Two African elephants surrounding a small calf.

Behind-the-Scenes Safari

At A Glance

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park? Get a special sneak peek into the secret lives of your favorite wildlife and meet the wildlife care specialists who care for them, while exploring otherwise off-limits areas with a knowledgeable guide. Choose from a variety of experiences below!

Age Varies

$95 & up per person

Daily. Certain tours available select days only.

90 minutes, 2 hours, or 3.5 hours

**Safety/Age Restrictions

Children 15 years old and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult. Limit of 2 children per adult per group. All tour participants require a ticket.

A valid form of admission is required to enter the Safari Park and is not included in the cost of the safari.

Strollers and child car seats are not permitted on the cart. For the health and safety of wildlife, service animals are not permitted on this tour.

Change/Cancellations: Reservations may be changed up to 3 days before the program. Changes made 3 days or less prior to the program are not permitted. Cancellations received more than 3 days before the scheduled program are subject to a $25 Cancellation Fee. Cancellations made 3 days or less prior to the program, payment is non-refundable.

Service animals are not permitted on this tour due to the sensitive nature of these animals and the restricted access of this habitat and buildings.

Some walking required during tour. If anyone in your party requires the use of a wheelchair during the tour and is unable to transfer, after booking please call 619-718-3000 so we can request a wheelchair accessible cart.

Elite Adventure

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Ages 3 & up
$435 & up*
Offered select weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
3.5 hours
View Age/Safety Restrictions
Ages 3 and up. Children 15 years old and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult. Limit of 2 children per adult per group. All tour participants require a ticket, regardless of age.
The check-in location for the Behind-the-Scenes Safari: Elite Adventure is 15 minutes prior to the safari at Safari Excursions, located in the Safari Base Camp territory by locator number 2.
Strollers and child car seats are not permitted on cart. Selfie Sticks are not permitted on this tour and must be stowed away.
Change/Cancellation: Reservations may be changed up to 3 days before the program. Changes made 3 days or less prior to the program are not permitted. Cancellations received more than 3 days before the scheduled program are subject to a $100 Cancellation Fee. Cancellations made 3 days or less prior to program, payment is non-refundable.

Come explore and enjoy the Safari Park on this 3.5-hour tour that includes some of the Safari Park’s most iconic experiences. Small groups visit staff-only areas to learn about how we care for wildlife, such as platypuses and tigers, and then hop into a semi-private Safari truck and tour the savanna, surrounded by rhinos, giraffes and so much more!

What you'll do:

See some of the Safari Park’s most notable species, and experience the iconic Wildlife Safari.
Peek into some of the wildlife care areas, and learn what it takes to look after the diverse wildlife that call the Safari Park home.
Hear stories about the Safari Park’s past, present, and future, while you travel in your tour cart with a personal guide.
Enjoy a snack, and relax with views of the savanna.
And more!

*Price is per person. Prices vary by season and days of the week. Click “Buy Now” to check prices by date. Admission is separate and required and may be added before checkout.

This tour requires walking over uneven terrain. If anyone in your party is unable to transfer or requires the use of a wheelchair or other mobility device during the tour, please call 619-718-3000 to book your experience. This allows us to promptly verify the availability of an accessible cart and space for the mobility device. Wildlife viewing is subject to change based on availability.

Deluxe Behind-the-Scenes Safari: Sips on the Savanna

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Ages 21 & up
$150 & up*
Select Dates
2 hours
View Age/Safety Restrictions
Ages 21 and older. Guests will be required to show ID or proof of age at check-in to be served alcohol.
A valid form of admission is required to enter the Safari Park and is not included in the cost of the safari. Parking is not included.
Change/Cancellations: Reservations may be changed up to 3 days before the program. Changes made 3 days or less prior to the program are not permitted. Cancellations received more than 3 days before the scheduled program are subject to a $25 Cancellation Fee. Cancellations made 3 days or less prior to the program, payment is non-refundable.
Service animals are not permitted on this tour due to the sensitive nature of these animals and the restricted access to habitats and buildings.
Some walking is required during tour. If anyone in your party requires the use of a wheelchair during the tour and is unable to transfer, after booking please call 619-718-3000 so we can request a wheelchair accessible cart.

This 21 and up behind the scenes experience is a chance to enjoy a mimosa before and after going on tour to see some of the Safari Park’s highlights and wildlife care areas. Guests will have access to Amani Point, an exclusive viewpoint while enjoying more mimosas and having a chance to ask their personal guide more about the wildlife of the Safari Park and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s global conservation projects.

What you'll do:

Sip Mimosas and mingle with your guide before departing on tour.
Travel by tour cart with a personal guide
Visit 2 different wildlife care areas of the Safari Park.
Relax at Amani Point, a scenic viewpoint only accessible to tour guests, while enjoying more mimosas and a morning snack.
Animals you might visit: Platypus, Tigers, rhinos, and more!

*Price is per person. Prices vary by season and days of the week. Click “Buy Now” to check prices by date. Admission is separate and required and may be added before checkout.

Note: Walkways you explore may be uneven and unpaved in behind-the-scenes areas. Not all wildlife may be in view, viewing animals in behind-the-scenes areas is not guaranteed. Feeding and/or touching of wildlife is not offered or permitted. Tour route subject to change based on wildlife care needs and weather conditions.

