Strutting out across the sandy plain stretching before me, a journey of giraffes stake out their new home. These magnificent animals, necks held aloft, are wandering across the newly-unveiled Heart of Africa savannah at Chester Zoo. They nibble at leaves and playfully nuzzle each other. But then, the mood changes somewhat. A herd of zebra venture out of their enclosure at the far end of this vast new savannah, and they're ready to mark their own territory. They whinny and do a spot of buckaroo, sparking the giraffes to sprint back across the sand. Seeing these animals not only close up, but interact in this way with one another, takes your breath away. It's really quite heartwarming - and I'm so pleased that this huge new development is now opening just in time for the Easter school holidays so that lots of families may get chance to see it all soon. And for what is set to be a sunny few weeks too. For this new, mostly outdoor area, is packed with things to do for all the family - that is if you can drag yourself away from the mesmirising sights and sounds of the savannah itself. The new zone is all part of the standard entrance fee as well so you're not having to pay any extra to get into it. And it feels so roomy that I hope, when the crowds do start flocking in, it won't feel too packed. Click below for a gallery of photos from the new Heart of Africa Heart of Africa is one of the biggest, and most ambitious UK zoo habitats ever created according to bosses here at the zoo. And it's the first time visitors will get to see giraffes, zebras, antelopes and ostrich all roaming together in a space designed to recreate the grasslands of central Africa. The new zone has plenty more enclosures away from the savannah too, with lots of extraordinary animals to visit, including a number of highly-threatened African species. I don't think I've ever seen African wild dogs before, but they are quite magnificent creatures as they prowl around their own enclosure and cave like structure next to the savannah. There are also a host of yellow mongoose playfully darting about here too, and this is the new home for the ever-popular meerkats too. Snaking around the new zone, I then came to a newly landscaped area featuring a lovely new playground that younger kids are going to love. There's also a new paint-your-own-stone station that kids can do, if parents will fork out £8 each. I was also pleased to see lots of new seating areas in this zone too, which when you're heading along with kids in tow, is always a welcome thing to see. There are lots of new food and drink stalls here too, including an ice cream van, waffle station and cheese toastie stall. There's also a good amount of seating under cover at the main savannah too for those moments when we're not enjoying the sunshine like we are so far this month. I also ventured into the new "Hidden Savannah" here, an indoor exhibition with 11 ectotherm species (or cold-blooded animals). Here, I had to confront one of my worst nightmares - there's a room absolutely crawling with 10,000 locusts. To really get up close and personal with the giant insects you're able to climb inside half an old jeep - and then get someone to take a photo of your terrified face if you're anything like me. Also in this section you'll find a cobra, and an absolutely humungous frog. Back outside, you may spot a playful pangolin making her way about the yard. She's not real, but it's quite a clever way for the zoo to highlight the plight of the endangered species in a way that will connect with young and old visitors. Zoo staff were very helpful on my visit, and very keen to talk about the different species here, and the ongoing aims of the charity to support conservation efforts. There are 31 species of bird withim several new aviaries, including a flock of 120 greater flamingos, three species of critically endangered vulture (white-headed vultures, African white-backed vultures, and hooded vultures), colourful black cheeked lovebirds, and Verreaux’s eagle owl, the largest owl found in Africa. At the preview event on Monday, the boss of the zoo, Jamie Christon, spoke passionately about the aims of the new Heart of Africa zone. He said: "We want visitors to feel fully immersed in the sights and sounds of the African savannah, and what better way to achieve that than by seeing northern giraffe, Grevy's zebra, ostrich, and roan antelope roaming together. It's truly a breathtaking sight." He added: "This marks a significant new chapter for Chester Zoo. As an international wildlife charity, Heart of Africa will help us connect hundreds of thousands of people with nature, generate jobs and economic growth for the region, and continue our vital conservation work in Africa, long into the future. "It’s the most complex habitat we’ve ever created, and we can’t wait to invite visitors into this extraordinary new space." Having experienced it for myself this week, I can't wait to take my own family back to visit it again too. How much does it cost? Heart of Africa is accessed with general admission tickets to Chester Zoo. The cheapest way to buy tickets is in advance of your visit online. There, tickets are available from £27 for children, from £36.50 for adults, and from £35 for students. When does it open? The new Heart of Africa zone is open from Tuesday April 1 to Friday April 4 for pre-booked Chester Zoo members. It then opens fully to the public for the first time from Saturday, April 5. Chester Zoo is open every day from 10am to 4.30pm.