Guide to Visiting Safari Park in San Diego – Make the Most of Your Trip With Our Tips

What makes the San Diego Safari Park (previously known as the Wild Animal Park) so unique in comparison to all other zoo’s worldwide begins with understanding that the park initially started off as a breeding, reintegration facility, and animal sanctuary, not as a zoo. This gave the park a few advantages over other conventional zoos. It meant that the zoo layout was much more expansive, and the idea was not to create enclosures for visitors to view these animals, but for animals to have plenty of open space, which created an open safari like experience.

The zoo enjoys a naturalistic mountain range mimicking an African safari, even though it’s actually hidden in a mountainous terrain in the outskirts of Escondido, California, a city about 30 miles north of San Diego. The zoo therefore inherited an area covering over 1,800 acres, making it much larger than your city zoos that are often constrained to urban settings which don’t allow them to expand. This unique layout of open range exhibits is what make this particular zoo one of the best in the world not only for visitors, but for the animals as well who enjoy the larger open spaces to roam freely.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is located in Escondido, California

Although the title of the park says San Diego, the actual location of the park is in San Diego County, but in a city within the county named Escondido. A city with a current population of about 150,000 as of the 2020 census. What’s important about the city of Escondido is its climate, which can be characterized as mediterranean. This type of climate means you’ll have very nice weather year-round, but with some warm weeks throughout the summer months. Even though the park area doesn’t suffer from extreme heat waves that you’ll find in other parts of the country, it’s important to remember the Safari Park has open spaces in the outdoors that can become too harsh to take in, in spite of it being a Mediterranean climate. The heat can start to take its toll if you’re in the open spaces of the safari park for several hours without taking the necessary precautions such as bringing enough drinking water.

The San Diego Safari Park vs The San Diego Zoo and Their Differences

Although both parks are run by the same organization, which is called the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, both parks are vastly different. Not only is their layout different, but they’ve also carved out different goals and objectives in how they will assist the wildlife they house at their respective zoos. I also have a lot of experience visiting both parks, so I feel I’m a great candidate to review these interesting differences with you. Let’s review the key differences below.

The Location of Each Zoo

As mentioned above, the San Diego Safari Park is located in Escondido, which offers a landscape and climate characterized as Mediterranean. This detail, along with the open layout and the strategic design gives the park it’s familiarity as a natural African safari. The safari park comes with warmer summers in comparison to the cooler temperatures of the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park.

The San Diego Zoo on the other hand offers a different kind of experience, mostly driven by its natural climate of cooler temperatures and the fact that it’s built within Balboa Park, which is right next to downtown San Diego and built as a large urban park neighborhood. Balboa Park enjoys cooler temperatures due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean.

The Size and Layout of Both Zoos

Built in the late 1960’s and officially opened in 1972, The San Diego Safari Park from its inception, was born to be an important facility specializing in breeding, reintegration and to be an animal sanctuary. The facility was never intended to become a zoo. The particular focus of animals to be breed and reintegrated were the rhinos, California condors, and various other species. The enclosures for the animals were made with a lot of open space, and designed for animals to roam freely, not to be observed in any kind of exhibit model. The property for the park is pretty massive as well, much larger than any conventional zoo world-wide, at 1,800 acres, including the San Diego Zoo.

The San Diego Zoo on the other hand was built from the ground up with the understanding that it would be a conventional zoo, with smaller enclosures, built for back-to-back exhibits down walking pathways. At over 100 acres the San Diego Zoo is large but is considerably smaller than the San Diego Safari Park. The San Diego Zoo has a walking friendly layout that’s a bit more leisure, with less hills and distance between each exhibit, which is probably the most notable difference. The walking pathways also offer a lot of shade, which was built into the design and layout of the park given the number of trees and other greeneries you’ll find as you make your way around the park. Due to its much denser layout, the park does tend to get much more crowded in comparison to the safari parks open exhibit layout.

