Big Cat Encounter - Weekdays
Overview
Get up close to some of the world’s most incredible animals, with a Big Cat Encounter at the Big Cat Sanctuary. Home to over 45 cat species, including African lions, Sumatran tigers, Amur Leopards, jaguars and snow leopards, The Big Cat Sanctuary is dedicated to saving some of the most iconic yet endangered species on the planet.
Take an exclusive tour of this beautiful sanctuary and find out what The Big Cat Sanctuary are doing to preserve the future of these beautiful animals. Not only will you get up close and personal with the big cats, you’ll even be able to hand-feed one yourself! A true once-in-a-lifetime experience, it’s a day you’ll never forget.
- SKU
- PWHFEW
- Locations
- 1 in the UK
- People
- For 1
- Validity
- 12 Months
- Rating
- 5.0 (28)
What's Included
- Guided tour of big cat sanctuary
- Hand-feed a big cat
- Experience gift pack including personalised voucher and message card
What happens on the day?
On arrival at the centre, you will be greeted by staff. Following a safety briefing, you will receive a guided tour of the site where you’ll discuss the conservation needs of cat species worldwide with one of the sanctuary’s highly-trained team.
You will have the chance to get close to some of the most efficient killers on the planet whilst they remain safely in their enclosures. You will also have an opportunity to hand-feed one of the big cats. Make sure you bring your camera, as there will be opportunities to take photographs throughout the activity.
Participant guidelines
- Minimum age: 16 (under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)
- Ladies in the early stages of pregnancy are asked to consult their doctor or midwife before booking
- Disabled participants are welcome; the site is accessible to all except in very wet weather when the grass surface may not be suitable for wheelchair users
- Each additional participant is charged at £99 (includes handfeeds), with a requested minimum donation of £70 per person for all guests over the age of 11
- A maximum of four guests/participants per voucher holder . This will allow them to accompany the voucher holder and take photographs only (Guest will not be able to participate)
- The experience content, equipment used and restrictions may vary
Availability
This experience is available Monday to Friday throughout the year. Exclusions may apply.
We recommend you book at least four weeks in advance to ensure that dates are available. All bookings are subject to availability.
Please allow approximately 2 hours for the whole experience.
What about insurance?
The centres contracted with us hold public liability insurance. We also hold contingency liability cover. You will not be liable for accidental damage to equipment, except where damage has been caused as a result of recklessness or wilful negligence.
Please ensure you are familiar with the terms and conditions of the experience.
How it works
Customer Reviews
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
Find out what others have to say about this experience
5
Sandy
19/10/2020
Wonderful Big Cat Experience
Brilliant experience and very interesting. Sam and Abby were excellent guides. I chose Sophia the jaguar and Ngozi the white lion to feed. I had been expecting to do the feeding using a stick, but it was a much more exciting and intimate experience hand feeding them with a chicken leg! I was very taken aback by how big Ngozi was but Sam guided me through it safely and all fingers accounted for! I thoroughly recommend this experience.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
Find out what others have to say about this experience
5
Elaine
17/10/2020
An AMAZING experience - not to be missed
This really was the best experience I have been on. So close to all the animals and having a personal guide giving so much information including going to lunch afterwards at a local pub! Feeding the animals was an experience on its own.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Philip Nelson
20/08/2020
Exhilarating
The big cat encounter was both incredible and educational. To get so close and hand feed these stunning and magnificent creatures was absolutely amazing.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Angie B
15/02/2020
Best experience we have ever been on!
This is the second time we fed the big cats at the Big Cat Sanctuary and it didn't disappoint. This experience is amazing from start to finish. Friendly welcoming staff full of knowledge about the cats, conservation, breeding programs etc. The cats all have unique personalities and you are made to feel like a VIP for the few hours you are there. We will definitely go again, it's an honour to be this close to such beautiful creatures.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Suzanne
03/01/2020
A Great Experience
What a wonderful experience. We were introduced to all the big cats by 2 of the keepers who provided background information regarding their lives. We were allowed to each choose 2 big cats to feed, we chose leopards and tigers. It is quite daunting to have just a wire fence between you and you are able to look into their open mouth as they take the food. So good we are now Members.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Matt
27/12/2019
Very very good!!
Brilliant day out, amazing experience feeding big cats.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Steve
01/10/2019
The Purr-fect present for my wife.
My wife is besotted by Tigers so when I saw this last last Christmas I had to buy it for her. A very professional venue with amazing big cars there. The guide Debswas very knowledgeable and put over the information in and excellent way. We were pleasantly surprised to find you have a personal guide per couple which allowed lots of interaction and time with the cats. My wife hand fed 2 tigers which really made her day, listed as a two hour session but we were there for nearly 3. Great value day
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
Find out what others have to say about this experience
5
Sandy
31/08/2019
Fantastic Day Out !
An absolutely amazing day out. My husband and I had our own personal guide who was extremely knowledgable and ensured we had our own personal experience. Best not to say too much..find out for yourselves.Highly recommended !
