If you’ve ever dreamed of waking up to see giraffes strolling past your window, Chester Zoo has just made it possible. Our family were lucky enough to be some of the very first guests to experience The Reserve, a brand new overnight lodge stay that gives you a front-row view of some of the zoo’s best-loved animals. The Reserve – which opens for bookings today – has 51 luxury lodges in total, each made with natural materials to create a safari-style escape. Depending on your group size, you can choose from Lakeside, Family, Look-Out or VIP Giraffe Lodges, which sleep between two and six people. And because Chester Zoo is a not-for-profit organisation, every stay helps fund its incredible conservation work across the world. We went for the Savannah Adventurer Package, which includes an overnight stay in a lodge, breakfast and a three-course dinner at Amboseli Restaurant. With this you also get extended zoo access, evening campfire stories and a ranger-guided safari-style tour once the zoo has closed to the public; this was a real perk as one of our kids doesn’t cope well in large crowds, and the zoo can be very busy in the daytime. It was also an amazing chance to see some of the nocturnal animals, and behind-the-scenes action, including how they feed the 15,000 locusts while making sure they don’t escape. But the absolute highlight? Watching the father-and-son giraffes, along with a zebra (who the rangers say “thinks he’s a giraffe”), wander right past our balcony. The lodges are designed to feel both luxurious and close to nature. Inside, ours had a huge comfy bed and safari-inspired décor, but the real showstopper was outside: a gleaming copper bathtub on the deck. It was the perfect place for a soak under the stars – although our kids immediately claimed it as their “adventure bath” and leapt straight into the bubbles. Dinner at the Amboseli Restaurant was a real treat, with three courses included in the stay (drinks are extra). Afterwards, we headed to the lakeside terrace for campfire stories. Sat around the firepit, the rangers told us all about the Maasai Olympics, a sporting competition introduced to replace traditional lion-hunting rites of passage. It was fascinating, and the kids were completely captivated. There were also games and activities to keep them busy while the adults relaxed by the fire. Another unforgettable part of our stay was the Giraffe Keeper Kitchen Experience, during which we went behind the scenes to prepare treats for the giraffes. The kids giggled their way through seeing the “poo fridge”, and loved stuffing branches into puzzle feeders. Watching the giraffes stretch their necks to enjoy what the children had made was a moment none of us will forget. Morning brought another pinch-me moment: having coffee sitting on the balcony watching both giraffes, Meru and Stanley, strolling by the water’s edge. One of the rangers told us that the cheeky zebra often sneaks into the giraffes’ sleeping area and keeps them awake – apparently he really does believe he’s part of the herd! These little insider stories added an extra layer of magic to our stay. We had breakfast and then headed back to the zoo; being able to split our stay across two days meant we could avoid peak times and head back to our lodge for lunch, appreciating our private view. For a family who loves animals, this was an unforgettable experience, and for once, the kids weren’t even tempted by their devices. Really special family memories were made, and we would definitely return. How much does it cost? The Reserve at Chester Zoo's Savannah Explorer package costs from £492.50 per night, based on two adults sharing a Lakeside Lodge (based on a stay on Wed 17 September). The Savannah Adventurer package costs from £611 per night, based on two adults sharing a Lakeside Lodge (based on a stay on Wed 17 September). The Savannah VIP package costs from £1,488.62 for two nights, based on two adults sharing a Giraffe VIP Lodge (based on a stay from 16–18 Dec).