San Diego Zoo Safari Park

San Diego Zoo Safari Park is an 1,800-acre wildlife park in San Diego County, California, operated by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. It was established to provide large, open habitats for breeding, research, and public education, and it hosts African and Asian species in expansive enclosures.

Key visitor experiences include guided tram safaris across the African Plains, walk-through exhibits such as Walkabout Australia, and close-up experiences like giraffe feeding and behind-the-scenes conservation programs. The park prioritizes large-scale animal husbandry, species recovery work, and immersive habitats rather than compact display enclosures.

The park opened in 1972 as the San Diego Wild Animal Park and was rebranded in 2010 to emphasize the safari experience. Since opening it has served as a center for captive breeding, reintroduction projects, and global conservation partnerships.

The Safari Park is located in the San Pasqual Valley near Escondido, approximately 30 miles north of downtown San Diego, set in undulating hills with purpose-built open-range exhibits.

• Size: Covers roughly 1,800 acres, allowing large open-range enclosures rather than traditional zoo cages.
• History and purpose: Opened as the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 1972 and renamed the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 2010; it focuses on breeding and conservation programs for large mammals.

What to See#

• African Plains: A large open savanna habitat that houses mixed herds of African species, designed for guided tram and caravan safaris across the park’s plains.
• Walkabout Australia: An exhibit area replicating Australian habitats with free-roaming kangaroos and wallabies allowing close pedestrian encounters.
• Africa Tram: A visitor tram and guided safari operation that transports guests across large enclosures and is the park’s primary way to view wide-ranging species.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is in the San Pasqual Valley near Escondido, about 30-35 miles (roughly a 35-45 minute drive) north of downtown San Diego. By car take I‑15 north and follow signs to Escondido/CA‑78, then follow local signage to the Safari Park; ample on‑site parking is available. Public transit is limited - driving or a rideshare/taxi is the most practical option.

• Arrive right at opening (or late afternoon) - animal activity is highest in cooler hours and the busiest crowd windows are midday; planning your first stops for the tram and major savanna enclosures will get you better viewing before lines build.
• Book special experiences (Caravan Safari, Behind‑the‑Scenes encounters, zipline/Flightline) in advance - these limited-capacity programs routinely sell out and have set departure times.
• Head to the Africa Tram early in your visit to avoid long queues and to see wide‑range species from the tram vantage before the park gets crowded; use the park map to loop back to front‑of‑park attractions later when crowds concentrate at the entrance.