Eight luxury ‘Safari Lodges’ are being built at West Midland Safari Park, which is part of the first phase of the park’s brand-new development, which includes onsite accommodation and upgraded animal facilities.
The exclusive Safari Lodges will be integrated into the newly updated animal habitats. Designed to provide guests with a truly up-close and personal wildlife experience like no other, the lodges will overlook African elephants and cheetahs.
The accommodation is located in its own secluded area, immersed within the wildlife reserves. Six of the lodges will offer the only overnight accommodation experience with elephants in the UK. The two remaining lodges will provide incredible views of the park’s cheetahs, and again will be the only experience of its kind in the UK.
Chris Kelly has joined the safari park’s management team as accommodation and venues director, to oversee and drive the development forward. Talking about his new appointment, Kelly said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at West Midland Safari Park, at such an exciting time. I grew up in the Midlands and the Park has always been a favourite place to visit, since I was a youngster. To be operationally delivering the new wildlife development project and lodges, is such a fantastic opportunity for me and something I am already very passionate about.”
“This amazing project will grow into something spectacular over the next four to five years, but to start with we are focussing on the elephants and cheetahs. Not only will the new lodges offer guests the opportunity to stay onsite overnight for the first time, they also allow us to create upgraded, stimulating and enriching environments for the animals,” Kelly continued.
The elephant lodges are equipped with thatched roofs, large, open-plan living areas with a lounge and dining area, plus a downstairs bedroom, as well as a large balcony with outdoor seating. These lodges are designed for up to six guests.
The two single-story, detached cheetah lodges have a large window, which spans one side of the building and provides panoramic views of the cheetahs in their new habitat. A floor-to-ceiling window offers similar, incredible views in the bedrooms. These lodges will also sleep up to six people.
