English
Language
Currency

All you need to know about San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Located in the San Pasqual Valley of San Diego, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a perfect escape for friends and families looking for a thrilling wildlife adventure. The 1,800-acre wildlife park is a haven for over 3,000 animals and around 300 sp...

Also Known As

Wild Animal Park

Founded On

1972

Founded By

Charles Faust

San DiegoSan Diego Zoo Safari ParkSan Diego Zoo Safari Park

Quick Information

RECOMMENDED DURATION

5+ hours

VISITORS PER YEAR

4000000

EXPECTED WAIT TIME - STANDARD

0-30 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

Plan your visit

Did you know?

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park was initially used as a supplementary breeding facility for the San Diego Zoo.

Spread across 1,800 acres, the Safari Park is home to more than 3,000 different animals representing around 300 species. Additionally, it is also a spectacular botanical garden featuring over 1.3 million plants.

The safari has played an important role in the recovery and conversion of the California condor, the largest North American land bird.

Things to do at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Africa Tram

The Africa Tram is a thrilling yet relaxing safari adventure, perfect for the whole family. Travel through some of the savannah habitats to get an up-close view of the animals and watch them interact with their natural environment without much external influence. If you’re a photographer or even a photography enthusiast, this tram is a must!

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Balloon Safari

Float high up in the sky and see what the birds see with the 400 ft. high helium balloon safari. Fit for the ones who want to see everything all at once and love feeling like they’re on top of the world – this balloon safari is going to be a memory etched in your soul forever.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Botanical Tours

This tram tour takes you around the different gardens that exist within the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on the weekends. See the carefully curated and balanced ecosystems created to help many endangered species of flora thrive in their environment. From beautiful bonsai to rare succulents, there’s a species of flora out there that’s sure to bring out the sense of awe within you.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Conservation Carousel

Got the post-safari zoo-mies? The Conservation Carousel is the perfect place to let out all the excess energy. For children and adults alike, the carousel takes a fabulous spin at showcasing over 60 animals, with an extensive collection of endangered animals. The merry-go-round experience just got a lot merrier, because you’re never too old to have some pure fun!

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Play Areas

The play areas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are scattered across the space and have unique themes and elements in each of them. Kids and youngsters can go from visiting an African village to feeling the spirit of adventure with a number of interactive, simulated, and safari-themed activities designed to entertain the children and give their parents a cool respite.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Journey Into the Wild

See wildlife specialists and wildlife ambassadors whose life’s work revolves around wildlife conservation. For all the Nat Geo and Planet Earth enthusiasts, this session at the Benbough Amphitheater is a learning experience encompassing the creatures residing in the rainforests in the Amazon to your own backyard in San Diego.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Special safaris

Explore various habitats that are home to animals from around the world with the San Diego Safaris. From exclusive BTS tours, and customizable experiences to having a slumber party in the middle of the savannas, these guided expeditions give you a wide range of options to choose from. Watch exquisite giraffes, elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, and hundreds of other beautiful animals living their best life, and you’ll feel like you are too.

Frequently asked questions about San Diego Zoo Safari Park tickets

What is the difference between the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park?

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is bigger than the San Diego Zoo and focuses more on species that live in the arid regions of the world, like the savannas. There are safaris available as well as guided tours, and it is about a 45-minute drive from San Diego Zoo.

Are there any kid-friendly activities at the Park?

Yes, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park offers a number of kid-friendly safaris, tram tours, and activities, such as the Conservation Carousel and multiple themed play areas for them to enjoy. They can be a part of all the safaris and even take a wildlife trek, as long as an adult is accompanying them. This includes the roar and snore sleepover safari experience! Parents can also rent strollers at the Park if needed.

What kind of wildlife will I see at the Safari Park?

A large number of animals at the Safari Park are from arid regions around the world and many of them are endangered species. You can see wildlife from the African savanna like elephants, giraffes, okapis, and rhinos, from the SEA region like the one-horned rhino, Argus pheasants, and the flying fox bat, and other species from across the world like kangaroos and Matschie's tree kangaroos, camels, the Arabian oryx, flamingos, gorillas, pink pigeons, the Egyptian vulture and the Ruppel’s vulture, and the only species of wild horses remaining on Earth – the Przewalski's horse, more commonly known as the Asiatic wild horse!

How many animals are inside?

There are over 300 species of animals residing in the Park, totaling up to more than 3,000 animals overall.

Are the animals inside the Park native to San Diego?

There are a few native species from California that you can see at the Park such as the California condors, flamingos, and the desert bighorn sheep.

Can I get close to the animals?

There are two special safari tours that you can sign up for, the Animals in Action experience and the Inside Look Tours, to get you super close to some exotic wildlife species that inhabit the Park.

Are there any seasonal activities that take place at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park?

The Spring Safari and Autumn Festival are two seasonal tours that take place at the Park. Springtime also has a special Butterfly Jungle experience for visitors that takes place at the Hidden Jungle Greenhouse where they can see a variety of exotic species of butterflies from Central and South America. Some activities such as the Balloon Safari can be temporarily closed for operations if the weather is unfavorable.