Review: Rhino Lodge, Port Lympne animal reserve, Kent

There’s a rhino at the bottom of the back garden, sang my daughter gleefully. And there was. Staring back at us from behind a fence, looking a lot more solidly compact than you might expect, the black rhino eyed us up with as just much interest.

review stay*

The clue, of course, was in the name of our accommodation: Rhino Lodge, at Port Lympne animal reserve in Kent, a little slice of Africa tucked away near Hythe on England’s south coast, with faint views of France on the horizon behind the fields of giraffe.

One of several different places to stay, from tents to Tiger Lodge (in the tiger enclosure) and the Treehouse hotel, this is the kind of short break that you remember for years – not merely somewhere to sleep but part of the whole experience.

Drawing up to the reserve after the crowds had left for the day, our luggage was whisked away to the lodge as we were welcomed with a glass of prosecco at the African-styled clubhouse check-in, plus marshmallows to toast on the open fire, while a cheetah lazily flicked its tail in the long grass below.

After the heat of the day, the animals were making the most of the cooler evening as we hopped into the golf buggy which comes with the lodge, to pootle along the paths. And check out our grey armoured neighbour, at the bottom of the gorgeous garden with its outdoor seats.

The lodge itself was once one of the two gatehouses on the estate, now a Grade 2 listed building with a riot of flowers by the door. Inside was just as impressive, the two double bedrooms decorated with luxuriously soft furnishings, splashes of bright colour, and animal prints to accompany the rolltop bath in our en-suite.

Along with the third small single bedroom under the stairs – my husband dubbed it the ‘Harry Potter room’ – the living room’s vintage feel extended to record player and LPs but also more tactile velvets.

Throw in a small minibar, Nespresso machine, deliciously powerful shower and a sense that there was no-one else for miles (except our rhino): I was torn between wanting to relax in the peace and hopping back into the buggy to explore the reserve without the other visitors.

Practicality prevailed and we ventured out for just a short drive – to the Port Lympne hotel for dinner, classic English dishes (and a well-designed kids’ menu) under the huge murals on the walls, where the animals, distinctly red in tooth and claw, definitely had the upper hand.

Artwork aside, there are over 700 animals at the 600-acre reserve, including 88 species from the rhino and red lechwe in the paddock by our lodge to the giraffe we fed on our private safari the next morning. Because how else do you top having a rhino in the back garden?

Hopping into our open-sided jeep, we headed off with our guide Jack through the open areas of the reserve, the African and Asian sections – big safari vehicles take other visitors throughout the day, but having your own private commentary and the chance to get up close to the animals is amazing.

Holding a few branches out temptingly, Luna the giraffe strolled over and proceeded to wrap her blue black tongue around one after another, tugging enthusiastically to strip all the leaves off. Despite the warning to keep a tight hold, the first branch sailed out of my hands for her to wrestle with.

Her leggy companions, including the endangered baby Rothschild giraffes and Sebastian (perhaps my favourite unlikely name for a giraffe), watched indolently, a few zebras showed off their stripy camouflage and Minnie got a good look at giraffe poo close up – much to her dignified disgust.

Along the way, we spotted a couple of families of gorillas, a field of baboons, several other black rhino, including one with a very cute baby (probably pushing 100kg…) and rather fascinating painted dogs, one of the less well-known species which makes its home here.

Exploring under our own steam once again, we also saw lions, tigers, lemurs, monkeys, meerkats and wolves, among others, not to mention the fabulously named warty pigs and a margay which looks like a miniature leopard.

With information on conservation projects, including efforts to rehabilitate and reintroduce some of the animals into the wild, it’s a reminder that the reserve does far more than entertain.

And the specially designed enclosures enable the various animals to live in as natural a habitat as possible – and an entertaining one, in some cases.

Minnie was fascinated to spot several slides for the gorillas, one of whom also decided to show just who was the dominant ape with a few warning bellows and crashes towards the window, before strutting off in satisfaction.

By mid-afternoon, the mini heatwave meant both visitors and animal inhabitants were searching for shade.

Monkeys scrambled up ropes into the cool treetops, water buffalo submerged themselves into a river hollow with a smug look, and much less exotic local squirrels made the most of the quiet as they bounded in to some of the open enclosures.

We headed to the shady paths of the gardens, joining the wolves and tigers on one side to the main reserve, stopping to enjoy the views and investigate a peaceful lily pond near the hotel.

Then into the forest to discover some of the world’s most terrifying beasts: the Dinosaur Forest attraction that is, rather than a particularly lethal section of reserve.

There’s an app to download to bring some of it to life, but having only discovered this later, I can confirm you certainly don’t need digital assistance to enjoy it.

Set in three acres of woodland, the walk transports you through time, venturing from one age to another as you discover this prehistoric world, reading information on both familiar dinosaurs and their more obscure friends, with trivia and unusual names along with facts and figures.

Designed by palaeontologists, there are unusual colours and unexpected roars to keep you on your toes too.

Looking at their tough hides and menacing stares, along with the horns adorning triceratops, it didn’t seem a million miles away from our neighbour of the previous night.

Giving the rhino one last chance to size us up and a final snort, he went back to munching happily in the paddock. And we, rather more sadly, waved goodbye to Rhino Lodge.

Need to know: Rhino Lodge, Port Lympne review

A stay at Rhino Lodge costs from £509 per night in low season. A Giraffe Safari, one of several different animal experiences and private safaris, costs £90 per person including admissions for the day, with reduced rates available for short break guests.

For more things to do in Kent with kids, including more animal attractions, check out my top picks, or for more of the best safari parks in the UK, check out this post

PIN FOR LATER: RHINO LODGE PORT LYMPNE

Disclosure: Our stay was courtesy of Port Lympne animal reserve. All opinions and rhino songs are our own.

Images copyright MummyTravels

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