The Reserve Chester Zoo is the UK’s first luxury safari-style lodge resort, opening its doors on 18 August 2025 with 51 lodges built directly onto the zoo’s grounds. Guests sleep steps away from giraffes, zebras, and blesbok antelope, enjoying exclusive out-of-hours access to one of Britain’s largest conservation charities.
What Is The Reserve Chester Zoo?
The Reserve Chester Zoo represents a bold new chapter for the National Conservation Zoo in Upton, Cheshire. The resort combines luxury accommodation with behind-the-scenes wildlife experiences, offering something genuinely new to the UK short-break market .
The project was born from Chester Zoo’s long-standing commitment to protecting African wildlife. Rather than simply building a hotel, the zoo created an immersive experience where every stay directly funds conservation work across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Madagascar .
The Reserve welcomed its first guests in August 2025 after generating enormous public interest. According to Chester Zoo, the response “far exceeded expectations,” with over 550 bookings recorded in under a week and some 2025 dates selling out almost immediately .
The Lodges and Their Views
The 51 lodges at The Reserve come in two distinct styles, each offering a different perspective on the zoo’s landscape. Some lodges overlook a private savannah-inspired habitat where giraffes, zebras, and blesbok antelope roam freely just feet from guest balconies .
Other lodges face a peaceful private lake, providing a quieter setting closer to the bar and restaurant. Both styles feature interiors inspired by the warm colours and textures of the African savannah, with hand-finished touches throughout .
Lodges accommodate between two and twelve guests, with interconnecting options available for larger groups or families. Sustainable materials were used in construction, reflecting the zoo’s environmental commitments .
Note: “The Reserve at Chester Zoo” is a hotel/resort, not an individual person. Fields such as age, birthplace, height, education, and spouse are not applicable to this entity.
Pricing and What’s Included
The Reserve positions itself as a premium experience, and pricing reflects that positioning. Chester Zoo lists luxury zoo stays starting from £131 per person, but actual package costs vary significantly based on demand and season .
Couples can expect to pay from £396 per night (£198 per person), which includes valet parking, a welcome drink, breakfast, a £50 dinner allowance, and exclusive two-day zoo entry with extended hours . Family packages for four start from £684 (£171 per person), with a £100 dinner allowance included .
A journalist from the Liverpool Echo reported that a Giraffe Lodge Savannah Adventurer package would cost £778.80 for a Friday night in late October 2025 . The Yorkshire Evening Post documented packages ranging from £492.50 for a Savannah Explorer stay to £1,488.62 for a two-night Savannah VIP experience .
It’s important to note that pricing is demand-led. Peak periods such as school holidays command higher rates, while midweek stays outside busy seasons offer better value .
Dining at The Reserve
The Amboseli Restaurant serves as The Reserve’s signature dining venue, named after the Kenyan region where Chester Zoo works to protect lion populations. The restaurant offers seasonal menus with African-inspired dishes and is now open to the public for non-residential bookings .
The Tsavo Lounge provides a relaxed lakeside setting for drinks and cocktails. Guests can enjoy a sundowner on the terrace or take drinks back to their lodge. A firepit area hosts evening gatherings where rangers share stories from the field .
Breakfast includes both continental options and hot cooked dishes. The Liverpool Echo reviewer praised the evening meal, noting that the steak was cooked correctly and the linguine with mussels received high praise .
Exclusive Experiences for Guests
What separates The Reserve from a standard hotel stay is the access it provides. Guests enjoy out-of-hours entry to the zoo, exploring habitats before public opening and after everyone else has left .
The Giraffe Keeper Kitchen experience allows guests to prepare food for the giraffes under the guidance of keepers. The Heart of Africa Safari Tour takes guests through the zoo after closing, when animals like African wild dogs are more active. On darker evenings, night vision goggles and infra-red torches are provided .
Guests can also meet conservation experts working on front-line projects, including efforts to protect eastern black rhinos in Kenya and combat giant pangolin poaching in Uganda using AI technology .
Conservation Impact and Purpose
Chester Zoo operates as a not-for-profit charity, and The Reserve exists to support that mission. All profits from stays are reinvested into conservation work at home and abroad .
Guests staying at The Reserve are projected to spend over £10 million annually, directly funding endangered species breeding programmes, global wildlife protection efforts, and scientific research . The zoo estimates the resort will attract 35,000 additional visitors to the North West each year and create around 70 new jobs .
Jamie Christon, CEO of Chester Zoo, described the venture as a “game-changer.” He stated: “Everything we do at Chester Zoo, now including The Reserve, supports conservation. As a not-for-profit, every single stay directly funds our groundbreaking work, here in the UK and around the world” .
Practical Information for Visitors
The Reserve is located at Chester Zoo in Upton, Cheshire, approximately 8 minutes’ walk from the main zoo entrance. Check-in begins at 3pm, with check-out at 11am. Free valet parking is available for guests .
The resort has received a 5 out of 5 food hygiene rating from Cheshire West and Chester council, reflecting high standards in food handling and premises management .
For those considering a stay, The Reserve’s official booking channels offer the most accurate availability and pricing. A Spontaneous Spring offer provides 15% off midweek stays (Sunday to Thursday) for bookings between 20 April and 21 May 2026 . Adventurer and conservationist Steve Backshall is scheduled to host an exclusive evening at The Reserve on Friday 22 May .
The Reserve Chester Zoo is not a budget break, nor does it pretend to be. It is a premium experience with a clear purpose, where the cost of a luxury stay translates directly into funding for endangered species. For wildlife enthusiasts seeking something genuinely different in the UK, it offers an experience without parallel.
The Reserve at Chester Zoo is a luxury safari-style lodge resort that opened on 18 August 2025, featuring 51 lodges overlooking either a private savannah with giraffes and zebras or a peaceful lake.
What animals can guests see from the lodges?
Savannah-view lodges overlook giraffes, zebras, and blesbok antelope roaming just feet from guest balconies. Lakeside lodges offer views of the private lake and its wildlife. Guests have reported seeing father-and-son giraffes Meru and Stanley, along with a zebra that rangers say “thinks he’s a giraffe”.
What is included in a stay at The Reserve?
Packages vary by tier but typically include valet parking, a signature welcome drink, breakfast, a dinner allowance at Amboseli Restaurant, and a multi-day zoo pass with early access to the Heart of Africa zone. Higher-tier packages add behind-the-scenes experiences like the Giraffe Keeper Kitchen and after-hours ranger-guided tours.
Can non-residents dine at Amboseli Restaurant?
Yes. The Amboseli Restaurant is now open to the public for non-residential bookings, offering lunch daily and afternoon tea from Wednesday to Saturday. Lunch mains start from £18.50, with traditional afternoon tea priced at £30 per person.
How does a stay at The Reserve support conservation?
Chester Zoo operates as a not-for-profit, and every stay directly funds conservation work. This includes protecting eastern black rhinos in Kenya and using AI technology to combat giant pangolin poaching in Uganda. The zoo estimates The Reserve will generate around £1 million annually for conservation projects.
