Page 124 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

SAN DIEGO ZOO
& SAFARI PARK
Wild thrills for all
KOALA in perch with zookeeper; Amur leopard, below.
B Y M A R I B E T H M E L L I N
THE FAMED SAN DIEGO ZOO presents
so many animal encounters you could
return several times and not see every-
thing. Nearly 4,000 animals representing
660 species play, eat and sleep in habitats
imitating their natural ecosystems. Two
mountain lions climb about in a new
exhibit replicating California’s back-
country. An Asian leopard habitat for rare
Amur and snow leopards opens in 2015.
The three-acre Australian Outback Exhibit
offers habitats for the zoo’s Queensland
koalas, wallabies, wombats and 23 species
of Australian birds including laughing
kookaburras. And no visit is complete
without a walk through Panda Trek, to see
the beloved giant pandas.
The zoo is a joy to explore, thanks to a
botanical collection of more than 700,000
plants, and pathways leading through lush
landscaping that adds to the zoo’s natural
settings. And as you enjoy your day, feel
good knowing that your visit is supporting
one of the largest conservation organiza-
tions in the world, working to save species
from extinction in more than 35 countries
around the globe.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
The zoo’s efforts extend 30 miles beyond
its gorgeous Balboa Park setting to the San
Diego Zoo Safari Park. Originally opened to
be a breeding facility for the downtown
zoo, the Park was designed to give animals
vast spaces to roam and run. The Safari
Park frequently creates ever-more exciting
habitats for the more than 2,600 animals
living within its 1,800 acres. Visitors get
close-up views of Sumatran tigers swim-
ming in ponds, scratching their claws on
fallen trees and napping in dense grasses
in the new Tiger Trail. Guests share space
with Ring-tailed lemurs from Madagascar
as they socialize, groom and frolic freely in
the Lemur Walk. The Cheetah Run gives
guests a chance to experience the cats’
amazing untethered speed as the cheetahs
dash by on a 300-foot-long track while
chasing a mechanical lure. Close-up (but
not too close) encounters with herds of
giraffes, crashes of rhinos and flocks of
exotic birds are common during rides on
the popular Africa Tram.
For the more adventurous, there are a
variety of safaris to choose from, where
guests might soar above the wild beasts on
the exhilarating Flightline Safari, hand
feed giraffes on a Caravan Safari, or even
sleep among the animals on a Roar and
Snore Safari. The zoo and park ramp up
the fun seasonally with special exhibits
and activities, ensuring new experiences
to thrill even visitors who purchase
annual passes and frequently visit their
favorite creatures.
SAN DIEGO ZOO & SAFARI PARK
122 2015 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A