Howletts Wild Animal Park and Summer Roar
Howletts Wild Animal Park is Kent’s original wildlife destination and home to the country’s largest herd of African elephants. Throughout the school holidays children aged 3–15 can visit for half price as part of Summer Roar, making it an ideal time to enjoy a full day of animal adventures without stretching the budget.
Running all summer long, Summer Roar brings a lively mix of activities designed to keep curious minds busy. The brand‑new Creepy Cave offers close encounters with an array of unusual creatures, from reptiles to insects and arachnids, while themed weeks shine a spotlight on some of the planet’s most extraordinary species, giving families something fresh to discover each time they visit.
Young explorers can get involved in animal‑inspired challenges, family‑friendly tasks and opportunities to learn more about the remarkable residents of the park. Across the holidays, families can enjoy dedicated Big Cat, Monkey, Elephant and Rhino weeks, each featuring extra talks, themed activities and deeper insights into the animals and the conservation work that makes Howletts unique.
‘Summer Roar’ Theme Weeks
| Week | Events | Summer Roar Week Theme |
| 20th July – 26th July | Capybara Appreciation Day – 10th July | Capybara Week |
| 27th July – 2nd August | Tiger Day 29th – July | Big Cat Week |
| 3rd August – 9th August | Clouded Leopard Day – 4th August | Monkey Week |
| 10th August – 16th August | Lion Day – 12th August | Elephant Week |
| 17th August – 23rd August | Rhino Week |
Beyond the seasonal programme, Howletts offers more than 1,100 rare and endangered animals across 90 acres of beautiful parkland. From elephants and gorillas to rhinos, lions, clouded leopards and giant anteaters, there’s no shortage of wildlife to enjoy. .
Our Review
We were very kindly offered free tickets from Howletts in exchange for a review for the wonderful families in West Kent. Having visited Howlett’s a couple of times before, we jumped at the chance. Howletts Wild Animal Park is just outside Canterbury and a little over an hour away from where we live in Tunbridge Wells (just enough time to exhaust the alphabet with eye spy!!), and easily accessible from all of Kent and London by car.
Running throughout the Summer until the end of August, Summer Roar brings weekly animal‑themed activities and half‑price entry for children aged between 3 and 15 years of age. Families can pick up a free activity trail sheet at the Gatehouse and hunt for hidden pawprints around the park to crack a code, with additional keeper‑led activities focused on the featured animal of the week.
In truth, (and try not to let this happen!) we were so absorbed and distracted by the animals themselves that we missed most of the Summer Roar extras. A testament to how engaging the park is. For those parents who do pay attention and aren’t easily distracted, it’s a great addition for families who enjoy structured activities alongside the animal encounters.
A Park That’s Easy to Enjoy
One of Howletts’ greatest strengths as a day out, is its flexibility and relaxed atmosphere. It’s an experience to soak up and enjoy at your own pace. There is space to wander, time to linger, and no sense of being hurried along (except by our head map reader – aged 14 – and our youngest ball of energy – aged 6) It’s large enough to fill a full day and leave you wanting a little bit more more, but not so vast that you leave feeling overwhelmed. Our visit lasted around four and a half hours, but we could happily have stayed longer. On every visit we’ve ever made to Howletts it’s been busy, but the park is so spacious you never really notice.
Getting to spend time just a few feet away from Lions, Tigers and Elephants feels a humbling privilege. You get to mingle with creatures that you otherwise might never see. Funnily enough, I’d never really paid a lot of attention to Ant Eaters before, but they are incredibly strange looking, beautiful and captivating creatures when you see them for real.
Unforgettable Animal Moments
Howletts is home to the UK’s largest herd of African elephants and the world’s biggest group of Western Lowland Gorillas. Watching two young gorillas play together was a real highlight, chasing each other and wrestling, with the larger of the two being very considerate of their younger, smaller playmate.
The elephants were mesmerising, we watched one casually lift a tractor tyre with effortless strength, while another used its trunk with delicate precision to gather hay. Howletts have just announced that its herd of 12 African elephants will remain at the park indefinitely with planning permission submitted for a new development which includes:
‘a 3,300m² purpose-built elephant house and 10,000m² of additional outdoor habitat, bringing the total elephant space to 41,000m² (around 10 acres). It will also feature improved pools, wallows, dusting areas, outdoor shelters and large indoor sand areas, all designed by the Park’s expert animal team.’
The Tigers remained elusive early in the day but we later spotted one in full, sun‑soaked splendour. The Lions were majestic and slept on, occasionally looking up with the quiet knowledge that were fully in charge and had no obligation whatsoever to put on a show. It’s another lovely aspect of Howletts that the animals do their own thing in their own time. Consequently, on your first visit to an enclosure, you may not see them or they may be sleeping. Later in the day they’re out and active in all their glory.
The Rhinos were both magnificent and intimidating, and the antelope on the walk towards them were unexpectedly striking. The monkeys were cheeky, the capybaras wonderfully relaxed, and the ostriches regal. The African Painted Dogs stole the show during feeding time though, leaping acrobatically to catch food and showing off their beautiful markings.
Make sure you walk through the Lemur enclosure, it’s an immersive, close‑up experience that everyone will love and be bowled over by.
The Summer Roar Creepy Crawly Cave was another favourite. We stroked a bearded dragon, saw tarantulas, a giant millipede a giant snail, and even held a python which was ‘really cool’ (my words!).
Extra Experiences
Although we didn’t do this, Howletts offers Animal Experience Days where visitors can spend time with a dedicated keeper for a more hands‑on encounter. It’s well worth considering for birthdays or special occasions or simply just for the experience.
Food & Drink
There are lots of opportunities to stop and take advantage of the food stalls and cafés dotted around the park, which provide plenty of options for snacks, drinks and sweet summer treats. The Pavilion Restaurant is a perfect stop for a proper lunch with plenty of picnic bench seating spread over a lovely outside area which also features a decent play park. We strolled through the Ice Age Exhibition and Woodland Walk to get there as well, casually strolling by a sunbathing wolf (as you do!).
A Great Day Out!
Howletts Wild Animal Park is genuinely a fantastic day out. There is something for everyone of all ages, but no-one will escape being captivated by the amazing variety of animals that are cared for. A visit to Howletts Wild Animal Park, like Port Lympne, is a special event that you’ll still be thinking about for days after you’ve left.
Like most families, a trip out with children can often be a struggle and not always as wonderful as social media images would have you believe. We all left Howlett’s (via the gift shop!) happy, tired and feeling like we’d had a really good Summer Day out.
To find out more about Howletts and take advantage of the Summer Roar half price children’s tickets (0-2 years old go free), visit www.howletts.com Ticket sales help fund both animal care and the Trust’s wider conservation work. You can also follow them on Instagram and Facebook
