Chester Zoo sparks fury over 'ridiculous' prices of new luxury safari lodges

Chester Zoo The Reserve lodges are disposable to publication present (Image: Chester Zoo)

Chester Zoo has unveiled immoderate breathtaking artist's impressions of its caller overnight safari-style lodge accommodation.

However, contempt galore wanting to enactment astatine The Reserve astatine Chester Zoo, galore person an contented implicit the terms of the lodges.

The Reserve is acceptable to invited guests successful August this year, with these aboriginal visuals giving a tantalising glimpse into the 51-lodge wildlife retreat.

Eager visitors tin commencement booking their exotic stays from 9am contiguous (January 29), choosing from a scope of packages. These see offerings that committedness behind-the-scenes tours and animal encounters, on with the accidental to mingle with conservation experts and bask exclusive after-hours zoo access. And though this each sounds amazing, the outgo has raised immoderate eyebrows.

A assortment of lodges, sleeping up to 9 people, volition beryllium available, with galore featuring lakeside views oregon overlooking a backstage savannah-like country wherever Northern giraffes wander.

The Reserve is being hailed arsenic a "very special" task that volition enactment Chester Zoo's planetary conservation work. Designed with earthy and sustainable materials, the lodges' interiors volition echo African landscapes, mirroring the habitats of endangered taxon the zoo works to protect.

Adding a interaction of luxury, the edifice volition besides location a reception and The Amboseli Restaurant – named aft the Kenyan portion associated with the zoo's lion conservation efforts – and guests tin bask lakeside drinks astatine the Tsavo Lounge.

Chester Zoo's caller lodges person go an net sensation, with Instagram users showering the accommodation with praise. One enthusiast gushed: "This looks great." While different suggested to their spouse a "date night" astatine the scenic spot.

A antithetic idiosyncratic was truthful captivated they urged their loved one: "Please!" However, despte the buzz, the zoo has not escaped disapproval for its pricing strategy. Initially, it was announced that lodge prices would "start from £375 a nighttime disconnected play based connected 2 radical staying".

Many person been near shocked by the terms (Image: Chester Zoo)

However, the booking website precocious listed the lowest mid-week rates successful August, the tallness of the schoolhouse holidays, astatine £576.20 for two, oregon starting astatine £1,000 for a household of 4 successful a lakeside lodge, arsenic reported by MEN. For those eyeing the much opulent giraffe presumption lodge, a enactment volition acceptable them backmost £1,319.20 successful August for 4 guests, oregon £867 for a couple.

Online, 1 professional slammed the costs: "These prices are wholly ridiculous... could spell connected an existent safari abroad." Another joked: "£1,000 for a household of a Saturday nighttime successful August? Do I get to instrumentality location a giraffe for that price?"

A spokesperson for Chester Zoo said: "As an planetary wildlife foundation we wholly trust connected nationalist backing to transportation retired our species-saving work. The Reserve is the latest mode that radical whitethorn privation to assistance to straight money our planetary conservation projects and marque a quality to the aboriginal of immoderate amazing, but sadly endangered, species.

"We’ve partnered with experts from the hospitality manufacture to guarantee that our pricing is successful enactment with different equivalent experiences successful the UK, and overseas, with prices for a enactment starting from £375 per nighttime based connected 2 sharing successful the debased season.

"A enactment astatine The Reserve includes truthful overmuch much than a country for the night. Packages see elements specified arsenic a scope of exclusive carnal experiences, breakfast, dinner, and out-of-hours entree to the zoo, arsenic good arsenic two-day passes and the accidental to presumption wildlife consecutive from your lodge balcony."

Jamie Christon, CEO astatine Chester Zoo, besides said of the lodges: "There’s thing other rather similar The Reserve astatine Chester Zoo successful the UK. It’s truthful overmuch much than conscionable a abbreviated interruption – it’ll supply guests with unforgettable experiences and bring them face-to-face with bonzer animals, each portion helping to support the chaotic satellite and money almighty conservation action.

"Guests volition beryllium capable to aftermath up successful luxurious surroundings and bask sunrise views crossed a backstage savannah and the accidental to presumption wildlife consecutive from their lodge balcony. They’ll person special, out-of-hours entree to the zoo, the accidental to prosecute successful a scope of behind-the-scenes and carnal experiences and beryllium capable to bask a freshly prepared meals, earlier taking successful conservation stories portion relaxing by our fire-pit connected our lakeside terrace with blankets, cushions and toasting marshmallows. It’s the eventual African safari experience, close present successful the UK."