From Gemma Collins to Greg James, a host of celebrities have enjoyed a stay at Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve, near Hythe.

But does it deserve the hype? Reporter Chantal Weller spent a night under the stars in the wildlife park’s brand-new Lookout Bubble...

Seeing The Only Way is Essex stars and singer Jesy Nelson rave so much about Port Lympne on Instagram, I suspected I was in for a treat during my first-ever stay there.

Upon arrival at the hotel guest entrance to the park, near Hythe, we were greeted by the first of many wonderful members of staff. Every single person at the reserve was so polite and helpful – making the stay even more enjoyable.

After parking up, we ventured to our first experience of the day, the truck safari which is included in all short-break stays.

During the one-hour guided drive around an area of the park that is off-limits to pedestrians, you are able to get close to animals including giraffes, camels and zebras.

This experience also offers plenty of photo opportunities without an enclosure separating you from the animals.

Next up was feeding lions, two-year-old brothers Hasani and Kamari. I was a mixture of nerves and excitement during the safety briefing.

We were led into the section between the fence where visitors usually stand and the lions’ enclosure.

A mere arm’s length from the big cats, I was shaking as I held out the horse meat.

However, after one of them gently took it from between the bars, I became at ease, even when the lions stood on their hind legs for the meat.

I did not know what to expect when we began, but it was truly one of the most brilliant things I have ever done.

After that, we needed feeding ourselves, and ventured up 127 steps to the Mansion where we enjoyed afternoon tea.

When we got to the top of the hefty climb, we were greeted with a stunning view of the coast and could even see France.

The afternoon tea was in a beautiful hand-painted room. Classic music played while we enjoyed delectable homemade dishes.

By the time we had eaten our body weight in sweet treats, we then checked in and collected the keys to our golf buggy – a perk included in all short stays.

We were lucky enough to be the first to use a brand-new electric buggy – the rest are petrol, although the park is looking to get them all electric.

As we ventured through the gate into the private driveway we could see our accommodation – the park’s new Lookout Bubble – nestled at the back.

Surrounded by greenery, it is a transparent, round tent that takes glamping to a whole new level.

We entered a hallway with a door on either end and were told only one door could be open at a time, otherwise the whole thing would start to deflate!

My first impression was: “Whoa, it’s hot in here.” But the air conditioning soon kicked in and when we came back later in the afternoon, it was nice and cool.

Beyond the hallway, there is a living area which offers stunning views of the countryside. Behind this is the bathroom which is separated by a zip-up door. At the other end of the bubble is a free-standing bath and grand bed, which was very comfy.

The decor was a selection of wood and greenery which tied in with the feeling of living in nature – it looked great. Outside there is a private balcony with two seats.

After having a good look around, we got back in our golf buggy which you can use to roam the park at any time, although you have to stick to the designated track which is signposted and noted on the map.

We then enjoyed dinner at The Garden Room restaurant and bar which offered an incredible atmosphere. It was vibrant yet chilled – the perfect spot for a bite to eat for families and couples. It is also worth noting anyone can visit this restaurant for dinner – you do not have to be staying at the park.

As night was falling, we headed back to our “bubble”, grabbed the binoculars provided and enjoyed a close-up view of the moon. We couldn’t spot many stars before bed due to the clouds. But I woke up at around 3am to see a wide scattering of stars twinkling above us, which was simply out of this world.

To ensure you get the perfect night's sleep, you are given eye masks and earbuds, since there is no way of shutting the light out. What’s more, you could be woken up by a lion’s roar at any moment.

But don’t worry, there is still plenty of privacy despite it being see-through!

In the morning, we got straight out on the golf buggy before the park opened. We saw the animals as they woke for breakfast, including a tiger that came right up to us and lemurs that were swinging around their enclosure.

I would certainly recommend getting out and about early if you want to up your chances of seeing all the animals.

We then went to The Garden Room for breakfast which is included in the stay.

The staff quickly served us a lovely hot drink and then offered us toast and a refreshing juice.

I decided on the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs while my fiancé went for the pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. Both were incredibly tasty and went down a treat.

We then enjoyed the rest of our time with the golf buggy until check-out.

Overall, it was a stunning stay under the stars which I would recommend to anyone looking for a special occasion gift.

Final ratings...

Accommodation ****

The Lookout Bubble is priced from £439 - £849 per night, with breakfast included. This also includes a golf buggy, truck safari, and access to Port Lympne’s sister park, Howletts in Canterbury.

Other accommodation at the site includes the Tiger Lodge, which costs £1,750 per night. Giraffe Hall is also set to open soon and is a Grade II-listed building that has 10 luxury en-suite bathrooms.

Food ****

The afternoon tea costs £29.99 per person. A glass of Prosecco can be added for £7 or £12 for a glass of Gusbourne sparkling wine. All the food was delightful.

For dinner, I had a ribeye steak which came with grilled tomatoes, fries and a sauce of my choosing. This was £36..

The breakfast was really tasty and, if not included in the stay, would have been £18.50 per person. There was also the option for a lighter breakfast which was £15 per person.

Staff *****

Every single member of staff was happy, polite and helpful. Hats off to all of the team.

Experiences *****

The pre-booked lion encounter is priced at £120 per person – one of the more expensive animal encounters but an out-of-this-world experience.

Chantal Weller stayed as a guest of Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve.