San Diego Safari Park Deluxe Wildlife Safari Review
The San Diego Safari Park, located in Escondido, is one of the best zoos in the world. With an emphasis on open habitats and conservation, you’re able to see the animals interact as they would in the wild. There’s nothing quite like seeing one species start a (mild) stampede amongst the others, and knowing that these animals are comfortable and cared for makes you feel good about visiting them.
Out of all of the safari experiences that are offered at the Safari Park, the one that gets talked about the most is the Deluxe Wildlife Safari. For around $130, this 1.5 hour tour takes you into the Savanna of the San Diego Safari Park, exploring both the Asian and African sides in an open-air safari truck. It’s adventurous, engaging, and one of the most special experiences you can have, short of traveling to Asia or Africa.
Below, I share what to expect with the Deluxe Wildlife Safari, including what you see, how it compares to the Regular Wildlife Safari tour, tips to know before you go, and if it’s worth the money.
Interested in the Cart Safari instead? Check out my Deluxe Cart Safari Tour Review.
san diego safari park deluxe wildlife safari review
Overall, I absolutely loved the Deluxe Wildlife Safari and think it’s the best upgrade you can get at the San Diego Safari Park. This experience is a true safari, taking you around the Savanna in an open-air truck for 1.5 hours. You venture off the paved roads, going into the Savanna, whereas other tours keep you on the paved roads surrounding it.
The animals are comfortable with the vehicle, so you will see them just a few feet away. We saw giraffes, two kinds of rhinos, antelope, and more. There’s no need to use the zoom on your camera on this tour!
Opting for the Deluxe over Regular Wildlife Safari gives you full access to the safari and an extra half-hour of exploration time; the regular will cover one side (Asia or Africa) and is only an hour long. I recommend upgrading to the Deluxe version if you can - it truly was worth the extra money to me.
The tour itself is interactive, engaging, and fun. If you find guided tours to be boring or stiff, this is the opposite of that while still being relaxing and engaging. Our tour guide had been working at the Safari Park for 26+ years, so we were able to hear personal stories about the animals and their lineage, not just random fun facts.
The max number of people on the Wildlife Safari is 15 people, and that was the perfect amount of people. We were all able to move around the truck freely while still hearing our tour guide, who did not wear a mic (for the comfort of the animals).
No matter how many times you visit the Safari Park (or how well you time your visit), the Deluxe Wildlife Safari will give you an up-close experience with the animals that cannot be replicated. I could totally see other zoos charging $300+ for this, so when you think about everything you get to see and learn for around $130, it’s totally worth it.
what the experience was like
check-in process
You check in near base camp; it is clearly marked and there are also volunteers nearby to help guide you if needed. The check-in site is near the front of the park, just a 5-10 minute walk from the entrance which makes it convenient if you book an early morning tour.
the vehicle
You travel in the back of an open-air truck; it’s a true safari experience. You stay seated until you get into the Savanna, and then you can stand and walk around to see animals on either side. This was great because there was less pressure to pick the “right side” and while it took a minute for our group to feel comfortable moving around, we all made sure everyone got a chance to see both sides and take pictures.
There is a light cover, but you are still exposed to the sun. Wear sunscreen, dress appropriately, and bring water.
Wear flat shoes; you don’t want to lose your balance standing while the truck drives around.
the tour route and guide
The Deluxe Wildlife Safari covers both the Asian and African parts of the Savanna. We were accompanied by two tour guides; one drove the truck and the other stood in the back with us and shared lots of fun facts and stories. Our guide (Rachel) has been a part of the Safari Park for 26 years, so she knew the animals by name, plus their lineage (like moms, babies, etc.) and it felt like we got a 20-year history of the animals while we drove around.
Sometimes interactive tours are imbalanced, focusing too much on education or photos, but the Deluxe Wildlife Safari was the perfect blend of both.
animals we saw
When you take the Deluxe Wildlife Safari Tour, you explore both the African and Asian sides of the safari. Animals we saw include:
Black rhinos
White rhinos
Giraffes (moms and babies!)
Multiple species of antelope
Wildebeest
Flamingo
Two species of oryx
Nile lechwe
What is fun is that the animals are used to trucks going into and out of the Savanna, so they’re not afraid of you. Instead, they get even closer (thinking you may be their trainer with food) and it seems like every time you look in a different direction, there is a new animal to see!
what makes the deluxe version different from the regular wildlife safari?
The Deluxe Safari Tour covers both the African and Asian sides of the Savanna; the regular tour covers only one side. Other key differences and similarities:
The group size is the same for each tour (15 people).
The Deluxe Wildlife Safari tour costs $124 and up. Pricing for the Regular Wildlife Safari starts at $98.
Pricing varies by day (value, standard, and peak days).
Go on a value day if you can; not only is it cheaper, but the park itself tends to be less crowded.
Tour length: 1.5 hours for Deluxe, 1 hour for Regular Wildlife Safari. Deluxe is longer because you explore an extra portion of the Savanna.
