San Diego Zoo Safari Park - Escondido, California

Paula P.

If you're looking for a truly immersive and exhilarating wildlife experience, the Wild Animal Park Safari Adventure is an absolute must! From the moment you step into the open-air safari truck, the boundaries between you and the animals fade away.

The expansive savanna habitat is breathtaking, with herds of giraffes, rhinos, antelope, and zebras roaming freely across the rolling hills. The chance to see some of the newest baby animals in the park is a heart-melting highlight—watching them play and interact with their families was unforgettable.

The expert guide was incredibly knowledgeable and personable, offering fascinating insights into the animals' behaviors, conservation efforts, and the unique challenges of maintaining such a diverse ecosystem. They answered all our questions with enthusiasm, making the journey both educational and entertaining.

Riding in the back of the covered safari truck is an adventure in itself. The open-air design lets you feel the breeze and hear the animals’ calls, making you feel like you're truly in the wild. The up-close views are unbeatable—there were moments when a giraffe wandered so close, you could see every detail of its coat.

The safari lasts about an hour, but it feels like time stands still when you're surrounded by such incredible beauty. It’s a family-friendly experience that kids and adults alike will cherish. Whether you're an animal lover, a photographer, or someone looking for a unique way to connect with nature, this safari adventure is worth every penny.

Pro tip: Book your spot early, as the tours fill up fast, and bring your camera—this is one adventure you'll want to remember forever!

Jordan G.

I've now been here twice: once for a mimosa Safari and once for a Roar n Snore overnight camping experience. I found both experiences to be EXCEPTIONAL. This is the perfect way to spend a Saturday out of town.

I have also been to the main zoo downtown about a dozen times. The park is roughly the same size, but there are far fewer exhibits, meaning that each exhibit is much larger and you will see a lot more cohabitation. The paths are also larger and you'll have a lot more breathing space compared to the crowds at the main zoo. A warm weekend here is a bit like a light hike, plenty to look at and enjoy alongside some good conversation with friends and/or family. I also found the staff here to be a lot friendlier and more passionate about the work at this location.

If you're in the area and like animals/wildlife, this is a must-visit.

Carlos M.

The park is a wonderful place to visit. The tram ride was very educational. The walk-around was nearly a true walk-a bout. The variety of wildlife was impressive. The walking paths were challenging but worth the exercise. We logged at least 10,000 steps in 6 hours. Our mobility challenged mom rented an electric cart to help her move through the park paths. We initially contemplated of getting a push wheel chair but were glad after a few hours of walking to have rented the electric cart instead. The weather was perfect and it wasn't too crowded. The staff was friendly and accommodating. Worth noting that any concession stand happily refilled our drink containers with ice water. That was outstanding. We highly recommend a visit.

Kent

The zoo has many more animals than here, but the enclosures here are definitely larger. Quite a bit of side 'tours' that you have to spend a pretty penny on. Definitely recommend the Balloon ride though; going up into the air and being able to capture a bird's eye view of the park, was worth the $. Membership discounts as well. The Africa Tram was free with entry, covering most of what the cheaper tours would cover, just a little further, the safari tour brought you much closer to the animals, I personally don't think it's worth it's price even though the money goes into the conservation of the zoo/animals. (Tours ranging from $100-$425).

The restrooms were very clean, considering the foot traffic.

Beware of the drinking fountains, they are filled with mold and algae (see picture), refill your bottles with the food stand attendants they will gladly do it for you

The Safari Park could also be completed in half a day, depending on how fast you walk and how long the lines are, we went during winter and weekday (school day), so there were no lines for the things we did (tram/balloon).

They have a Japanese Bonsai Garden that was impressive.

The place was very accessible for wheelchairs, walkers, disabilities. You could event rent scooters to ride around. They had a ramp for most, if not all their rides.

Customer service was impeccable to say the least, every volunteer, every staff member provided flawless services, answered all our questions.

K S.

A beautiful, broad expanse of nature and its “wild” inhabitants at its grandest, I popped over the hill from a foggy and cool coastal community to find 80 degrees of welcoming sunshine! It was “February free month for seniors 65+” so I took advantage of my last day in Southern CA to visit the park.
At Safari Park plan to walk a lot! It’s not like the multi-level zoo where everything is imaginatively squeezed into a smaller area of real estate. There are hills to navigate here (you can rent a capable scooter) and there’s plenty to see along the winding trails. In addition to the wildlife you expect to see, take note of the amazing vegetation, benches that offer rest, “watering holes” to add to your water bottle or spray explorers from above, QR codes for info, caring and knowledgeable docents, etc.
If I had done my research ahead of time, I would have taken a water bottle (instead of paying $6 for water) and a picnic lunch and snacks (both are allowed to bring into the park). If you don’t bring a hat, there are plenty of options at souvenir shops.
You must ride the free tram that takes you to places you can’t get by foot. I’ve been on 3 safaris in Africa so I did not need the safari experience they offer, so I can’t share an opinion on any of those offerings … but it did appear that they got closer to the animals.

Richard R.

Wonderful place. Hard to compare but liked it better than the zoo! So much to see. The highlight was the tram tour that went by all of the habitats. Wonderful variety. You also do a walk through the park and see lots of others. There is also a great variety of beautiful fauna to see.

It is not inexpensive….entry is $76 for adults although seniors are free in February. Parking is $20….it is bothersome to pay that much when paying such a large ticket fee. Many other paid things are optional, eg preferred access to the tram and other attractions, the balloon ride, etc. Most maddening charge is a soda that’s about $8. I’m not cheap but would not spend it.

I feel much better here than at the zoo. The animals are much less restricted, the park is mission driven for breeding and conservation, and they seem less “on display”.

Joe L.

First time visitor with Three elementary school children. We had a blast despite being a little late and missing our morning safari. They rescheduled us for the afternoon which gave us time to walk. If you want to walk and see everything it will take a good three or four hours depending on the crowds.

Saw the platypus. Didn’t know that platypuses liked being kept in the dark, but it finally crawled up on the ledge to let us see it.

We did a Safari ride in the Jeep which I highly recommend, let you go onto the actual Safari grounds as opposed to staying on the perimeter which is what the Tram does. Our guide was funny and informative and knew the animals by name.

We didn’t do the balloon or the zip line based on other recommendations that those were overpriced, but I think that seeing it on foot and then doing the Safari was a great way to go, no matter what you do though you’re going to spend some money at this place. And be sure to check out the bonsai exhibit, I didn’t know anything about bonsai trees outside of what I learned in the karate kid and that was so worth it to see!

Low point would be the food, that was too expensive and not very good, so bring some sandwiches and you’ll be happier. Also check in for the Safari is 15 minutes before it starts, so don’t be late.

Overall, this is a world class facility, great destination and I suppose if we ever have the really strong urge to see rhinoceros in person again this would be where I would want to go

Charles L.

Animals weren’t visible in all exhibits but most but need to remember that this isn’t different than zoo. The grounds are pleasant. Some minor elevation changes but it’s an easy walk. Expect to walk at least 10k steps. The tram ride was very good. Lots of food and refreshment (including alcohol) throughout the park. Loved our day there.