Monarto Zoo set for a $40 million five-star upgrade and name change
Monarto Zoo is set for a $40 million five-star upgrade and name change, transforming the site into the world’s largest safari experience outside of Africa.
SA News
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South Australia’s Monarto Zoo will be given the five-star treatment with a private investor to build and operate a luxury resort and glamping facilities at the popular attraction as part of $40 million expansion plans.
The expansion will transform the site into the world’s largest safari experience outside of Africa and will mark its rebranding as ‘Monarto Safari Park’.
Zoos South Australia Chief Executive Elaine Bensted announced this morning that Australian businessman and private investor Gerry Ryan OAM is building the luxury resort, which will bring the multi-million development to life.
“We’re thrilled to formalise our partnership with Gerry Ryan OAM which will see him build and operate a state-of-the-art safari resort at Monarto, allowing us to expand our fabulous safari experiences and tourism offering,” Ms Bensted said.
“$40 million in private investment and the construction of a luxury resort and glamping facilities is an exciting coup for Monarto Zoo and the broader tourism industry in the Murraylands.
“Mr Ryan is a highly successful business leader and has extensive experience when it comes to developments in the tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors.
“The expansion will see Mr Ryan build a luxury resort with hotel rooms, conference, function and restaurant spaces and eco-glamping facilities, giving our visitors the extraordinary opportunity to experience a luxury sleepover at Monarto Safari Park for the first time by 2022.
Ms Bensted said the zoo will also be launching new tours and offerings, including
safari experiences with specially designed open-sided vehicles, and a 35,000sqm walk-though lemur experience, which will position Monarto Safari Park as an international tourism drawcard.
“The addition of accommodation and new experiences will also help us generate more funds to support our critical conservation work and continually improve our facilities at both of our sites,” she said.
“We’re staying true to our core business which is providing our visitors with incredible opportunities to connect with nature, learn about conservation and discover the benefits of getting off the beaten track.
“Our new safari experience is set to be the closest visitors can get to an African safari, all within an hour’s drive of Adelaide.”
Mr Ryan said he was thrilled to be investing in this redevelopment.
“Monarto Safari Park is a standout tourism offering, and this expansion will provide visitors with an unsurpassable safari experience that will attract domestic and international visitation,” Mr Ryan said.
“Tourism is a key growth sector which has a hugely positive impact on the local economy with the creation of jobs, and by attracting tourists to the region to stay in this unique accommodation.
“I believe Monarto is a jewel in South Australia’s crown and the aim of this development is to create a truly memorable safari experience second only to a safari in Africa,” said Mr Ryan.
The new development is also expected to create a large number of jobs and generate economic activity for the region.
Ms Bensted said Mr Ryan had already purchased some adjacent land to support the development and was due to begin construction in 2020.
“We know from modelling that construction of a project of this scale is expected to generate 72 direct FTE and 151 indirect FTE, for a total of 223 FTE positions.
“Once the new Visitor Centre and the accommodation are in operation, the development will require an additional 90 FTE to run facilities and support the increased demand associated with visitation increases.”
Beyond jobs growth, the project will generate significant economic activity.
During the construction period, an estimated $20.4m of Gross Regional Product is expected to be produced. This will deliver significant flow-on effects to the local economy.
“Monarto Zoo has experienced significant growth in the past five years, and we have plans to increase our visitors to 250,000 in the next five years,” Ms Bensted said.
This expansion will mark a dynamic era of growth for Monarto Zoo and its official relaunch as Monarto Safari Park.
“To coincide with the expansion, we’re changing our name to Monarto Safari Park from today onwards to reflect who we’ve been for the past 26 years, where we’re going, and the experiences we’re creating for our visitors,” Elaine said.
“All our market research indicates our visitors view us as a safari park, and as we announce we are building the world’s largest safari experience outside of Africa, now is the perfect time to transition into Monarto Safari Park.”
On Thursday, Monarto Zoo welcomed the newest member of its ever expanding giraffe herd.
Three-time mother Korongo gave birth to the calf, the 47th born at Monarto, yesterday morning.
The calf has joined other babies born at the zoo in the last two weeks, including a zebra foal and a new addition to the chimpanzee family.
MORE TO COME