The Heart of Africa at Chester Zoo is home to 57 iconic African species, and will be open to visitors from Saturday, April 5.
This ground breaking habitat, which has taken years of planning and work, offers the public a vast savannah where they will see giraffe, zebra, antelope, and ostrich, all living together for the first time.
It is expected to create 30 new jobs and attract an extra 200,000 visitors a year to the zoo’s 128-acre site in Chester, which is home to more than 37,000 animals and more than 500 species.
Fraser Montgomerie, a Lead Zoo Ranger at Chester Zoo, revealed the vast undertaking to create this new part of the zoo.
He said: “It’s been in planning for a long, long time and has been on the cards for a number of years. It’s been a gradual process.”
Praising the efforts of the zoo in the transportation of the new animals, Fraser said: “That was a very long and difficult process.
“For the larger animals, they had to be transported in a ginormous crate – so picture a big shipping crate, and it looks a bit like that.”
Conservation is at the centre of this work. Visitors will be able to see the critically endangered vultures at the zoo for the first time, along with the red spitting cobra and the Ethiopian viper.
CEO at Chester Zoo, Jamie Christon, emphasised the importance of conservation at the heart of the new zoo habitat.
He said: “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.”
Chester Zoo is a world-leading conservation and education charity, and developments like this show the importance of their work.
Many species at the zoo are endangered or critically endangered from the vultures to the red spitting cobras and the naked mole rats.
Africa is one of the many regions that Chester Zoo is working to protect, as it is the world’s most biodiverse and threatened ecosystem.
The Heart of Africa, while celebrating the successes of conservation, also acts as a reminder that their work is far from finished.
Dr Gerado Garcia, the Head of Ectotherms at Chester Zoo, lauded the pioneering work of the zoo to protect many species through conservation work, and the new heart of Africa area.
He said: “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.
“Every species at the Heart of Africa 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 will provide a boost to our funds that will see us protect even more of Africa’s incredible wildlife.”
Home to 57 iconic African species from giraffes, zebra and vultures to 15,000 locusts! 😮
The BIGGEST zoo habitat ever created in the UK that will boost our vital conservation efforts for years to come! 🌍
HEART OF AFRICA opens Saturday 5 April 🤎🦒 pic.twitter.com/BCGWgdXSqe
— Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo) March 31, 2025
Experts from Chester Zoo are internationally recognised by governments, and connections like these are vital for on-the-ground conservation in continents like Africa.
Conservation scientist Chris Grindle, emphasised the importance of conservationists working together across the world.
He said: “Zoo-based conservation is a team effort, it’s not just us.
“It’s other fantastic zoos across the UK, Europe, and beyond, who collaborate to do amazing work.
“The Black Rhino translocation that has taken place, was a combined effort with lots of different European collections.
“It really is a team game, it’s not just about us, it’s about the animals. That is the main thing.”
The Heart of Africa opens for visitors on Saturday April 5, 2025, and entry to the zone is free with normal zoo admission.
