Chester Zoo has come under fire for the hefty price tags attached to its brand-new residential lodges, billed as offering the "ultimate African safari experience right here in the UK". On January 28, the zoo unveiled The Reserve, spotlighting 51 newly-constructed huts that mark the first opportunity for guests to book overnight stays within the expansive Cheshire grounds. The accommodation options include rooms boasting views into giraffe habitats or overlooking a picturesque lakeside area.
The launch had been much anticipated, with families eager to visit the booking site when it opened on Tuesday morning for email subscribers. However, excitement waned as people realised the rates were akin to those of an actual Safari experience. Chester Zoo had previously indicated that pricing would "start from £375 a night off season based on two people staying".
Contrastingly, the official booking site displayed minimum mid-week prices for August, the height of school holidays, at £576.20 for two people or starting from £1,000 for a family of two adults and two children wishing to stay overnight in a lakeside lodge, reports the Manchester Evening News . Those opting for the more upscale accommodation with a view of the giraffes can expect even steeper prices beginning at £1,319.
20 for a four-person stay in August, or from £867 for a duo. Chester Zoo's announcement of The Reserve's opening dates on its Facebook page quickly led to a flood of comments from followers, many of whom cr.