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Home / Home Featured / Port Lympne Camping Pods

Port Lympne Camping Pods

March 23, 2015 by Gretta Schifano 30 Comments

Port Lympne camping pods. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Port Lympne camping pods. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Earlier this month I went to Port Lympne Reserve for the opening of their new Pinewood Camping Pods – and very swish they are too.

Port Lympne Reserve

Port Lympne Reserve is a wild animal park in Kent in the South of England. The park is home to a range of animals including lions, tigers, giraffes, ostriches and black rhinos. The park is part of the Aspinall Foundation, an animal conservation charity.

Pinewood Camping Pods

The ten new wooden camping pods are in a grassy woodland area which is opposite the cheetah enclosure and close to the lions and tigers. The pods look cosy and comfortable and the compact design of the interiors and the clever use of space made me think of a ship’s cabin. Each pod has twin beds and a double futon and can sleep up to two adults and two children.

Port Lympne camping pod interior. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Port Lympne camping pod interior. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The pods have exterior decks and barbecues and there’s also a clubhouse with a pool table and some chairs. A few metres from the pods is a toilet and shower block which looked clean and functional. The pods are a minute’s walk from the park’s welcoming café which serves hot food and drinks and which has a woodburner in one corner. There are no fridges in the camping pods so I guess that guests would take cool boxes and rely on the café to freeze ice packs for them. The pods have power and lighting and there are spare sockets so that you can recharge your phone and other devices.

Port Lympne Reserve covers over 600 acres and is the only reserve in the UK which is breeding critically endangered Black Rhino to be returned to the wild. You can go on an African Experience Safari at the reserve to see black rhinos, giraffes, ostriches and zebras roaming freely. I didn’t have time for a safari when I visited but I did see these tigers being fed:

Port Lympne Accommodation

There are several other types of accommodation on offer at Port Lympne besides the camping pods. Livingstone Lodge is a safari lodge where guests stay in luxury tents overlooking the area where the African animals roam free and with views as far as the Kent coast. Elephant Lodge is a glamping site overlooking the cheetah and elephant enclosures. Livingstone Cottage is a luxurious three-bedroom cottage which comes with a personal chef. The Mansion Hotel is a luxurious boutique hotel in an Edwardian country house. There are also plans for a Treehouse Hotel to open later this year.

Howletts

Howletts Wild Animal Park, also part of the Aspinall Foundation, is around 18 miles away from Port Lympne by road. It has the UK’s largest herd of African elephants and a family of Western lowland gorillas.

Port Lympne tigers. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Port Lympne tigers. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Family travel lowdown

The Port Lympne Pinewood camping pods are open all year round and cost from £79 per pod per night. Guests staying at the camping pods will have free entry to Port Lympne Reserve including access an hour before it opens to the public.



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Related

Categories: Kent, Tents & caravans, Where to stay
Tags: animal parks, camping pods, Kent, Port Lympne

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. Nana Ajeiwaa-Siaw says

    February 11, 2016 at 10:39 am

    i really love your photo

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      February 11, 2016 at 10:50 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Fritha says

    March 31, 2015 at 2:56 pm

    I LOVE the sound of these, I don’t really like tents so I think this is the only way I would camp! x
    Fritha recently posted…big softiesMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Clare Nicholas says

    March 30, 2015 at 8:25 am

    These look fab, I hate the idea of camping so this is a good compromise for the kids who are desperate to go
    Clare Nicholas recently posted…Planning For Our Summer WardrobesMy Profile

    Reply
  4. agatapokutycka says

    March 29, 2015 at 2:04 pm

    I just love the look of these pods, both inside and out.
    I can almost see myself in it 🙂
    agatapokutycka recently posted…Weekly Photo Challenge: EphemeralMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Mummy's Little blog says

    March 27, 2015 at 8:55 pm

    they have some awesome places to stay at port lymme not that i have been i ust looked on the website lol, love howletts too
    Mummy’s Little blog recently posted…Messy play for beginners – part 1 shaving foamMy Profile

    Reply
  6. Jess Howliston says

    March 26, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    I have seen these pods cropping up in several places recently and I think they look fantastic! I must admit I imaged them to be quite expensive but at just £79 these seem such a reasonable price.

    Jess
    owlcrazymummy.blogspot.co.uk
    Jess Howliston recently posted…Giddy Bowl **REVIEW**My Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      March 26, 2015 at 2:46 pm

      It is good value, I agree – £79 for a family of four per night.

      Reply
  7. Cherished By Me says

    March 25, 2015 at 8:41 pm

    Oh what a fab idea! We live fairly close to there so I will look into it as the children would be thrilled to do something like this. Thanks for the information.
    Cherished By Me recently posted…Cadbury Dairy Milk Oat CrunchMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      March 25, 2015 at 10:00 pm

      You’re welcome!

