The sprawling zoo, set to arise on a 71-hectare spot in Al Waab, will be connected to Aspire Park and Villaggio mall via a cable car, a dedicated tram service, and a custom-made pathway to make a “zoo within a park.”
Gregory Clarkson, a senior planner with Ashghal, outlined the concept and visions for the zoo, which will help make Qatar a global tourist attraction. Clarkson has previously worked at Hong Kong Disneyland. He said that the zoo would be dividing into zones and would feature animal attractions like gorillas, giraffes, lions, tigers, rhinos, and an elephant pavement on a bridge linking the zoo on the south side of Al Waab Street with Aspire Park to the north. The zoo will also include drive-through African and Asian Safari zones, walk-through African and Asian safari areas, a mountain experience and a tropical rainforest environment.
He added that creators were working on a design that would allow guests to take their cars through certain areas of the zoo.The zoo will introduce a completely new innovative controlled biosphere roof system, where it will rain once an hour and a river ride throughout the zoo network.
The zoo village, which will be open to the all, will feature architecture in line with Qatari heritage and culture and include themed cafes and restaurants to create a new, popular get-together place like Souq Waqif and Katara. There are plans for a special seven-star resort nestled in mature trees, with boardwalks throughout the tree canopy; a five-star rainforest hotel and a four-star Montane family resort.
Clarkson said 1.3 million visitors are expected to the village with around 950,000 to the zoo.