Both tours move at a comfortable pace and are dictated by the animals, in a way. You stop and see everything, but if some animals are closer or doing something cute (ex: giraffes eating), you will stay a little longer to see them “in the wild.”
You do not feed the animals on either tour.
You do not get out of the truck on either tour.
The Safari Park prioritizes conservation and the comfort of animals. You aren’t guaranteed to see specific animals on either tour; sign up for the first or last tour of the day for the best chances of seeing the animals active and engaged.
As such, photo opportunities are different for every tour/ time slot.
It’s more common to take pictures of the animals than take pictures with the animals (unless it’s a selfie).
The Deluxe tour shows you more of the Savanna; it doesn’t mean you get closer to the animals.
Ultimately, choosing between the Deluxe and Regular Wildlife Safaris depends on what you want to see. I found the Deluxe to be worth it because you explore all of the Savanna; the regular is confined to just one side.
That said, if you are on a budget, you will still enjoy the regular Wildlife Safari and see lots of animals!
is the deluxe wildlife safari worth it?
The Deluxe Wildlife Safari is absolutely worth it. You actually go into both sides of the Savanna (off the paved roads surrounding it) and the animals are SO close that you really can’t replicate the experience unless you go to Africa or Asia. It seems like anywhere you look, there is a different animal to see and the tour guide is knowledgeable about all of them. She also pointed out new babies, so the tour is current and feels different every time you take it (versus a rehearsed, scripted vibe).
I’ve also done the Cart tour, which is more polished and has the vibe of a behind-the-scenes experience. The Wildlife Safari tour makes you feel like you are with the animals, if that makes sense. You don’t get to feed or touch the animals, but it still feels so personable and unlike anything you’ll experience at another zoo.
My tour was filled with adults of all ages (20s to 80) and everyone enjoyed it. Everyone stood up and felt comfortable moving around, so that isn’t something you should worry about. I would comfortably take my parents (in their 60s) and they’d love it.
As far as kids go, the Deluxe Wildlife Safari is for ages 6 and up; the regular is for ages 3+. I think kids would enjoy this a lot! The main things to consider before booking is their ability to stay engaged for the full time (1.5 hours deluxe, 1 hour regular), as well as their ability to respect the animals (not yell, etc). It feels more interactive than the Cart tour, so if you are torn between the two, this is what I would recommend.
That said, if you are on the fence about bringing your kids, wait until you know your kids are old enough to enjoy it since it is around $100 per person. An alternative would be to do the free Africa tram (also goes through the Savanna, just not as closely) and make time for the free daily presentation for that “animals up close” experience.
best things about the deluxe wildlife safari
More intimate than the free African tram
Gets you SO close to the animals (closer to the animals than the Cart tour)
Great for animal viewing and taking photos!
Relaxing pace; you are in the Savanna but it doesn’t feel like you are going off-roading (you won’t get motion sickness)
Tour guide is educational yet conversational
Feels engaging and special
An experience you can’t really replicate unless you to Africa or Asia
cons
One of the more expensive safaris you can choose from
Animal visibility varies and is not guaranteed
It can feel awkward walking around the truck with the group; it takes a minute for everyone to gel
It also takes a minute to get your balance standing up while the truck moves around
Limited shade; I imagine it is very toasty if you do this tour during the summer!
tips to know before you go
Check the calendar before you book; they use flex pricing so there are peak, value, and standard prices.
Going on a value day will save you money; you still get the same experience.
The best time to book a tour is at the beginning or end of the day (first or last tour).
You will see more animal activity on cool, cloudy, or rainy days. May grey and June gloom is better than peak August heat.
Keep in mind that the Safari Park is located in Escondido - it gets very hot!
Wear flat, comfortable shoes. You can stand in the back of the truck and the terrain is rugged; flat shoes will help you maintain your balance.
Bring a camera! Photos are encouraged.
Most people took photos of the animals; there aren’t photo ops to take pictures of you with the animals in the background (unless it was a quick selfie).
Go to the bathroom before; you will not be able to stop during the tour.
Eat before; you cannot eat during the tour (but can bring water).
Check in 5-10 minutes before your tour starts.
The tour guide does not wear a mic for this tour, but it’s a smaller group so you will still be able to hear.
You can sit wherever because you will get up and move around once you get closer to the animals.
That said, there was one person on my tour who had taken it 10+ times over the years; she sat in the back right corner and had a great view the entire time.
There’s a shade cover on the truck but I still recommend wearing sunscreen.
Out of all of the safari experiences that you can take at the San Diego Safari Park, the Deluxe Wildlife Safari is the one you want to do!
My tour guide also hosts the $500+ experiences, and when I asked what safari she most recommended, this is the one. So even if you don’t want to take my word for it, take hers (and her 26 years of experience at the Safari Park). For around $130 you really cannot beat the price and you will remember it for forever.
