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Howletts Wild Animal Park - Getting Around and Enclosures

Bekesbourne Lane, Bekesbourne, Littlebourne, Canterbury, CT4 5EL

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • Toilet and changing facilities available include: step free standard toilets, toilets with some adaptations for disabled people and accessible toilets.
  • There are 2 toilets with adaptations for disabled people.
  • The toilets with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found by the Walking with Lemurs enclosure and between the Coffee House and the BBQ kiosk. .
  • This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 350m from the main entrance.
  • The toilets with adaptations for disabled people can be found by the Walking with Lemurs enclosure and between the Coffee House and the BBQ kiosk.
  • The standard toilets surveyed can be found by the Coffee House, by the Walking with Lemurs enclosure and behind the Pavilion Café.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access, via ramps, throughout the majority of the building.
  • There are bench seats available throughout the building.
  • Some flooring in the area is smooth and even.
  • Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to uneven paving/tiles.
  • There may be background noise here.
  • The building does not have a hearing assistance system.
  • There are numerous slight and steep slopes on the pathways around the park (see photographs 1 to 12).

Picnic Area (Painted Dogs Picnic Area)

  • The following information describes the picnic area located The picnic area is located by the Painted Dog enclosure.
  • There is step-free level access to the picnic area.
  • There are picnic tables.
  • The standard height for the underside of picnic tables is 62cm.
  • The following furniture is permanently fixed: all of the chairs and all of the tables.
  • No chairs have armrests on both sides.
  • Some flooring in the area is smooth and even.
  • Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to grass.

Ramp or Slope and Steps (Access to the picnic area by the Sumatran Tigers)

  • The slope is steep and over 150cm wide .
  • The slope does not have handrails.
  • There are 5 steps.
  • The steps are clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
  • The slope overcomes the steps.
  • The slope is to the left of the picnic area and the steps are on the right.

Picnic Area (Sumatran Tigers Picnic Area)

  • The following information describes the picnic area located The picnic area is located by the Sumatran Tigers.
  • There is ramped/sloped or stepped access to the picnic area.
  • There are picnic tables.
  • The distance between the floor and the underside of the lowest picnic table is 62cm.
  • The distance between the floor and the underside of the highest picnic table is 65cm.
  • The following furniture is permanently fixed: all of the chairs and all of the tables.
  • No chairs have armrests on both sides.
  • Some flooring in the area is smooth and even.
  • Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to grass.

Picnic Area (Pavilion Café Picnic Area)

  • The following information describes the picnic area located by the Pavilion Café.
  • There is step-free level access to the picnic area.
  • There are picnic tables.
  • The standard height for the underside of picnic tables is 65cm.
  • The following furniture is permanently fixed: all of the chairs and all of the tables.
  • No chairs have armrests on both sides.
  • Some flooring in the area is smooth and even.
  • Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to grass.

General Enclosures (Elephants, Rhinos and Antelopes)

  • The types of animal enclosures in this area are outdoor enclosures and viewing platforms.
  • There is step-free level access to Dhole Sable Antelope Eastern Black Rhino African Savannah Elephant.
  • The enclosures with slight ramped/sloped access include: Dhole Sable Antelope Eastern Black Rhino .
  • The enclosures with steep ramped/sloped access include: African Savannah Elephant.
  • The enclosures with information boards available are Dhole Sable Antelope Eastern Black Rhino African Savannah Elephant.
  • The enclosures with seating available nearby are Dhole African Savannah Elephant.
  • The enclosures with talks and shows are African Savannah Elephant.
  • The enclosures with floor level viewing areas include: Dhole Sable Antelope Eastern Black Rhino African Savannah Elephant.
  • All enclosures have a floor level viewing area.
  • There is level access to an adjoining Elephant enclosure which is located alongside the BBQ kiosk.

General Enclosures (Big Cats and Lemurs)

  • The types of animal enclosures in this area are outdoor enclosures.
  • There is step-free level access to African Lion Fishing Cat Giant Anteater Clouded Leopard Pallas Cat Lemurs Sumatran Tiger Capybara.
  • The enclosures with steep ramped/sloped access include: Lemurs (see photographs 14 and 15).
  • The enclosures with information boards available are African Lion Fishing Cat Giant Anteater Clouded Leopard Pallas Cat Lemurs Sumatran Tiger Capybara.
  • The enclosures with seating available nearby are African Lion Sumatran Tiger.
  • The enclosures with talks and shows are African Lion Sumatran Tiger Lemurs.
  • The enclosures with floor level viewing areas include: African Lion Fishing Cat Giant Anteater Clouded Leopard Pallas Cat Lemurs Sumatran Tiger Capybara.
  • All enclosures have a floor level viewing area.
  • Where there are viewing windows (as shown in photographs 2, 4, and 16), there are alternative floor level viewing areas through mesh fencing in all cases.

