Respected not-for-profit Chester Zoo recently gave the world its first glimpse of “The Reserve”, a new experience that combines conservation with a luxury vacation.
A safari-style resort, the impeccable accommodation takes the form of 51 luxurious lodges that are based amidst the zoo’s enthralling “Heart of Africa” installation. Perfectly recreating the African Savannah in Cheshire, the expansive area is home to 57 species, allowing guests of the resort to enjoy overnight stays alongside giraffes, greater flamingos, zebras, aardvarks and antelopes.
Ahead of its opening on August 18, the zoo shared imagery and information on the immersive accommodation. Designed for short luxury breaks, The Reserve not only lets guests experience rare animals up close, but provides them with unique behind-the-scenes access to Chester Zoo’s conservation activities.
CEO for Chester Zoo, Jamie Christon commented on the new offering:
“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.”
However, he added that what is entirely unique about The Reserve is its purpose. Annual guest spending has been projected to be around £10 million, and funds will be directly funnelled into the zoo’s critical conservation work helping endangered animals.
Providing a massive tourism boost for the region, experts estimate that the new resort will annually attract around 35,000 extra visitors to England’s North West from all over the UK and overseas.