With my usual playfulness I replied, 'Africa,' and to my amusement, some even believed it (despite some even seeing me earlier that morning at my local coffee shop!) The truth, however, was that I was in the lush landscape of Kent, at Port Lympne. Port Lympne is a 600-acre reserve, home to over 900 rare and endangered animals. It offers fourteen distinct ways to glamp, camp, and bed down with the wild things.

Some of the wildlife you can spot (Image: Port Lympne) The wildlife park has redefined glamping by providing stress-free, unique accommodations under the stars in the tranquil Kentish savannah. The accommodation collection at Port Lympne Reserve has something for everyone and all budgets from Pinewood Glamping Pods, Treehouses, Wigwams, 180- degree stargazing Bubbles with panoramic views, ranging up to the premium Lion Creek, Tiger, Wolf and Rhino lodges. For family or group stays, Bear Lodge, an elegant Scandinavian-style cabin, accommodates up to eight people.

Imagine waking up in a luxury cabin with rare and endangered animals right on your doorstep, only a stone’s throw from London. Inside Bear Lodge (Image: Port Lympne) Bear Lodge offers nineteen lodges on a hilltop overlooking the spectacled bear enclosure, with expansive views extending to the Romney Marsh and the coast. We chose a lodge with a front-row view, nearby to the monkeys dancing happily in their enclosure, allowing us to enjoy breathtaking orange and pink sunsets and a perfectly clear starry sky from .