We went to the BRAND NEW ELEPHANT EXHIBITION, and it is definitely something to be seen more than…read moreonce. It's AMAZING, I MEAN AMAZING!!! It was certainly worth the wait. It isa big, beautiful space. It even includes a RESTAURANT.

This place was very cool. The food was great, the ability to get a craft cocktail was a nice treat,…read moreand the view is unbeatable. The pork belly was amazing. The dining hall is very beautiful, but it was strange to eat in such a nice looking restaurant and everyone around us was wearing crocs and tank tops, haha. Service was awesome.

We had them visit our rental house for a baby shower and it was SO much fun! The humans were great,…read morethe animals were great, the whole experience was a blast.

SO much fun. We had them come out to our Airbnb for a baby shower and they were so flexible, kind,…read moreknowledgeable, and fun! It truly seems like an ethical business where they really care about and know their animals, which was very important to us.

We absolutely LOVED watching the giant tiger even though they said it was a small tiger! ;)…read more We've seen a few times since January. It was getting warm outside and the tiger got into the water! Exciting for us. I've only seen it lounging or pacing. It's the small things in life that make us smile! I like that the enclosure is designed to be a natural habitat. Maybe not exactly, but accommodating for the animals. I know the tiger is a wild animal, but I would love to give a big hug! Not possible! I know.... For now, I do enjoy watching....

We walked up to the Kangaroos, along with the Tigers. It is a beautiful way to get to the Tigers…read more We went to the Kangaroos first, then down the trail to the Tigers. Although there were a number of Tigers, but we really loved the carvings of Tigers.

When you're in the San Diego Safari Park walking around, and need to sit and relax, try getting on…read morethe Africa Tram! It was our life saver!!! ;) It's one of those big buses! You'll be on a 2.5 mile guided tour to see the animals at the Savanna area. It's a huge natural open air habitat. It's a great way to learn more about the animals. This is a free ride that's included with the purchase of your Safari entry ticket. Take advantage of it! The lines for this ride can look overwhelming. It does move quickly. There's more than one bus! We took advantage of the bathroom before waiting in line. Then we had our snacks while waiting. Before you know it, it's an adventure ride time!!!

Quick, fun and informative way to see some of the African animals. Baby giraffe was so cute!read more

Thank goodness there was this carousel within the Safari Park to entertain my two year old. We took…read moreher to the zoo to see animals, but she was much more interested in riding the carousel. There are many different animals to ride on so she was excited to choose a new animal each time. For the price of just $8, she got unlimited rides, which she took advantage of gleefully. All in all, we probably ride this six times.

Worth the price of all day admission!…read more An excellent choice to hide from the heating sun. My son has ridden on all the animals lol. Be back soon!

If you want to see the "Elephant Valley" exhibit, it's perfectly designed. I decided to take my…read moreparents to see this exhibit because there was so much advertising about it on the news and also social media. So, on the 4th of July we decided that was what we were going to do. We arrived around 11:30 ready for this new experience. Once we got there, the parking is not the easiest unless you get there right when they open or you are a Safari yearly pass holder where they get access to preferred parking. In any case, we parked in the lower lot and walked up the street to finally reach the entrance. I will also add at this time it was so hot already being that this place is located in Escondido, California, which is inland in San Diego where it gets so hot. We all had not eaten so once we got in the park we were already hot and hungry . We walked toward the Elephant Valley exhibit. My parents were tired so we sat down on a bench and decided we would eat first. So, I decided to call the "African themed"restaurant next to "Elephant Valley" for us to enjoy lunch while we watched the elephants. I called to see if I could make reservations for the soonest spot available for lunch. Guess what? I didn't realize this should have been done at least a week prior to going to make sure we could get in since it's so popular . We never even planned in advance to attend the Zoo Safari park as it was a last-minute idea. Since we could not get into the restaurant, we ate at some outdoor fast-food place where I order a Vegan burger. It was okay but not the greatest and my parents felt the same about their food. After eating, we made it to the "Elephant Valley exhibit, and it was like walking into an African savanna because the heat was blasting hot and the landscaping was just like being in Africa . As we kept walking we saw the elephants seeming to enjoy their environment eating and throwing dirt on themselves. One of the zoo keepers called out one of their names and it came walking over ready to receive the treat. I was able to observer and grand some great photos and enjoy the pond right in front of the restaurant we never had the chance to go. In any case, we all were hot and tired and had no motivation to see any more exhibits so we decided it was best to go home. I recommend if you are a local or tourist, plan to call ahead for reservations to the restaurant, and arrive when the park opens so you can get preferred parking. It costs more but totally worth it. Also, try to go on a cooler day or in the Fall when the weather is not so hot. It was not a perfect day, but it was a fun day!

It's been decades since I was last at the Safari Park. Back then it was with my son, now, with my…read moregrandson and the park is better than ever!!! The botanicals have matured and the dedicated staff had created a unique environment and experience in Escondido. The staff and volunteers are friendly and helpful. You can tell that they love being there to share their love for plants and animals. The paths are well planned for you to enjoy walking to the different parts of the world that we live in. The animals are beautiful to see. There is a lot to see and learn. I loved how to explore and learn about the diverse and unique environments of the planet. Interactive exhibits are placed around the paths, giving insights into the environments the animals live in. You leave with a unique appreciation and insight into how diverse the planet is. Lots of paid parking. Many "watering holes" for refreshments and food are available along the paths. Definitely a return visit call!!

Gotta love the Lion Camp and the food/drink options that are available right next to it…read more Service is quick! Nachos, hot dogs, pretzels with cheese and slushees! Steps away from all the live animals. Worth a visit!

You have to walk a little to find this big camp and it is so worth it! As the name suggests, you…read morewill see lions in this safari camp themed exhibit. I like to come here often and each time there is something fun to see. These cats have big personalities too, and not everyone plays nice. The large family of cats includes: Mom and her sister dad 2 cubs approximately 1 year old 4 cubs approximately 6 months old. So momma kitty is really possessive and likes things just her way. She won't let her sister anywhere near her cubs. She did not introduce the 2 older cubs to the family, they only get to hang wiuth eachother. The most interesting scenario includes Mom, dad and their 4 giant babies. Crowds go nuts when all 6 kitties are in the showcase cage.

Our family attended a birthday party today and we're so impressed. We'll definitely keep this on…read moreour short list for birthday parties, such a relaxing environment for parents and engaging for the kiddos. The team is friendly, space is comfortable and clean, and the ponies are precious. Thank you PonyTime team!!