Set sail along Kent’s beautiful rivers and discover herds of seals this autumn.

The county is home to hundreds of marine mammals and eagle-eyed nature lovers can see them ducking and diving through the water on a seal-spotting boat trip.

Recently, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) found almost 3,600 seals in the Thames Estuary, which runs between Dartford and Margate, showing that the habitat is still healthy.

The team counted the number of mammals laying out on sandbanks and estimated how many may be in the water, concluding a total of 599 harbour seals and 2,988 grey seals living in the Thames Estuary.

Hannah McCormick, the ZSL conservationist who led the survey, said the numbers help to paint a picture of how these two apex predator species are faring and what that means for the wider habitat.

She said: “A flourishing ecosystem has enough food, shelter and space for all of its inhabitants, and although we still have a way to go in terms of improving the health of this important habitat, as top predators, this seal population shows us that there is good habitat available to the species that call the Thames home.”

If you want to see Kent’s thriving seal population, there are plenty of places where you can book a trip…

DOVER: Zoom along the Kent coast in a RHIB speed boat and take in the breathtaking views. Admire the White Cliffs and Deal Pier before you slow down to see the seals. You might also be able to spot some migrating wading birds and wildfowl while you stop at the reserve.

Details: Departs from Dover Harbour on 19, 20, 22 and 23 October. Trips cost £50 per person and last for approximately two hours. Book online here.

RAMSGATE: This boat journey visits an active seal colony inside a National Nature Reserve where you can also see a wide range of birds, including the egret, a rare breed of heron. The sailings are timed with the tidal flows so you get the best chance of seeing the animals.

Details: Departs from Ramsgate Harbour on 16, 19 and 20 October. Trips cost £25 per person and last approximately 90 minutes. Book online here.

SANDWICH: Travel down the River Stour towards the Pegwell Nature Reserve where you will find the resident seal colony. The herd has lived in the area for roughly 35 years and you’ll get 15 minutes to capture them on camera. Look out for herons, little egrets, kingfishers, oystercatchers and more along the way.

Details: Departs from Sandwich Quay on 13, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 October. Trips cost £25 per person and last approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Book online here.

WHITSTABLE: Whitstable’s nearest seal colony lives only 10 minutes from the seaside town. The trip leaves the harbour and heads towards The Swale, where you will spot some seals in an array of colours and patterns. Look for the copper spots, which are a result of the London clay’s iron oxide, that you won’t see on seals in any other part of the country.

Details: Departs from Whitstable Harbour daily, twice a day. Trips cost £30 per person and last approximately 60 minutes. Book online via whitstableboattrips.co.uk.