San Diego Safari Park Deluxe Cart Safari vs Deluxe Wildlife Safari

If you’re trying to decide between the Deluxe Cart Safari and the Deluxe Wildlife Safari at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the short answer is: both are incredible, but they offer very different experiences. I did both tours back-to-back to compare everything from the animal viewing and pacing to the overall atmosphere, comfort, and value.

While both safaris take you out to exclusive areas of the Savanna in small groups, each Safari offers a completely different experience. One focuses more on photography opportunities and relaxed wildlife viewing, while the other is more immersive, adventurous, and interactive.

In this guide, I break down the biggest differences between the Deluxe Cart Safari vs Deluxe Wildlife Safari, including route, which animals you see, tour style, guide interaction, comfort level, and which one I’d personally recommend depending on what kind of experience you want at the Safari Park.

safari park deluxe cart safari vs deluxe wildlife safari: which is better?

The Deluxe Cart Safari and Deluxe Wildlife Safari are two of the most popular premium experiences at the Safari Park, but they offer very different experiences. I love both for different reasons, and would do either again.

The Deluxe Cart Safari is a private guided tour that takes you around the Savanna. Some of the animals you see include black and white rhinos, antelope, giraffes, and the rare Przewalski's horse. With 8 total guests on the tour, it’s intimate, engaging, and an elevated, luxurious upgrade from the free Africa tram.

The Deluxe Wildlife Safari is an immersive safari that takes you into the Savanna (instead of just around it). You’re up-close with the animals, and can see giraffe, antelope, oryx, and more just a few feet away. In a group of 15, you’re given exclusive access to wildlife in a once-in-a-lifetime experience you can’t replicate (unless you go to Asia or Africa).

quick verdict

choose deluxe wildlife safari if:

• You want an immersive, safari-like experience

• You want to feel like you’re in the habitat, not just viewing it

• You especially want to see the giraffes

choose deluxe cart safari if:

• You want a comfortable tour

• You want to see a variety of Savanna animals

• You want a smaller, more intimate tour

biggest differences at a glance

wildlife safari

• Travel in an open-air safari truck

• Go into the Savanna; not just around it on the paved roads

• Immersive, up-close experience with animals

• You do not get out of the truck

• Max capacity: 15

• Starts at $98

cart safari

• Travel in a modern cart (smooth ride, padded seats)

• Travel on paved roads, which makes for broader exploration of the Savanna

• See more animals, just not as up-close

• May stop to get out for photos with/ of animals (separated by the fence)

• Max capacity: 15

• Starts at $64

which tour gets you closer to animals?

The Wildlife Safari gets you closer to the animals, as you go into the Savanna.

which has better variety?

Each tour varies based on the animals and when you book (time of day/ weather). I personally saw a larger variety of animals on the Cart Safari tour.

which has better photo opportunities?

Both are honestly great. You get close to the animals with the Wildlife Safari, so I would say that gives you slightly better photo opportunities, but I got some of my best photos of the rhinos on the Cart Safari.

tour experience comparison

adventure vs comfort level

The Wildlife Safari is more adventurous because you are in the back of an open-air truck and go into the Savanna, where you can then stand up and walk around as the truck moves for almost 360 degree views of the animals.

The Cart Safari is more comfortable; the cart rides very smoothly and you stay on paved roads.

Both tours will feel warm on a hot summer day since they’re both open-air; each has a little bit of shade covering but not a lot.

walking required

You do not get out of the truck or walk on the Wildlife Safari.

While there is a chance you may walk on the Cart Safari, on my tour, we simply got out for a photo op near the rhinos. We were outsode of the cart for maybe 5 minutes total so that everyone got a chance to take a picture, but didn’t walk around.

Both are a great way to see the Savanna exhibit of the Park without walking; they save your energy so you can explore the rest of the park before/ after your tour.

group size and atmosphere

The max capacity for the Cart Safari is 8; the max capacity for the Wildlife Safari is 15.

Both tours feel comfortable and not overcrowded at all.

The vibe of the Cart Safari is more polished because you stay seated and the tour guide really creates the energy of the tour and makes it fun.

The Wildlife Safari is a little trickier. You are able to stand and walk around, but it took our group a few minutes to gel and feel comfortable moving around each other. That said, after about 5-10 minutes we were fine and made sure everyone got the photos they wanted (no side hogs, haha).

guide interaction

There are a bunch of tour guides and it is truly random; you can’t predict who you will get. I’ve taken almost all of the safaris and upgraded experiences at both the Safari Park and San Diego Zoo and have loved all of the guides I’ve met, and I typically don’t love guided tours.

