San Diego Zoo Safari Park

“Every volunteer and staff member was engaged, knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic. Displays and exhibits were thoughtful, beautifully maintained, and unique. There were just as many plants and interesting fun facts along trails and pathways as there were animal exhibits, making each leg of our journey immersive. The animals appear to be overall healthy and content. Many of the animals were outside, awake, and active. The kangaroo exhibit was so awesome, especially how there was no fencing, allowing guests to get up close with the animals. We kept talking about wanting to come back for more and hope to do so again this year at some point. Pro Tips: - Arrive as early as possible and plan out a strategy to see everything you want to see. There's over 1,800 acres to explore (San Diego Zoo is only about 100 acres), so it's difficult to see everything in one day - Wear the most breathable comfortable shoes possible. - Those who prefer to bring their own snacks, water, and supplies can do so in back packs, but there are several places to eat with options for most dietary restrictions - Wear plenty of sunscreen - Download the park's Mobile app to find your way around in an interactive map and info about shows - The best time of the year to visit is in February through April while the climate is cooler, landscapes are green, crowds are fewer, and seasonal offerings available. We went in February during free senior month, so my mom, age 65, got free admission - Booking a private or additional excursion, like the open caravan ride, is worth it. You can get a more intimate experience away from crowds up close with animals in a natural setting with personalized and professional information from the experts. If you book one, try going for early morning or late afternoon when the temperatures are cooler and the animals are more active. We can't wait for the elephant exhibit to open in March!”

“The best zoo in Southern California. I love coming to the Safari Park. It’s massive and there so much to look at. I believe it’s better than the San Diego Zoo, but the good thing is that you can visit both if you get the yearly pass. As long as you visit twice, you made up the value of your purchase. And who wouldn’t want to come twice to San Diego to see the animals. The safari tram is included with your ticket purchase and takes you fairly close to the animals which you can see living together in a long stretch land. You get to see giraffes, rhinos, water buffalo, gazelle, and many others all while in the tram. It’s easy to walk around and you get to see some very unique animals like the okapi and the platypus which is the only zoo in the US where you can see platypus. They have great alcoholic beverages for adults. The restaurants have good food while you’re in the park.”

“What a gem. I lived in San Diego for a bit when I was much younger and never made it out to this park. I was a fool. The exhibits are amazing and the docents are a wealth of knowledge, don't hesitate to ask questions. The place is big. Like, Very big. It took my group 5 1/2 hours to traverse all the areas and I'm quite sure we missed somethings. We even got the inside scoop on the most efficient route to take through the park from a nice docent at the entrance. We walked many kilometers. The paths are very well designed so even if you have a mobility issue, you should be able to get to every exhibit easily. It's not cheap, but worth it. Also bring a hat and a water bottle. You can fill up at the concession stands. BYO snacks are also allowed.”

“S.D. Zoo Safari Park does an annual senior month that we happen to be in California visiting during this time. So this is the second year in a row we've come to the park. If we lived here, I would be involved as member or volunteer. My husband and I love this place! We love their focus on breeding condors and introducing them into the wild. We appreciate their programs of education, wild life preservation and so much more. We see the animals are well cared for and have the best habitat enclosures you can have for a zoo. We learn something new with every visit here. We even saw the new baby giraffe.”