🐘🐘🦏🐈⛪🚅👣🍺🍻 FUN HIKE - Elephant Safari in the garden of England-13-15k

Fun hike around Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent
Note: This event is also advertised in our HappyHikers group where there are no spaces left (24 rsvp Yes). So this is a rare chance to rsvp to a full event where no other meetup group goes through this group.

An exciting chance to visit the largest African elephant herd in the UK comprising of 13 individuals along with tapirs , Rhinos & wild cats in Kent (The Garden of England). We will pass quite close to the animal enclosures at Howletts Wild Animal Safari Park. We will also visit the mysterious Tetrahedra Field - an abandoned anti-tank obstacles which can be seen poking out of the wilderness. This part of Kent is known as the "Valley of Mills and Manors” and blessed with countryside boasting “many contrasts and much beauty" according to Kent tourist board. We will visit beautiful villages , a ruined well chapel ( founded prior to 1300 ) - a scheduled monument from Historic England & a chalk stream which flows intermittently.

📆Date: Saturday 16th November 2024
🕔Hike Start time & location : Sharp 10.45 Bekesbourne Station
👣Length – 13-15 kms ( May vary , depends on the day light)
🧗Altitude - less than 100m
🚥Grade – Moderate
Hike Starting/Ending Point:- Bekesbourne Station

HappyHikers fun walks

These walks are highly rated for being fun, welcoming,engaging & personalised. These walks are very different from other normal walks. There are improv games , funny introductions (don't come if you can't laugh :-) ) etc . Also there is always a pub lunch with us . Walks are more `explore` themed. Normally limited to around 20 people so that you can talk to everyone . You will definitely leave this walks by making new friends. A feedback screenshot with 17 , 5 stars and 100% would attend again for one of our previous events is attached as an image to this event.

🎟️Train Tickets

I would help you on getting the cheapest group save tickets & will group you into groups of 3 or 4 for group save tickets, if you don't have network rail card.
If you do these type of trips frequently , I would recommend you to invest in a network railcard.
I would recommend e-tickets using southeastern app/ Trainline app.

🚅Train schedule

9.10 (Destination: Dover Priory DVP) southeastern from London Victoria (9.27 Bromley South and lot of stops in kent on the way ) reaching Bekesbourne at 10.45.

💵Train Fare

25£ ( with rail card or group save )

Ticket Type

Super Off-peak Day Return Bekesbourne ( without High speed )

🅿️Driving

Car Park - Bekesbourne station car park

🍻Pub
Lunch Pub - The Evenhill , 62 The Hill, Littlebourne CT3 1TA

Of course you can bring your own food too . But they do not normally let you eat inside the pub. But they allow people to use the garden.
Call them & book a table nearer to the trip, if you need certainty to get a place in the pub. I will be doing the same. You can ask them to add you to my table.

🦺🥾🚰What to bring: You must bring a backpack with Waterproof Jacket , a picnic lunch, hiking foot wear and 1.5 L water. There may be some pubs and shops along the way. We will try to have cafe/pub stops on the way.
📝Note : Paths can be muddy at this time of the year. Bring gaiters if you use them (I don't like them personally). It is a good idea to pack an extra trouser in your backpack so that you can change at the end of the hike.
📝Note : Dedicate entire evening for the hike as return time cant be guaranteed.
⚠️Disclaimer⚠️
Please note that I am NOT qualified as a hike leader or first aider. This is just a free self guided gathering of like minded people. The event is purely based on hobby. Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Hiking and hill walking are activities with a danger of personal injury. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.