With summer winding down, and students gearing up to head back to the classroom, why not spend some time at an educational facility that the whole family will enjoy? No, we’re not talking about school, but rather the world renowned San Diego Zoo Safari Park. With over 2,600 animals and more than 3,500 plant species, this 1,800 acre park has endless opportunities to learn and study flora and fauna from all over the world.
In 1964 the San Diego Zoological Society began planning the Safari Park with a three-fold mission in mind: to create a conservation farm, a game preserve, and a natural environment zoo. The gates opened to the public on May 10, 1972 and today serves as a refuge for some animals who previously lived in smaller zoos. Extremely rare animals, like the white rhino and the California condor, call the Safari Park home. In fact, they have the most successful breeding program in the United States for the California condor, one of the rarest bird species in the world.
The Safari Park’s terrain mimics the arid African ecosystem, and makes it a perfect fit to house elephants, giraffes, and lions. They have also built up an area to resemble the Asian Savanna, perfect for the tigers, Arabian oryxes, and Przewalski horses.
There are the standard ways to see the animals, such as the Caravan, that lets you get up close and personal, as well as the Safari Cart, where you can sit comfortably while your tour guide winds you though the park. However, did you know you could explore from above or on a tricycle?
"Trike Safari" lets you speed through the different habitats on a motorized tricycle, which means the trike does all the work. Two guides accompany you on an hour-long tour, which includes photo ops and access to areas that normally cannot be visited on foot. These tours allow you to see both the African Plains and the Asian Savanna, and you’ll learn more about conservation work taking place all over the world. That sounds like our kind of classroom.
When you think about the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a giant obstacle courses that meanders through enormous trees, probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. The "Jungle Ropes Safari" is truly for the adventurer, who isn’t afraid of heights. Navigate a ropes course or balance on suspended beams 35 feet off the ground (wearing a safety harness, of course). There are three different 90-minute courses to chose from, and you can travel at your own pace. This is P.E. taken to another level.
The Park offers six different “Behind-the-Scenes Safaris,” that offer a two-hour tour behind some of their most popular attractions, such as the Tiger Trail or the Lion Camp. If you chose the “Cheetah & Friends” option, you get to go behind the scenes at the Benbough Amphitheater to meet one of the cheetahs! There is even a “Veterinary Medical Center” tour where you can see first hand the state-of-the-art facilities used to care for the animals. These tours are great for those who are hungry for zoological knowledge.
For those who don’t have to worry about a budget and are passionate about studying animals, the Park offers VIP Packages that range from $599 to $959 a person. These tours include a professional guide, access to exclusive areas of the park that are not seen by the general public, and a meal. For those wishing to drop the big bucks, just know, all reservations must be made 72 hours in advance.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a quick 30 minute drive from Mission Bay, and is well worth multiple visits. It’s one of those rare places that successfully combines learning with fun with adventure. Whether you are starting the school year for yourself or your kids, or are long done with studying, the Safari Park will have something entertaining (and probably educational) for everyone.
