San Diego – Wild Animal Park
If you’re touring San Diego, consider visiting the Wild Animal Park. This park is located about 34 miles north of San Diego, just outside of Escondido. The 1,800-acre park is home to some 3,500 animals representing 429 different species. This is truly a remarkable park that you don’t want to miss when in San Diego.
The uniqueness of the San Diego Wild Animal Park is that the animals can live freely in this vast enclosure. They live as if they were in their natural habitat. In the park, you will find giraffes, antelopes, rhinos, endangered California condors, among others, marveling at the mature landscape amid exotic vegetation from many parts of the world.
The central attraction of San Diego Wild Animal Park is the 5-mile Wgasa Bush Line Railway. This is a 60-minute monorail ride (price included in admission). The monorail will take you through areas designated as East Africa, South Africa, the Asian Plains, and the Eurasia Waterhole. While going through these landscapes, you will see animals like white rhino and rhinoceros that will enchant you.
After the monorail, you may want to take a walking tour. You can take a 2-mile Kilimanjaro Safari Walk in which you can experience the recreated African and Asian landscapes. In the park, you will also experience various simulated natural environments such as the Australian Rainforest and the Hidden Jungle. You can also visit the new Lion Camp and the Cheetah Run Safari. On the Cheetah Run Safari, you can see the world’s fastest land mammal in action, running after a mechanical lure.
If you want an up-close view of the animals, you can take Photo Caravans, which use an open-top truck to transport small groups around the park. You will go to the animal lawn and meet rhinos, ostriches, zebras, deer and giraffes. Maybe you can even feed the giraffes only during the trip.
You will end your day tour at Nairobi Village. This is the commercial center of the park where most of the facilities are located. It has many shops selling Africa related books and souvenirs. There is a nursery area where irresistible little ones can be seen frolicking, bottle feeding and sleeping.
Finally, if you don’t want to go back to the city of San Diego to sleep, you can sleep with the animals! Not quite. There is a Roar & Snore program that runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from April to October. This program allows you to camp next to the animal complex. From where you camp you will be able to observe the nocturnal movements of rhinos, lions and other animals. If you are excited about this program, check with the park. Otherwise, head back to the city of San Diego and get a good night’s rest.
During the summer, there are many visitors to the park. Therefore, it is better to visit early. On the other hand, there are usually fewer visitors during the winter. The temperature here is usually 5 to 10 degrees warmer than in the city of San Diego. Bring your sunscreen and plenty of water, as the California summer can be a bit scorching. So be prepared for the heat and the sun.
The San Diego Wild Animal Park is one of the three major animal parks and the “Big Four” in San Diego. Visiting the park should be one of your outdoor activities on your itinerary. plan your trip to san diego today.