Parking 5/5 -Plenty of spots available, parking fee does…read moreapply. Ambiance 5/5 -I visited on a super hot day but it was still a very pleasant experience. Attractions are a lot more spaced out than the main San Diego Zoo, it's much more catered to additional experiences you pay for to interact more with animals in the safari section. However, the Africa Tram is free with entrance and is a decent option for exploring the free range animals. I also saw the new restaurant they have next to the elephants valley, it looks cool and you can dine almost right next to elephants.

How has it been over 15 years since I've reviewed this place?!?…read moreI've been on and off again passholder for nearly 30 years. Currently need to renew that I'm waiting for my next trip to do that I'm also a teacher and we do about four field trips a year here. It honestly is super exciting to be able to take a group of ninth graders from National city to the wild animal park. The majority of these students have never been there and seeing their enjoyment is almost as amazing as taking your own child as a toddler. I currently am obsessed with the platypus and the kangaroo here. There's so many amazing animals and the Safari Park does a fabulous job of caring for them and breeding them and educating the public about endangered species This is my absolute favorite day, except in the deadly heat of summer I'm going to plan a trip this winter when my kids are home from college. That's when I'll renew. We already have a school trip planned this fall so see you soon San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Went here for a birthday celebration, and opted for the BearCat feeding experience and was…read morepleasantly surprised to get SO much more!! They gave us a full tour of the facility, and took time to educate and let us interact with each animal. Our tour guide was kind, knowledgeable and so entertaining! All the employees look like they really care about the facility and know what they are talking about. A portion of the money you pay towards the ticket for the experience goes towards a nonprofit of your choosing, to support various animals and their causes. Overall it was so worth the money, and such a unique experience. Compared to the zoo's in San Diego, this was a top niche experience and would 10/10 reccamend

A beautiful wildlife preservation site where you can enjoy animal encounters with exotic animals!…read more - PARKING - We parked on the hill past the entrance of the business, and walked down. Pretty steep but it's a short walk. - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - Book your visit online! There are group rates and additional attendee rates, so just make sure you have the right count of people! Staff was very friendly from start to finish, and I loved seeing the enthusiasm shine through their work. It's not a huge site, so not a ton of walking involved, but there are some steps if you're worried about accessibility. Make sure to wear closed toed shoes! - EXPERIENCE - We booked a Wallaby encounter, and initially I thought it was only going to be a single animal experience but I was pleasantly surprised we were taken on a tour around the area! We did get to feed and pet the Wallaby, but we also walked to see all the different animals in captivity. They also brought out some animals for us to pet and see up close! - OVERALL - A wonderful wildlife preservation site, and amazing staff to take care of them all!

We had an amazing time at Dirty Bird Ranch during a private tour with our family of four including…read morea 4 yo and 2 yo. During the hour we were all able to hold, feed, and pet so many animals. We had such an intimate personalized experience and all learned so much. We definitely made memories to last a lifetime and can't recommend Dirty Bird Ranch enough!

Such a great time! All the animals are so friendly and Candace makes the whole tour feel so…read morerelaxed. We had a herd of pigs, goats, dogs and alpacas following us around the whole time. We even got to feed and pet an ostrich. Definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a unique experience for the family or date :)

Less crowded than the Main Zoo at Balboa Park and lot more open space. Unlimited Tram Rides…read more Parking is $12, ($9 for members or free for Diamond Membership) We get the Dual Diamond Membership for $140 which includes free parking here and unlimited visits to the main Zoo and the Wild animal park for me and my wife. Tip: Come here early on the weekends because it is much cooler and less crowded. Also get on the Tram before 11:30 to avoid long lines. Some of the exhibits to see are the Tiger Trail, Lion exhibit and Gorilla exhibit. You can get real close (Just a thick piece of Glass between you and the Animal) and see how they interact. I have seen the Lions Male and Females fight over a Large Leg Bone the trainer threw out - It was Really cool. Also check out the Cheetah Run usually once a day at 3:30. 0-60 in about 3.5 seconds. Really amazing to watch!

Worth the price of admission!…read more Organized and friendly staff. Make it a must when visiting the patch.

Snows was amazing! We booked a unicorn for pony rides and a petting zoo for our daughter's 7th…read morebirthday party in Vista. Our kids and their friends had a blast! I was impressed with Snows for showing up about an hour early to set-up, leaving zero mess behind, and for working with our small outdoor space. Guys- they brought in the little fence for the petting zoo and used our driveway and alley for the pony rides! They really made it happen! Also the young ladies were so attentive and accommodating to our guests..not goofing around or playing on their phones. I highly recommend this company.

