DAYSOUT
HOWLETTS & PORT LYMPNE
WOOF , NEIGH , ROAR !
FROM DOG WALKS TO PONY TREKKING , WILD ANIMAL PARKS TO CAT CAFÉS , KENT HAS IT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMAL ADVENTURES .
Kent is home to a plethora of brilliant , forward-thinking animal sanctuaries , wildlife reserves , conservation farms , cat cafés , riding centres and more . As well as the opportunity to experience these miraculous creatures up close , Kent also has plenty of trails and walking routes through nature for you to explore with your pet pooch . Learn how and why we need to protect their habitats and what measures these admirable places are taking to ensure these creatures thrive and live safely on our planet . With everything from safari ranger days to bird of prey shows and farming experiences , Kent has an animal encounter to suit everyone .
One of the best ways to embrace the beauty of outdoor Kent and animals in one go is on horseback . For families and groups that love horses and riding , stay at Bloom Stays ’ The Chestnuts in Waltham . Sleeping 17 people plus four dogs , this is the ultimate pad for a group of friends or large family wanting to make the most of beautiful countryside , walking and riding . The Chestnuts has views of the surrounding paddocks and countryside with roaming horses and the owners are happy for guests to meet and greet the friendly horses ; for those who are super keen , there ’ s even a riding school nearby which they can make arrangements for . Mannix Equestrian is a family-run equestrian centre offering livery , lessons , hacking , holidays , pony club and jumping and training all on-site .
The Chestnuts ’ location in Waltham near Canterbury also makes it an ideal place to explore the ancient city , which itself is home to some of our much beloved furry friends - cats ! Canterbury Tails Cat Café is the one and only cat café in Canterbury . Nestled right underneath the shadow of the cathedral , indulge in a paws-itively unique experience that combines mental wellbeing with a whisker-licking selection of tasty creative food and beverages . This feline family consists of a cuddly cat crew of 25 cuties , all ready to enchant you with their playful purr-sonalities and give you a warm paw-shake . The chance to experience the fur-midable combination of coffee , cake , cats and charm where the cats meow for every feline fanatic !
For those wanting to see some larger felines , just 10 minutes down the road you ’ ll find Howletts Wildlife Park in Bekesbourne . As well as beautiful Sumatran tigers and several majestic breeds of wild cats from around the globe - from snow leopards to pallas cats - over 400 other animals and 50 individual species live here . Marvel at the magnificent elephant herd or gasp at the great gorillas , there ’ s so many special characters to meet . Visitors have the opportunity to see real animals up close and to be part of conservation in action . As a dedicated animal conservation charity , your visit directly helps The Aspinall Foundation to protect wildlife here in the UK , which in turn enables them to send animals back to the wild . Their commitment to conservation through captive breeding , education and reintroduction into the wild allows us to gain a greater understanding of some of the world ’ s most fragile environments and the endangered animals that live there .
Another wildlife sanctuary is just down the road , so close that the cats are said to roar to each other ! This is Wingham Wildlife Park , which houses the largest number of animal species of all wildlife parks and zoos in Kent . Here , you can adventure around the park , spot these exciting creatures up close and even feed the native and exotic birds that roam freely there . For a truly memorable experience , opt for their animal encounters which give visitors the
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