More than 20 million tourists reach San Diego annually to experience the city’s attractions and experiences.
Three wildlife experiences attract the most visitors: the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Safari Park, and SeaWorld San Diego.
However, some people get confused between the zoo and the safari park.
Tourists on a budget holiday or those with only a few days in the city usually ask: “Should it be the San Diego Zoo or the Safari Park?”
This article compares the San Diego Safari Park vs. the San Diego Zoo and helps you decide.
Top Tickets
# Safari Park and Zoo combo
# San Diego Zoo ticket
# San Diego Safari ticketBook your San Diego Zoo and Safari tickets early to skip the queues and guarantee your spot on this unforgettable experience.
What’s ahead
For a quick overview, check out the video below:
Why not the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park?
If you have time and budget, it isn’t an issue; it is best to try both wildlife experiences.
The travel time between the two wildlife destinations is approximately 45 minutes, but you don’t need to visit them on the same day.
San Diego Zoo and Safari Park combo ticket. Image: Sandiegoing.com
This Safari Park and Zoo combo ticket helps you save 20% on the ticket costs and gets you one entry into the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park and the San Diego Zoo.
You can visit the same attraction twice if you don’t want to try the second location.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (12+ years): US$118
Child Ticket (3 to 11 years): US$108
Infants up to two years old can enter for free.
Buy This ComboDon’t want to check out both the wildlife experiences and save money?
Read our comparison of the two destinations, and book their tickets individually – San Diego Zoo ticket or San Diego Safari ticket.
San Diego Zoo vs. San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Are you not sure if you want to visit both the wildlife attractions in San Diego?
No worries.
Here is a point-by-point breakdown of the differences between the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Location
The San Diego Zoo is in Balboa Park, 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101. (Get Directions)
This is right in the city, so you don’t need to make elaborate arrangements.
The San Diego Safari Park is in Escondido, California. (Get Directions)
It is 48 km (30 miles) northeast of the San Diego Zoo, and depending on the time of day, it takes 45 to 60 minutes to travel from the Zoo to the Safari Park.
Car Parking
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s parking costs US$20 per day.
Preferred parking (a spot closer to the Safari entrance) is US$18 extra, so you pay US$38 to park your vehicle. Click here to know more about the nearby parking lots.
At the San Diego Zoo, visitors can find plenty of free parking slots in front of the zoo, and they are free to use.
You can use the valet parking facility near the entrance on busy days. Click here to know more about the nearby parking lots.
Tour duration
The wildlife attractions open at 9 am, and that’s also the best time to visit them.
Visitors will explore the Safari Park and the Zoo for four to five hours.
Families with picnic baskets tend to explore the animal exhibits the whole day.
Ticket prices
The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park have the same ticket prices and kids’ discounts.
Visitors aged 12 years and above must pay the full price of US$69 for their tickets.
Kids 3 to 11 get a US$10 discount on the full ticket price and pay only US$59.
Note: The Zoo and the Safari Park tickets can be canceled up to 24 hours before receiving a full refund.
> Buy a San Diego Safari Park ticket
Weather to expect
The San Diego Zoo is within the city, and thus, visitors can expect much cooler seaside weather.
However, the Safari Park is in Escondido, around 32 km (20 miles) inland.
Image: Weather-us.com
As a result, the San Diego Safari Park is usually 5 to 7 degrees Celsius (10 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the oceanfront San Diego Zoo.
Tripadvisor Ratings
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the San Diego Zoo are rated 4.5 out of 5 on TripAdvisor.
However, the Zoo has 29K reviews compared to the Safari Park’s 4K reviews, indicating that the former gets far more visitors.
Both of them are Tripadvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Certificate winners.
How much crowd to expect
The San Diego Zoo receives 4 million visitors annually, an average of 10000 tourists daily.
During peak summer months, this goes up to 15000.
The Safari Park receives far less in comparison – around 2 million a year, averaging 5,000 visitors per day.
So, if you are not a crowd person, opt for the San Diego Safari Park.
Wildlife viewing experience
The 1,800-acre Safari Park houses more than 2,500 animals of 300 species in wild, open field enclosures.
During the early part of the day, most of the animals are out enjoying the sun. Image: Visitoceanside.org
Spread over 100 acres with over 4000 animals of 800 odd species, the San Diego Zoo is a little more compact.
The Zoo’s enclosed animal habitats ensure you see more of them in a shorter duration.
Visitors who have been to both say walking through the San Diego Zoo is like walking through a real forest.
They found the San Diego Safari Park and its animals more spread out and open.
The Safari Park is a much more adventurous trip with additional paid activities such as Zipline Safari, Balloon Safari, etc. Find out more about Safaris at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Transport
The San Diego Zoo has better transport options.
Visitors take the free 35-minute Guided Bus Tour to understand the Zoo’s layout.
They also use the Kangaroo Express Bus to move around the wildlife outposts and the Skyfari aerial tram from one end of the Zoo to the other.
Image: Sandiegozoo.org
However, the Safari Park is more of a walk-and-explore attraction.
Expect much walking at the Safari Park since their animal exhibits are further apart than at the Zoo.
A 30-minute Africa Tram Safari comes for free with the Safari Park ticket, with which you can see 25% of the park on wheels.
Some tourists feel the San Diego Zoo is better for kids.
Food options
The Safari Park and the San Diego Zoo have many restaurants and food kiosks catering to all tastes.
Visitors who have been there felt that the food prices are high.
If you are on a budget, you should pack your food and drinks because there are enough places to have a sit-down lunch.
So what will it be? San Diego Zoo or Safari Park?
If you have made your decision, go ahead and book your tickets in advance.
Purchasing your tickets online is better for three reasons:
- Online tickets are cheaper than the price you pay at the entrance
- You don’t wait in the ticket counter queue and waste your time and energy
- Tickets on-site get sold on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Booking your tickets online (and in advance) ensures a guaranteed entry
