Our Port Lympne Treehouse Stay & everything you need to know before you book…
Arriving at Port Lympne
We got the train down to Westenhanger and booked a local taxi to take us from Westenhanger to Port Lympne. Travelling by train is one of my favourite ways to travel and Port Lympne is easily accessible after a short taxi ride of around 10 minutes.
We walked in through the main entrance and went to the Mansion House to check in and complete the paperwork. There is also a concierge hut where you can leave any heavy bags so you don’t have to carry them around until check-in. This is really useful if, like us, you arrive around 9.30am and have the whole day to enjoy the reserve before you can check into your accommodation at 3pm.
The golf buggies are next to the concierge area and are available from 3pm if they’re included with your booking.
If you have luggage, you can drop it at the concierge hut with labels on, so that’s really good.
The Mansion House at Port Lympne
It’s recommended that you spend some time exploring the park before your safari, so we booked the 1.40pm safari.
Beforehand, we had lunch at the Base Camp Café, which had quite a good selection of food. You can get things like a sausage roll and coffee, sandwiches, crisps, hot food, pies and ice creams. It’s quite a good selection in a smart little area. It’s fairly expensive, as you’d expect, but we thought it was a pleasant place to stop.
After lunch we walked through the Wallaby Walk, which is right next to the Base Camp Café. It’s a lovely little route where you can get really close to the wallabies and is definitely worth doing.
The Safari Experience
We went on the 40-minute safari that’s included with the treehouse, and it’s really, really good. You get strapped in, it’s quite bumpy, and there are animals up on the left- and right-hand sides. The commentator and driver tell you about the animals that you’re going to see, and we saw quite a good amount of them.
They are quite far in the distance, and you don’t always get to see them if they’re hiding, etc., but it was a good experience, and it gave us an idea of the size of the park and how far spread out things are.
Afterwards, we went to collect our buggy, which was included with our accommodation, and picked up our bags from the concierge.
Checking Into the Treehouse
We got the buggy, which is super easy to drive. I was a bit concerned it might be tricky, but it’s actually really easy and only goes at around five miles an hour, so it’s absolutely fine.
It was a really nice touch not having to walk the length of the park because it meant we got to see so much more during our stay.
We drove up and parked the buggy outside the treehouse before checking in.
The treehouse is absolutely amazing. There are lots of really steep steps up to it. There are accessible routes, but you need to be aware that there are lots of steps. If you don’t want to climb them, then the treehouse is not the right accommodation for you.
It’s got floor-to-ceiling glass on one side, so you get to really appreciate the amazing view. There’s a private decking balcony area, which is well hidden from the side, so you can sit out privately.
There’s a well-equipped kitchen in an open-plan kitchen diner, a very comfy large corner sofa with extra seating and a big TV. There are great tea and coffee facilities with free biscuits, lots of tea bags, coffee pods, sugars and hot chocolates in the cupboard, which is nice. And fresh milk (always a win!!)
There’s a big toaster, sink, dishwasher, plates and cups, washing-up liquid, oven trays and a fridge-freezer. It is self-catered, so you can bring everything you want to cook here.
There are two good-sized bedrooms, one double and one twin, with nice furnishings and fluffy towels. There’s a well-designed bathroom with Molton Brown toiletries, lots of towels, toilet rolls and toiletries, so you don’t need to bring things like that.
Inside, there was lots of information about everything you need during your stay, including the Wi-Fi password, useful phone numbers and how to book lifts between the treehouses and the restaurants. This is particularly helpful because you can’t drink alcohol and then drive the golf buggies, so you can book a lift back instead.
There was also a stargazing guide, which we were really excited to use because the views are fantastic. Alongside that there were park maps, emergency information and details about all of the food options across the reserve.
Our Evening at Port Lympne
We went to the Clubhouse for welcome drinks, which was nice. You get a glass of Prosecco or a hot chocolate or a soft drink per person. That’s open until 8.30pm and it’s next to the rhino, so you can sit in a tent or out in the sunshine and watch a rhino. They’ve got fire pits, which is lovely for the kids, and they give you free marshmallows so you can toast them. So we enjoyed that.
Then we went for dinner at Babydoll’s, which is the pizza restaurant, right down the bottom. You can get a lift if you don’t want to drive, but we decided to walk and take in the route and animal enclosures on the way.
The pizzas were really good. The food was quite expensive but tasty. These places are expensive because you’re a captive audience, but the selection was nice, the service was good and it was a nicely decorated restaurant. It came to £125 for two adult mains, an adult pudding, two kids’ meals and a drink each, which is obviously not cheap. But it was still really nice.
The toilets were horrendous. That’s been a theme that we’ve noticed here, and one of the areas they definitely need to work on.
Then we walked back up and saw the wolves because they’d come out, which was really good timing. I definitely recommend going to see the wolves in the evening when they’re awake, and they’re right out on display in front of Wolf Lodge. So if you choose that accommodation, you want to be in in the evening to enjoy it.
