The Safari & Azteca Hotel at Chessington World of Adventures
- Jennifer Kozyra
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
Located in Surrey, the Chessington Safari Hotel is a family-friendly, safari-themed hotel at Chessington World of Adventures, offering a unique stay with African-inspired rooms such as giraffe and zebra themes. A key highlight is the Wanyama Reserve, where guests can view animals like zebras and ostriches from certain rooms and restaurant, creating an immersive wildlife experience. The hotel includes a swimming pool, dining options and its super close to the theme park making your stay a special family mini break.
We recently visited in April 2026 and here’s everything you need to know and what we thought as a family of 4 with two older daughters ages 11 and 14.
Top Info
⏰️ Check-in from 3pm
⏰️ Check-out by 10am
👣 5 mins from park entrance
🕙 Early ride time 20th Mar - 1st Nov 2026
🚗 Car park is free and just outside
👨👩👧👦 Family rooms are spacious & comfy
🍳 Breakfast included
🥶 Fridge in your room
📱 Pre book the hotel for dinner
🕹 Arcade and games
🍔 Order a take out food delivery to reception
💰 Show your Merlin Annual Pass to get 20% off food & drink
🏊♂️ Pool available to book
💰 Check out offers on my socials before booking
🌎 Chessington KT9 2NE
Af link] Book Here https://tinyurl.com/DaysOutandMealsOutChessington
⏰️ Early Ride Time 🎢
Get into the park at 9am which is an hour before it is open to the public. A selection of rides are open early so you can bank some rides before the crowds.
Rides included: Croc Drop, The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure, Mandrill Mayhem, Ostrich Stampede, Mamba Strike, Seastorm, Tiny Truckers, Adventure Tree Carousel, Room on the Broom.
😃 What we thought about Early Ride Time
This is definitely a bonus, make sure you are in the queue to enter the park before 9am as there can be a queue, make sure you have your tickets ready and proof you have stayed over. Top tip is do the same ride twice straight away, no time wasted thinking about the next ride or walking in between. We went on Mandrill Mayhem twice by 9.30am and then Croc Drop twice and then was in queue for the Rattlesnake by 10am.
Family Discovery Room
The room is well set up for families and feels practical, comfy and that extra bit of fun.
🛌 Comfortable double bed for adults
📺 Large TV opposite bed
🔌 Large desk area with plenty of charging points
🥶 Mini fridge
🔥 Hairdryer
🛌 Separate kids’ sleeping area with bunk beds for up to 3 children
🖥 Kids also get their own TV
😃 The layout works really well, giving both adults and kids their own space without feeling cramped
⛺️ Safari themed decor
🛌 What we thought about our bedroom
The room was spacious, clean, and had everything we needed. Having a separate area for the kids was a real bonus especially with older girls who appreciate their own space.
The fridge was a great addition. I hadn’t realised it was included before arriving, otherwise I would have brought some picnic items to keep for lunch in the park the next day. We did use it to keep our water bottles cold though, which was especially helpful during a sunny Easter break.
Being able to see the park entrance from our hotel window really highlighted how close everything is. It made the whole experience feel even more convenient, as it’s so easy to check out in the morning and head straight into the park.
Themed Rooms Available
Our room was a fun but a simple design being the Family Discovery Room. A bit like we were staying in a safari tent. But some of the other themed rooms look really special and more elaborate including:
The Gruffalo Room
Journey to the Deep Dark Woods with this fantastic room jam packed with Gruffalo details including hidden Gruffalo Gift
The Room on the Broom Room
Stay in the spellbinding world of The Witch, Dog, Bird and Frog with the Room on the Broom hidden gift and views over the Wanyama Reserve.
The Jumanji Room
Paw Patrol Room
With the New Paw Patrol World opening on 3rd May why not match your over night stay with the Paw Patrol room.
Food & Drink
🍳 Breakfast
Breakfast is included in your stay, but you must book a time slot in advance, so don’t forget to do this before you arrive. You normally get a link in your email or you can book it here
👉 Zafari Bar & Grill
Breakfast is served buffet-style, with all the usual options including cereal, fresh fruit, pancakes, muffins, toast, pastries, and a full cooked breakfast. There’s also tea, coffee, and fruit juice available. It’s a help-yourself setup, so you can really fill up for the day ahead.
We usually go for a big breakfast, which means we don’t have to worry too much about lunch later on. We like to book an early slot so we have plenty of time to eat, head back to the room to check out, load up the car, and make our way to the park entrance. The buffet style makes everything quick and easy, which works perfectly for a smooth start to the day.
🍔 Dinner
We didn’t personally eat dinner at the hotel as we chose to eat in the park before heading back. But there is a couple of dining options at the hotel
There is a buffet-style dining option which you can pre book here
👉Temple Buffet: https://module.lafourchette.com/en_US/module/604555-ca69c
You can also order food from the bar menu, which offers more casual options and gives you a bit of flexibility depending on what you’re in the mood for after a long day.
Alternatively, you can order food from outside the resort. We often use Uber Eats to get things like McDonald’s delivered just outside the hotel reception, something that’s very common, so delivery drivers are familiar with the setup. It’s also a great way to keep costs down, as dining in the on-site restaurants can quickly add up.
🏊♂️ Swimming Pool
If you’re planning to use the swimming pool, make sure you pre-book a time slot. This is important as spaces are limited and can fill up quickly, especially during busy periods.
Use of the pool is included with Themed Rooms, or an additional £3pp when staying in one of the standard rooms.
👉 To book please visit Manage My Booking or call the team direct on 01372 734681 to make your booking
Info about swimming
* Savannah Splash Pool is only open for Resort Hotel guests
* Each time slot is for one hour.
* Only one swimming session permitted per night stay.
* Guests can swim from 1pm on day of check in up until 12pm on day of check out
🍺 Bar & Atmosphere
The bar area was a nice spot to unwind, with a cosy feel and a standout outdoor seating area. Sitting outside and watching zebras, giraffes, and ostriches is a really unique experience and a great way to relax in the evening while still feeling part of the adventure.
That said, seating in the main bar area is quite limited. We did find extra space in what seemed like a conference-style room, but it lacked the same atmosphere and felt a bit out of the way.
What else is there to do in the Hotel?
🕹 Arcades and Games room
🐻 Character Meet and Greet's
🔎 Becoming a Ranger ( for ages 5 and under)
🎶 Disco
😃 Final Thoughts
Overall, staying at the Safari or Azteca Hotel adds a whole other layer to your Chessington trip. The themed rooms, animal views, and family-friendly setup make it especially memorable. While there are a few small drawbacks like limited bar seating and the need to pre-book key things the experience as a whole is well worth it.
If you’re looking to turn a day out into a mini getaway, this is definitely a great option.
Af link] Book Here https://tinyurl.com/DaysOutandMealsOutChessington
Pr stay April 2026
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