Billetter til Howletts Day

Howletts was great in its heyday but unfortunately, it seems to have taken a downhill turn. During our walk around there were a lot of enclosures that said were closed for essential maintenance but looked like they had been shut for years and abandoned by the state of the weeds and trees being overgrown in there. A lot of the animals we didn’t get to see, I understand that they are free to go indoors and outdoors as they please but after 3 laps of the zoo they still had not appeared. Some of the enclosures that did house animals looked overgrown and the little pools that they had were mostly empty, I found this a bit shocking after the heatwave that we have been having. The lemur walk was closed for absolutely no reason. I assume because it was quiet and on a term time Monday but I’m still a paying customer so should surely have access to all attractions. Now for the food situation. We stopped at one smaller cafe hoping for some quick food as it was lunchtime, we poke our head through the door and are met with the most dark and dingy unwelcoming space. The chiller cabinets were empty despite the zoo being pretty quiet so we moved on. Coming to the main cafe building it was clear there wasn’t going to be much luck, again, despite it being a quiet day they had mostly run out of food. My husband ended up having to settle on Mac and cheese (at the till we were told this was a kids meal) which was crunchy and dry with a piece of garlic bread that was as hard as a rock, and I made do with a vegan sausage roll which was really nothing to write home about. The bottled drinks in the chiller cabinets were warm. The food can only be likened to school canteen food and for the extortionate amount that it costs for the selection and quality we couldn’t help but feel like we had been robbed. Every other kiosk along the way was shut. The elephants are always brilliant and we did manage to see a few animals up close. If you like lemurs then you’ll be very happy here as they seem to be on every corner! All in all, I don’t think we will be returning. It used to be great when I was a kid in the early 2000s and I had many a great trip here, but it feels a bit past it now and I don’t think the ticket cost makes it worth it. It felt like the place was winding down to close its doors for good.

Going to see the elephants is brilliant but the hill you go down is the same one you have to walk back up so take your time it is steep, but worth it. There are other animals there to see as well as the Elephants.

Nice day out to Howletts, fantastic weather I don’t rate the zoo highly (a lot of walking around looking in empty enclosures. According to noticeboards next to the enclosure supposedly there were a lot of the same animal too - walking around I think I saw three homes for Clouded leopards and none contained a Clouded Leopard) We came for a pre-booked elephant encounter which was excelent - you stand in a small area just off the main walkway, reach a large leafy branch out for the elephants to reach grab and pull it to them. Jama and her son Nodu Not exactly up close and personal, barely a few feet closer than anyone else, but a good experience The guide seems very knowledgeable, he said he did not work primarily at Howletts but had another site so was surprised at the size of the young elephant compared to when he saw them

Howletts is very different to a traditional zoo and definitely focuses more on Animal welfare than viewing factor however this is no bad thing. We started heading straight down the main path and you’re presented with a vast array of primate enclosures. Side note: This is not a very good place for photography as many enclosures have very thick mesh which makes it very difficult for camera focusing. Now while the appearance on the outside for a lot of enclosures isn’t brilliant the inside’s are mostly exceptional and have so many different platforms and vegetations to suit each animal. All the Cats big or small were asleep due to the Sunny weather which is more than fair however all were visible in the opening section apart from the Clouded Leopard however these are notoriously illusive. Lemurs were mostly all in a cuddle pile which is always hilarious as I think it’s really sweet. The Servals were great always a good addition and I really like how most of the animal info signage has fun and interesting facts like how the Serval has the longest legs of any big cat. Moving round there’s Red River Hogs which were also asleep due to the sunny weather but had loads of space had they decided to move around. The Elephants were definitely a highlight as there are so many African Elephants on display including a Bull. They have so much space in their enclosure and it’s nice to see the larger African Variety of Elephant. No disrespect to their Asian Cousins though. Then walking through the gorgeous Woodland you once again find various primate enclosures with the clouded leopard dropped in every now and again. Some of these enclosures do feel a little small and outdated however I’m no expert. The wolves were surprisingly visible albeit asleep but are lovely to see. The Leopards both Snow and Amur were nowhere to be seen however with their expansive enclosure they could’ve been anywhere. The Gorillas were all on display and being inquisitive as ever. Buffalo and Javan Langurs were next all of which were present and correct and I really like the orange coat that these Langurs have. The Siamangs were out of sight most likely in a tree. Then Capybaras surprisingly appeared out of nowhere and were enjoying a nice mud bath to cool down in the heat which was so fun to watch. Then the Caracal a rarity in British Zoos and I’d never seen one before so was very excited to see it gracefully wandering the enclosure. Then back through the Hogs to the African Painted Dogs section which had clearly just been fed and were enjoying a nice meat supper. Then more gorillas which were very similar to the ones mentioned earlier. Then Dholes which we did manage to spot and Black Rhinos of which there were surprisingly three don’t think I’ve ever see more than two which was great. Time for the gift shop which was superb, really well priced and high quality Keel toys throughout. Overall, Howletts is very unique specialising in Animal Welfare of mainly primates and Big/Smaller Cats and is definitely worth a visit. We do think the entrance tickets are a tad pricey £26 each if booking online but value is definitely there not a complete ripoff.

