ONE of the world's best-selling authors visited one of Hampshire's top tourist attractions to officially open a new enclosure.

Wilbur Smith went to Marwell Zoo, near Winchester, to formally open the park's purpose-built Heart of Africa house, in which many of the zoo's African animals will be housed.

The £650,000 enclosure is aimed at giving visitors a closer experience of what life is like in Africa for the animals, from the tropical forests of the Congo River to the grassy savannahs of the African plains.

The inside of the centre is a themed environment with graphics giving information about the animals living there, and clear glass walls enabling visitors to feel close to the inhabitants.

An aquarium has also been built to house 100 specially-selected cichlid fish from the Lake Malawi region, while outside a new walkway allows people to get up close and personal with Marwell's giraffes.

Work on the project began last May and was finished in December, but now following final safety checks and adjustments the new exhibit is finally open to the public.

Opening the exhibit, Mr Smith, pictured, whose books are mainly based in Africa, said the exhibit was close to his heart as it captured some of the spirit of his homeland.

He also praised Marwell's work in not only breeding some of the world's most endangered animals, but in committing itself to re-establishing rare animal populations in Africa.

He added: "It's wonderful to see a little bit of Africa in this green England."