Revealed: You can now stay the night at Chester Zoo in a luxury lodge and wake up next to the animals - but it doesn't come cheap, with stays costing from £775 per night
- Called The Reserve, the new resort is made up of 51 suites for two to six guests
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Chester Zoo has unveiled luxury lodges that will enable visitors to stay the night on the site for the first time - and wake up right next to the animals.
But stays don't come cheap, with packages starting from £775 per night.
Called The Reserve, Chester Zoo's new resort is made up of 51 'luxury' lodges for two to six guests that are built with 'a one-of-a-kind safari lodge feel', inspired by the African savannah.
Alongside family lodges are suites with views over Chester Zoo's lake and 'Lookout' lodges where guests can wake up to giraffes walking past their window.
Check in to a 'Giraffe' lodge and they get their own private giraffe feeding station and roll-top baths on the decking.
As well as a choice of lodges, The Reserve offers a selection of packages that all include two-day access via a private entrance to Chester Zoo, valet parking, and dining at the onsite Amboseli Restaurant.
Chester Zoo has unveiled 51 luxury lodges that will enable visitors to stay the night on the site for the first time. Above is a drone shot of the resort, called The Reserve
Guests who check in to a 'Giraffe' lodge (pictured) get their own private giraffe feeding station and roll-top baths on the decking
Alongside family lodges are suites with views over Chester Zoo's lake, pictured above from the Welcome Building's terrace
Depending on the package selected, guests will also have the chance to get behind-the-scenes tours from park rangers, with the option to help them tend to Chester Zoo's wildlife.
The Savannah VIP Package, for example, includes a 'giraffe wake-up experience', where guests help zookeepers with the animals' morning routine.
The zoo says: '[Guests will] wake them from their slumber before preparing and feeding them their breakfast, preparing their paddock for the day, and releasing them into the fresh morning air.'
The lodges accommodate two to six guests. Above is the interior of a 'Lakeside' lodge
All the suites have been built with 'a one-of-a-kind safari lodge feel', inspired by the African savannah, says Chester Zoo. LEFT: A 'Lakeside' lodge bathroom. RIGHT: A 'Lookout' lodge bathroom
As well as a choice of lodges, The Reserve offers a selection of packages, one of which includes a 'giraffe wake-up experience', where guests help zookeepers with the animals' morning routine. Above is the exterior of one of the 'Giraffe' lodges
Jamie Christon, Chief Executive Officer of Chester Zoo, says: 'The Reserve is the perfect stay for anyone looking to experience luxury and wildlife up close while supporting our vital conservation work.
'It's more than just a short break – it's the perfect balance of exploration and relaxation, with the chance to make a real difference to the conservation of some amazing, but sadly endangered, species.'
Adriaan Erasmus, General Manager of The Reserve at Chester Zoo, adds: 'The Reserve at Chester Zoo offers guests a truly unique stay – packed with luxury, adventure, and a deeper purpose through its conservation mission.'
While there has been controversy over the pricing, seen as too high by some, a spokesperson for Chester Zoo revealed that some 2025 dates have already sold out.
They said: 'The response to The Reserve has been nothing short of phenomenal, far exceeding our expectations. We’ve had over 550 bookings in under a week.
'The huge amount of interest has already seen some dates sell out in 2025, and the demand to get a first glimpse of the lodges even crashed our website for a brief period.'
Packages for The Reserve at Chester Zoo start at £775 per night. For more information visit www.chesterzoo.org/accommodation.
All packages include two-day access to Chester Zoo, valet parking, and dining at the onsite Amboseli Restaurant (pictured)
Jamie Christon, Chief Executive Officer of Chester Zoo, says: 'The Reserve is the perfect stay for anyone looking to experience luxury and wildlife up close while supporting our vital conservation work.' Above is The Reserve's bar
While there has been controversy over the pricing for the resort, seen as too high by some, a spokesperson for Chester Zoo revealed that some 2025 dates have already sold out
Packages for The Reserve at Chester Zoo start at £775 per night. For more information visit www.chesterzoo.org/accommodation
