WEST Midland Safari Park bosses have confirmed the launch date for their highly anticipated Safari Lodges will yet again be delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Park temporarily closed its gates on January 4 following the latest update and guidance from the UK Government.

Now, due to supply chain issues caused by the nation’s third lockdown, the Park’s new luxury accommodation has been forced into another delay.

Initial plans were to launch last summer and commenting on the delay to the revised launch for next month, Chris Kelly said: “After much deliberation, we must advise of another hurdle for our Lodges. We have done everything within our power to stay on track, but given another lockdown and the ramifications of disrupted global supply chains, it saddens me to say we will be unable to welcome guests when we had planned.

"We very much hope to be open for Easter and plan Friday 2nd April as our revised opening date.

"We are currently in the process of contacting guests whose bookings are affected and we thank everyone for their understanding and patience at this time.”

The long-awaited safari lodges, which were scheduled to welcome their first guests next month, are the first of their kind in the UK.

Their open date had already been delayed by seven months as a result of the first nationwide lockdown last year.

The eight exclusive cabins are integrated into the newly-updated animal habitats on the park’s reserves, overlooking the cheetahs and African elephants, and are designed to give guests an immersive and unforgettable overnight wildlife experience.