We attended a birthday party where the backyard wasn't super big, but Cindy was able to…read moreaccommodate. It was fun to see everyone enjoy. We did make sure there were only 3/4 people at a time because of the space. The little chicks were everywhere, though. I almost felt I could have stepped on them, lol. Overall, it was fun to pet and take pictures.

Just celebrated my son's birthday and selected Cindy Lu's Petting Zoo to help keep the kids…read moreattending our party entertained. The husband and wife team were friendly and professional. The selection of pets were great. I joked and said they had brought the Noah's Ark Package for our party cause seriously, they had everything but a Chupacabra lol. They brought enough hay and feed to keep the animals at bay so everyone could enjoy them. I highly recommend them if looking for a petting zoo. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again for a future party. Price, value, selection- nobody even comes close!

What an incredible experience! It was so amazing to see so many reptiles and be able to actually…read morehold them and interact with them in their habitats. We wouldn't have had such an amazing time without our amazing tour guide. Rachel did such a great job teaching our kids the right ways to interact with the animals and you can tell that she really loves what she does. She was really patient with our kids and made this an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend! *full warning, the outside of the building looks a little sketchy at first because it's an old building, but don't let that deter you*

Would you like to learn about incredible reptiles up close and support a good cause? The…read moreEcoVivarium is the perfect place! For $25 you can get a behind the scenes tour that introduces you to a variety of turtles, snakes, and lizards that call the EcoVivarium home. They also have birthday party visits, host events, and as I learned from my friend Trish, can help teachers get set up with a reptile in the classroom. My first conversation with Susan at the EcoVivarium was heartfelt, as I was calling to see if they might be interested in the donation of our decommissioned aquarium. The setup was only four years old and housed our previous beloved 26 year old fish named Puff that had recently passed away. Susan was kind, expressed her condolences and shared that they would appreciate our donation. Chun P and I met Rachel and Donald on a Sunday and after we brought our items in from the car were treated to meeting some terrific reptiles. Many of the inhabitants at the EcoVivarium have sad stories, some had suffered abuse, some were abandoned, and others were victims of trafficking that were confiscated and brought in by the department of fish and game. Susan has created a safe space and her staff and volunteers give their all to make sure they live a better life. I'm looking forward to visiting again soon and supporting this worthy endeavor!

Annual spring exhibit that's known for butterfly interactions and long-ass lines…read more Is it worth it? If you've seen it once you can probably skip it. The problem isn't butterfly jungle, it's the poor timing of butterfly season which is during spring break for SoCal schools. Even during midweek it was 20 minutes waiting. During a Saturday you're looking at an hour. There is one large viewing aviary loaded with butterflies. There are plenty of opportunities to have butterflies land on you if you're patient. I would say that adults were having more fun with this experience than the kids. - There are two mandatory butterfly checking stations before you can leave Butterfly Jungle. If you think TSA searches are embarrassing just wait for the security checks here.

I come every year to this exhibit, and whether I pay for priority viewing or not, the wait time is…read moresoooo long for maybe ten minutes of wandering the enclosure. It's basically a 2-hour wait if you don't pay, and upwards of an hour if you do. Overall, I don't recommend this exhibit. It's too crowded as it is. Joking, not joking! Well, my best tip is to wear bright colors. Butterflies always land on me when I wear red or hot pink. P.S.- Fun fact: It sounds cruel, but the birds they keep there are to eat the butterflies when the exhibit ends. Enjoy~ Pros: - great photo ops Cons: - humid inside - long lines - priority viewing oversold

Go either at the beginning of the day or the end of the day. The middle is when there's a long line…read morethat would be much better served elsewhere. If you happen to go on a weekend go to the kiosk and ask for a botanical tram ticket. It's free, allows you to skip the line, you can see all the same animals, but the script is about the plants at the zoo, which I found fascinating. Big big big fan of the tram.

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!!!

Such a wonderfully run group! All the animals are very well taken care of. The owners are very kind.read more

Wonderful experience! We booked for a children's party. Shawneen was prompt and clear with…read morecommunication. She very knowledgeable about each of the animals and gave me a little background on them all which I felt was a testament to how much they are cared for. Booking was a breeze. The trailer arrived well before our scheduled petting zoo time for set up, everything was thoughtfully arranged for safety but also so that it would photograph nicely. Shawneen did an excellent job explaining etiquette for everyone and gave parents helpful pointers to ensure the little one's were comfortable and having a great time. After cleanup, there was no sign whatsoever that a whole bunch of farm animals had been present only moments before. I really wouldn't change a thing, we loved this experience, our guests loved this experience, and I would recommend it to anyone considering.