Wanna get closer to the animals?  A visit to the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park is exactly what you’re looking for.  Calling it a “park” is kinda misleading.  It’s more like an African safari, right here in SoCal.  Roaming the hills of the San Pasqual valley, you’ll spot rhino, giraffe, antelope and gazelle.  With 1,800 acres and more than 3,500 animals representing 429 species, the Wild Animal Park is a literal animal adventure.

Up Close and Personal
The Photo Caravan Safari offers an intimate adventure inside the Wild Animal Park’s field habitats in open-air trucks.  Indian rhinoceroses lumber alongside vehicles.  Giraffes peer into the camera lens from inches away.  Plus, get up close with unique creatures like Cape buffalo, wildebeest, East African crowned cranes and more. 

Ready, Set, Go!
For a truly jaw-dropping experience, check out the Cheetah Run Safari. Witness the world’s fastest land mammal do what it does best: run.  Journey to a beautiful, rustic camp at the Park called Cheetah Outpost, and prepare to feel the wind whoosh by as a cheetah races past from just a few feet away.

The Park after Dark
If you’ve ever dreamed of camping in East Africa, Roar and Snore might tickle your fancy.  This overnight tent-camping experience overlooks the plains of East Africa – the Wild Animal Park’s largest field exhibit – inhabited by giraffe, rhino, antelope and more. Enjoy walking tours, a campfire program, meals, listening to animal sounds and plenty of animal encounters.

A Bird’s Eye View
But maybe you’d rather see the Serengeti from a different perspective.  The Balloon Safari is modeled after the hot air balloon tours of the Serengeti, offering scenic sights of the Wild Animal Park’s lush grounds.  From a tethered helium balloon floating 400 feet in the air, you’ll get the chance to be among the hawks, eagles and other birds that soar over the Park.

The San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park is located at 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido.  For more information, call 760-747-8702 or visit www.wildanimalpark.org.