First look at Chester Zoo's huge new African savannah where giraffes and zebras roam

It's billed as a "breathtaking sight" where visitors, for the very first time, will get to see giraffes, zebra, antelopes and ostriches all roaming together

One of the biggest and most ambitious UK zoo habitats ever created - with giraffes, zebras and antelopes all roaming together - is about to open at Chester Zoo.

First look images today show how the huge Heart of Africa zone is shaping up ahead of opening to the public for the first time at the Cheshire attraction from Saturday, April 5.The new zone is the size of more than 17 football pitches (22.5 acres) and has been designed to recreate the grasslands of central Africa, becoming home to 57 highly-threatened African species.

The vast open savannah will allow visitors to Chester Zoo, for the very first time, to encounter northern giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, roan antelopes and ostriches, all living together side-by-side.

Next to Heart of Africa is where the eagerly-anticipated new Chester Zoo safari lodges will be found too. Known as The Reserve, the accommodation element of the project is set to open in August with its own private savannah.

Also unveiled for the first time today is a new indoor habitat named Hidden Savannah where visitors will 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.

There will be 11 ectotherms species (“cold-blooded animals”) including the African bull frog, the largest frog species found in Africa, 10,000 locusts, dung beetles, red spitting cobra, Ethiopian viper and critically endangered pancake tortoises.

Keen birders will find 31 species of bird within several new aviaries, including a flock of 120 iconic greater flamingos, three species of critically endangered vulture (white-headed vultures, African white-backed vultures, and hooded vultures), colourful black cheeked lovebirds, the continent’s rarest species of lovebird, and the Verreaux’s eagle owl, the largest owl found in Africa.

A host of other mammal species (15 in total) including meerkats, African wild dogs, aardvarks, Eastern black rhino, yellow mongoose, rock hyrax and dik-dik.

Zoo conservationists say Heart of Africa will stand as a "vibrant symbol of the zoo’s commitment to conservation across the continent".

The savannah is expected to attract an additional 200,000 visitors a year, create 30 new jobs at the zoo and deliver a significant economic boost to the wider Cheshire region. The additional funds it’s projected to bring will enable the zoo to invest further in its conservation work for the long-term.

Jamie Christon, CEO at Chester Zoo, said: "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.“To bring this vision to life, our expert teams have planted over 6,000 trees, shrubs, and grasses, while also welcoming many species to the zoo for the first time.

"We're proud to join international breeding programmes that will leverage our teams' expertise to protect threatened species, including vultures and the highly venomous red spitting cobra.

"We're also welcoming back beloved species, with new homes for meerkats, African wild dogs, aardvarks, porcupines, and critically endangered eastern black rhinos.“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.”

The zoo says it has long been at the forefront of protecting African wildlife, working with 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.Dr. Gerardo Garcia, Head of Ectotherms at Chester Zoo, added: "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.

"Heart of Africa celebrates these conservation successes but also reminds us that our work is far from finished. Every species here carries an important story with many facing real threats in the wild.

"That’s why every visit to the zoo and this new zone will make a difference.

"As a charity, it’ll provide a boost to our funds that will see us protect even more of Africa’s incredible wildlife, with plans already in place to save new species of reptile and amphibians from extinction.“We hope this huge new part of Chester Zoo inspires action from those who visit - whether that’s making more sustainable choices or supporting conservation efforts.

"Together, we can help ensure that Africa’s wildlife not only survives but thrives into the future."

In addition to the wildlife experiences, Heart of Africa will also feature Pamoja Village, a new cultural space offering visitors 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, and will be accessed as part of general zoo admission prices.