San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- Address: 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, San Diego
- Hours: Open daily 9am - 5pm, sometimes closes at 6pm
- Admission: Adults: US$37, Children (3-11yrs): US$27
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Good Place to Relax,
Nature & Wildlife,
Theme Park
Take a walk on the wild side at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, an 1,800 acre (728 hectare) open-range zoo where herds of giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and other animals roam the open valley floor. The best part is riding the African Express, an open-air, soft-wheeled tram that ferries you around the world’s second-largest continent in what feels like a 30 minute safari.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park houses some 3,500 animals from about 430 species. Animals are in enclosures so naturalistic it’s as if the humans are the guests. Habitats include Elephant Overlook, Lion Camp, and the African Aviary. In Nairobi Village, young kids will enjoy the nursery, where young animals are seen frolicking about; there’s even a petting station.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park offers many extra animal encounter experiences, including Photo Caravans that drive right up alongside the animals and the chance to stand ringside as a cheetah whizzes by you chasing a mechanical rabbit. There are also amphitheaters, which schedule shows two or three times daily.
Latest Reviews
Review by Kaye R, February 2013
Doing what: San Diego 3-for-1 Pass: SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
Worth purchasing if you want to do all 3 parks! A lot cheaper!
Review by Cecilia C, November 2012
Doing what: San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Wonderful experience of getting so close to the nature of Safari! Thrilled by the cheetah run.
Review by Edward S, September 2012
Doing what: Go San Diego Card
This card too was worth the money and made life easier to skip ahead of lines and get into attraction faster, allowing more time to enjoy my stay. I just needed more time to do all the stuff the card offers.
Practical Info
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is 34 miles (54 kilometers) north of San Diego. To get here, take Interstate 15 to Via Rancho Parkway, then follow signs for about 3 mi (5 km). A number of dining options, gifts shops, and markets are located throughout the park. The park also has a number of family-friendly activities and experiences. Plan to spend the better part of a day here.
