Welcome to the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. Located in the hills surrounding the small town of Escondido California, the Wild Animal Park offers you the chance to get up close and personal with animals in their natural habitat, from the savannahs and steppes of Asia to the grasslands and plains of Africa. This is the largest and most authentic wildlife park of its type in the western US and is a must see when visiting San Diego. This park has so much to see and do it's almost impossible to get the most from your time here without a plan of attack. To help get the most from your visit, we are going to give you some overviews of the main areas of the park, including the following; Condor Ridge, Heart of Africa, Nairobi Village, Kilimanjaro Safari Walk and the Wgasa Bush Line.
Address:15500 San Pasqual Valley Road., Escondido, CA 92027
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Come face to face with the "Wild" Africa.
There are many ways to come face to face with the animals here at the park. You can be assured that you will up close and personal here at the park.
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Fun for the whole family.
Even though the park is "wild", it offers fun and excitement for the whole family. From the safety of the Wgasa Bush Line to personalized photo "safari" trips, you and your family will not soon forget the splendor of the park.
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The speedy cheetah
With the park's size and dimensions, you have the chance to see animals as they are in the wild. Who knows, you may even see an 80 mph spring of one of our cheetahs!
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Personalized Photo Safaris.
Come and experience the park on your own safari. These daily trips in the bush offer you an up close and personal experience of a lifetime.
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Pachyderms as far as the eye can see!
One of the gentle giants in the park has to be the collection of elephants. If you have ever wanted to see these big guys (and gals) in the natural enviroment now is your chance.
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Action in the wild!
Located near the Lion camp part of the park is a large watering hole, where most, if not all of the animals come at some point in their day for some water and to cool off. Some interesting events may unfold, making a camera full of film a must!
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Welcome to the Heart of Africa.
The newest addition to the park offers a place to rest, get some food and shade and snap some wonderful photos of the surrounding plains.
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Cooling off from the summer heat.
It does get hot here at the park, and even the animals need a break from the heat. People get fine food and drink; the park's animals get their favorite watering hole.
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One happy family
With all the camaraderie around here, its no wonder that most of the animals get along so well. Come and see for yourself.
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Please "Feed the Animals!"
I know that it sounds funny, but we actually encourage you to feed the animals (on the Photo caravan Safari that is). You have the change to hand feed some of the animals and it is something that will stay with you for quite a while.
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Condor Ridge is a fantastic chance to see live North American Condors in their habitat before they are released back into the wild. This exhibit also lets visitors experience first hand the diversity of habitats that make up the North American continent. Most, if not all of the animals here are rare and endangered, and include a dozen or so species of birds, mammals and reptiles. If you have never seen a desert bighorn sheep, a diving aplomado falcon, black footed ferrets or thick billed parrots in the wild then this your chance. Condor ridge is a 3.48 million dollar environment for the protection and the regeneration of these species. Drifting from a pine forest to grassland, prairie and upland desert. The trail and your lifeline to getting around the exhibit is a 430 feet (131 meter) long trail with an observation deck and an interpretive center at the end of your walk. This center focuses on the California condor and the desert bighorn sheep, but of which are endangered. The condor program lets you see into the depths of the state of California's species recovery program, and a chance to see an endangered species that has never before been on display.
The Wgasa Bush Line railway is the easiest and one of the most scenic ways to see the park. This electric monorail whisks you along on a 60-minute grand tour of the parks major field exhibits of Eurasia and Africa. You will see hundreds of animals roaming in their natural habitat; herds of elephants, giraffes, rhinos and giant eland antelope literally are an arms length away. Great for families with children, photographers or a wonderful way to beat the heat on one of the many hot summer days, the Wgasa Bush Line railway is truly the best way to see the park and a great way to end your day here in the San Pasqual valley.
Getting Here and Getting Around
From North San Diego County/Orange County/Los Angeles:
From I-5 , take the State Route 78 East exit at Oceanside, proceed east to Interstate 15 South, exit at Via Rancho Parkway and follow the signs to the Park.
From North San Diego County Inland/Temecula/Las Vegas:
From I-15, exit at Via Rancho Parkway and follow the signs east to the Park.
From San Diego East County/Calexico/Phoenix:
From I-8 West take the Interstate 15 North to the Via Rancho Parkway exit. Follow the signs east to the Park.
From San Diego South County/Tijuana/Ensenada:
From I-5 or I-805, proceed to the SR 163, then to I-15 North, and then exit at Via Rancho Parkway. Follow signs east.
Wild Animal Park Parking & Park Information
Parking Rates: Autos - $6.00
Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs): For your convenience, ATMs are located in the Administation Building (north of the Railway entrance), outside Mombasa Island Market, and in the Heart of Africa near Okavango Outpost.
Park Rangers: First aid, public transportation information, lost and found, and check cashing (with identification) are located in the Administration Building (north of the Railway entrance).
Guests with disabilities: The Wild Animal Park welcomes guests with disabilities. A special information packet is available at all ticket windows. We have written scripts for tours and shows for the hearing impaired, and we provide a free admission to the assistant of the visually impaired. Wheelchairs are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. Restrooms and other services are accessible. Kennel accommodations are available for service animals. Click here for further information about disabled access at the Wild Animal Park.
Strollers, lockers, binoculars, and motorized wheelchairs are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis near the entrance. Prices: strollers $6, double strollers $11; wheelchairs $6; electric scooters $30 ($100 deposit w/credit card required).
Parking availability and prices subject to change.