Animal Experiences

So, there are pros and cons when comparing the parks, however, in my experience, I’ve had such a blast visiting both zoos and experiencing the wildlife they offer and the manner in which they each present it. Their differences complement each other as Balboa Park’s cooler temperatures and urban park setting obviously wouldn’t work as a safari park location and vice versa. So, they both offer a unique perspective on how to observe wildlife. Below are key differences particularly when it comes to the animal experiences.

While one park has a lot more animals, the other has less animals, but a lot more space. As mentioned, they complement each other well and serve different purposes with zoo visitors. For example, the San Diego Safari Park has 3,600 animals and over 300+ species available to see at their park. The San Diego Zoo has many more animals and species and exhibits overall with approximately 12,000 and 650+ species.

Both parks focus on a type of animal, for example the San Diego Safari Park exhibits animals mostly from the African and Asian regions of the world. Making the park layout and climate exceptional for this type of animal. The safari is focused on animals from these regions like elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, lions, hyenas and giraffes. On the other hand, the San Diego Zoo has a more exotic collection of animals such as Polar Bears, Koalas and Pandas. While there is some overlap over both zoos carrying similar animals, each park makes each regional or type of animal the focal points of their park.

Experience and Viewing of Each Zoo

As previously mentioned, each park offers their own way of building out an exhibit that works for them, below we’ll get into more details from each side.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is vast and open, with each exhibit often very distant from each other in terms of where the viewing takes place. The experience can feel genuinely close to what it must be like to go on an African safari (one day!) with open plains. African animals roaming freely as they eat on the grown grass, sharing spaces with each other, just like in Africa! It’s a beautiful sight to see! This expanded layout of open exhibits was the result of this place not even starting off as a zoo to begin with. The design layout also helps curb crowding that can often times hinder one’s experience at a zoo when visiting a popular attraction. The downside is you’ll need to walk more as you visit each exhibit, remember the park is 1,800 acres. Additionally, there is another way you can enjoy the safari with The African Tram Safari that allows you to ride through the open plains of Safari Park getting a more personal viewing of the exhibits.

The San Diego Zoo offers a different kind of viewing experience, one that’s a bit more leisure than that of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The San Diego Zoo offers shaded walkways and exhibits that are in close proximity with each other. The walks are a bit easier, as there are less hills and acres to cover as you make your way around the park. Although this convenient feature can lend itself to crowding for the more popular exhibits as there is less space to share compared to the Safari Park. This park also offers a fun bus tour that lets you see up to 70% of the park, which makes for a convenient way to view the animals all over the park. The park also has a fun Skyfari Aerial Tram ride that gives you awesome views of the entire park, the exhibits from up high and of downtown San Diego.

Different Conservation Goals

Both San Diego Zoos work well in complimenting their conservation efforts by tackling different aspects of much needed help for wildlife.

The San Diego Safari Park focuses primarily on breeding and reintegration, which is an important tool to help fight against extinction for those species that find themselves in critically low numbers. Some examples are their important work in breeding rhinos and condors. Both suffer from low numbers and need additional help from organizations to boost their numbers. This work is at the core of why the safari park first opened up decades ago before it even became an animal exhibit.

The San Diego Zoo strategically aims to assist wildlife through conservation and endangered species research. This important research is vital to the future wellbeing of the animal wildlife found at both zoos and beyond.

Getting to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido

First thing let’s give you the address to this location for starters. Address is 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027. Now, the good thing is there is virtually no traffic at this park. Literally none, up until you park your vehicle. That’s an awesome detail, and one less thing to worry about, right? Another great detail is that parking is available, but at an additional cost. Below are the parking costs you’ll need to prepare for.

• General Parking is $20 per vehicle.
• Preferred Parking is $38 dollars per vehicle. Provides closer parking to the main entrance.
• RV’s and oversized vehicles pay $38 dollars

Public Transportation will be severely limited unfortunately. There is one bus option called the NCTD Bus route 371 to the Safari Park that you can catch from the Escondido Transit Center. Uber and Lyft are not the greatest options, but they are available. Although they would be generally pricey, due to the distance the park holds from any city, even Escondido proper, and the cell service in the area isn’t very strong due to the park’s remote location.

