West Midland Safari Park has again unveiled further plans for the next stage in its ambitious long-term development strategy.

The Bewdley attraction has submitted further proposed plans to Wyre Forest District Council for its second phase of Safari Lodges accommodation development, to offer luxury overnight stays with Sumatran tigers.

The two new lodges will sit inside the Park’s Safari Lodges accommodation site, which currently includes elephant, cheetah and red panda stays that offer stunning panoramic views of the site’s spectacular wildlife.

The single-story accommodation will be authentically integrated into the newly built tiger habitat, giving guests an immersive and unforgettable overnight wildlife encounter, like no other. Sleeping up to four people, the tiger lodges will feature open plan living and luxury interiors, with breath-taking views from every room into the new tiger habitat through floor to ceiling windows. 

In a similar layout to the site’s cheetah lodges, which also have single-story access, the interior spaces will provide guests with an up-close unique experience where they can live and sleep just a whisker away from the magnificent creatures. 

The stunning new designs also feature sunken hot tubs on private verandas, where guests can sit back and relax, whilst enjoying a ‘cat’s eye’ view through windows into the tiger enclosure. The verandas also have slatted roofs which can be opened or closed depending on the guest’s preference, for a sensational one-of-a-kind experience. 

Alongside the introduction of the two new lodge stays, the plans also focus on upgrading the Park’s animal facilities. This includes a new state-of-the art tiger house and stunning outdoor habitat, thriving with vegetation, which will offer the animals 24-hour access to both their indoor and outdoor environments. Managing Director for the Park, Chris Kelly said:

“Our tiger lodges are a hugely exciting project for us to be embarking on and we’re looking forward to seeing guests’ reaction to these stunning new designs. 

“The vital revenue that our Safari Lodges generate will be redirected to support and upgrade our animal facilities, and we are thrilled that our Sumatran tigers will be moving to such a state-of-the-art habitat.

“As well as creating a unique overnight experience for our guests, we are dedicated to giving our wildlife the highest standard of care; and our Safari Lodges are a further example of our commitment to building a lasting legacy for our animals, our guests and the Park.”

The Park is currently home to two Sumatran tigers, and it is the hope that this new venture will provide more opportunity to continue further with the vital conservation work needed to protect this critically endangered species. There are thought to be less than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, and it is the Park’s hope that the new Lodges will help drive awareness of the species’ plight.

This new submission comes just three weeks after the Park shared plans for giraffe and white rhino lodges, for which building works are due to commence in September 2021. It is hoped that when planning permission is granted for the new tiger lodges, works shall begin for these in October 2021.

Guests can still book to stay at the Park’s new Red Panda Cottages, with limited dates still available for 2021. For further information on Safari Lodges and details on how to book, visit safari-lodges.co.uk.