As far as tour guide interaction goes, the guide wears a mic for the Cart Safari but not for the Wildlife Safari (for the comfort of the animals). You get one guide for the cart tour; there are two for the Wildlife Safari (one drives the truck and one is in the back with you). All guides shared animal stories, conservation facts, and allowed for questions.

which tour is better for…

families

Per the website, the Cart Safari is for all ages and the Wildlife Safari is for ages 3 and up (6 and up for the deluxe). In my experience, the Wildlife Safari feels like more of an experience (not just a spectator event) as you go into the Savanna and get closer to the animals.

We had a child around the age of 3 on our Deluxe Cart Safari (1.5 hours) and it was just too much for him. He was hungry and lost attention about 20 minutes in; even the regular 1 hour Safari would have been too much for him.

For those with kids, I personally recommend the Wildlife Safari over the Cart Safari. That said, wait until your kids are old enough to enjoy it. An alternative would be the free Africa tram (it takes you around the Savanna) and the free daily presentation. It’s shorter (about 20 minutes long) yet still gives you an “animal presentation” experience.

adults

Choose the Wildlife Safari if you’re feeling adventurous, want an up-close experience, and don’t mind standing in the back of a (slow) moving truck. The Cart Safaris is better if you want to see a wider variety of animals, want a comfortable ride, and are okay with a little distance between you and the animals.

photographers

You get closer to the animals and and aren’t obstructed by fences with the Wildlife Safari.

first-time visitors

We had more first-time visitors on the Wildlife Safari than the Cart Safari; it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime type of experience to get that close to the animals.

repeat visitors

If you want an up-close experience, Wildlife Safari. If there are a few animals you have not yet seen (like the Przewalski's horse), the Cart Safari.

limited mobility visitors

The Cart Safari is a smoother, more comfortable ride. You stay on paved roads, the carts are modern, and the seats are cushioned.

price comparison

The Cart Safari starts at $64; the Wildlife Safari starts at $98. Price varies by day (they have value, standard, and peak pricing), and tour length (regular vs deluxe).

Purely going off price, the Cart Safari is cheaper.

Experience-wise, I’d say that the Wildlife Safari is a better value because you get to go into the Savanna habitat and see the animals unobstructed. The animals are used to trucks going in and out of the habitats, so they’re super friendly and you can’t replicate the experience unless you go to Asia or Africa. I can totally see other zoos charging $300+ for the same experience, so it felt like a steal to me. Check out my Deluxe Wildlife Safari Review for more info, tips, and advice.

That said, the Cart Safari feels more luxurious, private, and premium. If you want a polished tour and comfort is key, you won’t be disappointed. My Deluxe Cart Safari Review shares booking tips plus a list of all the animals we saw.

deluxe vs regular tour

When you go to book the Cart or Wildlife Safari tours, you will see an option to upgrade to the Deluxe versions. I have done the Deluxe version for each tour and will say that if you can, the Deluxe upgrades are worth it.

You do not get closer to the animals, but you see more of them because it includes all of the Savanna; regular tours are confined to one side (Asia or Africa, just depends). If you are dead-set on seeing the rhinos, for example, you will see both the white and black rhinos on the Deluxe tour (vs just one kind on the regular tours).

You also get an extra half hour of tour time and 90 minutes felt like the perfect amount of time for each tour. I think the regular tours would have felt a little short, but the guides still make the most of the entire time you get together either way.

my personal recommendation

I’ve done both tours and would do either tour again. They are similar in that they both explore the Savanna, but the experiences are different.

The Cart Safari feels like an exclusive private tour. You see more animals, including the rare Przewalski's horse, and learn so much about the different species and conservation efforts. If you’ve taken the free Africa tram but felt like there was something lacking, the Cart Safari is a true upgrade from that. Because I took the tour on a colder, cloudy day, the animals were more active and the rhinos got SO close to us (closer than the Wildlife Safari). That itself made the experience 100% worth it and something I’d do again. I was truly at a loss for words seeing them so close - and our tour guide was equally as excited, which shows how rare and special it is.

On the other hand, the Wildlife Safari is a truly immersive experience you can’t get anywhere else (unless you go to Asia or Africa). The animals are just feet away (so close that the guide does not wear a mic so the animals aren’t spooked). If you’re an animal lover and have always wanted to go to Africa, this truly feels like the next best thing.

I had asked our guide (who has worked at the Safari Park for 25+ years and hosts the expensive $300+ tours) which she most recommends, and she also recommends the Wildlife Safari.

Ultimately, both the Cart and Wildlife Safaris at the San Diego Safari Park offer unique experiences you can’t get anywhere else. They feel underpriced for the memories you make and how close you get to the animals, to be honest! You can’t go wrong with either tour, and will have the best time no matter which you pick.

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