      Reply
  8. Nayna Kanabar (@citrusspiceuk) says

    March 25, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    Wow I have never seen camping pods like this. I couldn’t mind staying in those at least the creepy crawlies would stay out.
    Nayna Kanabar (@citrusspiceuk) recently posted…Photography backgrounds~Diy TutorialMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Kara says

    March 25, 2015 at 7:20 am

    Port Lyme is one of our favourites and we would love to stay in one of their Camping Pods – almost like a home from home safari
    Kara recently posted…Fishy Fun One to One!My Profile

    Reply
  10. Sara-Jayne says

    March 24, 2015 at 9:23 pm

    I cannot believe that those pods are only from £79 a night! That’s amazing. And those tigers! Ohhhh…. I would love to stay here, I was so shocked when I read it was in England, it’s just beautiful.
    Sara-Jayne recently posted…QUINNY VS. BABYWEARING – THE TEST DRIVEMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Ryan Costello says

    March 24, 2015 at 8:13 pm

    Im lucky enough to have camped under the stars with masai warriors in Kenya, in the wild and any little taste of that I could get is appealing to me. I would love to hear the big cats as I sleep.
    Ryan Costello recently posted…Spring has sprung – Outdoor FunMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Emma says

    March 24, 2015 at 7:54 pm

    wow I would love to take the kids to stay in something like that for a night.
    Emma recently posted…Saving for a holidayMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Anna Su says

    March 24, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    Looks awesome, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  14. Amy Squires says

    March 24, 2015 at 1:29 pm

    I love these little pods, and would love to stop in one! Looks like it was a great weekend!

    Reply
  15. Jaime Oliver says

    March 24, 2015 at 1:13 pm

    wow Gretta i have never seen anything like this .. i used to love camping but my damaged pelvis means its now out the question .. but these look like all the fresh air of camping but with proper beds! .. love it!
    Jaime Oliver recently posted…The Great Oliver Cake OffMy Profile

    Reply
  16. Rachel says

    March 24, 2015 at 9:12 am

    Now this sort of camping I want to do, it looks absolutely amazing x
    Rachel recently posted…Exclusive Benefit Mascara Masterclass with BirchboxMy Profile

    Reply
  17. Cathy (MummyTravels) says

    March 24, 2015 at 8:03 am

    Beautiful tigers! I heard about the pods and thought they sounded great, interesting to see your review.
    Cathy (MummyTravels) recently posted…Credit cards to collect air milesMy Profile

    Reply
  18. Lucie Aiston says

    March 23, 2015 at 10:55 pm

    Those pods look amazing!!! My kids would love to sleep somewhere like this! Wonderful photos!
    Lucie Aiston recently posted…Everything is going to plan!My Profile

    Reply
  19. Globalmouse says

    March 23, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    I love the look of these and what a great price too. They look so cosy!
    Globalmouse recently posted…The Elms Hotel, Abberley, WorcestershireMy Profile

    Reply
  20. Michelle says

    March 23, 2015 at 8:53 pm

    Wow they look fantastic! Definitely my type of camping! xx

    Reply
  21. Mina Joshi says

    March 23, 2015 at 5:38 pm

    Wow love the look of those Pods. I am not keen on camping but wouldn’t mind staying in one of those pods!
    Mina Joshi recently posted…Mixed Vegetable with Rice NoodlesMy Profile

    Reply
  22. Phoebe @ Lou Messugo says

    March 23, 2015 at 5:38 pm

    I’m a sucker for anything that makes camping a little bit more comfy and a little bit more glam and these pods certainly tick that box.
    Phoebe @ Lou Messugo recently posted…Easter in France: chocolates at the pâtisserieMy Profile

    Reply
  23. angela hamilton says

    March 23, 2015 at 5:31 pm

    they look amazing. I would defo like to spend a night in one x
    angela hamilton recently posted…First Sunny DayMy Profile

    Reply
  24. lisa prince says

    March 23, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    these really do look rather comfortable and perfect for glamping

    Reply
  25. Erica Price says

    March 23, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    How lovely! I love the storage for the pods – very sweet.
    Erica Price recently posted…Settling Pets Into A New HomeMy Profile

    Reply
  26. Jen aka Muminthemadhouse says

    March 23, 2015 at 1:31 pm

    I am green with envy. These look so much fun and a great place to visit too
    Jen aka Muminthemadhouse recently posted…20 Easter egg decorating ideas for kidsMy Profile

    Reply
  27. Louise Edwards says

    March 23, 2015 at 12:26 pm

    these pods look super luxurious! I love the gorgeous photos of the tigers too, sounds like a fabulous weekend x
    Louise Edwards recently posted…Beano fun with friends #playatbrewersfayre @brewersfayre #beanoMy Profile

    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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