General Enclosures (Gorillas and Primates)

  • The types of animal enclosures in this area are outdoor enclosures.
  • There is step-free level access to African Painted Dog Western Lowland Gorilla Black and White Colobus Gelada Baboon White Naped Mangabey.
  • The enclosures with slight ramped/sloped access include: Western Lowland Gorilla .
  • The enclosures with steep ramped/sloped access include: White Naped Mangabey.
  • The enclosures with information boards available are African Painted Dog Western Lowland Gorilla Black and White Colobus Gelada Baboon White Naped Mangabey.
  • The enclosures with seating available nearby are African Painted Dog Western Lowland Gorilla.
  • The enclosures with talks and shows are Western Lowland Gorillas.
  • The enclosures with floor level viewing areas include: African Painted Dog Western Lowland Gorilla Gelada Baboon White Naped Mangabey.
  • All enclosures have a floor level viewing area.
  • The viewing area for the Black and White Colobus has a floor height of approximately 75cm.

General Enclosures (Ostriches, Sambars, Bongos, and Cheetahs)

  • The types of animal enclosures in this area are outdoor enclosures.
  • There is step-free level access to Serval Red River Hogs Ostriches Defassa Waterbuck Red Lechwe Malaysian Sambar Bongos Southern Cheetahs.
  • The enclosures with steep ramped/sloped access include: Serval Red River Hogs (see photograph 6).
  • The enclosures with information boards available are Serval Red River Hogs Ostriches Defassa Waterbuck Red Lechwe Malaysian Sambar Southern Cheetahs Bongos.
  • The enclosures with seating available nearby are Ostriches Defassa Waterbuck Red Lechwe Malaysian Sambar.
  • The enclosures with floor level viewing areas include: Serval Red River Hogs Ostriches Defassa Waterbuck Red Lechwe Malaysian Sambar Southern Cheetahs Bongos.
  • All enclosures have a floor level viewing area.
  • Where there are viewing windows (as shown in photograph 1) there are alternative floor level viewing areas through mesh fencing.

General Enclosures (Cape Buffalo, Siamang, and Leopards)

  • The types of animal enclosures in this area are outdoor enclosures and viewing platforms.
  • There is step-free level access to Javan Langurs Siamang Amur Leopard Snow Leopard Javan Gibbon Dusky Langar Western Lowland Gorillas.
  • The enclosures with steep ramped/sloped access include: Javan Langurs Siamang Javan Gibbon Dusky Langar Western Lowland Gorillas.
  • The enclosures with information boards available are Javan Langurs Siamang Amur Leopard Snow Leopard Javan Gibbon Dusky Langar Western Lowland Gorillas.
  • The enclosures with seating available nearby are Amur Leopard Western Lowland Gorillas.
  • The enclosures with floor level viewing areas include: Javan Langurs Siamang Amur Leopard Snow Leopard Western Lowland Gorillas.
  • There are low level viewing areas in some enclosures.
  • All enclosures have low level viewing areas with the exception of the Dusky Langar and Javan Gibbon enclosures which are elevated to a height of approximately 160cm (see photograph 16).

General Enclosures (Small Primates, Wolves and Lemurs)

  • The types of animal enclosures in this area are outdoor enclosures.
  • There is step-free level access to De Brazza's Monkey European Grey Wolf Clouded Leopard Black and White Ruffed Lemur Lion - Tailed Macaque Black Lemur Caracal Javan Gibbon Francois Langur Sulawesi Macaque.
  • The enclosures with slight ramped/sloped access include: De Brazza's Monkey Black and White Ruffed Lemur .
  • The enclosures with steep ramped/sloped access include: Clouded Leopard.
  • The enclosures with information boards available are De Brazza's Monkey European Grey Wolf Clouded Leopard Black and White Ruffed Lemur Lion - Tailed Macaque Black Lemur Caracal Francois Langur Javan Gibbon Sulawesi Macaque.
  • The enclosures with seating available nearby are Francois Langur.
  • The enclosures with low level viewing areas include: Sulawesi Macaque.
  • The enclosures with floor level viewing areas include: De Brazza's Monkey European Grey Wolf Clouded Leopard Black and White Ruffed Lemur Lion - Tailed Macaque Black Lemur Caracal Javan Gibbon.
  • All enclosures have a floor level viewing area.
  • All viewing areas are lower than 75cm with the exception of the Sulawesi Macaque enclosure which has a viewing height of 95cm (see photographs 17, 18, and 19).

