Best Aspinall?
- Thread starter lamna
- Start date
Tough one, but I'm going to say Howletts: much more intimate and the gorillas are fantastic!
Port Lympne has it's merits, but it's not what it used to be: you have to time the safari ride right in order to get the best out of it, and I don't think you can enter the mansion anymore. A shame because there's some fantastic paintings!
Port Lympne has it's merits, but it's not what it used to be: you have to time the safari ride right in order to get the best out of it, and I don't think you can enter the mansion anymore. A shame because there's some fantastic paintings!
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
I'd have said Port Lympne 4/5 years ago, but not now. Howletts for me every time now, with a trip to Wingham straight after.
I'd agree that 5 years ago it had to be Port Lympne, but now so much has either been taken off show or gone completely, it's a much closer call.
I think it depends what your interests are. For me the highlight of Howletts is the Ratel, but Port Lympne seems to have more rarities i don't see elsewhere, so i'd still choose Port Lympne- just!
I think it depends what your interests are. For me the highlight of Howletts is the Ratel, but Port Lympne seems to have more rarities i don't see elsewhere, so i'd still choose Port Lympne- just!
they both have the same sort of species, but still i would go to howlets.
Hexaprotodon
Well-Known Member
The 600 acres in total at Port Lympne has amazing views from the top of the escarpment above the Romney Marsh, the African experience is good if you can see any animals on the 200 acres or so of Combe Farm and there are still some fantastic exhibits there to see such as the prolific black rhino group and breeding groups of cheetah, African hunting dogs and Drills to name but a few. Howletts is flatter, smaller and has the majority of the same species plus the Lemur walk through and several family groups of Gorillas. I love Port Lympne but it's not quite the collection it once was - I'd go to Howletts!
I am shocked everyone is favoring Howletts. I went to Port Lympne on my first two visits to England (2009 and 2010) and loved it. I went to Howletts on my last trip (2013) and hated it. I would never step foot inside Howletts again - Port Lympne is ten times better IMO.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Yes but what you are forgetting that since you visited PL they have changed how you go round the park,you are no longer able to walk round a number of areas that you will have walked!I too would used to have said PL over Howletts but not now!!
After everything that Aspers Jnr said about zoos in general in recent times-id go to Wildwood,Sandwich,Wingham,Eagle Heights,even Beaver Water World before I went to either of them![only joking about the last one-id sooner visit Anfield or the Etihad than that fine establishment!..if its still going].
I have to say , i do sympathise with your feelings on junior's comments, as i've said elsewhere. Despite my misgivings, i still visit his 'zoos' though, but then again, i still go to other zoos where i am unhappy with the management's direction or lack of it!
Surely nowhere could be worse than Anfield or the Etihad though?!
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
AD, your ailuroplilia does blind you to other taxa!
Howletts' collection of South East Asian colobines, its African Elephants, and of course its gorillas make it a very distinctive zoo experience. And in fairness, you won't realise how much Aspinall Jr has -frankly- spoilt Port Lympne since the mansion was taken offshow and visitors lost the ability to wander around as they pleased.
Ian..Howletts may be distinctive and of course the rare primates there mean that from time to time I am forced to be a hypocrite,a situation saved only by much greater hypocracy from an owner that dismisses most of the rest of the zoo community whilst dealing with them and fondly imagines that the animals in Kent never had anything to do with dealers.I observe that its the wicked witch of Dorkings birthday today - is she still on the board of trustees of the Aspinall Foundation?
Is the cafeteria in the glass atrium area closed too?. I liked that bit.
Losing the ability to wander round the major part of the Park is definately the worst change though.
Just had a quick look at Aspinall Foundations trustees -cant get closer than 2010 details at which time the Dorking person was not on the board.Interestingly they had over £16 million in disposable reserves at that time, of course Port Lympne has been under great pressure to pay its way, hence numerous unpalatable introductions/changes to the place including music festivals. Quite obviously there is a lot of money sloshing around the whole thing,if they are going to don the mantle of the great conservationists are we not entitled to ask much more of them than they actually do?And that the zoos be better than they are.
The mansion is now closed permanently, and will now be used solely as a wedding venue and hotel.
A damn shame. Makes you wonder what JA would've made of it all.