Hi recently went to the zoo with all my family. There was 16 of us. It is a big family a very lovely day out. Lots of animals. Very clean and tidy. Staff are very good. The only downside is the price of the cafés and takeaway outlets. I believe one cup of disposable tea for £4 is excessiveas having a larger family. It is also useful to think that people don’t have this amount of extra money to spend, but apart from that, it was a beautiful day out just please drop the price of a little bit think of big families.

I visited Howletts on Sunday and had a genuinely lovely day out. The park is beautifully kept, the staff are friendly, and it’s clear how much passion goes into the conservation work they do. Seeing the gorillas up close was an unforgettable experience — they are such extraordinary animals, and it’s amazing to be able to observe them so closely. At the same time, I left with mixed feelings. As wonderful as it was to see them, I couldn’t help feeling a little sad that their enclosure feels quite enclosed, with limited open sky and a more caged appearance than I expected. I completely understand the need for safety and the vital role Howletts plays in protecting gorillas from threats like poaching, but I found myself wishing their space felt a bit more open and natural. Overall, it was a great day out and I really respect the conservation work being done here. I just hope that, over time, the enclosures can evolve to give these incredible animals an environment that feels as free and enriching as possible.

We had a great day here despite the high temperatures. The enclosures are mainly huge and have lots of foliage etc. that allows the animals peace should they wish to chill. It does mean that sightings aren’t guaranteed but that’s the joy of how Howletts is run. There’s ample picnic tables, lawns and benches to rest on, we were there for 6 hours so appreciated it. The keepers that we spoke to were enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their charges. Only 4/5 as catering was extremely expensive. We bought our own food and soft drinks, saving a fortune, but bought powder coffee sachets, not fresh coffee, at over £4 a pop…wow! The toilets were pretty dirty after a few hours and we never saw them being checked or cleaned. Overall though this was a great day out, just bring your own food and drink.

Really great wildlife park with so much to see. Definitely recommend the talks by the keepers. The keepers are very knowledgeable and friendly and really make the experience. The enclosures are really big which is so nice to see and the animals look happy. There is a lot of walking but that’s no bad thing!

Almost 4 stars, but not quite. A lot of walking in some steep areas. Started fabulous with a feeding thing with a lovely lady whose name I knew we'd forget to feed the Gelada's... They munched away on dozens of carrots. But there were dozens of the little monkeys... She ensured everyone (No, not us) got to eat some. For little money this was a treat. Obviously the focus is on Gorilla's, but plenty of else to see. Layout a bit odd, to me, so we criss crossed a bit.

An unforgettable experience! We did the snow leopard feeding experience. The keeper who ran the talk was amazing. She had worked with the snow leopard for many years and was so knowledgeable. We asked many questions and learnt so much about both snow leopards and the Aspinall foundation. We got to feed the snow leopard with tongs. Just amazing. I can't recommend enough for animal lovers. My kids had an amazing time. There were 6 people in our group and we took plenty of photos. Later on, I met the keeper again - I have wanted to meet the elusive Pallas cat for many many years and she helped us to find him and he sat out and allowed us to take photos. Just amazing. Please note, it is a much small wildlife zoo than others. We were staying at Port Lympne and enjoyed going to both places.