Seniors get free admission through February

SAN DIEGO SAFARI PARK

by Donna Gambol

LW contributor

Seniors age 65 and older get free admission to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park—including the Africa Tram—for the entire month of February. The $69 admission fee is waived for seniors, who just need to show a valid photo ID at the turnstile and walk right in to the Safari Park.

Parking fee is $15 per vehicle; $20 for RVs. The park is located at 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road in Escondido. People who plan on going to take advantage of this offer should go soon. Later in the month the traffic backs up, particularly on the weekend.

The Africa Tram is a guided adventure 2.5 miles around one of the Safari Park’s expansive savanna habitats. This tour provides guests the opportunity to see towers of giraffes, crashes of rhinos and flocks of exotic birds on a closer level. The tram is an open-air, soft-wheeled vehicle and is included in Safari Park admission.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, an 1,800-acre wildlife park, is home to more than 3,600 animals representing over 300 species.

The park welcomes more than 1.5 million guests each year to see animals in herds of mixed species, in expansive savanna habitats. The park’s vast accredited botanical garden features more than 1.3 million plants, representing over 3,700 species. Pathways in the park are paved and elevations change, so those with ambulatory issues might want to bring along a walking stick. The park is handicapped accessible. There plenty of places to take a break, secure refreshments and make a day of it. Restrooms, though, are spaced significantly apart.

Additional Safari experiences are available at varying costs ranging from $50 to more than $1,000; see the San Diego Zoo Safari Park website for details. Safari experiences that are available for a charge include Behind-the-Scenes Safari and Flightline Safari, a zip line experience, and Roar & Snore Safari, an overnight tentcamping experience.

Adults Only (for ages 21+) Roar & Snore Safaris are available from February through December, and All Ages Roar & Snore Safaris are available February through November.

There’s also the remarkable Sun Up Cheetah Safari that gives visitors a chance to witness the fastest animals on land and in air doing what they do best, all before the Safari Park opens. Safari guests take an early morning stroll with an experienced guide and enjoy the remarkable sights and sounds as a new day begins.

Sun Up Cheetah Safaris are subject to availability and participants must purchase their admission before arriving at the Safari Park.

The Ultimate Safari is the key to off-view areas, wildlife interaction and the very best in personalized service. As a VIP, guests will receive a customized tour curated by the Safari Park’s team of professionals and spend up to seven hours exploring with a private tour guide.

Each Ultimate Safari is tailored to individual interests and includes a meal.

Ultimate Safaris require advance reservations (minimum 72 hours) and are subject to availability.

Modeled after the hot air balloon tours of the Serengeti, the Balloon Safari tethered helium balloon rises silently up to 400 feet. Enjoy unbelievable views shared only by the birds that soar over the Safari Park grounds.

Impala populate the park.