San Diego Wild Animal Park
The offshoot of San Diego Zoo in an 1800-acre setting
If the 4000 animals at San Diego Zoo aren't enough, visit a further 3500 at its big brother, the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 1800 acres of the San Pasqual Valley
If you can't go wildlife watching in Africa or Asia, the next best thing is to visit somewhere like the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Here in a vast spread of 1800 acres, over 3500 animals live in conditions that reproduce their natural habitats. Here you can see the creatures of the African bush and plains, the Australian rain forest and the Asian jungles.
CONDOR RIDGE
America's wildlife is not overlooked, as one of the park's greatest success stories is Condor Ridge. Here you can see the California condor, just one of the many threatened and endangered species that the captive breeding program of the San Diego Wild Animal ark has helped to reintroduce into the wild.
THE HEART OF AFRICA
In the 32 acres of The Heart of Africa you can follow trails that lead you across the African plains and through the forest. Here you can see the world's fastest mammal, the cheetah, and even get to feed the giraffes – kids love it!
Also in Africa the Kilimanjaro Safari Walk takes you to observation posts where you can look down on two of the biggest attractions – lions and elephants. An added bonus is the wonderful view you also get of the vast park itself, and the San Pasqual Valley in which it is set.
UP CLOSE
Take one of the special Photo Caravans, which transport picture-takers into parts of the park not open to the public. There are Balloon Safaris too, for a condor's-eye-view of the creatures, 400 feet in the air.
THE PETTING KRAAL
Children love the chance to see animals up close, and even to touch them. The Petting Kraal is a slightly wilder version of the Children's Zoo at the San Diego Zoo, with children able to pet and be photographed with some of the park's youngsters.
GETTING AROUND
The Wgasa Bushline Railway is a free monorail that runs on 5 miles of tracks and takes visitors on an hour-long ride to see the best of the San Diego Wildlife Park.
TOP TIP
Visit the San Diego Wildlife Park later in the day in summer, when the park stays open till 8pm and the animals become more active when the day cools down a little.
To read my Visitor's Guide to the San Diego Zoo, click here.
For full information on opening times and how to get there, visit the San Diego Wildlife Park website by clicking here.
To find out other things to do in San Diego, click here.
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