Hours of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

The Safari Park is open from 9am to 5pm daily, however, the park much more volatile hours when it comes to holidays, special events and seasons. So please check online for hours of operation https://sdzsafaripark.org/ at the link provided to adequately plan out your day when visiting.

Buying Tickets to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

General Admission fees to the Safari Park which include access to the park, most exhibits, the Africa Tram and Daily Animal Encounters. You can make your ticket purchases in person at the front gate or online at sdzsafaripark.org/tickets

• Prices are adults ages 12+ $69
• Children ages 3-11 $59
• Children under 3 FREE

Safari Experiences at The San Diego Zoo Safari Park (extra cost)

For an extra cost you can upgrade to a Safari Adventure. Price details are as follows:

• Cart Safari a guided tour is $55
• Cheetah Safari (seeing a Cheetah run at full speed) is $82
• Flightline Safari which is a zip line over the park is $79
• Behind-The-Scenes-Safari starts at $89
• Roar and Snore Safari overnight camping! $165 per person
• You can also add additional goodies like dining reservation experiences during your ticket purchases online.

Membership and Annual Passes

These would be a perfect fit for those animal lovers that want to visit the park several times a year.

• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Membership (includes both the Safari Park and San Diego Zoo)
• Keeper’s Club- One adult: $129 a year
• Wildlife Explorer- One adult + Kids under 18 yrs old: $159 a year
• Dual Membership- 2 adults: $178 a year

Perks of Membership:

• Unlimited Admission to both parks
• Free Parking at the Safari Park
• Discounts on food, souvenirs, and special safaris
• Early entry on select days

Riding on The Caravan Safari and Cart Safari at The San Diego Zoo Safari Park

These two rides are some of the most immersive guided tour experiences the park has to offer. You get to ride along and get extremely close to the animals and even feed them!

Caravan Safari at The San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Caravan Safari is the most in depth interactive safari the park has to offer. Guests will ride in an open-air truck through the large savannah habitats, injecting some extra excitement into your visit to the park. Reservations are required and they book up fast so if you’re interested go online at the provided link above and book your Caravan Safari! Additional details and what to expect below:

• Cost at $89 per person
• Duration is 1.5 hours.
• Minimum age is 8 years old
• Tour Type- Open air truck ride into animal enclosures.
• Animal Encounters- Get up close with rhinos and giraffes and even feed them!
• Expert Guide- A trained guide shares facts, stories and even conservation efforts.
• Photography- Excellent package for snapping excellent wildlife photos.
• Limited Capacity- The package is small groups preferred to offer a more exclusive experience.

Cart Safari at The San Diego Zoo Safari Park

The Cart Safari is a pleasant ride where you get to enjoy getting driven around and you don’t have to leave the vehicle. The cart makes its way through the savannah, passing through exhibits and open-air enclosures of a multitude of animals from the African and Asian habitats. It isn’t as immersive as the caravan ride, and no animal feeding but it’s less pricey and you still get up close-up views of the animals. Reservations recommended, however you can try and do a walk-up, but you run the risk of the cart running full capacity and missing out. See additional details below:

• Cost is $55 per person
• Duration is 1 hour
• Tour Type- Small covered safari cart, easier for small children and senior citizens.
• Animal viewing covers rhinos, giraffes, antelopes and more.
• Expert Guide, providing narration about animals and conservation.
• Great for families and doesn’t come with age restrictions.

Africa Tram at The San Diego Zoo Safari Park

This pleasant ride comes free with the price of admission and is 45 minutes long. The guided tram rides through the large African plains habitat and is fun for all ages. The bus is open air and on rails, so you’ll have to make sure you’re careful not to slide out as the bus is moving. If you’re planning on riding the African Tram, you’ll want to show up earlier in the day as it starts getting packed and the line starts getting long. More details below:

• Cost is Free.
• Duration is 45 minutes.
• You’ll see giraffes, rhinos, antelopes and more roaming freely just like in an African savannah!
• Seating is first-come first-serve, no reservations required.
• Best time to ride is mornings or evenings as the animals start to come alive during these hours.