Counter (Refreshment Kiosk)

  • There is step-free level access to this counter.
  • The height of the counter is 118cm.
  • There is not a low level counter at the recommended height for seated users.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise here.
  • The counter does not have a hearing assistance system.
  • All of the seating is fixed.
  • There is a picnic area adjacent with picnic tables.

Outdoor Spaces

  • This information is for the access point located behind the Pavilion Cafe.
  • There is step-free level access at this access point.
  • Access Point View
    • There is open access at this access point.
    • The barriers contrast visually with the tarmac.
  • Outdoor Spaces View
    • The following outdoor facilities are available: a playground with play equipment.
    • Surfaces for the outdoor spaces include: sand and wood bark.
    • Footpaths are not available in all of the outdoor space.
    • There are bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
    • There is a fenced play area with an entrance over 100cm wide.
    • The play equipment is not in easy reach for a range of users.
    • The following play experiences are available: swinging, sliding, climbing, balancing and viewing.

Accessible Toilet (Left Hand Transfer)

  • This accessible toilet is located by the Walking with Lemurs enclosure.
  • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet, via lift.
  • This accessible toilet is approximately 35m from the Walking with Lemurs entrance.
  • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
  • The door is manual, opens outwards and has a good colour contrast.
  • The width of the accessible toilet door opening is 75cm.
  • The door has a twist lock.
  • The dimensions of the cubicle are 181cm x 300cm and it has a turning space of at least 150cm x 150cm.
  • There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the seat.
  • The lateral transfer space is 113cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
  • There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
  • The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door, a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
  • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
  • The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: the toilet roll holder, a toilet roll holder on the dropdown rail, the wash basin and the soap dispenser.
  • The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: hand dryer.
  • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 47cm.
  • The height of the toilet roll holder is 94cm.
  • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
  • The height of the wash basin is 73cm.
  • The height of the soap dispenser is 82cm.
  • The height of the hand dryer is 88cm.
  • The height of the baby change is 84cm.
  • There is pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
  • There is a shelf located where it is not reachable for seated and standing users.
  • The shelf is not positioned between 85cm and 105cm and has minimum dimensions of 12.5cm x 40cm
  • The cubicle also has: a waste bin without lid and a nappy/incontinence items bin.
  • The cubicle does not have a full length mirror and coat hooks.
  • The following have a good colour contrast with their surroundings: all grab rails, the floor and the toilet seat.
  • The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door.

Accessible Toilet (Right Hand Transfer)

  • This accessible toilet is located between the Coffee House and the BBQ.
  • There is step-free level access into the accessible toilet.
  • This accessible toilet is approximately 115m from the Coffee House entrance.
  • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
  • The door is manual, opens outwards and has a poor colour contrast.
  • The width of the accessible toilet door opening is 84cm.
  • The door has a twist lock.
  • The dimensions of the cubicle are 150cm x 218cm and it has a turning space of at least 150cm x 150cm.
  • There is a lateral transfer space to the right of the seat.
  • The lateral transfer space is 80cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
  • There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
  • The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door, a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
  • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
  • The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: the toilet roll holder, a toilet roll holder on the dropdown rail, the wash basin and the soap dispenser.
  • The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: hand dryer.
  • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 47cm.
  • The height of the toilet roll holder is 91cm.
  • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
  • The height of the wash basin is 72cm.
  • The height of the soap dispenser is 84cm.
  • The height of the hand dryer is 80cm.
  • The height of the baby change is 82cm.
  • There is pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
  • There is a shelf located where it is not reachable for seated and standing users.
  • The shelf is not positioned between 85cm and 105cm and has minimum dimensions of 12.5cm x 40cm
  • The cubicle also has: a nappy/incontinence items bin.
  • The cubicle does not have a full length mirror and coat hooks.
  • The following have a good colour contrast with their surroundings: all grab rails, the dropdown rail, the floor and the toilet seat.
  • The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door.
  • There is a slight slope on the approach to the standard toilets (see photograph 1).

Standard Toilet (By The Coffee House)

  • The door is manual, opens outwards and has a poor colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
  • The male and female standard toilets were surveyed.
  • The wash basin tap type is push.
  • There is a baby change facility which is not at a recommended height (between 70cm - 75cm).
  • There is a slight slope on the approach to the standard toilets (see photograph 1).

Standard Toilet (By Walking with Lemurs)

  • The door is manual, opens inwards and has a poor colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
  • The male and female standard toilets were surveyed.
  • The wash basin tap type is push.
  • There is a baby change facility which is not at a recommended height (between 70cm - 75cm).

Standard Toilet (By Pavilion Cafe)

  • The door is manual, opens inwards and has a good colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
  • The male standard toilet was surveyed.
  • There is also a female toilet in the same location.
  • The wash basin tap type is push.