If you’re looking for a wildlife day out that goes beyond just watching animals from a distance, Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent is something special. Set across 90 acres of beautiful ancient parkland near Canterbury, it’s home to over 390 animals, including the UK’s largest herd of African elephants, more gorillas than any other zoo in the country, and Kent’s only giant anteaters.
But what really sets Howletts apart is how close you can actually get. Whether you’re walking freely through the lemur enclosure or climbing up onto the gorilla enclosure roof to scatter feed from above, the animal experiences here are genuinely unlike anything you’ll find at a standard zoo.
TL;DR: Howletts offers both free-roaming park highlights (elephants, gorillas, Ice Age exhibit, Walking With Lemurs) and bookable animal encounters from £15. Experiences run 15 to 30 minutes and include tigers, lions, rhinos, anteaters, snow leopards and more. Day entry is not included in encounter prices, so budget for both.
This guide covers everything you need to know, from what’s included in your standard ticket to every bookable encounter available, with prices, age limits, and tips for planning the perfect visit.
What Makes Howletts Different from a Regular Zoo?
Howletts isn’t just a zoo. It’s a wildlife sanctuary run in partnership with The Aspinall Foundation, a conservation charity dedicated to breeding and reintroducing endangered species back into the wild. That mission shapes everything about the place.
The numbers speak for themselves: thanks to visitors like you, Howletts has helped release more than 75 gorillas back to the wild, and those released gorillas have had over 35 wild births. Every ticket you buy directly funds that work.
The result is a park that feels different from the moment you arrive. There are no big theme park distractions, no gimmicks. Just 90 acres of ancient Kentish parkland, extraordinary animals, and keepers who genuinely know and care about every creature in their charge.
Conservation in Action
The animals at Howletts aren’t just on display. Many are part of international breeding programmes for critically endangered species, including:
- Western lowland gorillas
- Black rhinos
- African elephants
- Snow leopards
- Giant anteaters
- Clouded leopards
When you book an animal encounter, you’re not just getting a memorable experience for your family. You’re directly supporting the conservation work that keeps these species alive.
What’s Included in Your Day Ticket
Before we get to the bookable encounters, it’s worth knowing just how much is packed into a standard day ticket. Howletts is brilliant value even without the add-ons.
Walking With Lemurs
This is one of the most popular experiences at the park, and it’s included in your entry ticket! You’ll walk freely through the lemur enclosure as these curious, bouncy primates go about their day around you. There’s nothing quite like having a ring-tailed lemur leap past your head while you stroll through the trees!
The UK’s Largest Herd of African Elephants
Howletts is the only place in Kent where you can see elephants. The herd includes some adorable youngsters: Nusu (5), Oku (4), and Nguvu (3) are firm visitor favourites. Watching them interact, play, and learn from the older members of the herd is genuinely moving.
Gorillas in Their Natural Habitat
Howletts has more gorillas than any other zoo in the country. Watching a family group of western lowland gorillas in their spacious, naturalistic habitat is one of those experiences that stays with you. The new Joshi’s Jungle play area (opened May 2025) lets little ones follow in the footsteps of Howletts’ rewilded gorillas with fun facts along the way.
Animals of the Ice Age
Wander through the ancient woodland and come face-to-face with life-sized prehistoric giants, including woolly mammoths and a fearsome sabre-toothed Smilodon. It’s a brilliant, educational addition to the walk that kids absolutely love.
What Else Is Included?
| Highlight | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Tiger and lion enclosures | Watch these big cats in spacious naturalistic habitats |
| Black rhinos | One of the UK’s rarest zoo sightings |
| Giant anteaters | Kent’s only ones! Fascinating to watch |
| Snow leopards | Elusive and beautiful; a real treat to spot |
| Daily keeper talks | Ask the experts anything about their animals |
| Joshi’s Jungle play area | Adventure playground inspired by rewilded gorillas (new 2025) |
Tip: Check the daily keeper talk schedule when you arrive at the gatehouse. These free sessions are fantastic for kids and adults alike, and they happen throughout the day at different enclosures.
Every Howletts Animal Experience: Prices, Ages and What to Expect
This is where Howletts really shines. The bookable animal encounters let you go behind the scenes, get up close, and even hand-feed some of the world’s most extraordinary creatures. All encounters are led by expert keepers in small groups, and most take you to areas of the park not accessible to regular visitors.
Important: Day entry to the park is not included in the encounter price. You’ll need to book your day ticket separately. Plan your encounter around the rest of your visit for the best day out!
Here’s a full breakdown of every encounter available:
Encounters Starting from £15
| Experience | Duration | Min Age | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feed the Geladas | 15 mins | 0+ | £15 | April – October |
| Feed the Painted Dogs | Varies | Varies | Check site | Year-round |
| Meet Africa’s Little Hunters | Varies | Varies | Check site | Year-round |
| Meet the Lemurs | Varies | Varies | Check site | Year-round |
| Meet the Monkeys | Varies | Varies | Check site | Year-round |
Big Cat Encounters
If your family are big cat fans, Howletts has three incredible options:
Tiger Encounter: Come face to face with the park’s magnificent tigers and feed them their favourite meaty treats using tongs. Watch their raw power up close while your expert keeper shares fascinating facts about their personalities and daily care. Unmissable for any cat lover!
