Giraffe Lodge — Local services in Folkestone and Hythe District

This review is for Giraffe Lodge, not the Giraffe Cottage.

It was a memorable experience staying at the Lodge, so it is highly recommended for animal lovers, but it is costly and there are a few downsides.

Pros: -- Spacious and comfortable: The tent was high quality, completed with carpeted floors and provided ample space for relaxation. It was a comfortable stay throughout.

-- Hotel-quality amenities: From the proper bed, pillows, and blankets to the provision of towels and bathrobes and shower gel, it felt like a decent three to four star hotel and far removed from traditional camping. Toilet was tiny but with good shower facilities (no bath tub).

-- Delicious dining experience: Both dinner and breakfast were great and convenient. We thought the chicken and fish curry for dinner were the best. The environment, with an open flame and view of the animals roaming around, was fun and unique.

-- Sight and sound: The proximity of various animals, including deer and zebras, right outside the tent door, along with distant sightings of giraffes, provided a captivating experience. We heard the sounds of birds chirping for hours.

However, there are a couple of downsides:

-- Limited giraffe interaction: While the wildlife sightings were plentiful, we hardly had any interaction with giraffes; the encounters were limited to safari vehicle sightings on the first day and distant views on the second day.

-- Soundproofing: There is minimal soundproofing. Besides hearing the birds and animals, we could hear the sound of rain throughout the night and our neighbours laughing/chatting.

-- Additional charges in the restaurant: It wasn't clear at the start but we were charged for everything placed in the restaurant (besides the arranged dinner). Given the cost of the experience, the requirement to pay for extras such as table side chips and hot chocolate seem unnecessary and offering them complimentary would enhance the experience.

-- Heating: Heating was through a small heater, but it wasn't cold in the month we stayed so that wasn't a huge issue. I can see that being a problem in winter.

Despite these minor drawbacks, a stay at the Giraffe Lodge is an unparalleled experience, especially for...

I was gifted a giraffe Lodge for myself and my Fiancé, and we attended being a bit unsure of what to expect.

We had a lovely sunny weekend when we went, so had a lovely wander around the zoo before we went to the safari ride to be picked up for the safari. The safari itself was incredible, and it was at this point we realised that once we were at the giraffe Lodge, there wasn't leaving without staff! It was a cool concept.

We went around the safari and it was great having a personalised guide with a safari lead. We then went to the lodges and they were incredible! I wasn't fully expecting them to be kitted out with en-suites, lights, and electricity but it was!

The food and drink we had whilst there was incredible, with a buffet so we could pick and choose what we wanted. The staff were very kind, polite and professional, and overall it was an incredible trip!

Loved the views, the animals, and everything about it, so will definitely come again as it was a...

I purchased this stay as an anniversary present and we left somewhat bemused due to the fact there were no Giraffes at 'giraffe lodge'. The images and right up on the Internet show giraffes up and around the lodge and private restaurant however we were only informed when we asked on the evening that the park has opened a month earlier this year so they aren't let out to roam. Everything else was amazing however not comfortable spending all that money for 1 night surrounded by giraffes to not be near any, we had to pay on top of our stay to feed the giraffes which was the only saving grace but sadly a...