Port Lympne Treehouses

It’s a little hard to put your finger on the best thing about the Treehouses at Port Lympne. It could be the views through treetops, across Romney Marsh to the Kent coast. It could be the fact that your neighbours are rhinos or that they are just one of the 70-plus species you can see during a stay here. Or perhaps it’s that you have your own golf buggy to drive around the vast wildlife reserve that they are situated on. In truth, of course, it’s all of these things that makes staying in these self-catering, canopy-level treehouse lodges a real treat.

Although they are labelled as Treehouses, you can forget all ideas of a garden shed among branches. These glass-fronted lodges are swish, modern and high end, overlooking the 600-acre Port Lympne Reserve and affording guests magnificent, long-reaching views – rhinos just below, giraffe and zebras on the plains beyond, then flat marshland all the way to the sea. A large balcony with outdoor seating helps make the most of it all, while inside there's an open-plan space that combines a well-kitted out kitchen and living room. Behind are two comfortable bedrooms and a bathroom.

The Treehouses are one of 14 different accommodation types at Port Lympne – and the only self catering option. They are also the best choice for anyone with mobility needs as there’s a step-free Treehouse with parking just outside. The other, more lofty lodges are, perhaps, best suited to two couples or a family with children old enough to manage the steep access stairs. If that doesn’t sound right for you, there’s bound to be an accommodation here that does, whether it’s a room in the Port Lympne Hotel, family-friendly Bear Lodge or the glampy Forest Hideaways.

Wherever you choose, you’ll be contributing to the upkeep of a place which aims to ensure the survival of endangered species and, where possible, return them to the wild. The chance to explore the reserve, inside and out of usual opening hours, is part of the deal. You also get a safari tour, your own golf buggy to get around and entry to the sister wild animal park, Howletts, into the bargain.

Extras include the chance to help feed giraffes, rhinos and red pandas. And when it comes to your own feeding time, although you have the facilities to pour your own drinks and cook your own dinner – you don’t have to. There’s a clubhouse just over the track where you can enjoy a sundowner and a choice of restaurants too – the nearby family-friendly grill restaurant at Bear Lodge, the elegant Garden Room Restaurant, or Babydolls on the other side of the reserve for pizza and pasta. Jump in your golf buggy to get there, leaving plenty of time to see the animals along the way!