Then the lions started making loads of noise, so we got on the buggy and went to find them. We went all the way back up the Trojan Steps, right to the first enclosure where you come in, and they were making amazing amounts of noise. There were two males, roaring and grunting, and they were talking to the tiger in the enclosure opposite.
That was such a great experience, really memorable, and to be honest, one of the most fantastic bits of the whole trip. After that we came back and went to bed quite late for the kids, but it was a really enjoyable day.
Breakfast at the Garden Room
As we were staying in the treehouse, breakfast was included.
You have two options. You can either eat at the Bear Lodge Café or the Garden Room Restaurant next to the Mansion.
We chose the Garden Room because I’d heard it was beautiful, and I definitely recommend choosing that option.
It has a glass roof, beautiful chandeliers and such a lovely atmosphere. We really enjoyed it.
The breakfast was excellent. You get a table of cold options including yoghurt, cereals, pastries, granola, flapjack, fruit and juices, then you can order tea or coffee and choose a freshly cooked breakfast from the menu. I would say it was on a par with the Kimpton Fitzroy and the Dilly to give you an idea of the standard… we were impressed.
Normally you’d pay for the hot food, but it was included within our treehouse stay.
The breakfast was really well cooked and delicious. They were also happy to swap things, like changing the bacon to crispy bacon on the full English.
Overall, I really rated the breakfast. It was beautifully cooked, in a gorgeous setting and a really lovely way to start the day.
The Garden Room restaurant
Breakfast at the Garden Room
Exploring More of the Reserve
After throwing our bags into the concierge and checking out of the treehouse, we spent the rest of the morning wandering around the reserve one last time.
We explored more of the animal enclosures and eventually managed to spot one of the tapirs, although it certainly made us work for it. It was tucked away amongst the tall bushes and was incredibly well hidden.
We stopped at the Lookout Café for a drink and couldn’t resist picking up an ice cream from the nearby kiosk before continuing our walk. By the time we arrived back at the Base Camp Café, we’d already clocked up thousands and thousands of steps. You really don’t realise how much walking you do as you follow the trails between the different animal enclosures. It was incredibly hot by this point, so we sat outside in the shade for a while to cool down.
Before leaving, we walked back through the Wallaby Walk and made our way to the Mansion, Garden Room Restaurant and Terrace Bar. This has to be one of the best places to sit and relax in the whole park. From the terrace you get spectacular views across the reserve, the Romney Marshes and out towards the sea. On a really clear, sunny day, we were even able to make out the coastline of France in the distance. It’s amazing to think that it’s only around 25 miles from Hythe to Calais.
We ordered some chips and snacks from the terrace bar. The food is fairly expensive, with chips costing around £5 and sweet potato fries around £7, but you’re definitely paying for the setting as much as the food. It’s such a lovely place to sit, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the view.
On the way out, we stopped at the Pinewood Café to pick up some bottled water for the journey home before, of course, making one final visit to the gift shop for the obligatory souvenirs.
We then headed to the car park where our taxi was waiting to take us back to Westenhanger station. We travelled to Port Lympne entirely by train and taxi rather than driving, and it was such an easy journey that I’ll be writing a separate blog post with all the details and tips for anyone considering doing the same.
Steps through the grounds
Gardens and terrace
Our Overall Thoughts
Overall, our trip to Port Lympne was a huge success. The park is beautifully laid out, incredibly well run and feels like a really special place to visit.
One of the things that stood out most was the staff. Everyone we spoke to throughout our stay was friendly, welcoming and incredibly knowledgeable. They all seemed genuinely passionate about the animals and happy to answer questions, which made the experience feel even more authentic.
We were also very lucky with the weather, which definitely added to the holiday atmosphere. The beautiful views across the reserve, the marshes and out towards the sea made it feel like a real escape.
The treehouse itself was very well equipped and had lovely views, but if we visited again, I don’t think we’d choose to stay there. Having now seen some of the other accommodation around the reserve, I think there are better options if you’re looking for a really immersive wildlife experience. Some of the lodges overlook animal enclosures, so you can sit in your living room or on your terrace watching wolves playing, rhinos grazing or other animals right outside your accommodation. Although the treehouses have a lovely outlook, they don’t quite offer that same level of interaction.
One thing I absolutely would recommend is choosing accommodation that includes a golf buggy if your budget allows, as not all of the lodges include one. It made getting around the reserve so much easier, especially after the park had closed to day visitors. One of our favourite memories was driving around in the evening and hearing the lions roaring as the sun was going down. We also loved heading out early before breakfast to enjoy the reserve while it was still quiet.
The treehouse was comfortable and we really enjoyed our stay, but personally I do think it’s expensive for what it is. Having said that, the value of a stay at Port Lympne isn’t really just about the accommodation. It’s about the experience of waking up in the reserve, spending time so close to these incredible animals and creating memories that you’ll remember for years to come. That’s what makes it such a special place to visit.
A final look at the beautiful reserve
