San Diego Zoo Safari Park is an african themed park that’s located 44 minutes north of downtown. San Diego opened in 1972. It was designed to serve as a breeding and research center where animals could be viewed in their natural habitat.
The park has been instrumental in the preservation of endangered animals the breeding facility averages.
10 Tips you need to know before visiting the San Diego zoo safari park. Before starting this article I want to tell you that both the park and the zoo has it’s own specialties. So we will discuss both in details. Park is spread over 1800 acres. We will describe the details of San Diego zoo as much as possible.
I’ll share the top 10 tips we’ve found and also information about animals and exhibits at 1800 acres. The park is pretty large with plenty of trails but you can cover it all in one day.
One of the first things i’d suggests is:
Experience a 25-minute tour around the African plains by riding the Africa tram, which is the only means of access to this vast open area. During the tour, you’ll witness an array of wildlife coexisting in harmony. Please note that the safari is also available as another option to explore this region.
There’s a wide range of animals and so many wonderful exhibits to explore andby the end of the article you’ll know exactly what to expect visiting the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Tip number one
Arrive early to the park as much as possible because many of these animals are very energetic in the mornings and arriving early will help you see as many of these wonderful animals as possible. Parking is much easier early in the day. As well a side note there is a $15 parking fee so beprepared for that.
Tip number two
Check the weather forecast, bring sunscreen, a hat and good walking shoes. Some areas of the park are not shaded so it can be useful to have some sun protection. Also it can get pretty warm here in escondido. Depending on the time of year.
Tip number three
Download the safari park app and pick up a map at the front entrance. There are a lot of trails in the park and it helps to know what you’d like to see in advance. You’ll find hidden gems all over the park such as:
● Tiger trail
■ Condor ridge
¤ Botanical gardens and much more
The app also has information about scheduled trainer talks, wildlife presentations and seasonal exhibits such as the spring butterfly jungle and the summer safari.
Tip number four
If you want to go on one of these special safaris or activities. The park offers a number of paid experiences include the flightline zipline. Which is a two-third mile long zipline that travels 50 miles per hour. 130 feet above the rhinos and giraffes and other wildlife.
There’s also the balloon safari which is a 12 minute helium balloon ride that rises 400 feet above the park. There are safari tours where a personal tour guide will take you around the park and up close encounters. Where you can meet and feed animals.
In person one of the coolest things is that you can even camp overnight at the roar and snore safari. Booking information can be found on the site.
Tip number five
Bring snacks and water from home. Because the park has many great dining options but if you prefer to pack your own picnic lunch it will be great for you. There are tables and areas all around the park where you can sit and enjoy a picnic lunch with your family.
Tip number six
The cheetah run: This unique exhibit takes place once a day here. You’ll be able to see a cheetah running at full speed. You can look online or ask a park volunteer for times. You’ll often see volunteers around the park wearing red shirts.
Tip number seven
Unique animals: The safari park is home to unique exhibits and animals that you can’t find anywhere else Walkabout. Australia is known for wallabies kangaroos and it’s the only place you can see a platypus outside of australia.
Tip number eight
Safari park is a place for people who love gardens and plant life. The park features botanical gardens with endangered plant species. A bonsai pavilion baja garden and old world succulent garden.
Tip number nine
There’s plenty of entertainment and fun for the kids including a petting area. Where you can pet goats and sheep. A splash zone which is a great way to escape the summer heat. And there are also kids play areas.
All over the park, the conservation carousel which is at the front of the park offers unlimited rides all day for six dollars.
Tip number 10
Your visit is important and actually supports the preservation of endangered species. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a non-profit organization that runs the San Diego Zoo and the Safari park. They combine animal care research and education to support conservation strategies for endangered species.
This is a very important part and your visit helps to protect these wonderful animals. If you’re enjoying the article so far. Please share this article to your friends by using the share buttons at the end of the post.
One new birth per day is an example of success is the california condor. Which was on the brink of extinction with only 27 birds remaining in the wild but we appreciate the efforts of the park and its supporters condor numbers have risen and they’ve since been reintroduced into the wild.
There are almost three thousand animals living at the park. You’ll often see the endangered species symbol at many of the exhibits.
San Diego ZOO
NOW let’s take a tour and introduce some of the animals and birds,
1. SUMATRAN TIGERS
Sumatran tigers come from Indonesia and sumatra. They’re estimated to be 400 to 700 tigers left in the wild. These tigers require a large continuous area of forest to survive and their native habitat has been affected by deforestation to make way for palm oil farms.
The Sumatran tiger exhibit is a nice waterfall this reminds me of the waterfall of the San Diego Zoo and you can see the natural habitat here at the safari park. The park was built into this canyon called the san pasqual valley.
2. California Condor
That’s the wingspan of a California condor. The northern bald eagle can be found throughout North america. They can dive close to 100 miles per hour to catch fish.
The bald eagle is the national bird of the united states and can be found on the presidential seal and u.s federal agency logos and up there on the top of that branch is the toco toucan from south america.
3. Bighorn sheep
Bighorn sheep are native to the southwest United states. They’re adapted to go for long stretches without water. They can weigh up to 280 pounds and climb steep rocky terrain with speed and agility.
4. Southern cassowary
The southern cassowary is a flightless bird that comes from New guinea; they’re the third largest bird behind the ostrich and the emu.
Although they’re afraid of humans they’re capable of attacking and have a reputation for being the world’s most dangerous bird. Their middle toe is long and sharp and capable of inflicting serious harm.
