SD Zoo or Safari Park?

[Jake's Mom]

If you could only go to one, which would it be? We've been to the zoo and really enjoyed it but have never been to the safari park. Wondering if we should try it this time or stick to what we already know we enjoy. Help!

 

[Huff]

We just got back from visiting both. There is more to see and do at the zoo but the safari park is well worth it. The safari park has animals in a more natural setting where animals are allowed to roam large areas with natural barriers between other animals and people. I found we could get much closer to the animals.

If you have never been then I'd say go to the Safari. For those that have never been to either I'd pick the zoo first.

 

[sonnyjane]

If you hadn't been to the zoo before, I would definitely suggest the zoo over the Safari Park to first-timers. I actually work at the zoo, so I'm usually biased in that direction, but since you HAVE already been to the zoo, I think it's worth giving the Safari Park a try.

There are a few downsides you should prepare for -there is not as wide a variety of animals, and they are not as easily accessible. While some of the animals have exhibits that you can access through walking trails (be warned, some are STEEP!), many you only get to see on a tram ride, so if they are hiding, or far from the tram, that's the only opportunity you get in most cases to see them. The good thing is that since the Wild Animal Park became Safari Park, they made some changes. One of which is that now a general admission ticket includes UNLIMITED tram rides, whereas it used to only include one. That means if you don't see all the animals you wanted on the first, you can always give it another go (or two, or three, etc.) later in the day.

That park has two new baby cheetahs, a BRAND new baby elephant (two weeks old), and a new elephant exhibit, so if you're going soon, definitely keep an eye out for those little guys!

 

[Jake's Mom]

Thanks a bunch for the info. We won't be there until the first week in June but are so looking forward to it....can't wait!

 

[JaxsonsMom]

Thanks a bunch for the info. We won't be there until the first week in June but are so looking forward to it....can't wait!

Just an FYI: In June the Safari Park can get very HOT! Be prepared as June is a very interesting weather month for the area around the Park.

 

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

The Safari park is a lot of fun, but it is important to know there is a ton of walking involved, and a lot of it is on steep hills. If you have a bunch of very little kids, then this is something to take into account. Also, the previous poster wasn't kidding when they said it will be hot. July might be borderline miserable. One very cool thing there is the lorikeet exhibit, where you can feed the birds. Some of the best pictures of the entire trip will come from this exhibit.

 

[Mrsjvb]

. One very cool thing there is the lorikeet exhibit, where you can feed the birds. Some of the best pictures of the entire trip will come from this exhibit.

we just made hotel ressies for a trip to LA/SD for a "meet each other in the middle of unaccompanied orders" reunion( DH is spending 2 years in Japan without me) and i cannot WAIT to spend hours inside the lori aviary. we have scheduled 2 days for each.. Zoo and Park. oh yeah and 2 and 1/2 days at DL.

when we lived in SD, we had annual passes and were there every weekend he was in port.. sometimes one on Sat and one on Sunday

Both are very large and hilly.. in fact DH is not to keen on having to push me around them again heheheh. but if you haven't been to the Park, I say go there. you've already seen the Zoo. Unless of course you are looking at doing other things at Balboa.

are those cottages still there? the ones that are representative of several countries?