Lion Encounter: Step into the kingdom of the ultimate apex predator. You’ll feed the lions through the enclosure using tongs, with a keeper by your side explaining pride dynamics, natural instincts, and what it takes to care for these kings of the animal world.
Snow Leopard Encounter: Go behind the scenes with Howletts’ elusive snow leopards, gaining access to areas not open to the public. Feed them through the enclosure and learn about these critically endangered big cats from the keeper who knows them best.
The Headline Encounters
These are the ones families talk about for years afterwards:
**Gorilla Encounter (£75 peak / £65 off-peak, 30 mins, age 7+)**This is the one. You’ll go behind the scenes, climb up onto the enclosure roof, and scatter feed to the gorillas below. It’s a perspective very few people ever get to experience, and hearing your keeper explain the individual personalities of each gorilla makes it even more extraordinary. Book early; this one sells out fast!
Rhino Encounter (£45, 30 mins, age 5+) Come face to face with a critically endangered black rhino. After learning about their behaviour and conservation status from your expert keeper, you’ll take part in a supervised feed. Seeing a black rhino this close is genuinely awe-inspiring.
Elephant Encounter Get closer to the UK’s largest African elephant herd than any regular visitor can. This behind-the-scenes experience with the keepers who care for these gentle giants every day is a truly special family memory.
Anteater Encounter Hand-feed Kent’s only giant anteaters! These bizarre, brilliant creatures are unlike anything else you’ll see in the UK, and getting to interact with them up close is a real conversation starter.
For Young Explorers
Junior Keeper for a Day The ultimate experience for animal-mad kids! Young visitors get to shadow the keeper team for a full day, helping with feeds, enrichment activities, and learning what goes into caring for some of the world’s rarest animals. Check the Howletts website for current availability and pricing.
Example Full-Day Encounter Itinerary
Here’s how a packed Animal Experiences Day might look:
- 10:00 Arrival at the gatehouse
- 10:30 Rhino Encounter
- 11:15 Behind-the-scenes talk at the gorilla enclosure
- 12:00 Red River Hog Scatter Feed
- 12:30 Lunch at the Pavilion Restaurant
- 13:30 Squirrel Monkey Encounter
- 14:15 Maned Wolf Scatter Feed
- 15:00 Bat-Eared Fox Scatter Feed
- 15:30 Finish
Bear with us here! This itinerary is just an example of what’s possible when you mix and match encounters. You can do as many or as few as you like, and the team at Howletts will help you plan the day around your group’s interests and ages.
Planning Your Visit: Tips for the Perfect Day
A little planning goes a long way at Howletts. Here’s what we’d recommend:
Book Animal Encounters in Advance
The most popular encounters, especially the Gorilla Encounter, sell out well ahead of time. Don’t leave it until the day! The encounters page on the Aspinall Foundation website lets you book specific time slots, so you can plan the rest of your day around them.
Getting There
Howletts Wild Animal Park is located at Bekesbourne, Canterbury, CT4 5EL. It’s easy to reach by car from London (around 1.5 hours via the M2) and is well signposted from the A2. There’s ample free parking on site.
How Long to Spend
Most families spend a full day at Howletts. With 90 acres to explore, keeper talks, the Ice Age exhibit, Walking With Lemurs, and any bookable encounters, you’ll want at least 5 to 6 hours to do it justice. Arrive early to make the most of the morning when animals tend to be most active.
Eating and Drinking
The Pavilion Restaurant is the main on-site dining option, serving hot meals, snacks, and drinks throughout the day. It’s a great spot for a lunch break between encounters. You’re also welcome to bring a picnic.
Saving Money on Entry
You can book Howletts tickets through Day Out With The Kids for the best price. If you’re planning to visit more than once (or want to add Port Lympne Reserve into the mix), an Annual Pass covering both parks is excellent value for wildlife-loving families.
Did you know? During Easter 2026 (28th March to 19th April), kids’ tickets are just £10 online. A brilliant time to visit!
Is Howletts Worth It? Our Verdict
Absolutely, yes. Howletts Wild Animal Park is one of those rare days out that delivers on every level: extraordinary animals, genuine conservation purpose, and experiences that feel personal rather than packaged.
The standard day ticket alone is brilliant value given what’s included. Add a bookable encounter or two and you’ve got a day your family will genuinely never forget. Whether it’s your little one feeding gelada baboons for the first time or a once-in-a-lifetime moment on the gorilla enclosure roof, Howletts has a way of making wildlife feel real and meaningful rather than something you just watch through glass.
Ready to book? Grab your Howletts Wild Animal Park tickets through Day Out With The Kids and start planning your wild day out in Kent. And if you’re looking for more incredible wildlife experiences across the UK, explore our full Port Lympne Safari Park tickets page for another Aspinall Foundation adventure just down the road.