African Forest is a new habitat which will open at Bristol Zoo Project in spring 2026, providing a new home for a critically endangered troop of Lowland Western Gorillas.
African Forest is the first phase of a project to transform the attraction into a modern conservation zoo. The new habitat will feature a large outdoor island, set within existing woodland to replicate the dense forest and landscape of Equatorial Guinea.
It will become home to the zoo’s much-loved troop of western lowland gorillas, who will be joined by a new group of Endangered cherry-crowned mangabeys for the first time in a UK zoo. The habitat will include areas for the animals to nest and trees to climb, with the aim of providing a natural environment for the species to live in.
Other threatened species will also be housed in the habitat, including critically endangered slender-snouted crocodiles and endangered African grey parrots.
Visitors will be able to see the animals from the edge of the surrounding moat, which will be home to several extremely threatened species of West African freshwater fish, visible in a special underwater viewing area. The habitat will have integrated learning spaces, enabling students, visitors and school children to observe, record and appreciate animals in a natural scene.
About Bristol Zoo Project
Located just off J17 of the M5 in south Gloucestershire, Bristol Zoo Project is a family attraction where visitors can see and learn about animals from around the world, including giraffes, cheetahs, red pandas, zebras, ostriches, gelada baboons, lemurs and more.
Bristol Zoo Project is run by conservation and education charity Bristol Zoological Society and 85% of the animals it cares for are threatened and part of targeted conservation programmes.
The zoo is home to Bear Wood, the only area of its kind in the UK where British species, lost over time, including bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines, share a habitat, living in ancient woodland which can be explored by visitors on a treetop walkway.
Visitors to the zoo can enjoy various food and drink options from a pizzeria, café and coffee cabins, along with picnic areas located around the site for people to take their own food and drink.
Group visits
Bristol Zoo Project takes group bookings when booked in advance, with discounted admission for groups of ten or more. Parking is available for coaches and buses.
For more information about Bristol Zoo Project, visit www.bristolzoo.org.
