San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park?

[disini]

We only have time and budget to go to one of the two parks. Which one is better?

 

[sonnyjane]

It totally depends on what you're in the mood for.

Both require LOTS of walking a lots of hills. The Safari Park (the new name for the Wild Animal Park) has a tram that you can ride throughout a lot of the park to rest your feet and the zoo has a bus tour that covers about 60% of the animals in the zoo, as well as an express bus that helps you get around the bus. Both the tram at the Safari Park and the buses at the zoo are included with regular admission.

The two parks are the same price. The zoo has free parking while the Safari Park charges $10 for cars (more for large trucks or RV's). The Safari Park is in Escondido and a little off the beaten path while the zoo is in San Diego proper. The Safari Park gets a lot hotter than the zoo in the dead of summer, so that's something to factor in.

They are both great, but offer different things. In the Safari Park, the focus is primarily on African animals and you ride a tram through large enclosures to see herds of animals "in the open". There are a lot of animals, but less variety than the zoo. The zoo is more like a traditional zoo and has tons of animals from all over the world. If you're looking for koalas, camels, kangaroos, polar bears (or any bears for that matter), leopards, otters, wolves etc., the only place to find those is the zoo.

I promise you'll have fun at either, it's just up to you what you think your family will enjoy more.

 

[Presley]

They are both wonderful. If you want more variety, the Zoo would be a better choice.

The Zoofari Park has some interesting new "rides" if you are up for that. There is a Zip line and a hot air balloon (just goes straight up).

 

[Huff]

The Safari park allows you to get closer to the animals in a far more natural setting than the zoo. There are several animal shows where they bring the animals out close in front of the audience.

The two are quite different experiences so its not easy to pick one and say its better. For me, theres more to see and do at the Zoo but the Safari offers a more natural way to see the animals along with better shows.

That said, I'd probably pick the zoo if I could only do one. I would avoid the Zoo on holidays where peak crowds are expected. It can get VERY crowded. For either one, go early and ride the bus/tram first thing. Later in the day the lines for those can get lengthy.

When not traveling with kids we stop by Orfilia Winery on the way to the Safari park. Great wine tasting and gift shop.

 

[disini]

Thank you. We are going in August, and we want to see more varieties, especially those animals we didn't have chance to see in smaller zoo. So I know which one we are heading to......

 

[JediPhil]

We're doing both parks in mid June, how's the weather around that time?

 

[Huff]

We're doing both parks in mid June, how's the weather around that time?

The Safari park will almost always be warmer than the zoo. On some days it can get rather hot (85ish) there so go early. Never can predict this far out so check weather report right before you leave to see if one day will be cooler.

Zoo is usually moderate all summer long. Around 75ish.

 

[llump41]

If you only can do one, do the original.