Deluxe Behind-the-Scenes Safari

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Age: Varies
$120 & up*
Select dates
2 hours
Visit exclusive areas
View Age/Safety Restrictions
Children 15 years old and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult. Limit of 2 children per adult per group. All tour participants require a ticket.
A valid form of admission is required to enter the Safari Park and is not included in the cost of the safari.
Strollers and child car seats are not permitted on the cart. For the health and safety of wildlife, service animals are not permitted on this tour.
Change/Cancellations: Reservations may be changed up to 3 days before the program. Changes made 3 days or less prior to the program are not permitted. Cancellations received more than 3 days before the scheduled program are subject to a $25 Cancellation Fee. Cancellations made 3 days or less prior to the program, payment is non-refundable.
Tours board 15 minutes prior at Safari Excursions, located in the Safari Base Camp territory by locator number 2.
Service animals are not permitted on this tour due to the sensitive nature of these animals and the restricted access of this habitat and buildings.
Some walking required during tour. If anyone in your party requires the use of a wheelchair during the tour and is unable to transfer, after booking please call 619-718-3000 so we can request a wheelchair accessible cart.

Embark on a two-hour journey to observe wildlife and explore exclusive behind-the-scenes areas to gain remarkable insights about different species.

Click “Buy Now” to view the calendar and see the tour themes available on the day you wish to visit!

Passport into the Wild: Ages 3 and over. Take this exciting journey through the Safari Park and discover amazing and unique wildlife from across the globe. Find out how our collaborative global conservation efforts are making a difference around the world—and what you can do to help secure the future for wildlife.

Mission Wildlife Rescue!: Ages 8 and over. Learn how cutting-edge science and wildlife care come together to save species worldwide. Go on safari around the perimeter of the Safari Park’s iconic multi-species field habitats to view wildlife. Guests will embark on a rare tour of the Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center, and the Frozen Zoo®, a critical component of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Wildlife Biodiversity Banking efforts.

*Price is per person. Prices vary by season and days of the week. Click “Buy Now” to check prices by date. Admission is separate and required and may be added before checkout.

Behind-the-Scenes Safari

BUY NOW

Ages 3 & up
$95 & up*
Select Dates
View Age/Safety Restrictions
Children 15 years old and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult. Limit of 2 children per adult per group. All tour participants require a ticket.
A valid form of admission is required to enter the Safari Park and is not included in the cost of the safari.
Strollers and child car seats are not permitted on the cart. For the health and safety of wildlife, service animals are not permitted on this tour.
Change/Cancellations: Reservations may be changed up to 3 days before the program. Changes made 3 days or less prior to the program are not permitted. Cancellations received more than 3 days before the scheduled program are subject to a $25 Cancellation Fee. Cancellations made 3 days or less prior to the program, payment is non-refundable.
Tours board 15 minutes prior at Safari Excursions, located in the Safari Base Camp territory by locator number 2.
Service animals are not permitted on this tour due to the sensitive nature of these animals and the restricted access of this habitat and buildings.
Some walking required during tour. If anyone in your party requires the use of a wheelchair during the tour and is unable to transfer, after booking please call 619-718-3000 so we can request a wheelchair accessible cart.

During this 90-minute safari, your guide will escort your group to a variety of locations around the Safari Park to see animals up close and share stories of wildlife care and conservation.

Click “Buy Now” to view the calendar and see the tour themes available on the day you wish to visit!

Wild Cat Adventure: On your safari visit the wild cats of the Safari Park. While learning about what it takes to look after the diverse cats that call the Safari Park home and the challenges wildlife faces, you will also hear stories of hope and the amazing conservation work done by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and our partners.

Walkabout Australia: Go on safari behind the scenes at the Safari Park’s Walkabout Australia! On this guided tour, you will see some of Australia’s most exotic species, including platypuses and cassowaries. As you explore Walkabout Australia by foot with your personal guide, you will peek into wildlife care areas and learn what it takes to look after these unique Australian animals.

Discover Africa: Discover some of the most iconic species in the world! Your guide will share the wonder of Africa, as you visit some amazing African animals. Peek into wildlife care areas and learn what it takes to look after the diverse wildlife that call the Safari Park home and have an up-close visit with unique African animals. You will also hear stories of hope and the amazing conservation work being done by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and our partners.

Wildlife Awareness Days: Celebrate your favorite species and discover fascinating new ones! Embark on exclusive one-day-only experiences behind the scenes to meet wildlife care experts and learn more about these fascinating species. Join us to appreciate 11 different species highlighted below on their special day, offering amazing, one-of-a-kind experiences with the experts that care for them all year long.

May 31: Parrots; June 12: Mountain Lions; June 19: Echidnas; June 21: Giraffes; July 29: Tigers; September 6: Vultures; September 22: Rhinos; September 24: Gorillas; October 18: Okapis; December 4: Cheetahs.

If the tour you selected is sold out, please consider taking one of our other exciting Behind-the-Scenes Safaris or choose a different Wildlife Awareness Days date.

*Price is per person. Prices vary by season and days of the week. Click “Buy Now” to check prices by date. Admission is separate and required and may be added before checkout.