Guests will be able to stay overnight in one of nine cabins and enjoy exclusive early morning and evening tours of the facility |
An aerial artist impression of the Gir Lion Lodge Photo: ZSL London Zoo
London Zoo is to open a guest lodge
inside its new lion enclosure which will allow guests to spend a night
"within roaring distance" of the animals.
The opportunity to take a brief safari in the middle of Central London will cost almost £400 per couple per night.
The £5.7million redevelopment of the lion enclosure will include nine
cabins, each featuring a private veranda, just a stone's throw from the
animals' new 2,500 sq metres (27,000 sq ft) enclosure.
The décor inside the Gir Lion Lodge will be inspired by the guest houses in Sasan Gir on the edge of the Indian forest.
An artist impression of the Gir Lion Lodge veranda Photo: ZSL London Zoo
Safety measures will ensure there is no direct contact between humans
and animals but guests will be treated to an evening tour of the
enclosure and an exclusive morning tour to see the animals before the
zoo, in London's Regent's Park, opens to visitors.
Each lodge can accommodate two adults. On family nights, a maximum of four people are welcome, including up to three children aged between five and 13.
Tickets go on sale on Saturday and the first overnight stays begin in May next year.
The lion enclosure, home to Lucifer, the 12-year- old, 30-stone male of the pride, and lionesses, six-year-old Ruby and four-year-old twins Heidi and Indi, closed last year for a major refurbishment.
Land of the Lions will reopen next spring, and will provide state-of-the-art facilities for a breeding group of endangered Asiatic lions, of which only 400 remain in the wild.
It has been inspired by the landscape of the Gir Forest and will be five times the size of the previous enclosure
Asiatic lions will sleep for up to 16 hours-a-day, and visitors will be able to see them enjoying their cat-naps in their custom-built "lion hotel".
Heidi, Asiatic lioness at ZSL London Zoo Photo: ZSL London Zoo
• Cecil the lion: legal hunting can help conservation, says Rory Stewart
The enclosure will feature a bustling Indian "village" to enable guests to experience the vibrant culture of the lion’s native home, before they reach the lions' den, featuring an Indian train station, a conservation centre for rangers and an abandoned ancient fort.
The enclosure will enable the big cats to claim areas as their own, which they do by scent marking and vocalisations – a mighty roar which can be heard from miles away.
• The 2015 ZSL London Zoo annual weigh-in, in pictures
Emma Taylor, head of product development, told the Daily Mail: "London Zoo is a magical place at night - we wanted people of all ages to have a chance to enjoy that magic, and immerse themselves in a fantastic experience unlike any other, sleeping near to our magnificent Asiatic lions.
An artist impression of Gir Lion Lodge interior Photo: ZSL London Zoo
"It's hard to believe you're in the heart of the capital when you're surrounded by the noises of the wild.
"Staying overnight at the Gir Lion Lodge will give guests the chance to explore the zoo on a hosted tour, while helping to fund our work for wildlife around the world."
Reports of drunken visitors at the zoo's "lates" events last year raused questions about whether the zoo was focusing too much on profits rather than conservation.
Vistors were said to have disturbed the animals by throwing beer at tigers or trying to get in pens with animals.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/12030553/London-Zoo-to-open-new-safari-lodge-within-lion-enclosure.html
Each lodge can accommodate two adults. On family nights, a maximum of four people are welcome, including up to three children aged between five and 13.
Tickets go on sale on Saturday and the first overnight stays begin in May next year.
"London Zoo is a magical place at night - we wanted people of all
ages to have a chance to enjoy that magic, and immerse themselves in a
fantastic experience unlike any other, sleeping near to our magnificent
Asiatic lions."
Emma Taylor of London Zoo
Land of the Lions will reopen next spring, and will provide state-of-the-art facilities for a breeding group of endangered Asiatic lions, of which only 400 remain in the wild.
It has been inspired by the landscape of the Gir Forest and will be five times the size of the previous enclosure
Asiatic lions will sleep for up to 16 hours-a-day, and visitors will be able to see them enjoying their cat-naps in their custom-built "lion hotel".
Heidi, Asiatic lioness at ZSL London Zoo Photo: ZSL London Zoo• Cecil the lion: legal hunting can help conservation, says Rory Stewart
The enclosure will feature a bustling Indian "village" to enable guests to experience the vibrant culture of the lion’s native home, before they reach the lions' den, featuring an Indian train station, a conservation centre for rangers and an abandoned ancient fort.
The enclosure will enable the big cats to claim areas as their own, which they do by scent marking and vocalisations – a mighty roar which can be heard from miles away.
• The 2015 ZSL London Zoo annual weigh-in, in pictures
Emma Taylor, head of product development, told the Daily Mail: "London Zoo is a magical place at night - we wanted people of all ages to have a chance to enjoy that magic, and immerse themselves in a fantastic experience unlike any other, sleeping near to our magnificent Asiatic lions.
An artist impression of Gir Lion Lodge interior Photo: ZSL London Zoo"It's hard to believe you're in the heart of the capital when you're surrounded by the noises of the wild.
"Staying overnight at the Gir Lion Lodge will give guests the chance to explore the zoo on a hosted tour, while helping to fund our work for wildlife around the world."
Reports of drunken visitors at the zoo's "lates" events last year raused questions about whether the zoo was focusing too much on profits rather than conservation.
Vistors were said to have disturbed the animals by throwing beer at tigers or trying to get in pens with animals.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/12030553/London-Zoo-to-open-new-safari-lodge-within-lion-enclosure.html
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