Chester Zoo is setting sail on a new adventure with the creation of a boat ride, a first for an animal attraction in the UK-set to open in 2015.

Construction has started on The Lazy Boat Journey part of the £30m Islands project  which will give zoo visitors a closer view of many exotic creatures.

Islands brings together the isles of the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Sumatra, Sumba and Sulawesi and the meandering boat ride will transport visitors on a 15-minute journey taking in the sights of Sumatran orangutans, tigers, banteng  and many more.

It is the first time an excursion of this kind has been developed in a UK zoo and is a key part of the Islands expedition.

Chester Zoo’s Simon Mann, who is spearheading the project, said: “Islands give visitors the best of both worlds – the opportunity to stroll through these magnificent islands on foot or to take the more leisurely option of the boat journey.

“The Lazy Boat Journey will give visitors a taste of what it is like to explore the wild and take in some breath-taking sights, including orangutans swinging through the treetops.”

Construction of the river bed is already under way. The boat ride feature will have:

Enough water in its 450m-long ‘river’ to fill four Olympic sized swimming pools

A four-metre drop waterfall which will provide an added focal point to the journey.

Fourteen boats, which will move along the Islands ‘river’ on a pulley system. Each boat will be named and themed to fit in with its surroundings.

The boats are being provided by German company Intamin with the first vessels expected to be delivered on site in summer 2014.

Islands will open to the public in 2015.