5. Platypus
The platypus is a mammal that lays eggs and is adapted to living in both water and on land, making it a semi-aquatic species from eastern australia. It senses prey by electrolocation and it’s one of the few venomous mammals male platypuses possess venom producing spurs on their hind feet.They are able to cause severe pain in humans.
6. Wallabies
Wallabies come from Australia and New guinea. They’re part of the marsupial family and they’re related to kangaroos marsupials. They are known to carry their young in a pouch.Wallabies can grow up to 41 inches tall. They’re herbivores and they prefer to eat grass, vegetables and leaves.
7. Western gray kangaroo
The western gray kangaroo is also part of the marsupial family. They’re one of the largest of the kangaroo family weighing up to 120 pounds and standing about four feet tall. They live in groups of up to 15 members and the males have boxing contests to win the favor of females during the breeding season.
8. Chilean flamingos
Mountain cody are from south america. They’re fierce when provoked with strong jaws, sharp canine teeth and fast claws. Chilean flamingos live in the coastal lagoons and mud flats of South america. They’re known for their long legs which helps them wade in the water. The leg joint in the middle is its ankle not its knees.
At the northern edge of the park you’ll find the old world succulent garden and the baja garden. According to the safari park site these gardens represent a wide variety of species with fleshy water storing leaves.
9. Western gorilla
The western gorilla is a great ape from Africa and it’s known for its light colored fur. They can weigh up to 370 pounds at a height of 5 foot 9 inches. They live in groups of up to 20 gorillas with one dominant male. Several females and their offspring which they care for the first three to four years of their lives.
Gorillas are considered highly intelligent. Some in captivity have been taught a form of sign language. They develop strong family bonds use tools laugh and even think about the past andnthe future. Gorillas are an endangered species with approximately 50,000 remaining in the wild.
10. African elephants
Most African elephants come from central africa. You can recognize an African elephant by their large ears. That some say resembles the continent Africa like apes and whales.
They possess a high level of self-awareness and intelligence. Some in captivity have learned to use a paintbrush to create art. They’re playful with a sense of humor and they learn quickly and show great compassion and care for one another. They’re even able to memorize and use tools to solve complex problems.
11. African Lions
Lions can grow up to six and a half feet long and weigh up to 490 pounds. Lions sleep and rest for about 21 hours per day. They live in prides of up to 15 members and the female lions accomplish most of the hunting.
The mombasa lagoon is home to over 20 species of birds at the north end is the african fishing village structure. At the southern end of the lagoon, an area where guests can reserve a spot for their wedding ceremony.
The collection includes elephant trees boujouems and cacti. This is the largest collection of these plants outside of their native habitat with an astounding array of adaptations.
These plants are true survivors thriving in the most inhospitable of environments at the north side of walkabout australia.
You’ll find a gift shop, a refreshment bar and a very interesting bird.
Bonsai trees
Right next door is the bonsai pavilion. Bonsai is a combination of two japanesewords meaning tree in tray. Measured in inches rather than feet. These tiny trees are carefully cultivated to resemble larger trees in real life scenery.
Bonsai trees are grown in small containers and require specialized cultivation and care techniques to support their long-term growth and maintenance.The Platypus is also referred to as duck-billed.
African Tram Ride
From this vantage point you can see just how big the savannah portion of the safari park is and it’s really only accessible by safari or the africa tram ride.
From here you can see a little baby rhino, perhaps mom and dad close by just over the top of that hill. By those palm trees, another area which we’ll go to very soon on the African tram.
The Africa tram is a 23-minute tour that takes you around the savannah habitat. There was once a monorail tour that traveled around the park. Due to high maintenance costs the tram replaced the monorail and the tram is a bio-fueled wheeled tram that carries around 100 passengers.
The tram ride travels around the african plains portion of the park and there are plans to expand the tour to cover the asian savannah and many new exhibits. This area of the park is about 240 acres and there are many different animals that coexist in the same areas along the way. You’ll see,
▪︎Giraffe
▪︎Rhino
▪︎Cattle cape Buffalo
▪︎Deer blez bach
▪︎Orcs gazelle
▪︎Antelope Impala vultures and much more.
Tour Guide: San Diego Zoo Safari Park
The tour guide will let you know interesting facts and information about each animal. The savannah habitat serves as a sanctuary for animals to give birth and raise their young ones and on this article you’ll learn about the history of the park and the great efforts of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park wildlife.
Alliance to help preserve and support endangered animal species. If you’d like to help this cause you can visit the san diego zoo wildlifealliance.org.
At the End?
On the site you can find information about their worldwide conservation efforts and useful resources. You can even become a volunteer or donate to conservation efforts.
This area of the park is called the African outpost. This is a great area to take an afternoon walk, as there is a trail that leads across a wooden planked walkway around the lagoon.
The okapi is also known as a zebra giraffe they have an increased amount of rod cells giving them the ability to see in the dark. Continuing along the trail leads to the african woods section of the park along the way You’ll see vultures, antelope orcs and gazelle.
The path leads to an elevator and from the top you’ll have an amazing view of the savannah portion of the park. From above the trail then leads through a rainforest to Mombasa lagoon and nairobi village. In this part of the park you’ll find food and snack stands.
Trainer talks and shows as well as animals living in the village and close to the lagoon and from the village. It’s not too far from these amazing light displays that make for a great photo opportunity.