Heart of Africa opening Saturday 5 April
Our huge new Heart of Africa experience will be unveiled to the public this week.
We're delighted to announce the opening of the largest UK zoo habitat ever created, home to 57 iconic African species. The new Heart of Africa zone, spanning more than 17 football pitches (22.5 acres), has been designed to recreate a variety of grassland habitats found across central Africa.
It's among the most ambitious zoo expansions ever undertaken in Europe. Taking centre stage in the new area is a vast open savannah where, for the first time at the zoo, visitors will encounter northern giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, roan antelopes and ostriches, all living together side-by-side.
Away from the sweeping grasslands, a new indoor habitat, named Hidden Savannah, shines a spotlight on Africa’s desert dwellers and less heralded species. You'll 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. Eleven cold-blooded species can also be found, including the African bullfrog, the largest frog species in Africa, dung beetles, red spitting cobra, Ethiopian viper, critically endangered pancake tortoises and an immersive new habitat where you can climb into a Land Rover surrounded by 15,000 locusts!
The keen birders among you will also spot more than 30 species of birds within several new habitats, including a flock of 107 iconic greater flamingos, three species of critically endangered vultures, colourful black-cheeked lovebirds, and the Verreaux’s eagle owl, the largest owl found in Africa.
The area is also home to a host of other mammal species including meerkats, African wild dogs, aardvarks, Eastern black rhino, yellow mongoose, rock hyrax and dik-dik. Heart of Africa is expected to create 30 new jobs at the zoo, while also growing the zoo’s appeal and allowing it to attract an extra 200,000 people to the region – delivering a significant economic boost to the wider Cheshire region through increased tourism. Our hope is that it will stand as a vibrant symbol of the zoo’s long-term commitment to conservation across the continent, with every visit contributing to our scientific and conservation initiatives aimed at protecting endangered African species.
Heart of Africa is the largest and most ambitious zoo development ever undertaken in the UK. It stands as a vibrant symbol of our commitment to safeguarding wildlife across Africa, ensuring its future for generations to come. “Introducing such a diverse range of species into one shared habitat is a first for us. We want visitors to feel fully immersed in the sights and sounds of the African savannah, and what better way to achieve that than by seeing northern giraffe, Grevy's zebra, ostrich, and roan antelope roaming together. It's truly a breathtaking sight.
Jamie Christon, CEO of Chester Zoo
Jamie continued:
"This marks a significant new chapter for Chester Zoo. As an international wildlife charity, Heart of Africa will help us connect hundreds of thousands of people with nature, generate jobs and economic growth for the region, and continue our vital conservation work in Africa, long into the future. It’s the most complex habitat we’ve ever created, and we can’t wait to invite visitors into this extraordinary new space."
We work at the forefront of protecting African wildlife, working with our partners across the continent to safeguard vital habitats, combat poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, as well as supporting sustainable livelihoods that uplift local communities.
Africa is one of six regions where we’re actively working to protect some of the planet’s most biodiverse and threatened ecosystems. Our efforts range from supporting the safe translocation of northern giraffes to protected national parks in Uganda, to developing cutting-edge AI trail cameras to protect giant pangolins from illegal trafficking. We're also pioneering endocrinology science to help increase eastern black rhino populations in Kenya and supporting initiatives like the Maasai Olympics, a sporting event where the culture of hunting lions has been replaced with sport.
Dr. Gerardo Garcia, Head of Ectotherms at Chester Zoo
In addition to the remarkable wildlife experiences, Heart of Africa also features Pamoja Village, a vibrant cultural space offering a taste of African traditions, from authentic street food to immersive storytelling from the wild. It aims to not only create a deeper appreciation for Africa’s wildlife, but also for the communities that live alongside it. Heart of Africa will open to visitors from Saturday 5 April. Entry is free, with normal zoo admission.