There is a ferocious frenzy at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park thanks to its £1m makeover. Chris Price went along to see more.

Looking out over the plains from the confines of my safari truck, I see a herd of rhinos grazing and a flock of ostriches larking about.

A giraffe towers overhead, looking down inquisitively at the tiny humans, before wandering off majestically.

The new-look Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, near Hythe, is no less breathtaking than before, except now drinking in its luscious surroundings is an altogether less draining experience, thanks to an overhaul of the way visitors look around the park.

The revamp started back in August, last year, when the attraction surveyed more than 8,000 of its customers.

It asked people what they loved about the park – and what they didn’t like.

“We weren’t surprised about what they told us,” said head of communications Eddie Kemsley. “They don’t like big steep hills.”

At the time the park was divided into about 500 acres of area to cover on foot and 100 acres travelled on safari.

So park organisers decided to turn the tables and make the park 500 acres travelled on safari and 100 acres covered on ground.

They launched the revamp at the weekend – and the impact has been phenomenal.

“People have already commented how great it is to safari between the key areas rather than struggling on long walks,” said Eddie.

“The trucks offer a great view of some of our animals. We were lucky enough to be graced with stunning weather for the opening weekend so there were certainly lots of happy faces.”

The park has been divided into four key zones. There is the African Experience, which was there before, but the park has now created the Primate Trail, Carnivore Territory and Basecamp.

Trucks ferry visitors between zones in shuttle bus fashion, dropping families off at check points with play areas and shops as well as the animals to see.

The focus is very much on the “edutainment” buzzword. Each of the zones has its own stamp for children to get marked on a card given to them at the start of their day.

There are also fact trails at each zone, where children can lift up signs to reveal info about the animals in each zone. Giant maps point out which part of the world each animal comes from.

“It is all designed to make the park more accessible,” said Eddie. “Most of the animals are in the same place. We have just changed how you find them.

“We are the only attraction like this in the UK. We want people to say 'We have got to go there at some point.’ We hope Kent is as proud of it as we are.”

The park certainly had a good starting point. Its claim to have the best animal collection in Europe is backed up by having the largest collection of gorillas in the world and the largest herd of rhinos outside Africa.

The park is also home to 12 Barbary lions, which are now extinct in the wild. In fact, there are only 80 left world-wide.

The charity behind Port Lympne, the Aspinall Foundation, focuses on conservation projects in Africa and the charity took a long hard look at its priorities before spending £1m on the Kent park.

“We want to spend money on the animals so spending it on this is difficult for us,” said Eddie. “But if we know we will get a return we feel comfortable doing it.”

Port Lympne’s new look has not just improved the quality for visitors.

Eddie Kemsley added: “It has allowed us to have off-show areas. If animals are breeding they have somewhere to go where it is quiet.

“If we have vetinary work that needs doing or have a new animal that needs time to adjust it gives us time to help them without the public being a concern for the animal.”

Port Lympne has launched its passport which gives admission to the park for a whole year for the price of a standard entry ticket. Admission £22.95, children £18.95, under threes free, adult concessions £20.95, child concessions £16.95. Call 0844 842 4647 or visit www.aspinallfoundation.org/portlympne