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Home / Type of trip / Attractions / Beaver Water World

Beaver Water World

April 30, 2013 by Gretta Schifano 2 Comments

Meerkat. Copyright Gretta SchifanoThe youngest and I went to Kent’s Beaver Water World at the weekend. The eldest was otherwise engaged, shivering through the icy tent flaps of her D of E expedition while my husband is somewhere in the Americas.

Beaver Water World is tucked away in Tatsfield near Westerham on the same site as a shop selling tropical fish and other pets. The Beaver Water World name is a little misleading as, besides a beaver colony, the venue houses an eclectic mix of animals ranging from meerkats to a crocodile to a snowy owl. The website of this registered charity says that all of the animals have been rescued from private owners, the RSPCA or other zoos who are unable to keep them.

ET, Beaver Water World. Copyright Gretta Schifano

We started in the reptile house. ET, an iguana that looks about a metre long was there, a sign told us, because his owner had become unwell. The youngest was very excited to see Colin the crocodile and a helpful sign explaining that he’s real. Some of the reptile enclosures look quite small but another sign explained that this is because that’s what suits these animals best. This point was illustrated by a huge snake which had curled itself tightly into a shallow plastic box. It was sad reading how some of the animals had been neglected and mistreated before coming to the centre and I’d recommend anyone thinking of buying a reptile as a pet to think long and hard before doing so – they don’t seem to be easy to look after. Outside we saw deer, birds, rabbits and lemurs but agreed that we liked the meerkats best of all.

We spent an enjoyable hour or so looking at the various animals and reading the signs and information about them. The youngest then badgered me into ordering lunch at the small cafe next door to the shop. I couldn’t eat mine and I have to say I wouldn’t recommend the food there – a pub lunch or a picnic would definitely have been a better option.

Beaver Water World. Copyright Gretta SchifanoFamily travel lowdown: Beaver Water World is open daily from 10am to 5pm, except for Christmas Day. Entrance costs £4 for adults, £3 for children.

 

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Related

Categories: Attractions, Elsewhere
Tags: animal rescue centre, Beaver Water World, day trips, reptiles

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. Brice says

    September 21, 2013 at 6:37 pm

    Hi I am the owner of the cafe at Beaverworld. I am very sorry that you didn’t have a pleasant experience at the cafe. Can you please let me know what you wasn’t happy with. I am truly interested in your opinion as to what was wrong.

    Regards Brice

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      September 22, 2013 at 8:53 am

      Hi Brice, I found the cafe welcoming and homely but it was the food that I wasn’t happy with. I know I had a sandwich, but can’t remember exactly what the filling was, sorry. I think it was made with low quality ingredients including white sliced bread and margarine (but I’m not totally sure as it was five months ago, sorry). I don’t like to criticise, but I always give my honest opinion when I write about places.

      Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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