THE GIRAFFE ENCOUNTER
DAYSOUT
WOODFIRE KITCHEN
THE GIRAFFE ENCOUNTER
PORT LYMPNE
I
felt so excited when I got told that we were going to do the Giraffe Encounter at Port Lympne as they are one of my favourite animals . Port Lympne is a gigantic animal park near Ashford and Hythe and it has over 900 animals ! Not only was I going to see lots of animals and feed the giraffes , I was going to stay there in a treehouse overlooking the park .
The Woodfire Kitchen , Whitstable thewoodfirekitchen . co . uk
A family-friendly spot offering relaxed dining and delicious takeaway for all to enjoy , The Woodfire Kitchen has been serving up everyone ’ s favourite pizzas since December of last year . In a building that was once The Nelson Inn from 1871-1981 , the kitchen now brings a little wood-fire flair to 49 Harbour Street , just a stone ’ s throw from Whitstable ’ s iconic pebbled beach .
The Woodfire Kitchen is a love story of the Italian classics , with a menu serving up fresh and authentic sourdough pizzas from prosciutto with Parmesan and rocket to ‘ patate e salsiccia ’ with a white base , rosemary , potatoes and fennel sausage . The first of its kind in the town , The Woodfire Kitchen also offers handcrafted garlic dough bowls with homemade spaghetti Bolognese for those who can ’ t choose between the warm comforts of pasta and that iconic , charred woodfire taste . Look forward to small bites , sharing platters and plenty of Italian-inspired desserts !
Rewind Festival at Dreamland , Margate dreamland . co . uk
The much-loved 80 ’ s festival is back this summer - and for the very first time , it ’ s coming to Kent . Bringing oldschool tunes by artists such as Midge Ure , Nik Kershaw , Tony Hadley and Heaven 17 , the one-day festival is sure to bring all attendees to their feet for a day of iconic music . From Dreamland ’ s Scenic Stage , the outdoor event - aka Rewind at Sea - will be welcome to all ages , though under 18s must be accompanied by a parent , guardian or older relative .
At Dreamland , visitors can also enjoy a great array of retro and vintage rides and amusements , with plenty of street food places on-site to cater for every palate . For those wanting to have a more luxurious experience , VIP tickets will grant them access to the special Rewind VIP area with uninterrupted stage views as well as private access to even more food and bar facilities . Beginning at 5pm on Saturday 14 June 2025 , Kent ’ s very first Rewind Festival is one you ’ ll not want to miss .
To feed the giraffes we had to go on a little safari bus to their enclosure . After that we got out and the keeper gave us a talk all about the giraffes , how they look after them and what they like to eat . I then got given a bucket of green leaves to feed them with . It was amazing to see them so up close , the giraffes were so BIG and we had to be careful when they swooped their necks down to get to the leaves . I got to feed my favorite giraffe called Cillian . I also got to feed other ones , too . The giraffes were really cool , their tongues were slimy and rough and purple , and their necks were really , really long . They were so tall it was like there were two double-decker buses stacked on top of each other and I learned that all of their spots are unique and that is how the keepers know which giraffe is which .
We also got to stay in a treehouse . It was a lodge up on a hill in the trees . It was great ! We could see most of the park out of one window ! And also had access to the Treehouse Lounge where we got to toast marshmallows over a campfire and play games . When we woke up the next morning we got in the golf buggy which came with our stay at the treehouse and went for breakfast at The Garden Room . Breakfast in The Garden Room was delicious ! I had a hot chocolate which came with cream and marshmallows and was really nice , and I had the kid ’ s breakfast which had scrambled eggs , bacon , hashbrowns , beans and toast !
After breakfast we went on a safari and saw the giraffes we fed the day before and loads of other animals across the park . The animals were so amazing - there were lions , rhinos , monkeys , red pandas , leopards and many more . My favourites were the red pandas and the lions , and the giraffes of course !
Port Lympne is such an amazing place with so much to do and see . I loved my trip to feed giraffes , stay in the treehouse and go on a safari . It is such a wonderful place to visit in Kent on holiday or even a day trip . I love it so much and hope to go again soon .
Lyla Ready , Age 10
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