland gorilla and many other projects have been established worldwide since then. The main spheres of conservation activity include captive breeding, education and the rehabilitation of confiscated wild animals.
Howletts Wild Animal Park has the largest collection of western lowland gorillas in the world and the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, home to 400 animals altogether including lions, tigers, black rhino, giant anteaters and many more.
Howletts allows visitors to walk alongside and below, a free roaming family of amazingly agile and lively lemurs at Walking With Lemurs or to have a go on an exhilarating high ropes course full of fun and challenging obstacles. For the younger adventurer, there is the Animal Adventure Challenge featuring slides, a children’s zip line and monkey bars.
Howletts Wild Animal Park
Howletts Wild Animal Park, Bridge, United Kingdom
John Aspinall purchased Howletts in 1957 to support his growing animal collection, with Howletts opening to the public in 1975. Aspinall ultimately believed that animals belonged in the wild and endeavoured to return them to safe areas where possible.
Wildlife you might see at Howletts Wild Animal Park
African Elephant
The elephant native to Africa, which is larger than the Indian elephant and has larger ears and a two-lipped trunk.…
Siberian Tiger
Inhabiting the Sikhote Alin mountain regions, it is believed there are only around 400 left in the world. It is…
Black Rhino
A two-horned rhinoceros with a prehensile upper lip, native to eastern and central Africa. Referred to as black, its colours…
Snow Leopard
A large cat native to the mountain range of Central and South Asia. It is an endangered species with an…
Western Lowland Gorilla
One of two subspecies of the western gorilla, it is the smallest and can be found in Central Africa, in…
Eurasian Lynx
Wild cat with yellowish-brown fur, a short tail and tufted ears, found chiefly in the northern latitudes of North America…
Sumatran Tiger
A rare tiger subspecies inhabiting the island of Sumatra, classed as critically endangered with an estimated 441 to 679 left.…
Tapir
A large mammal, similar shape to a pig with a short prehensile snout. It is classified as an endangered species…
Family and group offers at Howletts Wild Animal Park
Families
Families can become a Passport or Gold Card holder. Benefits include exclusive discounts on a range of animal experiences and encounters as well as guided tours and photography courses, exclusive offers and discounts throughout the year on retail and catering purchases, passport and Gold Card Holders Days and monthly email updates.
Groups
Groups are offered guided tours, team building activities, talks by expert animal teams and lunches.