Howletts or Port Lympne?
- Thread starter TNT
- Start date
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
Howletts without a shadow of a doubt, I wouldn't have said that 10 years ago.
Thanks Johnny! Why's it so much better?
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
Port Lympne is now more of a holiday park than a wildlife park, there is no walk up access to a lot of the exhibits like there used to be, There are people (Guests i'm assuming.) racing around the place in golf buggies. The enclosures seem to be in a very poor state of repair. I did enjoy the safari ride more on my last visit than previous ones, but was very disappointed not to have seen the Bears as there is no walk up access to their enclosure, like there used to be when the Elephants were up by there. If you feel you can fit in another collection I'd give Wingham or Wildwood a try rather than Port Lympne.
Howletts every time, at least nowadays since PL has undergone so many negative changes as pointed out above. Only problem is, despite a lot of duplication, there are a few species at PL that are not at Howletts e.g. Drill, G. B Mangabey, 'Barbary' Lions etc. It depends if there's any species you particularly want to see, but overall Howletts wins hands down nowadays.
I've not been to PL but I can heartily recommend Howletts. Loads of very content gorillas, Pallas Cats, seemingly endless Clouded Leopards, wonderful African Elephant herd, Dholes, and a nice exhibit for Geladas. And that's just the things I can remember!
If you're going by public transport though, take care walking on the county roads, especially from Bekesbourne station, there are no public footpaths, the roads are quite narrow, and the traffic can be very fast (with the occasional lorry!)
If you're going by public transport though, take care walking on the county roads, especially from Bekesbourne station, there are no public footpaths, the roads are quite narrow, and the traffic can be very fast (with the occasional lorry!)
I agree that Port Lympne isn't as good as it was, but don't think there's much in it really.
Howletts have Ratel, Dhole , Iberian Wolf, North Chinese Leopard , White Naped Mangabey, gelada and the Elephants. Port Lympne have GB Mangabey , Drill, Guinea Baboon, Greater and Lesser Bamboo Lemur, Andean Bear, Owston's Civet, Fossa, Rusty-spotted Cat, Carpathian Lynx, Bush Dog, Malayan Tapir, Takin plus loads more other hoofstock than Howletts.
Just depends what your interests are , as previously suggested .
I usually go to both at least once a year, both are worth a visit and would make my UK top ten.
Howletts have Ratel, Dhole , Iberian Wolf, North Chinese Leopard , White Naped Mangabey, gelada and the Elephants. Port Lympne have GB Mangabey , Drill, Guinea Baboon, Greater and Lesser Bamboo Lemur, Andean Bear, Owston's Civet, Fossa, Rusty-spotted Cat, Carpathian Lynx, Bush Dog, Malayan Tapir, Takin plus loads more other hoofstock than Howletts.
Just depends what your interests are , as previously suggested .
I usually go to both at least once a year, both are worth a visit and would make my UK top ten.
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As I discovered last September, it is somewhat safer - though still risky - to get a bus from Canterbury to Littlebourne and walk from here; it is a shorter walk overall at 750 metres, and the first portion takes you along a public footpath with only the final 400 metres are along the road, as opposed to the 1.6 km required - all on the road - if one walks from Bekesbourne station.
This map demonstrates the route quite nicely:
Google Maps
Is that the same bus that goes to Wingham?
I thought they had a courtesy bus, at least in the summer season, running to pick folk up from the station? I know I drive so its easy to say, but I don't think I'd ever risk walking that country lane to the entrance, its a very dangerous road. Though I must have done it once, the first time I ever went there (before it was open to the public)- but I only had to walk as far as the barred entrance gate at the bottom of the main driveway.
It is indeed.
They do, but only on weekends between 10:00 and 16:00; given the fact they are open until 18:00 in the summer this means you do have to leave early if you want to get a lift back to the train station.
This, incidentally, is the reason I first had to walk along the aforementioned dangerous road - we didn't realise how early they stopped running the bus and remained at the zoo until about 17:00.....
FunkyGibbon
Well-Known Member
I think too much is being made of the difference between Howletts and PL. Like almost everyone else I prefer Howletts, primarily for the elephants but also the somehow more balanced collection, but I try to alternate my visits to both. As long as you don't mind walking you'd have a fantastic day at Port Lympne, and it has some serious upside in the way of views and enclosures, as well as species.
Only because we were asked for a comparison. I used to do a day visit involving the morning at one and the afternoon at the other and found that worked quite well. But increasingly I've favoured Howletts though I will still go to PL if time allows- usually just doing the pedestrian section nowadays.