Did you know you can sleep over at Chester Zoo in a luxury lodge overlooking the giraffe enclosure?
The Reserve is a luxury accommodation within Chester zoo comprised of lodges set in a savannah-inspired landscape, complete with private lake.
We booked an overnight stay at The Reserve in January as a family of four adults, plus our 18 month old boy.
We had a luxury family lodge overlooking the private lake. We decided not to upgrade to a Giraffe Lodge, but that would have been a very special experience!
Because we booked last minute, there wasn’t much availability so we ended up booking three interconnecting rooms.
Arriving at The Reserve
You can arrive at The Reserve from 2pm. We were welcomed by staff at reception after making use of the complimentary valet parking.
We were offered a choice of welcome drinks: Aperol Spritz, Peroni, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and even fruit shoot for little ones.
We all opted for the Dawa, a vodka-based cocktail which is Kenya’s national drink. Its name comes from the Swahili word for medicine. It certainly packs a punch!
The Reserve’s lobby and Tvaso Lounge bar area is absolutely stunning, with a fairy light-wrapped tree welcoming guests to the space.
It really did feel like we were checking in to a safari reserve in Africa, despite the cold weather outside.
At 3pm our lodges were ready for us, so we took our drinks over.
The Reserve at Chester Zoo Lodge review
The design of the lodges is tasteful yet comfortable, with rich earthy tones and textures reminiscent of the African Savannah.
Our lodge had a coffee machine, kettle, mini bar and 50” Smart TV. In the bathroom, we found Origins toiletries and a rainfall shower.
Each lodge has a large wooden balcony with stylish seating.
It was a little cold to sit out there during our visit but still lovely to look out over the lake, where local wildlife had made itself at home.
If you opt for one of the Giraffe Lodges, you can enjoy a soak in a roll-top on the terrace.
The entrance to our lodge was right opposite a busy road but you honestly wouldn’t know it was there once you walk through your front door.
Visiting the zoo during a stay at The Reserve
After an overexcited look around our digs for the night, we headed over to the zoo itself for a few hours.
The Reserve is located right next to the giraffe enclosure in the ‘Heart of Africa’ section so even if you don’t book a lodge overlooking the enclosure, you can be looking at animals within mere minutes of leaving your room.
When the zoo closed at 4pm we headed back to The Reserve’s upstairs lounge for sundowners.
It would be so serene to sit out on that patio on a summer evening!
Dining at The Reserve at Chester Zoo
We booked a table for dinner at the chic Amboseli restaurant within The Reserve. I adored the interiors here!
The good news is that you don’t have to book a lodge to dine at The Reserve at Chester Zoo as Amboseli is open to non-residents for lunch.
The menu is small but there’s good variety, with pescatarian and vegetarian options. They also have a wood fired pizza menu.
The salt and pepper squid, flatbread with whipped tahini and grilled courgettes and crispy smashed new potatoes with romesco sauce and gremolata were absolutely delicious.
Unfortunately the food did take a long time to arrive which can be tricky when you’re trying to keep a little one entertained at the table, but the waiter apologised and offered us a complimentary round of drinks without us actually complaining to anyone.
Mine and my husband’s fillet steaks with mushroom ragout were perfection, and my in-laws enjoyed their burgers.
I ordered a jolof rice dish for my little boy from the children’s menu but he was overtired and only ate a few bites. I had the rest and was pleasantly surprised by how tasty it was! Definitely not something I’d expect to see in a kids menu but I hate ordering him chicken nuggets and chips every time we eat out so I was pleased to see such sophisticated options for kids.
The kids menu meals cost £12.50 and included a dessert. Charlie doesn’t really eat desserts but the waiter recommended we try the cookie with ice cream and it really was an indulgent treat.
One thing that I noticed about The Reserve is that it’s very much designed to delight adults rather than children, but the staff are so warm and welcoming towards little ones. Most of the other guests had kids with them, but it feels like an adult space.
The experience doesn’t stop when your plates are cleared. They run Campfire Stories in the evening around the outdoor fire pit, and there was a wildlife quiz after that for guests of The Reserve.
After a good night’s sleep, we headed to breakfast at 8am. The continental buffet is set out on the bar and you can also order hot food.
We all opted for the full English but there were eggs Benedict or florentine, pancakes and waffles on the menu. No porridge though!
Staying at The Reserve means you can enter Chester Zoo an hour before the general public.
In all honesty it probably wasn’t worth the early entry for us because we had planned to see the elephants and didn’t realise that part of the zoo wouldn’t be accessible until the actual opening time at 10am. That was poor planning on our part though!
Our stay at Chester Zoo was an incredible experience and one we’ll rave about to people forever. My little boy loved it as much as my in-laws did!
I can only imagine how fantastic a stay at The Reserve at Chester Zoo would be in the summertime, when you can really make full use of the facilities and early access to the zoo itself.
As a not for profit, your stay at The Reserve funds conservation work both locally at the zoo and around the world.
This was probably one of my most memorable luxury stays in the UK and I know you won’t be disappointed if you choose to book. We’re already plotting a return visit!
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