Howletts Gorilla 5k

Howletts Wild Animal Park, Bekesbourne Ln, Bekesbourne, Canterbury, CT4 5EL

 

Race on the wild side at Howletts this October and support real conservation with amazing results. 

This is a Partner race
This means that we are working with a host Partner Organisation and provide timing and/or race management services for their event.

Event Overview:
Take part in a truly unique 5K at Howletts Wild Animal Park and support The Aspinall Foundation in their vital conservation work. This year, The Aspinall Foundation is celebrating it's 40th birthday, with this year's race theme being gorillas. 

The Aspinall Foundation's pioneering work with gorillas has seen more than 75 animals rehabilitated and returned to the wild, in excess of 40 wild births and a 97% reduction in the orphan gorilla trade in Congo!

Set where The Aspinall Foundation was founded by the late John Aspinall, 2024's Howletts Wild Animal Park 5k will take you through 90 stunning acres of ancient parkland, where you will be cheered on (or maybe just watched) by more than 45 species of rare and endangered animals including giant anteaters, gorillas, tigers and lions.

The event will start before the park opens its gates to the public, giving you an exclusive glimpse behind the scenes. Better still, your entry fee includes full access to the park after the event for runners. Why not bring your whole troop along to explore a world of conservation after you set your best 5K time ever and receive your unique Gorilla medal!

So, join us to celebrate our big 40th birthday and help us raise funds for the next 40 years. Without your support, we would not be able to continue our work in countries all around the world. You can fundraise by setting up a JustGiving page by following this link www.justgiving.com/TAF. Have your friends and family support you in the fight for conservation!

Course Details:
The route will take you in and around Howletts, amongst the enclosures.
The course is mostly flat with one cheeky hill which takes you directly past Howletts’ resident red river hogs.

How The Aspinall Foundation protects gorillas in the Congo & Gabon
We work with partners to protect around one million acres of prime gorilla habitat within the unique savannah ecosystem of the Batéké Plateau.

Our team has secured arrests for hundreds of poachers in Congo and Gabon and have been involved in over 300 wildlife cases, including seizures of live animals, pelts, ivory and other animal products.

We support park rangers who work to protect this biodiversity hotspot, where species such as forest elephant, serval, de Brazza's monkey, red river hog, hippopotamus and forest buffalo are recovering thanks to our protection. 

Our team has released more than 75 gorillas into areas of carefully-selected protected wilderness and have celebrated more than over 40 wild births so far. 

In 2021, we celebrated the FIRST EVER birth of a gorilla in the wild to captive-born and rewilded parents. The precious baby is named Taàli and will never see captivity or the cruelty of humans, thanks to the support of animal lovers like you!

Just signing up and running supports wildlife conservation, but there's so much more you can do to make a lasting difference to the lives of gorillas in desperate need. Setting up a JustGiving or Facebook fundraising page is a great way for your friends and family to show their support and get involved. Click on the links to get started.

Route Map:
You can view the route map here.
You'll be able to download the route in different formats including GPX.


Available Races/Distances:
5K

Prizes:
Medals to all finishers.

Event information will be sent to all registered entrants prior to race-day.

Location

Directions

Race HQ: Howletts Wild Animal Park ltd, Bekesbourne Ln, Bekesbourne, Littlebourne, Canterbury CT4 5EL.
By Car: Follow signs for Howletts Wild Animal Park.  There will be onsite free parking available for participants.

Images