Chester Zoo set to open huge new Heart of Africa expansion

Chester Zoo is set to open its new Heart of Africa experience on 5 April. The largest UK zoo habitat ever created is home to 57 African species.

Heart of Africa is a 22.5-acre zone; the size of more than 17 football pitches. It has been designed to recreate various grassland habitats in central Africa.

“Heart of Africa is the largest and most ambitious zoo development ever undertaken in the UK,” said Jamie Christon, CEO of Chester Zoo.

“It stands as a vibrant symbol of our commitment to safeguarding wildlife across Africa, ensuring its future for generations to come.”

The centrepiece is a vast open savannah where guests will see northern giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, roan antelopes and ostriches.

Also part of Heart of Africa is a new indoor habitat called Hidden Savannah, home to rodent species such as mole rats, round-eared sengi and pygmy mice.

Other species residing in Hidden Savannah include the African bullfrog, dung beetles, red spitting cobra, Ethiopian viper, and critically endangered pancake tortoises.

Largest UK zoo habitat ever created

Guests can even climb into a Land Rover surrounded by 15,000 locusts.

More than 30 species of birds will feature in new habitats, including a flock of 107 greater flamingos, three species of critically endangered vultures, black-cheeked lovebirds, and the Verreaux’s eagle-owl.

Other animals in Heart of Africa include meerkats, African wild dogs, aardvarks, Eastern black rhino, yellow mongoose, rock hyrax and dik-dik.

“Introducing such a diverse range of species into one shared habitat is a first for us,” said Christon.

The expansion, Christon said, “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”.

Gerardo Garcia, head of ectotherms at Chester Zoo, said the zoo’s conservation efforts in Africa 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”.

Chester Zoo’s conservation efforts in Africa

“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,” he said.

In addition to the habitat’s new wildlife, Heart of Africa boasts a cultural space named Pamoja Village. This provides authentic street food and immersive experiences.

Images courtesy of Chester Zoo

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