Page 108 - 2019 Travel Guide to California

SAN DIEGO
ZOO & SAFARI
PARK
Born to be wild
B Y A N D C H R I S T I N E M A R I B E T H D E L S O L
M E L L I N
NOT ONLY IS THE SAN DIEGO ZOO
one of the world’s largest, it set the bar for
zoos everywhere by pioneering the concept
of zoos without cages. More than 3,500 ani-
mals living here represent 650 species and
subspecies, many of which are nearing
extinction in the wild. The zoo’s 100 acres
of Balboa Park re-create its denizens’ nat-
ural habitats in a botanical garden of
700,000 exotic plants. Perhaps most
important, its Institute for Conservation
Research contributes its scientific expertise
to 100 conservation and species-preserva-
tion projects in 45 countries on six
continents and has been instrumental in
replenishing populations of the California
condor, giant panda and Tasmanian devil,
among many other species.
Africa Rocks, opened in summer 2017, is
the zoo’s newest exhibit, as well as the largest
in the zoo’s 100-year history. Its eight acres,
including a 65-foot waterfall, are landscaped
to make baboons, leopards, lemurs and
dwarf crocodiles feel right at home. Endan-
gered African penguins have their own
habitat. The Panda Trek, Asian leopard
habitat and the Australian Outback, home to
koalas mingling with other marsupials and
birds, are still among the most popular areas.
Visitors can book special early-morning
tours for an extra fee that include private
time with favorite felines or joining giant
pandas for breakfast. Animals in Action
and Inside Look Tours go behind the scenes
MOTHER CHEETAH watches over
her cubs, above; a giant panda eyes
his bamboo lunch, left.
to watch trainers at work and learn how zoo
staff cares for a variety of animals.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Northeast of San Diego in Escondido, the
zoo’s former breeding facility is now an
1,800-acre adjunct park where most of its
more than 3,000 animals run free. It con-
centrates on herd animals such as giraffes,
antelopes and rhinos from African and
Asian savannahs but houses more than 300
species in all.
To see these creatures up close, just
stroll the Tiger Trail, the Lemur Walk or the
Cheetah Run, where you can feel the
whoosh of the world’s fastest cat speeding
past. At the newest habitat, Walkabout Aus-
tralia, some of Earth’s strangest animals
pop up—literally, in the case of kangaroos
and wallabies—in the grasslands, bill-
abongs and rain forest (sugar gliders and
cassowaries have their own unique forms
of locomotion).
For photo ops with herds of giraffes,
crashes of rhinos and flocks of exotic birds,
board the Africa Tram. For a park overview,
join one of the safaris, undertaken by cart,
caravan, jungle ropes or zip line. You can
even sleep close to the animals on a Roar
and Snore Safari. If you’re lucky, you’ll
glimpse one of the six white rhinos that live
in the Rhino Rescue Center, which is not
open to visitors.
SAN DIEGO ZOO & SAFARI PARK
106 2019 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA