Reviews of San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Zoo)

dave finch

Wait time

Laura Ruscitti

No

Shai Barack

Visited on

Tanya CELIS

Price for adult entry

Theresa Vidals

$31+

Kimberly Hall

The safari park is truly an amazing place to spend the day. Beautiful grounds and atmosphere. The new Australian outback section is really exciting. From the platypus to the tree kangaroo, just fascinating. I really love watching the elephants and hanging out in any of the aviaries and watching the birds. The "Birds of Prey" show and some indoor experiences, like the bats, are still closed due to Covid, but there is plenty to see and do.Like everything, ticket prices have gone up and parking is an additional $15.00

Hong mo

Visited on

D Session

Price for adult entry

Cee Rose

Came here with the family, my wife and daughter, and had a great time. The tram was not open even though when I searched online it said it was open. Their hot air balloon safari was also closed. Regardless we had a good time there, enjoyed the walk/hike. It is less crowded than the other regular zoo so it felt more peaceful. Workers there are very friendly and relaxed. Would go again

Rby DLC

Reservation recommended

Ruben Resendez

10–30 min

Monique

Weekday

Hali Clacher

Weekend

Bora Tamer Yilmaz

Visited on

Himani Patel

Reservation recommended

Damien Micallef

Visited on

Brenda Flores-Corbella

$31+

Deniz Turkmen

Price for adult entry

Jon Chia

Visited on

David You

We purchased the 3 day pass and this was our last day. I was really frustrated with their map and app. The map was not sized properly and the directions and roads were not always correct. The app kept crashing. Signage was poor and confusing compared to the zoo and we were constantly getting turned around. As for the animals, there's a lot less to see than the zoo and you can tell. Definitely some cool attractions just not a lot. I'm rating this a 3 because of the additional safari price and what we got. $89 a person and we spent more time doing other things and driving around then what we paid for. It was 90 minutes for 20 minutes of the attraction. Wasn't worth the money in my opinion.

Griselda M

Awesome place (zoo) my husband and I had an amazing time. Love the feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere surrounded of animals. Also you don't feel like they are in cages even though the is dividers. Employee and volunteers where …

David Kira

Weekday

Leobardo Biviano

My wife and I took our daughter during our vacation to San Diego. So glad we went. A lot to see and a lot of walking but we knew that going in. We didn't pay for any of the extra safari trips; we just did the African Tram, which was included in the entry fee. If you don't want to pay extra for the various safari trips, the Tram takes you mostly close to all the African animals. All the staff was friendly and helpful when we were trying to decipher the map and get around the park. Long day but worth the stop.

Cassie Klein

Yes

matthew Apodaca

Weekday

Xiaoye Liu (Ysera)

Yes

Erin Story

Yes

Jesus ochoa

Weekday

Ricardo De La Torre

Wait time

Gina Marie Miller

This place is nice , I love more the part down when is the Elephants ???? the ???? and the Jiraf ,

Jouhanna Austin

Took a walk through the park the other day, the weather was beautiful. The grounds here are always lovely, but we weren't able to see the whole park because the Tram is not available right now. Would love to come back and enjoy the evening vibe. A great place to take the family & enjoy all of God's creations ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Jenifer Farrell

Yes

Mimi A.

What a wonderful day at the Safari. This place is maintained and designed very well.

Heath Perrault

Price for adult entry

Alexander O

Price for adult entry

Joshua Rasmussen

I am a annual pass holder. (It is cheaper then buy individual tickets twice). I live closest to the zoo but it's worth the 40 minute drive to see the safari park. It is not as crowded and more space. This park is stroller friendly. My two year old loves coming here for all the playgrounds, water areas, and seeing all his favorite animals. Useful park information Parking is $15 (unless you have the higher level annual passes). The safari tram tour is free and takes you around the open area t(he wait time went by quickly). Please bring walking shoes because there is a lot of ground to cover. There are few close Animal encounter options where you walk through their habitats; like the kangaroo walk-a-bout or feeding Lorikeets (costs $8) which are great photo opportunities. For $20 you can ride 400ft up in the hot air balloon. There are plenty of gift shops and dinning options. Show your annual pass for a discount!

Jay Jay

$31+

Rick Sam

Yes

Raquel H

absolutely incredible! so many animals and sites can't possibly name or show photos. staff were friendly and so great to see everything in this jungle and safari setting! loved it!!!

Rick Edgcumbe

This is an awesome place. Quick tips 1. Wear shoes for walking. 2.bring a water bottle. 3. Have fun. I suggest going on the African tram first thing in the morning as it can be a long wait later. Also the animals tend to be more active during the morning and later in the day when its cool. Overall an amazing place.

Vivian Tyrrel

We have passes but live by the zoo so this was a special trip and definitely worth it. The gorillas are impressive and frozen chocolate bananas! Yum!

Susan Castle

Yes

Lisa Carrillo

Yes

Bryan Sivers

Nice place to learn and walk around with the family. Its open on holidays

Patricia Crockett

$31+

Wendy Li

Wait time

POPULAR SPOTS

Reservation recommended

Joshua Tucker

Wait time

Evan Vick

$31+

Drew Cannioto

Reservation recommended

Devin Bunch

Great place to bring the whole family and enjoy lots of great spots. It's really expensive to eat and drink here so plan ahead. Also, if you ask any spot that sells drinks for a cup of water they will freely give you a icy cold cup.

Showtymes Ent

Yes

Laurie Alcaraz

Yes

Josh N

Weekend

Rosie Villasenor

Up to 10 min

Cee Faye

Visited on

Kathy A

Reservation recommended

Sara G

Weekday

Vero Gutierrez

Up to 10 min

David Robinson II

No wait

Amanda Walker

No wait

Adil Yitiz

Great time with the kids. Staff are super friendly and the animals are wonderful. If you don't like high prices for things (like all other zoos) bring your own snacks and there is lots of space to eat and relax. Also for kids there is a small splash pad so bring a bathing suit on a hot day- we regretted this.

Kathryn Riggs

Visited on

Jay Preston

Yes

Renee Morales

We arrived when the park opened, and all employees/volunteers were helpful and informative. It wasn't very busy at all, so we were able to take our time and see everything we wanted to. The tram driver gave a moving speech about conservation efforts and why we should care about their mission and the plants and animals we saw. Very memorable experience!

Ulises Araujo

When I think Safari park I’m never excited about going but once I’m there I always find something new and cool to do or see! If you have kids and are in so cal it’s definitely worth it. We went two weeks ago and it was crazy humid take hydration rations and a hat for sure also a cooling towel or mister would be great they give free ice water so that’s a plus wear comfy shoes and clothes great customer service one of my guilty pleasures

Heidi Mae Chambers

Had an amazing time. We went right at 9am Monday morning and the park wasn’t too busy. Lots to see with the animals right in sight. Many different trails. The tram was perfect! Cat was funny and had a lot of information to share. Will be back for sure! Would recommend to see as well as the San Diego Zoo.

Teresita Mejia

Yes

mark miller

Up to 10 min

Nancy Murray

Wait time

Jacob Husein (TheChetu)

Visited on

Deborah Cole

Weekday

Sidharth Behera

Not very crowded, friendly staff, clean. Christmas music and lights are nice to walk through at night. The churros with chocolate to dip them in were very good.

Shannon H

This is a wonderful zoo. The animals were very alert. Good views of animals. The admission tickets were a bit costly but this was a great family day

Jose Garcia

It's an amazing place to visit and learn about animals, their habitat and conservation. If possible include a safari into your itinerary. The Deluxe wild life safari gives you a 90 minute up close journey into the wonderful world of rhinos, Giraffe, and other animals. The park is well maintained, with proper directions and lots of places to eat and take breaks. A tip, start from the top visiting the Australian outback and come down to the African plains and other areas. The l baby rhinos, giraffe and elephants made our day.

Sujai Narayanan

Thought it would be more of a driving or sitting sort of experience, but the majority is actually a zoo! It's called the San Diego Safari Park, but is about 30 minutes outside the city (but in SD county). It's a bit higher up and away from the coast, so just make sure to check the weather there and not assume it'll be the same as in San Diego. Parking is ample, but 16 dollars (18 for "priority" which is closer) and at the bottom of a fairly steep hill. There's no other parking remotely nearby, so factor that into your cost. There are about 14 food stands including a full restaurant and full bar. They have different menus, so hopefully there's something for everyone. Their prices are standard for San Diego (about 16 for anything). Lines were also quite long because I couldn't convince my party to wait past typical lunch hours! Also there was definitely a shortage of tables as well as chairs (many large parties of 6+ that left folks standing). The maps were nice and better than average in their info. The signs in the park itself were lacking, however. Additionally, several areas closed down at 4 and 4:30p, yet there was no signage indicating this would be the case. Would have planned to see them first if we had known. The free tram ride for the "safari" experience had very long lines (hour wait). The guided tour was quite expensive but admittedly pretty cool. Many parts of the park are shaded under beautiful landscaping. Others are more open (due to the biome they're representing for the chosen animals), which can make it hot. You're in California - plan accordingly. The San Diego Zoo is considered one of the best if not THE best in the country. But don't forget about the Safari Park, especially if you have the GoCity Pass!

Penny Benson

Weekday

Ryan Burke

Had a great time again at the Wildlife Park. It was overcast, which was great. Previously went and it can get hot there. Animals more active when cooler. Didn't take a lot of pics thus time, but I did of the clouds and baby rhino.

Swetha Chellappa

Wait time

Umit Yaglidere

Visited on

Derilyn Atkinson

Wait time

ivan Serrano

Wait time

Steven Swinburne

Visited on

Aiden Boldes

Visited on

Aparna Padmanabhan

Beautiful Safari Park! I like this better than the San Diego Zoo! I was so into the animals exhibits, I didn’t get to take that many pictures. Possibly the only downfall is the food being expensive and not so great.

Carla Canter

Plan on doing a lot of walking! There are some really nice paths but animals are few a far between. Everything cost extra. Food prices outrageous and usually cold. Was concerned about all the plastic being used at a place that supports animal habitats.

Micah G

Visited on

David Wolf

Wait time

Rachel Ruiz

This used to be called The Wild Animal Safari Park, now it is called safari park. However, everything is just a spectacular and beautiful as I remember back in the eighties, A must see and do.

Erika Sexton

No wait

Edmund Rose

I actually feel the Safari Park is more fun than three zoo. Whereas there are lots of animals in small cages, the animals in the Safari Park have larger spaces to roam. The experience would not be complete without the tram ride around the …

Dave Dennis

Went to see my sister's memorial on one of the towers. It was very nice!! We loved it!! All the animals were out. To end the day was a lantern festival, it was a perfect day!!

Hongbiao Yang (Bill)

$31+

Rafiullah Rahmati

Enlightening and insightful visit. Great to see all the animals that you would only find in certain other places on the planet. Kids had a blast and learned a lot.

Veronica Jordan

If you love walking and you love animals, you'll have a great time here! The exhibits are huge, and for some of them you can get up super close and personal. If walking isn't really your thing, there is a free tram ride for the African side of the park, but I'd recommend going to the zoo instead. Overall, this place was great, definitely worth the visit if you have the time!

juan pablo paredes

Visited on

N Kh

Reservation recommended

Alexandra

5 stars for beautiful animals and 1 star for the employee rudeness. Accessibility: there are accessible parking spots near the entrance and electric vehicle charging ports. I didn't see any wheelchairs but there might be some. Call ahead to ask and hopefully reserve. The park is big and spread out. Not too many covered areas for shade so bring your sun hat and sunblock. Experience: the two female employees who were working at the gates to enter the Safari Park on Friday 12-10-2021 were super kind, welcoming, and smiling big which made me happy to be here for the first time ever! After that, none of the other employees seemed too happy to be there and I even had one employee (white, older man) come up to me and be straight up rude out of nowhere. I was taking photos of elephants, just like the other people who were there, all of us BEHIND THE WOOD FENCE, ON THE PAVED TRAIL, JUST LIKE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE...VERY FAR AWAY FROM THE ELEPHANTS...and this employee comes up and says something like "you better not step any closer." I replied, "of course not. Why would I do that?" And he stood NEXT TO ME AND JUST STARED AT ME MAKING ME FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. I left the park after this. How rude. I was following the rules being on the path, behind the fence, and he says that? Terrible. I would rate this experience lower but I kept it up for the animals.

Cynthia Wabo

Reservation recommended

jo ann Rainey

Had a great day. Be sure to wear comfy shoes. You will get a workout.

Achyuthanand Kandimalla

This place is a great place to go with the family or even solo. It can be a peaceful place to sit and watch the animals or you can decide to splurge on different adventures like zip lining across the park. They also have overnight experiences too. See the website for the current prices. It can get pricey. The passes are reasonably priced, though. The place is kept clean considering the volume of people who are there. The safari tram ride is awesome — hope it comes back soon.

Tony Bloomfield

$31+

evaristo martinez

Yes

Emily Lindley

A great escape. The zoo is well kept and managed. Clean, organized and laid out right and ample things to see and do. Also the cause is perfect. They research they do with all the proceeds and fund raising truly is help a cause which often is hopeless. Great kudos to the team of folks who enable the experience be one of fun and joy for kids and adults. Would definitely visit again. May seem expensive but keep in mind it is going towards a noble cause. There is ample parking but can be crowded. The day I visited it wasn't too crowded. There are some rides inside the park which requires separate tickets. The general admittance allows for a standard short tour on a tram for the Africa exhibit. Buss and and smaller vehicle tours are also available at additional charge.

Lance Tilton

$31+

N. H.

$31+

Chelsea Levin

Wait time

Maribel Mullins

Had a great experience! There are not as many animals as the San Diego Zoo, but cool to see the safari part. Check out the African animals via the tram (it's free—included in your ticket price). We paid extra for the Asian tram tour with …

僊逸醉

$31+

Chi ki Maggie Foo

No wait

Reiko Shimbo

Reservation recommended

Алла Хайдарова

The park is unfortunately a bit outdated and not as nice as the San Diego Zoo. The enclosures are not really modeled on the natural environment of the animals. Impressive were the succulent collection! Also the project about the renaturalization of the environment of the zoo: they remove invasive plants and plant native trees to improve habitat for e.g. the monarch butterflies. The zoo staff is also amazing, they answer all your questions. Unfortunately the food was very bad. A zoo could be more innovative and have a chance to be a role model. How great would it be if there was no plastic packaging and more vegetarian, healthier food.

Felicia Millen

Visited on

Leovigildo Macias

Such a unique and amazing zoo. The free safari tram ride was amazing. Staff are all friendly, you can tell the animals are taken care of very well. Great experience!

Kim Brown

$31+

David Burke

$31+

Bosco Kim

Weekend

Jeff W

Weekday

Denny Bird

I’ve had passes to the Zoo and the Safari park for 35 years. They really are the most wonderful parks. If you have a few extra bucks (hard to do with all the sights to see in So. Ca.) spring for a Safari tour inside the Safari Park. You will feed giraffes and rhinos and see the other animals up close and personal!

LavenderRoseFarmer

Wait time

San Diego Guide

The tour into the safari was awesome got really close. Amer our guide was very informative.

Rio N. Cortez

The safari park is a great time! Definitely recommend doing the tram ride close to close during the winter- the twilight close to sunset was beautiful. I’m very thankful for the ongoing conservation work done by the San Diego Zoo organization.

Steven Solis

No wait

Ruoxuan Zhu

$31+

Hong Mai

Reservation recommended

David Roque

Weekday

Jade McConnell

Would love to come back and enjoy the evening vibe. A great place to take the family. Here Some Fun Facts The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, originally named the San Diego Wild Animal Park until 2010, is an 1,800 acre (730 ha) zoo in the San Pasqual Valley area of San Diego, California, near Escondido. It is one of the largest tourist attractions in San Diego County. The park houses a large array of wild and endangered animals including species from the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Australia. The park is in a semi-arid environment, and one of its most notable features is the Africa Tram, which explores the expansive African exhibits. These free-range enclosures house such animals as antelopes, giraffes, buffalo, cranes, and rhinoceros. The park is also noted for its California condor breeding program, the most successful such program in the United States. The San Diego Zoological Society became interested in developing the Wild Animal Park in 1964. The idea of the park began as a supplementary breeding facility for the San Diego Zoo, which would allow ample space for large animals and ungulates. The development proposed would differ significantly from that of a typical zoo in that animals would be exhibited in a natural environment rather than in cages. In 1964, the park was assessed financially and then moved onto the next phase; this resulted in three alternative developments. There was an idea for a conservation farm, a game preserve, and a natural environment zoo. The natural environment zoo development was chosen over the conservation farm and game preserve even though it was the most expensive option. The estimated initial cost was $1,755,430.

Ivory Escobar

No wait

Amanda E

Another must visit while in San Diego they have so many exotic animals/ birds ???? and the profits here go to saving more animals ???? . This is also an amazing learning experience the safari staff have so much knowledge about all the beautiful creatures ???? at the park. On my visit they had an animal who had just given birth that morning the baby was so adorable .

Mark Latorre (ML)

Weekend

Chelsea Hughes

Price for adult entry

Perkins Brothers

Wait time

M L

Reservation recommended

Ayman Husain

Weekday

Gabriela Ramirez

Weekday

Robyn N

Yes

Megan Marie

Great attraction to see! Was a more natural atmosphere for animals and it wasn't too crowded but we also went in January! Some of the attractions we wanted to see were closed due to covid which was a bummer but for the most part it was pretty cool!!

John Ramirez

Great place. It was our first time and it was a great experience. We loved the feel of all the greenery. It made it feel as if we were in a true safari. Animals were closer than typical zoos. Staff was very helpful and they were very visible. Will definitely visit again.

mike danielsen

Awesome experience seeing African and Asian animals on the prairie Lots of food and drinks Had a great time❤❤❤❤❤

SammiTheDog

Reservation recommended

Jon DeLuca

It was SO FUN! It was not packed (on a Sunday!) but that was probably because it was 100 degrees. There were yummy foods and drinks, and amazing animals! I think our favorites were the giraffes and rhinos. We went on the Africa tram and it was so fun! The petting zoo was also the best!! The goats are so friendly, soft, and cute! Also, we could always ask a staff member for help; they were readily available throughout the whole park. Overall we will definitely come again, maybe when it’s not so hot ????

Arturo Aysa

No wait

Freddie Bustria

Price for adult entry

Jos

Yes

Ruth Jones

No wait

Rachelle Fons

Yes

D L.

Visited on

Thomas Fitzpatrick

$31+

Abby A

Amazing zoo, park is beautiful with a variety of garden and wooded areas, tram experience through the free roam area is awesome and included with your ticket. Many places to sit and relax, have a snack or drink and watch the birds. You …

Jeremy Luna (Realtor)

Visited on

Maritte Green

Not sure

Alfred Bradley

Price for adult entry

Martha Wright

Reservation recommended

Nessie Saurus

I really love this Zoo. You can see so many animals and be engulfed in the experience. We decided to take the Safari tour where we took a truck into the exhibit with the giraffe's and other safari animals. It was well worth the price for the experience. We were able to go through the back area where the Rhino's were being kept and got to see them up close! It's kind of like going into a real Jurassic Park, but with animals that won't kill you lol. Make sure to plan on spending all day at the park, there is so much to see. You can be up close an personal with Kangaroos and can see an actual platypus...that's if he comes out to play, however.. I hope everyone enjoys this place as much as we did.

autumn powell

one of the best places to come in San Diego! holiday lights were beautiful and atmosphere was very nice for an evening family visit!

Truth

Visited on

Crystal Pyramid Productions San Diego Video Compan

Wait time

Todd Matthews

$31+

Adam Gorski

Yes

isha rana

Got the donor annual pass great benefit with free parking. Love coming here and riding the tram, always a different experience.

Leah Glavan

Yes

Kane Martin

$31+

Martin Vignovich

A great place to enjoy animals in their "as close to natural" habitats and learn about them & the importance of preserving the wild. Great walking paths, beautiful flora & fauna, very informative staff. Safari trips, tours, behind the scene tours and camping available. I've visited 3 times now & learn something new each visit. Great way to spend your free time!

Maria LeGrant

Reservation recommended

Saad

Weekend

Ras Heru

I absolutely love this place. They always have the most friendly and helpful staff. It's a unique opportunity to see animals in a more natural setting for them. One of the best zoos in the world. They are truly committed to conservation. Also...make sure to see the platypus...they are the only ones in the world that have one outside of Australia!

Iltan Aklan

No wait

sydney wen

Amazing experience. The park does a really good job in keeping everything well organized and informed. We visited on a rainy day (rare occasion for San Diego) and it was still a fun visit.

Mohammad Qutishat

Our friends got married here and it was unforgettable. They had an animal encounter during cocktail hour and the grounds were breathtaking.

Sadie Longcor

Weekend

Dave Finlay

Price for adult entry

Michele Bru

Wait time

Gary Standke

A truly magical place. Going in January midweek there were no lines, crowding, or waits for anything. Get there when it opens for parking near the entrance and no wait to get in. Start out with the African Outpost hike to see some animals …

Trenton Davis

No wait

Bora Yilmaz

Yes

Steve Demirjian

Weekday

Kiara Forney

Did the deluxe safari. Speaker was very knowledgeable. Little disappointed though they took the feedings of the giraffes away. Still a very nice tour.

Masoud Baikpour

Such a beautiful property. We went as a group for a work function, everyone enjoyed the experience. The animal encounter was amazing.

Dom D

Visited on

Vatsala Sharma

San Diego Zoo Safari Park is perfect. I rate my personal experience a 10 out of 10 ☆'s! Safari Park has plenty of areas to rest in the shade. Areas for parents to rest while young children run free. Guides and volunteers are incredibly knowledgeable AND have exceptional eyesight.

Kristin Sedgwick

We had a great time! Very beautiful and very open compared to many zoos must do the tram!

American Riviera Tours

$31+

Guy Peled

No wait

Cory Brown

Price for adult entry

Lindsay Rairdon

Reservation recommended

SocalGirl 310

Reservation recommended

Raul Gonzales

Loved it. It is a great alternative to a traditional zoo. I have been here in the past and it was still as good as I remember. Lots to do here for kids of all ages from 1 year to 99 years. We loved it. The African tram is a must. Plan a full day and wear good walking shoes it's a bit hilly. Make a reservation for the watering hole it was fantastic. The food was good for a theme park but the views of the animals was incredible. A must visit while anywhere in San Diego.

Raymond Collins

Wait time

Andrés ayala

Public holiday

Cristina Sanchez

$31+

Michele's Husband

$31+

Natalie Johnson

Not sure

Sam Yribe

Visited on

Karolina Chayka

Weekend

Jake Sutton

Everyone at the park who works there, was very polite and so fun. The park is kept immaculate. What a fun job huh? And the Butterfly experience! That was the best!! I would recommend renting a wheelchair if you're 75 like me and have a bad back, because we walked about 5.6 MI, almost all of it is up and down and around but on even ground. For most of the additional excursions, like the Butterfly experience or the Safari, they require a group to be six people and some allow more, but on the Butterfly experience it's six people Max, and even though you're only four people you're still going to have to buy the six people price which is $60. Very worth it very worth it. Butterflies landed on my daughter even though she was wearing an animal print like a cheetah. Use your AAA or Automobile Club of Southern California, for a 10% discount and book your tickets online and pick your times and dates. We only missed the gorillas, because we got there at 5 minutes to closing. And then keepers were already cleaning the pin. So where the dangerous animals are, you probably want to see those ones earlier in the day. Such as the Lions the tigers and the gorillas.

Jen Jolley-Wilson

Reservation recommended

Howard Lee

$31+

Kelly Phillips

Fantastic experience! So glad we went. A few exhibits were closed but most open. A lot of paths shaded which is so nice! Bring lots of water - you will need it with the heat and the hills!????????

Colleen Patricia Garrett

Price for adult entry

Kyle Whelehon

10–30 min

Eric Saretsky

Not sure

Misty Monique Sanchez

Reservation recommended

Laura Nuno

Price for adult entry

Susma Chaulagain

It was good experience. Get to know and see all the animals. The park was big. Be prepare for walking. We come at weekend and was not too crowded.

Bee Man Dan

- Fun place to go at least once. - Better to be there early morning otherwise the lines will be looong!! - You have a better chance of seeing animals if you go either before 11Am or after 4PM. - use the interactive park app. Helpful to be efficient with all the places to see.

Irina Goldman

Price for adult entry

Ben Jones

Up to 10 min

Negin Hayatbini

Wait time

Travis AKA Doughboy Food Reviews

San Diego Safari Park: Visiting the San Diego Zoo has been on my bucket list for years, but it wasn't until I actually sat down to plan my trip that I realized there is a second site known as the "Safari Park". I'll jump ahead and tell you …

Christopher Richter

Weekday

Leonardo Madríz

Reservation recommended

Robin Games

Yes

Darrell Wynant

Not sure how I've never reviewed this til now.... but here we are! Excellent place for a Zoo trip! Obviously in connection with the San Diego Zoo.... the Safari Park has so many visible animals and the huge open area where so many roam …

K W

This place is the best! Definitely spend the money on a safari.

Diana “Cookii” O

Wait time

India

Amazing zoo with a ton of bathrooms and animals! Platypus is so cool ????

Brian Vasquez

Reservation recommended

Jes The Foodie

Reservation recommended

Kiran KV

Reservation recommended

Tammy Spillers

I liked the zoo, I liked SeaWorld, but man I loved the Safari!!! I definitely will come back here. I feel like I may have missed some stuff but really I wouldn't mind doing the same circuit again and again! The kids loved it too.

Micah Arnold

No wait

Rehan Shah

Safari park is large and has very friendly staff, all staff seem to be enthused and love their job. It seems to be one of the best zoo's.

anusuiya bharadwaj

Price for adult entry

Zachary Pepin

No wait

Volodymyr Dolzhenko

Price for adult entry

Tanner Rex

Not sure

Peter Z

Yes

Janet Robbins

A great place to go and learn about endangered species and the many programs the SD Zoo cultivates in preserving them. If you have kids, they will love it too. Apart from the animal attractions, rides, it also has various parks to sit at and relax. The whole area is massive so prepare for a lot of walking.

Malena M.

Reservation recommended

Tim Flagg

Reservation recommended

Ericka Miranda

They did a great job decorating for their Wild Holidays.

Cherilyn Jones

Wait time

Jane Howell

No wait

Veronica Mendoza

Price for adult entry

Rafael Rodriguez

What an amazing place! I went with my daughter, wife, and extended family. Some of my family members are long standing volunteers at the zoo so we were able to get free tickets. The park is well organized and easy to navigate. The animals of course were awesome! The exhibits are well kept and furnished. There are signs and boards everywhere with things to learn about the animals as you go along. The food you can purchase is just OK. They unfortunately have limited to no gluten and dairy free options.

Stephanie Garcia

My family had the greatest time here. It is a very big, wide-open park, and I would recommend it for anybody that wants a trip with their family to a place that’s relatively uninhabited during Covid. We had a blast. It has a lot of animals you can see it up close, which can’t at a typical zoo. It is a great place for seeing rare and exotic animals up close and in person.

Angie Cacheo

Wait time

Michelles Place

Up to 10 min

Chad MacKenzie

Yes

Mayra Garcia Gutarra

Free

J A.

Our favorite place to be! This is the second time we have been. A little modified due to covid restrictions, however nothing was hindered due to restrictions. We still had the same fun. If you have not been here, i highly recommend checking this cool place out. Will be returning again soon!

David Han

No wait

FRANCISCA ROSIBEL PALACIOS

Loved it! My family and I had a wonderful time, the live music was nice, food was delicious and really nice and very informative staff ???????? also the tram ride was wonderful ???? beautiful scenery with green all around. I love that the animals have tons of space to roam around!

Leesa Hinsch

Wait time

John K

Fantastic adventure, animals and area in great shape. Nice staff. However, prices are insane. We paid for a daily ticket and Safari $200 per person.

Hawra

Wait time

Crystal Sears

$31+

Richard Todd

$31+

Andy S

I don't like going to tourist attraction destinations much, but this place is worth going to! The lions were outside resting together. The gorillas were together eating lunch. The animals have lots of space and look comfortable and happy. They also had acrobatics from Tanzania that were extremely talented and put on great shows. We watched them all. Great experience. I didn't pay for anything extra other than parking ($15) and a stroller ($14), but there are plenty of other things you can do for more $$ to make it even more memorable, like riding the hot air balloon.

k J

Visited on

Kristen Loven

I find all the plants as intriguing as the animals! Love the outback marsupials, so cool getting so close to a bald eagle and condors! The 5 yr old gorilla was pretty entertaining, a daredevil!

Ke L

Beautiful and clean park and I love the fact that it wasn't too crowded. Another amazing part is the food which unlike other parks was excellent. This is the perfect location for the entire family and you see beautiful animals that are happy in that environment. We have season tickets and we go here several times a year.

Terri Wilson

Reservation recommended

Angel

Reservation recommended

Elizabeth Armistead

Yes

Dena Martin

Wait time

Shawn Kenner

No wait

ROBERTO Jimenez

Reservation recommended

Andrew Zoller

Wait time

KSH

Visited on

Tonya Colombo

Reservation recommended

Mona Wazir

Visited on

John Mazurek

One of favourite places to go and hang out. Being mostly outdoors I feel safe there during covid. Still haven't seen everything after five visits. I do like to stop a lot to take it all in and watch the animals. Fascinating and a great contributor to helping save endangered species and educate humans.

Girish Chandran

Yes

Shana Porter

No wait

Zoe Rabago

No wait

Jonathon Flores

No wait

Ryan Smith

Just to emphasize, the location of the safari park is about 35 miles north of the zoo! There is a separate entrance fee to the park, and depending on what safari experience you choose, you pay for that separately! The deluxe version was awesome, it went through 3 habitats with ample time to see the animals from a very close distance! The staff were also amazing and very knowledgeable!

CJ W

Love the tram ride. It's like a safari. Also enjoy the lion display and elephants. So many birds to see!

Auntie M O

No wait

Logan Swiecki-Taylor

The park is huge so one has to plan his/her time and route of the journey accordingly to cover all the spots. Its awesome to be there! Gives you the wildlife adventurous feel????????

JudyNV

Wait time

Jennifer Goins

Price for adult entry

Ryan Biz

No wait

Rich

$31+

K Garvey

$31+

Chell Sloan

Weekday

ophelia trujillo

Price for adult entry

Katherine Kim

Reservation recommended

David Niemiec

Was great but this place I think it needs better signaling printed in the ground with a arrow were this path is taking you people who come ete often know their way around but first time comers or not frequent finds hard to navigate there's always room to improve

A S

No wait

Tl Fuchs

Great park, the train ride was great and very informative. Wear good walking shoes, because there are uphill/downhill parts and loads of walking.

Christina S

Wait time

Kathryn Bobb

Wait time

Mike Zahnow

Wait time

Zakir

Reservation recommended

Tamara Drury

Visited on

I B

What an amazing experience! We rode the tram almost immediately after we entered the park. It was a great way to see different areas. All of the staff we talked with seemed well-educated and to deeply care about the animals and the park itself. We had lunch at the Watering Hold at Kijamii Overlook. The food was just so-so, but the experience itself of watching the animals was totally worth it! Our two favorite exhibits were the California condors and the duck-billed platypus! Bring a lot of water if going on a warm day. We would have been able to stay longer if we had been better prepared. If you are in areas where there isn't much shade it is HOT.

C JO

Visited on

Andrea H

Visited on

Abraham Alvarez

Reservation recommended

Rachel “MamaBear” New

Yes

Barry Allworth

Wait time

jeff wilkins

Price for adult entry

Courtney Ingram

Visited on

Amber Gopel

From the immaculately crafted landscapes to the beauty of the animal habitats you can truly feel the care that the WAP has for it's clients, which is to say the animals! If your a patron who enjoys a good beer then treat yourself to one of their micro brews as you explore condor ridge and the old world gardens. Plenty of well placed and clean bathrooms will alleviate any worries brought on by the sheer generous magnitude of their pours. Visit the petite elders of the bonsai garden and revel in the tiniest juniper trees you've ever seen. Scour the Savannah with an up close truck tour or take to the skies and afford yourself a hawk eye view with their hot air balloon. Let the kids cool off in the water area right next to the Cheetah run. Your proceeds go towards supporting the wild life so all the enjoyment is shared. This place is fantastic! I recommend it to anyone of any age.

Gau dy

Wait time

Jayden Aragon

Yes

Jeffrey Heeb

Exactly what we were expecting! Wouldn't get the food at the same place again tho. Did not like that part. Forgot the name of the place but, it's near a duck pond. The manager that we spoke to was amazing though! I think his name was Peter. Definitely would go back, thank Peter for us!

Jessica Anderson

We go for the animals! It's amazing. No two visits are ever alike. So much to see. You could park yourself at the elephant enclosure all day; there is always something entertaining happening there. Climb on the tram and enjoy the entire Safari Park. In the Spring, you can enjoy watching all the newborns. What is cuter than a baby elephant, a baby rhino, a baby giraffe, or baby lion cub? NOTHING! We enjoy the Bird shows and the leopard run (they release a leopard to run a distance chasing fake prey. Don't blink, or you'll miss it! The gorillas and chimps are always fun to visit and photograph. It's one of the best hikes in existence, just strolling through Safari Park and enjoying every step of the way. Note: Wear comfortable shoes. Stilettos not recommended! I saw some of the reviews panning the food. We don't go for the food, we go for the animals.

Jeanene Bean

Price for adult entry

Brenda Rey

Price for adult entry

Yanira Lopez

The best Safari park. If you want to see all the park you should go early morning and stay all day there. It is Kids friendly

Tusky Three

Public holiday

Linda D. DeBrita

Weekday

Vlad

So much fun! The set up of the park is great and less crowded than the San Diego Zoo. We have a membership so we go about twice a month. Such a great getaway with the kiddo and lots to do!

Alastair Dawson

No wait

Ozge Mutlu

Reservation recommended

Seth Riggins

No wait

Jeanielle Taylor

Weekday

Alexander Macdonald

Best experience at a wildlife place/sanctuary. It was incredibly fun and hands on. The best is the safari ride! My son had such a great time, he woke up talking about it today so I know it's a memory he will always remember and cherish. The kangaroo walk is a fantastic experience and I have never felt so close to wildlife. I would love to come back someday!

Maricela Rios

$31+

Denise Ferrucci

$31+

Norma Cornejo

Wait time

Patricia Soto

Absolutely good, but not as good as expected! It was expected bigger. Also, while doing Africa Tram safari, it was expected to see lions. Luckily, staffs are helpful; they are everywhere to guide you. They recognize your confusion on your face and come to help you. You don’t need to worry about losing your path; they will definitely help you.

Mayra Acosta

The park is beautiful and extremely well kept! The private safari up close to the animals is definitely worth the extra $. All the staff and volunteers were very cheerful and helpful! Wonderful experience, and we'll absolutely be back!

Chaunteal Kaye

This was a truly amazing experience and totally worth it. Ths San Diego and LA Zoos get all the credit but this one is the true gem even if you don't have extra money for the extra excursions. We went for a friend's daughter's birthday and had a good time. We were sort of reluctant because it was a bit more pricey than the San Diego Zoo. There is a lot of walking and inclines, so be wary if you are visiting with elderly or very small kids. This is one time I would recommend taking a stroller. We took the safari and it takes you down closer to some of the animals. You're not in the immediate vicinity so, don't worry, it's not dangerous. ???? I can't remember but I think you can bring food or water. I think you can get a military discount in advance. Be prepared because you have to pay for everything. But, still it is worth the trip!

A R

The best experience ever! We enjoyed the place from 9am until 5pm, no dull moments. The price for the this wildlife adventure is worth it, even surpassed my expectations. We're planning to buy a membership card because we want to visit the place whole year round. Bucket list, checked!

Janelle Jabro

Expensive, but fun. The tour guide on the paid tour was wonderfully animated, making the trip into the wildlife exhibits that much more fun. The platypuses, (not platipi, as taught by our tour guide) were not swimming around sadly. Food is even more expensive, but I'm told all proceeds, beyond the park, go to wildlife preservation and medicinal breakthroughs, again, as taught by our guide.

J C

Wait time

omid kalani

Visited on

Vanessa C

Something for everyone at the Safari Park in San Diego! Young or old there is something to capture your attention. Well trained staff, excellent service and pricing. My girlfriend and I go on a year pass with preferred parking. For families it's a must see! Try the tram it's excellent for tired kids and adults alike. Enjoy and donate if you can.

Courdeza Lawrence

This is a good place to go to spend the day walking around to see different animals. Although the San Diego Zoo has many more animals it also has more people. Here you can enjoy the day with the family.

محمد كريم

Weekday

Sheri McCallum

Weekday

Mina T.

