Chester Zoo has announced that it will be opening one of the biggest UK zoo habitats ever created, which will house 57 highly-threatened African species. The new Heart of Africa zone at the zoo, spanning more than 17 football pitches (22.5 acres), has been designed to recreate the grasslands of central Africa.
The Heart of Africa zone at Chester Zoo will feature a vast open savannah where, for the very first time, visitors will encounter northern giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, roan antelopes and ostriches, all living together side-by-side. Plus, there will be a new indoor habitat named Hidden Savannah where you can come face-to-face with naked mole rats burrowing through tunnels, as well as other rodent species such as short-eared sengi and pygmy mice. There will be 11 ectotherms species (“cold-blooded animals”) including the African bull frog, the largest frog species found in Africa, 10,000 locusts, dung beetles, red spitting cobra, Ethiopian viper and critically endangered pancake tortoises.
Visitors will also find 31 species of bird within several new aviaries, including a flock of 120 iconic greater flamingos, three species of critically endangered vulture (white-headed vultures, African white-backed vultures, and hooded vultures), colourful black cheeked lovebirds, the continent’s rarest species of lovebird, and the Verreaux’s eagle owl, the largest owl found in Africa. A host of other mammal species (15 in total) including meerkats, African wild dogs, aardvarks, Eastern black rhino, yellow mongoose, rock hyrax and dik-dik.
Chester Zoo has long been at the forefront of protecting African wildlife, working with its partners to safeguard vital habitats, carry out field research and combat poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.
Heart of Africa is expected to attract an additional 200,000 visitors a year, create 30 new jobs at the zoo and deliver a significant economic boost to the wider Cheshire region. The additional funds it’s projected to bring will enable the zoo to invest further in its conservation work for the long-term.
The Heart of Africa zone at Chester Zoo will be open to visitors from Saturday 5th April 2025 and entry is free, with normal zoo admission. Zoo tickets can be booked here.