Port Lympne Reserve sits on 600 acres of parkland near Hythe, Kent, overlooking the Romney Marsh and the English Channel. Opened in 1976 by conservationist John Aspinall, the park grew out of the same mission as the nearby Howletts Wild Animal Park: giving endangered species room to roam while breeding them for eventual release into the wild. It is now run by The Aspinall Foundation, the conservation charity Aspinall founded, under the leadership of his son Damian Aspinall.
The reserve blends an African-style safari experience with historic grounds, incorporating the Edwardian Port Lympne Mansion and gardens originally laid out by architect Sir Herbert Baker for Sir Philip Sassoon. Visitors can tour the African Experience area by safari truck or on foot, passing giraffes, zebras, black rhinos, and roan antelope, while the Palace of the Apes houses one of the world’s largest gorilla breeding troops.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Lympne, near Hythe, Kent, England
- Opened: 1976
- Size: About 600 acres (240 hectares)
- Species: 75+ species, 900+ animals
- Annual visitors: Not publicly disclosed
- Famous for: UK’s largest breeding herd of black rhinos
A Safari Through Kent’s Wild Side
The park’s African Experience lets visitors drive or ride through open enclosures where rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and antelope roam together in landscape modeled on the East African savannah. Elsewhere, the Dinosaur Forest, opened in 2016 for the park’s 40th anniversary, fills three acres of ancient woodland with more than 100 life-sized dinosaur models, while on-site lodges and treehouses let guests stay overnight within sight of the animal enclosures.
Conservation at the Heart of Port Lympne
Breeding and rewilding drive the park’s work. Port Lympne holds the largest black rhino breeding herd in the UK, and in 2022 it became the only zoo in Europe housing black, white, and Indian rhinos together. The Aspinall Foundation has used gorillas and black rhinos bred at Port Lympne and Howletts to reintroduce dozens of animals back into protected habitats in Africa over the past two decades.
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Port Lympne Reserve FAQs
What animals can you see at Port Lympne Reserve?
Port Lympne is home to more than 900 animals across 75-plus species, including black, white, and Indian rhinos, western lowland gorillas, giraffes, zebras, and roan antelope, many roaming in open African-style enclosures.
How big is Port Lympne Reserve?
The reserve covers about 600 acres (240 hectares) of parkland near Hythe in Kent, combining animal enclosures with historic gardens and an Edwardian mansion.
Can you stay overnight at Port Lympne Reserve?
Yes. The park offers on-site lodges, glamping tents, treehouses, and a hotel, several of which overlook animal enclosures like the African Experience.
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Photo: Dozyg / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.