I was shocked at the vast size of the place and the quality of enclosures for the animals. It was a wonderful day ????. For folks that struggle to walk 7 miles in a day= rent a scooter. I can imagine it would be difficult for differently abled folks and difficult if the temperature is over 90. Plan on the whole day

Zhuge Liang

I have been coming here since I was a boy and it's been one of the best experiences everytime. The park itself is pretty big and there are tons of different shows and animal exhibits to see. Expect to walk A LOT though which isn't a negative, just a warning. Summer months are going to be hot so bring water if you go then. Fall is a good time to go as the weather is more comfortable.

John Taylor

Visited on

Hongyao Xu

Overall I enjoyed the animals that were available. The safari ride was not bad as well. However, the weather was not as great as I would have wanted. And some of the exhibits were closed or not available. That is the reason for my three star rating. With better weather and more exhibits this place would be great!

Preethi Premkumar

No wait

David Disbrow

Reservation recommended

Rajat Prakash

Weekend

Frank Flores

Reservation recommended

Miguel C

Visited on

Isabel Cortes

The best deal for locals. Get your Zoo/ Animal Park pass. Our entire family of 3 generations enjoys our membership. Its convenience in location, entertainment and education is a gift to all. The employees are professional, friendly and knowledgeable.

Maria Le Compte

Such a wonderful place! The caravan tour is worth every penny!

Christian Marquez

No wait

Ruslan Drobotia

Visited on

Walter Anderson

Price for adult entry

Divya Ijr

Visited on

Michael Cali

Price for adult entry

Aubrey M

Weekend

Tom Mummery

Loved visiting this. Much better laid out than the zoo. Was very hot during our visit so was very grateful for the water misters around he park. Kids loved it, and we saw animals we hadn't seen before. Enclosures were spacious and easy to get good views.

Ming Liang

Weekend

O H

Not sure

Danielle Schons

We went for wild holiday nights. I gave two stars because I understand the rain is out of their control, but what they can control is the lighting… there were lights here and there but if we are talking about wild holiday nights I think they could have done a much better job of lighting up the ENTIRE place and being more creative with light placement and making sure it’s a really cool experience. It was disappointing rain or shine. There are so many cool light options out there they could use to really do the place up, but I guess you can’t expect Disney experience everywhere. They should put more design and energy into it because it has potential to be really really cool. The tigers were AWESOME though!

Veronica Reyes

Visited on

Maricel Santos

Spectacular. It was a beautiful experience, the animals at their best. The city of Escondido California is divine❤. The zoo also shows us the animals they taught us about them, if you can take the tours it would be great because with that money it helps with the maintenance of the animal facilities and please do not eat medicines that are made from white rhino horns. Thank you ???? ❤❤❤???? #sandiegozoosafarianimalpark

melinda nichols

One of the coolest experiences I've ever had in my life! We chose to do a guided sunset safari and it was beyond worth it! Our crew was amazing and the wildlife has us all in awe. The kangaroo exhibit is sooo cool but unfortunately the platypus was sleeping. Can't wait to come back!

Carolyn Jones

Price for adult entry

Timothy Hayden

Wait time

Sarah Yat

Price for adult entry

A Man

Weekday

G. Chris Boynton

$31+

Kaiyuan Zhang

Price for adult entry

Miguel Romero

Amazing! The flora fauna is also a main Attraction here. The volunteers are phenomenal! All the staff are so friendly and love how informative and friendly they are. The animal exhibits are outstanding! Definitely plan to spend the whole day here.

julie alves

Visited on

Stefanie Flores

Price for adult entry

Barry Stay

Yes

Gurdev Singh chaak bamu

Wait time

Karen Eakins

Price for adult entry

Armando A. Garcia

Weekend

Adam Leonard

Make sure you have good amount of time as you will probably need to walk around, enjoy the animals/show, taking pictures and the riding Africa tram. Make sure you bring some water or water bottles, light meals/snacks and wear comfortable shoes. By the way, your kids will enjoy this place as much as you do

Patricia Seymour

Up to 10 min

Richard Dignum

Had a blast with my kids. All the employees were super nice and had answers to all my questions. The zip line was worth every penny. Can't wait to go back

Gavin Zau

Wait time

Jonathan Baccus

Weekday

Manuel coto

Yes

Shirley S

I was just so mesmerized by how close I was to this big, beautiful animal that I can only see in books, pictures or Animal Planet. The tram was absolutely awesome, it exceeded my expectations. It can be alot of walking so I would suggest some good walking shoes, sunblock, water and don't plan on carrying lots of stuff. To compare to the zoo, I would say if you want to get a closer look, a bigger habitat but not as many animals because the animals are mainly from Africa, and the zoo has lots of animals to see, but from a further distance with smaller habitats. I highly would recommend the safari park.

Becky Reganmoore

This is a very very expensive family outing. The drive to and through Escondido is gorgeous. The 30 min tram is free with ticket purchases and there is an additional 1 hr more private experience for around $60 per person. The free tram was great. The walk to the tram is long. Very long. Ebony at the tram helped us with some seating for our daughter and gave us a transcript of the ride. She was wonderful and very helpful. We found out about the free shuttles that help move people around the park. That would have been super helpful to know beforehand. Ideally go on a cooler day. The inland temps are much higher than the coast and it was a lot for us today, 7/31. If you have a good zoo in your own town, save your money and time and try one of the other fun attractions SD has to offer.