Restaurant boasting its own giraffes and zebras is only 40 minutes from major city

A ground-breaking restaurant where diners feast alongsidegiraffes, antelopes and zebras has welcomed its first visitors.

Amboseli Restaurant forms part of Chester Zoo'sbrand-new safari-style lodge resort, The Reserve. The resort and eatery greeted their inaugural guests on Monday, August 18 - both venues say they are poised to revolutionise how visitors experience conservation in the UK by blending lavish accommodation with exclusive behind-the-scenes wildlife encounters at the zoo's world-famous attraction.

TheLiverpool Echo spoke with Adriaan Erasmus, the general manager of Amboseli Restaurant.

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He revealed: "The restaurant's concept dates back to 2018, and for it to come to fruition right now is a massive result. We are very excited about the opening and about receiving our first paying guest.

"The guests are also massively excited. The restaurant has a very family-oriented style. We offer sharing platters and meals. There's all-day dining with lighter snacks available. But the VIP rooms are where you can request bespoke menus, meals, and private BBQS. We do 100 covers and this is for all day as people come and go to the zoo and the lodges."

The restaurant is exclusively for guests staying at The Reserve. The menu boasts everything from salt and pepper crispy squid, seasonal soup, chicken wings, wood stone oven pizza, mussel linguine and corn fed chicken.

Diners can round off their meal with a delicious dessert, including sticky toffee pudding, poached apricots and a Bakewell slice. As dusk falls, visitors are invited to unwind in the Tsavo lounge with a beverage on the lakeside terrace.

Every evening, guests can collect a blanket and gather with Chester Zoo's specialist rangers around the firepit for a sundowner or comforting hot chocolate whilst sharing tales from the field.

The Reserve boasts stunningly crafted lodges, some with views across a private savannah where giraffes, zebras and blesbok antelope wander, whilst others are tucked away beside a tranquil lake.

Jamie Christon, CEO at Chester Zoo, said: "The Reserve at Chester Zoo is a game-changer - not just for luxury travel but for conservation. Born from our long-standing commitment to protecting African wildlife, we've created a truly immersive, safari-style experience right here in the UK.

"Guests may wake up to giraffes on their doorstep, enjoy unforgettable wildlife encounters and relax in beautifully designed lodges surrounded by nature. But what makes The Reserve truly unique is its purpose. 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. That includes protecting black rhinos in Kenya and Rwanda, using AI to fight poaching of giant pangolins in Uganda and working with communities in Madagascar to save precious species like the golden mantella frog.

"Guests at The Reserve aren't just going to enjoy a luxury break - they're going to power our conservation movement for generations to come. This new venture will help strengthen the zoo's role as one of the country's most loved and most impactful conservation charities. We believe this is the future of travel, where unforgettable experiences and real conservation impact go hand in hand."

The development, featuring the eatery, is expected to bring roughly 35,000 extra visitors to the North West annually, luring wildlife enthusiasts from throughout the UK and further afield.

Visitors staying at The Reserve are anticipated to contribute more than £10m each year, with all earnings ploughed back into the zoo's charitable wildlife protection initiatives - backing vital schemes in Kenya, Uganda and the UK.

These encompass threatened species breeding programmes, worldwide animal protection campaigns and pioneering scientific studies.

The Reserve and the dining establishment will also create approximately 70 fresh employment opportunities whilst supporting the broader Cheshire economy through enhanced local supply chain investment.