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
Find out what others have to say about this experience
5
Robert Emmens
31/08/2019
A fantastic day
It was a fantastic day . The weather was great and the big cat sanctuary was in lovely grounds . Our guide for the day was very pleasant and very knowledgeable and told us so much about the big cats there back ground and where they have come from was amazing the knowledge he new . It was down to him that the day was so brilliant. I would recommend to anyone visit the big cat sanctuary.I will definitely be returning. I had a brilliant day.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Tony
07/08/2019
A day no one should miss
Absolutely perfect day. Went way beyond expectations
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Sam
09/07/2019
Loved it
I am a big fan of big cats and was so excited when I received this as a gift. I had an amazing time. We had a one to one tour with a guide and I had a choice of who I wanted to feed. It was amazing.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
Find out what others have to say about this experience
5
Toby
06/07/2019
Fantastic day out
Highly recommended, one to one tour around the site meeting all the animals (well who want to show their face!) then at the end pick which two you want to feed (apart from maya and willow as they have their own experiences) Made me want to go back and do the overnight stay. A great day and highly recommended. Bring a decent sized bottle if you go on a hot day like me, nowhere to drink when out on the tour which is a few hours.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Richard
27/06/2019
The Best Day Ever for Big Cat Lovers
They call this Kent's best kept secret, well they're right. For big cat lovers this is the best experience you could have. We had a personal guide round the Sanctuary for two hours giving us all the information about the cats we needed. We got up close and even hand fed a Tiger and a Jaguar. There are other cats you can feed the choice is yours. Looking forward to going back to see the new arrivals in the Snow Leopard enclosure.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Agathe
19/06/2019
A magical experience
What a wonderful, peaceful and picturesque the Big Cat Sanctuary is. The Big Cat Encounter was a truly magical moment, and our guide (Abby?) made it really interesting and fun. You can tell that everyone working there is truly passuonate about their job and they make you feel really welcome. We loved hearing about all the wonderful charities and initiatives supported by the Sanctuary. And last but not least, the Cats are stunning, happy and sassy. A must-do for animal lovers!
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Neil
19/06/2019
A fabulous tour
A great 2 1/2 hour stroll around the site meeting lots of wonderful big cats with a terrific tour guide with lots of knowledge & experience
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Lisa
06/06/2019
Best day out ever
Would highly recommend this experience
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Hilary
24/05/2019
Awesome Experience
An excellent experience being able to get up close to these amazing animals and to be allowed to hand feed a couple of the big cats took it to another level
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Rosemarie Gray
24/05/2019
Here Kitty Kitty!
The afternoon at the The Big Cat Sanctuary was just so great. Our guide Jamie was very friendly, informative and patient with our questions and photo shoots! Nthing was rushed, the cats were all peacefully sun bathing until they realised some of the lucky ones were going to get an afternoon treat, but I think that was a bigger one for us than them. I always wanted to call Here Kitty Kitty to a 300 kilo tiger!
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Dawn
24/02/2019
Great
Excellent day.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Jeff
19/02/2019
An eye opener of an experience!
We had this big cat encounter as a Christmas present, we saw some beautiful animals, quite captivating to see. The one to one guide was very knowledgeable and truly committed to the conservation of these endangered cats. I would recommend this to anybody who is interested in the saving of these endangered species.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Kelly&James
10/02/2019
Wedding Present
We had two vouchers and had 2 hand feeds each. The day was absolutely fantastic!
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Darren lee
19/01/2019
AMAZING!!
If you are considering this. Do it! It was amazing. The cats are lovely and the staff were all great....... Thank you so much. We are looking forward to the open day in July. Have booked.
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Geraldine
13/07/2018
Wonderful time with the Big Cats
I loved my time at the Big Cat 🐱 Sanctuary. It was a lovely place with truly well looked after cats . The staff were very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. I hope to visit again one day . . By far the best experience ever .
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Denise
03/07/2017
Big Cats
Fantastic!
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Christine
28/07/2016
Big Cat Encounter
We thoroughly enjoyed our experience! Recommend to anyone
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Donovan
05/07/2016
Big Cat Encounter
Fab day!
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
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5
Andrea F
13/04/2015
Fantastic!
This was a gift for our daughter's 21st birthday. It was everything we hoped it would be and more! We paid an additional donation to enable us to attend as spectators, and this added to the experience. The ranger (Gemma) was fantastic and very knowledgeable. We encountered horrific traffic queues due to a road accident on the M25, which meant we arrived an hour late. We called ahead knowing we would not arrive on time, and they were really understanding and told us to continue on our way and they would "sort something". When we finally arrived they were really polite, friendly and accommodating and were not put out in the slightest. We started our tour an hour later than scheduled but they still gave us the whole experience (2 hours) with no cut corners. This meant that Gemma was late joining all the other staff members for lunch, but she didn't rush us and remained fully attentive. I would never visit a zoo now after visiting this sanctuary. It's a completely different and wonderful experience. Would highly recommend to everyone!
out of 5 stars
Based on 28 reviews
Find out what others have to say about this experience
5
Toni Robinson
04/10/2013
Went with my sister due to being able to take another person for a small donation which made the experience much more enjoyable. We had an amazing day, and our guide was friendly and extremely knowledgeable. The setting was clean and the staff were friendly, and we didn't feel out of place or that we were rushed. Truly Magical experience
Locations
Locations shown shouldn't be used for route planning
South East
- Ashford, Kent