Top Animal Exhibits at The San Diego Zoo Safari Park

You’ll feel like you’re at a real African Safari with these exhibits that you can’t miss as a visitor to the park. From elephants to lions and tigers so much more. Here are some fun and exciting exhibits to check out:

Elephant Valley

This exhibit is perfect for all the elephant lovers out there, and who doesn’t even love elephants? They’re beautiful, majestic creatures and you can watch them for as long as you wish at the safari park. You’ll see a family heard of African elephants that were rescued from South Africa, living right here in California. The safari will have frequent keeper talks available and you can check the schedule online at the provided link for feeding times. The keepers feed the elephants, and not the visitors. You’ll want to see them in the morning, as that’s when they’re the most active.

Tiger Trail

One of the most majestic animals in the park, the tiger is one of my personal favorite exhibits to visit. Here you can observe the size and amazing presence these animals have. All of this provided in a lush rainforest setting. The park provides glass viewing areas where you’re literally inches away from tigers to get an up close and personal view of these big cats! The setting gets even better when you realize there are ropes bridges, waterfalls, and scenic jungle paths that would make for some awesome photos. The park offers frequent keeper talks as well that are always insightful and interesting.

World Garden and Condor Ridge-Best For Rare Wildlife

For all the bird lovers out there, this is for you. Here you’ll find some rare and beautiful birds that you can’t miss for a visit. You’ll find the California condor, one of the rarest birds in the world. You’ll also find some of the rarest plants in the world from deserts, jungles and more. The area also holds bighorn sheep, burrowing owls, and other wildlife from North America. The area is higher in elevation, so you’ll enjoy great views from above. Important note, the condors are most active in the afternoon, so if you want to catch a lively glimpse of these rare and special birds, plan on an evening visit.

Balloon Safari

Experience breathtaking aerial views of the Safari Park on the Balloon Safari, a tethered helium balloon ride inspired by the hot air balloon tours of the Serengeti. Rising silently 400 feet into the sky, this 10- to 12-minute journey offers a unique perspective shared only by soaring birds. The best time to fly is between 9 a.m. and noon, though flights operate from approximately 9 a.m. to dusk. Pricing varies based on peak times and days, so check at the park for details. Please note that the Balloon Safari may close due to inclement weather.

Tips If You’re Visiting The San Diego Zoo Safari Park in the Summer

My first tip to all my readers when it comes to going outside, especially in the summer is to bring sunscreen and sun hats for everyone. The heat isn’t sweltering exactly but can add up if you’re under the sun all day and walking to each exhibit.

Escondido, while the climate is Mediterranean, can still have 100+ degree weather days from time to time in the summer. The park also has plenty of shade opportunities, especially around food areas and around most exhibits, so you can catch a breather under some sweet shade and check out the exhibits as well.

You’ll want to pack lots of water, although the park does sell water, it’s best to overpack then under pack when it comes to water as all the walking can get you pretty tired. You can feel free to bring in food and snack items as well and non-alcoholic drinks. Bring a hat as well to help block off the sun and some comfy walking shoes.

Also, very important detail if you have children, bring a stroller or wagon can be essential if your kids get too tired from all the walking, it can be a lot, even for adults to walk around the massive park to see all the exhibits. Last but not least, if you can, arrive early. The park hours begin at 9am. So, the earlier you arrive, the less crowds, the less heat you’ll have to deal with. Have an amazing time during your visit!

In Conclusion

Visiting the San Diego Safari Park is a fun adventure, offering a unique opportunity to experience wildlife up close in a stunning, natural setting. By planning ahead, taking advantage of guided tours, and knowing the best times to visit, you can make the most of your trip and create lasting memories. Whether you’re marveling at the vast savanna, enjoying an animal encounter, or simply soaking in the park’s beauty, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. With our tips, you’ll be well-prepared for an incredible day at one of San Diego’s top attractions. So pack your essentials, bring your sense of adventure, and get ready for an extraordinary safari experience!