Chester Zoo is to open its doors after hours for the very first time - offering visitors the chance to explore the zoo and its 27,000 animals after the sunset.
The Zoo’s ‘Into The Night’ experience will see the 128-acre site stay open until 9pm - beyond its usual 5pm closing time. This will happen across four evenings in July and August, with all parts of the zoo staying open for ticket holders.
The experience, which will cost £15 for adults and £10 for children aged 3-17, is being launched to raise money for the not-for-profit conservation zoo’s vital efforts to prevent extinction in the UK and around the world.
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Just recently, the zoo welcomed the arrival of nine Humboldt penguin chicks, who are classed as vulnerable to extinction. Normally found in the rocky shores of Peru and Chile, the baby chicks weighed just 80g when hatched.
Zoo staff expect visitors to be able to see nocturnal animals, like aardvarks and bats, in a completely new light as the sun starts to set with the animal houses staying open until 8pm. Visitors will also be treated to live entertainment, reports Lancs Live.
Performances will include amazing acrobatics, dance and upbeat African music by Tanzanian Acrobats, who have previously performed at the Glastonbury Festival, while Global Grooves will bring playful puppetry and vibrant costumes to the zoo.
The experience will take place on Friday 29 July, Saturday 30 July, Friday 12 August and Saturday 13 August, with only a limited number of tickets available each night. During the four exclusive late-night events, the zoo’s restaurants will remain open too and will offer ‘specially themed’ dishes for the event.
Just recently, the zoo welcomed the arrival of nine Humboldt penguin chicks. The chicks, who weighed just 80g when hatched, have recently been seen gaining confidence and exploring their habitat.
During the four exclusive late-night events, the zoo’s restaurants will also remain open and will be offering a selection of ‘specially themed’ dishes for the experience.
Ellie Trigg, Chester Zoo’s Customer Development Manager, said: “Have you ever wondered what the family herd of elephants gets up to in the evening, wanted to watch aardvarks make burrows at twilight or see all of the animals in a whole new light as the sun starts to set? Well, for the first time ever, our super special Into the Night events will give visitors the chance to spend an enchanting summer evening at the zoo and find out!
“And if seeing all of your favourite animals isn’t enough, there’ll also be entertainment, including acrobats, dancers and puppeteers, as well as a brand new nature-themed food and drink offering that has been specially devised for these unique occasions.”
It was recently revealed that the zoo is also planning to build an extension of safari-style lodges overlooking the giraffe enclosure. If the proposals are approved, the lodges could see visitors stay at the zoo overnight and wake up to see the giraffes at close quarters.
More information about the Into The Night experience can be found here.
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