BEHIND-THE-SCENES SAFARI

GET THE INSIDE SCOOP!

Did you know there's more to the Safari Park than most guests see? Venture deeper into the Park experience and visit areas not accessible to the general public! During these small-group tours, a quiet electric safari cart takes you to off-exhibit, behind-the-scenes places where we care for our critters. A knowledgeable Behind-the-Scenes Safari guide takes you off the beaten path and provides the inside scoop on how we care for our animals, design our trend-setting enclosures, and carry out conservation and research work here in San Diego and around the globe. 

A variety of behind-the-scenes adventures await your choosing. Ever wondered what a big cat's bedroom looks like? Would you like to watch an okapi take a treat from you with its long tongue or meet the last truly wild equid, the Przewalski's horse, up close? Are you curious to see our state-of-the-art veterinary medical center, how we train the stars of our animal shows, or where do we do our conservation research laboratory work? We even have an adventure geared for families with little ones that includes exclusive access to our Petting Kraal and the chance to feed meerkats and catfish!

Come by yourself or with family and friends! Which safari adventure will you choose?

CATS & CRITTERS Daily: 12:30–2:30 p.m. The Park has made its mark on the conservation of many endangered species, including the "aww" inspiring cheetahs and lions. Visit the bedrooms of these amazing cats, and learn what you can do to join the conservation movement.*		FOR THE LOVE OF ANIMALS Daily: 1:30–3:30 p.m. Providing the best possible care for our animals is our top priority. Learn all the secrets, and get a glimpse of some of our recent breeding successes in the behind-the-scenes areas of our African elephant and okapi exhibits.*
JUNIOR EXPLORERS Saturdays: 10 a.m.–noon Designed with our littlest guests in mind, this family-oriented tour takes you and your group to visit one of our most popular animal families, the meerkats. A catfish feeding is also included. Children under three years old free.+		VETERINARY MEDICAL CENTER Saturdays: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Take an inside look at the Park's Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center and learn about the history of veterinary services at the Park. You'll see the state-of-the-art facilities we use to provide our animals with the best of care.♦
WILD SCENE Sundays: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Visit some of our most famous animal residents, including cheetahs and elephants, meet one of our animal stars up close, and offer tasty treats to an endangered species.*		JUNGLE JOURNEY Weekends: 11 am–1 p.m. Journey through the jungle to meet the tigers of Sumatra and the bonobos of the Congo. Offer tasty treats to the giraffe of the jungle: the elusive okapi!*

SAVANNA SAFARI Weekends: 2:30–4:30 p.m. Select days July/August: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Safari stops will include Lion Camp, a face-to-face encounter with a black rhinoceros, an opportunity to feed red-fronted gazelles, and an up-close encounter with one of our animal ambassadors.*		SURPRISE SAFARI Select days: 3–5 p.m. The destination of this top-secret safari is a surprise and changes each time. Tigers, elephants, okapis? One thing's for sure: your tour guide will get you the inside scoop as you venture behind the scenes, meeting exotic animals up close.*
PLANT PERFECT Select Saturdays beginning May 12: 10 a.m.–noon Each tour has its own unique theme—African Savanna, Asian Forest, or The Wonderful World in Your Backyard—and includes interactive hands-on experience with a member of our expert horticulture team, as well as an up-close animal presentation!*