We danced…
Marveled in wonder at the acrobats…
Were blown away by the magnificence and speed of Shiley the Cheetah…
And oohed and aahed over giraffes, rhinos, and buffalo…
I grew up in Southern California, but last week was my very first visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. On the contrary, I have been to the San Diego Zoo more times than I can count. Along with being much bigger (as in 1800 acres in comparison to the zoo’s 100 acres), Safari Park is home to more than 3,500 animals which represent over 400 species. And while you can definitely visit either venue for unique experiences, Safari Park is all about adventures…expeditions…safaris!
As part of Summer Safari: African Extravaganza, guests can enjoy beading, drumming, dancing, hula-hoops, juggling, acrobatics, tales and music from Africa and more. What a fantastic way for children to learn and be exposed to another culture. The environment is colorful and lively and a great place to hang out in between adventures. Most of the activities are held at Safari Camp but be sure to check out the website for more information about specific activities.
When visiting Safari Park, you’d expect to see animals…the type you don’t see every day! The stars of this year’s Summer Safari: African Extravaganza include the African Elephant, the Uganda Giraffe, and the Cheetah. Every day at 5 pm Shiley Amara, or Johari will go from 0 to 70 MPH in just 4 seconds at the Cheetah Run. This is one of the most amazing things I’ve seen. Shiley ran with such grace and speed. If the Cheetah participating on that day is physically able, he/she may run a second time, but it really depends on the day. After the second run, we had an opportunity to get up close and personal with Shiley. It was a bit surreal to be so close to such an animal but definitely an experience you and your children will remember for a lifetime. Since the experience is free, I highly recommend grabbing a viewing spot early. For $40, you can obtain reserved seating and an exclusive meet and greet with the Cheetah and another African animal. This is THE best view and it’s neat to be able to interact with the trainers to get inside information on these animals.
If you’re visiting the park for the first time, I recommend taking the Africa Tram Safari (free with admission). The tram will take you through the park’s field exhibits where you will see African wildlife in their natural habitats. You’ll see giraffes, rhinos, gazelles, horned antelope, Cape buffalo, ostriches, African crowned cranes and much more. After trekking around the park, it was nice to sit back, relax, and enjoy the spectacular views!
We definitely did not see a large part of the park…after all…it was our first visit and I had two small children in two. But we were so intrigued by what we saw we’re heading back just as soon as we can! There are so many adventures to experience including a Flightline Safari (think ziplining), a Segway safari, and an outdoor sleepover adventure at the park.
This summer, Safari Park is leaving it’s doors open a little longer. Through August 21st, you can enjoy all the park has to offer until 7 pm.
No compensation was received for this post. Entrance to the park provided.
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We have annual passes to the Zoo and Safari Park. Haven’t made it down to Summer Safari yet, but it’s on the schedule for August!
That is amazing! We are actually going to look into getting passes b/c they are both so big…. : )
Wow, these photos are stunning! Your boy is so handsome! We need to go to the zoo before it gets too cold. I left the states for 5 days and came back to what seemed like almost 50 degree weather. Rudeness I tell ya, lol!