Chester Zoo has revealed first look images of its new, “groundbreaking” overnight safari-style lodge accommodation, which is now open. Known as The Reserve at Chester Zoo, the resort offers one of the UK’s most unique short break experiences, combining luxurious accommodation with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the zoo‘s wildlife.
Now open to the public, guests can choose from a variety of different lodges at The Reserve at Chester Zoo, with some offering availability for up to 12 guests. The Reserve features 51 safari-style lodges, some overlooking a private savannah where giraffes, zebras and blesbok antelope roam, and others nestled beside a peaceful lake.
What to expect at The Reserve at Chester Zoo
Guests can expect immersive wildlife stays in beautifully-designed lodges built using sustainable materials and with interiors inspired by African landscapes. During your stay at The Reserve, you will get exclusive out-of-hours access to Chester Zoo, providing guests with a rare chance to explore its most iconic habitats before the gates open to the public and when everyone else has gone home – think peaceful morning walks and guided evening adventures, using night vision goggles and infra-red torches on darker nights.
Plus, guests can be immersed with up-close animal experiences and have the opportunity to meet conservation experts who are working on the front line of global wildlife protection. And the luxury doesn’t just stop at the rooms at The Reserve at Chester Zoo, as guests can enjoy comfort, luxury and curated dining at the new Amboseli Restaurant and relaxed evenings in the Tsavo Lounge, where guests can enjoy a drink on starlit evenings on the lakeside terrace. Each evening of your stay, you can grab a cosy blanket and join Chester Zoo’s expert rangers by the firepit for a sundowner or warming hot chocolate to share stories from the field.
All profits will be reinvested into the zoo’s charitable conservation work
The new resort is set to attract an estimated 35,000 additional visitors to the North West each year, drawing nature-lovers from across the UK and beyond. Guests staying at The Reserve are projected to spend over £10 million annually, with all profits reinvested into the zoo’s charitable conservation work – supporting critical projects in Kenya, Uganda and the UK such as endangered species breeding programmes, global wildlife protection efforts and scientific research.
“Guests at The Reserve aren’t just going to enjoy a luxury break – they’re going to power our conservation movement for generations to come.”
Jamie Christon, CEO at Chester Zoo, said: “The Reserve at Chester Zoo is a game-changer – not just for luxury travel but for conservation. Born from our long-standing commitment to protecting African wildlife, we’ve created a truly immersive, safari-style experience right here in the UK, where guests may wake up to giraffes on their doorstep, enjoy unforgettable wildlife encounters and relax in beautifully designed lodges surrounded by nature. But what makes The Reserve truly unique is its purpose.
“Everything we do at Chester Zoo – now including The Reserve – supports conservation. As a not-for-profit, every single stay directly funds our groundbreaking work, here in the UK and around the world. That includes protecting black rhinos in Kenya and Rwanda, using AI to fight poaching of giant pangolins in Uganda and working with communities in Madagascar to save precious species like the golden mantella frog.
“Guests at The Reserve aren’t just going to enjoy a luxury break – they’re going to power our conservation movement for generations to come. This new venture will help strengthen the zoo’s role as one of the country’s most loved and most impactful conservation charities. We believe this is the future of travel, where unforgettable experiences and real conservation impact go hand in hand.”
How much does it cost to stay at The Reserve at Chester Zoo?
Stays at The Reserve for couples start from £396 (£198 per person, based on two sharing). This includes valet parking, an arrival drink, breakfast, a £50 dinner allowance and two day entry tickets to Chester Zoo (worth over £130) with extended hours entry that aren’t available to general visitors and campfire stories. Stays for a family of four (two adults, two children) start from £684 (£171 per person, per night), with the same offerings as couple stays but with a £100 dinner allowance and two day entry tickets to Chester Zoo worth over £240.
Chester Zoo will offer three different packages – the Savannah Explorer, the Savannah Adventurer and the Savannah VIP. The Savannah Explorer is the standard package offering all of the above, whilst the Savannah Adventurer also offers two of the zoo’s expert ranger guided exclusive out-of-hours animal experiences, plus an upgraded three-course dining experience at the Amboseli restaurant.
As for the VIP package, this includes two super–exclusive behind-the-scenes wildlife and conservation experiences that will only ever be available to Savannah VIP guests. This includes the Giraffe Wake-Up Experience where you’ll work with keepers to wake the resident giraffes, prep them and their habitats ready for the day. Plus, VIP guests will get the Conservation-In-Action Experience – giving a peek behind the scenes, spending time in the ‘lab’ learning about the vital live conservation projects, experiments and breeding work the science and vet teams are working on.
To find out more or to book your stay, visit The Reserve at Chester Zoo website here.