Zufari - Safari Experience 2013

[insider9150]

The Safari ride is on its way, Kingston council has granted planing permission today. Expect to see some big changes on the 22 acre site over the next 6 months. Looking forward to 2013 alot more now.

[monsterdan5]

Yeah its a reasonable addition, although as much as I look forward to it I do feel the money could have been spent much more wisely.

But yeah, construction is going to be very rapid because the animals are supposed to be introduced to the environment in October so they have time to settle in!

[insider9150]

well its started, the diggers are in, and they are starting to clear the far end of the project, where the rhino house will be. It didnt take them long to level this area, tons of machinery has been deliveried to finish this project on time. The net few months are going to be very interesting. I will keeping everyone updated with the progess

[AeRo]

Thanks for that insider9150, We look forward to the updates

[monsterdan5]

Thanks, will get down there after May and grab some photos.

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[insider9150]

Just a quick update, The Rhino & Giraffe house foundations are coming on very quickly, loads of cement lorries going in & out of the park today. The layout of the rides road is almost complete, ready for concrete. Looking from the top floor of the hotel the site looks massive. Pics coming very soon!!

[monsterdan5]

Any luck on those pictures yet? I would love to see how this is all coming along

[JoshC.]

http://www.chessington.com/zufari/

We have a name, minisite and posters around the park!

Love the quirky name and they seem to be putting loads of emphasis on the cave finale - hope that lives up to the hype..

Also, an expansion of Africa could possibly see a retheme of Forbidden Kingdom?

[monsterdan5]

Ooh very nice Thanks Josh

[AeRo]

Looking good.

[monsterdan5]

Here's a small construction update:
http://go-merlin.co.uk/news/5880

[Lexwolfe88]

I doubt they would re-theme forbidden kingdom as it's Egypt... which is in Africa.

[insider9150]

Hi There, Just a quick update on the project. Both Rhino and Giraffe houses are now up. The roof is on on the Giraffe House with the wall starting next week. The walls are built on the Rhino Hoise with the Roof going on next week. The ride road layout is complete, and they have had a test vehicle driving around it. The Main Station platform is now built and waiting for all the building and theming to happen.
Foundations for the bridges are complete, for both the main entrance from Rameses, and the link from Wanyama, with the bridge at rameses being installed sometime this week.
Things are coming on really quickly.
Next update in 1 weeks time.....

[monsterdan5]

Thanks a lot

Sounding like some good progress has been made

[insider9150]

Hi Everyone, just a quick update. Most of the back part of the ride is complete and landscaped, its going to take a few months for the plantes and grasses to progress. The roofs on both giraffe and Rhino houses are complete, The link bridges from Rameses and wanyama are complete, and the builders are starting to build the station buildings. The final cave is being started next week. Its coming on really quickly. They have also have had one of the trucks driving around the track.

[monsterdan5]

Thanks for the info, I may get some more photos at HHP as I'm interested to see these bridges :-)

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[vampirerider]

I wondered if there would be an element to the ride experience like the Walt Disney Studio tour where the carriage tipped or rocked causing an element of excitement for the riders. I don't know yet how the ride programme is going to be planned and if there will be an element of scariness and fun. People have said that there would be a special finale to the ride. People may be thinking that it is just a safari experience but it's more ride orientated. It won't be until early next year until we see the way in which Chessington operate the ride but I thought I'd see if anyone thinks that therre might be some rocking or tipping involved.

[JoshC.]

The experience itself takes place in a jeep to some description which is driven by a driver, I believe. I'd imagine it would be expensive to modify / make jeeps which are able to rock / tip riders safely, as I'd believe that, at most, there would only be lap seatbelts for riders.

This is pure guesswork on my part though. However, I do doubt they would tip / rock you in any way.

[peep]

There is a picture lurking on the net somewhere of the 'trucks' which could easily be compared to the ones at Animal Kingdom, I was rather shocked at how big they were. The vehicles at Disney had a huge amount of suspension which caused lots of rocking and bouncing around as it drove over uneven surfaces etc. I reckon Chessington has basically gone down this route.

Unlike at Disney though I doubt the driver will interact with guests and will leave everything down to a video or narration throughout the journey. I reckon this will lessen the experience if this is the case.

The finale area on the plans is up for plenty of interpretation but the plans were so vague I doubt even the designers know what will happen in that area yet.

By the way I was shocked when I saw the size of the area the other week. The whole area is going to be massive. The bridge to the Forbidden Kingdom is looking like it'll be complete within the next week or so too.

[Sir Coastalot]

I suppose if going on 'safari' you do need a nice chunky suspension or you'll be bouncing people out of the truck!

[vampirerider]

Chessington now have a mini site on their main website for Zufari and a competition to find Britain's Most Adventurous Youngster. The winner will be involved in the opening of the ride. The mini site has a countdown to opening date and stands at 115 days to go. I have signed up for the latest newsletters updating people about the attraction as this sounds really good and I can't wait. I am certainly going to Chessington next year to ride this. Sounds like there will be some speed involved possibly in the finale because that's the impression I get when I read what the mini site has to say. The words "career" and "splash" came to mind so something a bit fast and wet could be expected.

[monsterdan5]

Yeah the minisite looks nice, would be nice if they actually did some update on it - although I don't think they will based on previous efforts.

[JoshC.]

I'd much rather leave it as it is. The story they've gone with, we don't particular want to see animal enclosures being worked on (even though I do think the animals are already meant to be in the enclosures).

Once the area is more or less finished, then they can start teasing us with pictures in my opinion - let us be surprised!

[monsterdan5]

Yeah I guess

Actually your right, I read on the plans they were supposed to be there by the end of October so they had enough time to settle in before being disturbed by the vehicles or something. Perhaps they are

[insider9150]

Another quick update, as there hasnt been one for a while. Both animal enclosures are up and being prepared for the arrival of the animals shortly. The station building is up and had now got an amazing looking thatched roof. The cave building is up and is now being themed inside and out, the size of it is gigantic. Theming on the sides of the giraffe house is still ongoing but again looks great. The link bridges are slowly getting transformed, but a part of the main bridge was removed to allow access for some over sized construction cranes. Overall this project is probably the biggest chessington has under taked since the vampire was installed in the early 90s. I think next year ths addition is going to be amazing for chessington.