Africa Alive in Kessingland, near Lowestoft, welcomes new changing places facility

A zoo near Lowestoft has welcomed the installation of a new state-of-the-art changing places facility for disabled customers.

Africa Alive, in Kessingland, has a mission to ensure all its visitors can enjoy its offering in time for the Easter holiday.

It offers a fully-accessible toilet which contains a hoist, adult-sized changing bench and extra space for carers.

Jandre Smutts, the head of mission at The Zoological Society of East Anglia Ltd (ZSEA), which runs the park, said it was extremely grateful and excited about the opportunities a changing places toilet could bring to the wider community.

“It will allow more people to get closer to nature and experience our conservation offerings,” he added.

Its installation comes after a report by the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers, in which 88.3 per cent said they would like to see such facilities at attractions like zoos or wildlife parks.

The toilet was designed and installed by Innova Care Concepts.

Managing director Tom Hulbert said: “Our primary mission is to utilise the technology we have in order to make the UK a more equitable society with access for everyone.

“We are delighted to have installed these new facilities at Africa Alive to give all their visitors the ability to enjoy conservation with the accessibility requirements they need.”