Boris Johnson has taken a break from the lion's den of Westminster for a day out at a zoo in Kent.

Fresh from the fierce Tory leadership battle, the former Prime Minister was seen travelling around on a buggy with his family at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Canterbury earlier today.

His wife Carrie is head of communications for the Aspinall Foundation, which runs Howletts and its sister site Port Lympne near Hythe.

Jenny Wingrove from Maidstone was at the zoo with her children when she grabbed a picture of Mr Johnson.

She says it looked like he was having his own private safari around the park - and punters were shocked to see him.

"I'm pretty sure it was Damian Aspinall [chair of the foundation] driving him around Howletts," Miss Wingrove said.

"The kids were really excited to see him.

"We were looking at the monkeys when he came down on the buggy.

"They stopped and showed his little one the monkeys - everyone was quite shocked to see him.

"The kids asked if he was Boris Johnson and he said 'yes I am!'

"We were all in shock to be honest - it's not what you expect.

"I don't think he wanted the attention. He was just enjoying some time with his little one."

The trip to Howletts comes just days after Mr Johnson dramatically announced he would not be standing in the Tory leadership contest, following the resignation of Liz Truss.

It cleared the way for Rishi Sunak to become Prime Minister - the UK's third in three months.

There were also talks earlier this month Boris Johnson had his eye on a North Thanet seat.

Sir Roger Gale says that the former PM might be eyeing up a run for the seat if certain events unfold – but has said he won't allow himself to be "driven out" of the party.

Earlier this year, Damian Aspinall admitted he would happily see his two zoos close if it meant the animals could live in the wild.

He also revealed controversial plans for the entire elephant herd to be rewilded to Africa.

The Foundation has already successfully rewilded hundreds of animals, including gorillas, hyenas and the first-ever cheetahs, cementing its place among the world’s leading organisations in conservation.

Damian and his team at the Aspinall Foundation are also looking to rewild, lions, serval cats, gibbons and red river hogs.

The zoo has animals including elephants, rhinos, gorillas, lemurs, big cats, capybaras, and monkeys.