Laapa at the Livingstone Lodge. Picture: The Aspinall Foundation

by Helen Geraghty

Rhinos and giraffes have played their part to ensure an unusual Kent tourist venue is in line to win a prestigious award for the second year in a row.

Overnight visitors to Livingstone Lodge, the unique African overnight safari experience at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park can enjoy African fine dining and wake to find wildebeest, rhinos and giraffes wandering past the lodge.

Now Livingstone Lodge is on the shortlist for the Best Tourism Experience category at the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2012, hosted by Tourism South East later this month.

The attraction, which has won a string of awards since it opened in 2007, won gold in the same category last year.

Bob O'Connor, managing director of Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, said: "It's an honour to be nominated again for Best Tourism Experience in The Beautiful South Awards for Excellence this year.

"It's a credit to all the staff who work so hard to make this such an exceptional product.

"Livingstone Lodge is very popular because it is so authentic – it's a window to Africa, a wonderful experience which underlines the importance of conservation. As you watch the wildebeest, rhino and giraffe wandering past the lodge you could imagine that you are in the heart of Africa."

Also shortlisted in the awards are the Thanet Visitor Information Centre, which is nominated in the information service category and Shepherd Neame's brewery in Faversham, which is listed under the small attraction category.

The Bull at Benenden, the Woolpack Inn at Chilham and the Little Brown Jug at Chiddingstone are shortlisted in the pubs category.

Lorna Woodage, of Kent Life (Continuum Group) is shortlisted for a service award.

Alkham Court, near Dover and Molland House, near Sandwich are both shortlisted in the bed and breakfast category.