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New
plans for Port Lympne are unveiled by Managing
Director

by Thom Morris

tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

More than £1 million is to be invested in Port Lympne Wild
Animal Park to turn it into a national must-see experience.

Bosses are the park near Hythe are looking to differentiate the
site from its sister park - Howletts in Canterbury - by offering
more fun for families as well as trips around the four newly-themed
areas by truck.

Managing Director Bob O'Connor said: "We're trying to turn Port
Lympne into a nationwide attraction.

"People will be given the opportunity to
go through various zones seeing the rare and endangered species we
currently have here.

"You'll get on large trucks into the African experience, down to
carnivore land to see the cats and into a land rover to see the
primates and the gorillas - it will be quite unique in the UK."

He continued: "It's a big park and our customers have said
walking around the park is difficult and that was playing on our
mind.

"We wanted to make this different and yet accessible to
everyone. This will also be a showcase for our international
work.

"For a small charity this is a major investment for us but this
will just be the start."

Work is currently underway on the site with a new restaurant
being built and plans in place to remove fencing to turn the
current 100 acre safari into a 500 acre safari.

Work is due to be finished in time for the Easter holidays.

Port Lympne's ex-army trucks now run on the waste cooking oil
from the park's restaurant and will be fitted with special off-road
trailers to allow more people to ride during the holidays.

The park has recently made national headlines with Ambam the
walking gorilla who became an internet sensation with over 1.5
million views in just over a week.

The 21-year-old male was caught on camera for the 36 second
YouTube clip which caught the attention of the world.

Mr O'Connor added: "It's early days in terms of increasing
visitor numbers because it was only last weekend, but we were quite
busy and it's bizarre what takes off.

"The duty manager on Saturday was interviewed by China's largest
daily newspaper last week, but if that's the hook that gets people
interested in what we're doing that's fantastic."