Zoos vs Safari Parks...

[ryedalema]

I know I can probably Google the answer to this...but..

Can anyone recommend a good zoo or Safari Park within an hour (1.5 hours) max from SE22? We're going to go to London Zoo today I think and we've been to Battersea Zoo plenty. Has anyone been to Howletts or Port Lympne and has anyone advice on what's easier to manage:

- One parent plus one toddler and one baby at a Safari Park (mostly in the car)?

- One parent plus same kids in a zoo (mostly running amock)?

All help/advice gratefully received !

[helena handbasket]

We go to Port Lympne quite a bit, we were actually there last week and it's fantastic. Really easy drive from London.

Not sure you would want to go with one parent and two little ones though, it's huge and mostly steep and hilly and we find that two parents with one three year old plus old faithful buggy for backup is plenty of work. If the baby could be in a sling it might work well.

That said, they do a safari tour in one of those giant land rovers that you could easily manage on your own. It takes about an hour and you just have to sit back and enjoy the amazing views and it gets you pretty close to the animals...... a giraffe popped his head in our window to say hello! Pretty great. They also have a big play area and a cafe with awful over-priced food (bring a sandwich). And as usual, exit through a huge gift shop.

It costs a fortune to go but if your little ones are both under three I think they get in for free.

[BeccaL]

We went to howletts when our daughter was just 2 and it was great. Though might be quite hard work with 2 kids and 1 adult. Expensive but a good day out.

[ryedalema]

We ended up going to Howletts and it was fab - so much less busy/cramped than London Zoo. I'm thinking of organising a camping-out third birthday party at Port Lympne for our eldest daughter in July.

Has anyone done that and have any advice/thoughts?

[jollybaby]

My sister went to Marwell Zoo last week with her 2 young children (3 and 4) and had a fantastic day http://www.marwell.org.uk/. It's a bit further out - close to Winchester I think - but may be worth a visit.

[The Nappy Lady]

My 2 went to London Zoo on Thursday with their Godmother and had a wonderful time.

Loads to do, including some sort of child splash pool so worth taking a towel if it's a warm day and you want to avoid having to buy one in the gift shop, no doubt for a silly price.

They also had a badge making (& other stuff) activity room.

They were there 10.30 til 6!

Molly