San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego Zoo Safari Park Field Exhibit Species List - 28 April 2023

1. That is correct, the Park no longer has black rhinoceros. The last pair was moved to the Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii once they could no longer be maintained in the mixed-species field exhibit.

2. For the safaris, it is going to depend on what experience you want. All of the African field exhibits are viewable from the Africa Tram, while the Asian field exhibits are only visible via the paid safaris. The caravan safaris will take you directly into the field exhibits for an up-close safari experience; however, there is no guarantee which exhibits you will enter — it could be one of the African exhibits or it could be the Asian exhibits. The cart safaris take you around the tram path and the old monorail path, depending on if you pick Africa or Asia. “Rare hoofstock” is hard at the Safari Park because many of the species are rare. It’s going to depend on whether you want an up-close experience or want to see everything the Park has to offer.
So I know that you can't ever really guarantee that you'll see an animal, but if I choose the African cart safari is there a good chance I'd see a decent amount of the African species? I think the species I care about the most are the buffalos, lechwes, rhinos, giraffes, gazelles, and oryxes.
 
So I know that you can't ever really guarantee that you'll see an animal, but if I choose the African cart safari is there a good chance I'd see a decent amount of the African species? I think the species I care about the most are the buffalos, lechwes, rhinos, giraffes, gazelles, and oryxes.
For those species, your chances of seeing them aren’t going to be any greater than from the Africa Tram. The only difference between an African Cart Safari and the Africa Tram is that you’re on a private cart instead of the Tram and you’ll go up the old monorail path past the Grevy’s zebra exhibit to the bottom of the mountain exhibit and back.
 
For those species, your chances of seeing them aren’t going to be any greater than from the Africa Tram. The only difference between an African Cart Safari and the Africa Tram is that you’re on a private cart instead of the Tram and you’ll go up the old monorail path past the Grevy’s zebra exhibit to the bottom of the mountain exhibit and back.
Ok sorry for so many questions, last one! I think I'll go with the Wildlife Safari! What would be the best time of day to go? I'm going on Tuesday.
 
Ok sorry for so many questions, last one! I think I'll go with the Wildlife Safari! What would be the best time of day to go? I'm going on Tuesday.
No worries! For the safari, either earlier or later would be best. In general, animals are most active earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon. I would recommend getting to the Park early, as it is a large facility that takes quite a bit of time to get around and see properly. I hope you enjoy your visit!
 
No worries! For the safari, either earlier or later would be best. In general, animals are most active earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon. I would recommend getting to the Park early, as it is a large facility that takes quite a bit of ti to get around and see properly. I hope you enjoy your visit!
I've gone ahead and chosen the earliest one for that day. Thank you, you've been so helpful!
 
So I'm going to the Safari Park for the first time next week and have a few questions regarding seeing the field exhibits.

1. From what I've gathered, it looks like the park doesn't have black rhinos anymore? I just want to make sure because I want to see them so badly!

2. I'm considering purchasing a safari since I would like a better view of the animals than the tram. Which is the best for seeing the most species in the savannas? Unfortunately, the deluxe cart safari is sold out to see both the African and Asian species are sold out. I guess I'd prioritize seeing African and rare hoofstock.
I am also going to San Diego in February, this thread has answered my questions about the Safaris I am likely doing the Deluxe Safari later in the day. I was wondering if anyone has done the behind the scenes walkabout Australia? This is probably my only trip to San Diego and I am worried about not being able to see the platypus. Are the platypus common no shows if I don't go on the tour? Is the tour a sure thing that I see them? any info will help
 
Sorry, I am another person going to San Diego (in mid-March this time).

Is there anywhere that the African Forest field exhibit can be seen from on foot (I will have powerful binoculars with me!)? I am nervous about missing the red-fronted gazelle.
 
Sorry, I am another person going to San Diego (in mid-March this time).

Is there anywhere that the African Forest field exhibit can be seen from on foot (I will have powerful binoculars with me!)? I am nervous about missing the red-fronted gazelle.
Unfortunately the African Forest is accessible for guests riding on the Africa tram, maybe the cart Safari too but never have done it for the African section :oops:
 
Unfortunately the African Forest is accessible for quests riding on the Africa tram, maybe the cart Safari too but never have done it for the African section :oops:
Thanks, that's pretty much what I thought. I'd be mainly interested in the kob and the gazelles, maybe it is worth investing in the African cart safari, just to give myself more time to be able to spot them...
 
I am also going to San Diego in February, this thread has answered my questions about the Safaris I am likely doing the Deluxe Safari later in the day. I was wondering if anyone has done the behind the scenes walkabout Australia? This is probably my only trip to San Diego and I am worried about not being able to see the platypus. Are the platypus common no shows if I don't go on the tour? Is the tour a sure thing that I see them? any info will help
I have done the BTS tour for Walkabout Australia but this was 2 weeks before official debut of the platypus habitat. I’ve not had trouble spotting them during my visits, it does take a bit for your eyes to adjust to the darkness and they’re typically active. The biggest gripe for many would be getting a photo of them. I would head on over to the Australia section as soon as you can if arriving by opening. The tiger cubs seemed to have distract a lot of people during my last visit :D
 
Thanks, that's pretty much what I thought. I'd be mainly interested in the kob and the gazelles, maybe it is worth investing in the African cart safari, just to give myself more time to be able to spot them...
The kob are usually not too difficult to spot, and there are more of them, which is helpful. The red-fronted gazelles can be really tricky, as they're very flighty. From my experience, your best shot at seeing them is in the early afternoon, as this seems to be when the keepers put the browse up, which draws them out into the open.
 
The kob are usually not too difficult to spot, and there are more of them, which is helpful. The red-fronted gazelles can be really tricky, as they're very flighty. From my experience, your best shot at seeing them is in the early afternoon, as this seems to be when the keepers put the browse up, which draws them out into the open.

Really, really helpful, thank you! Do you know if they have moved around since your (really useful!) location list?
 
You're welcome! They have not. Both species are in the same enclosures they are listed in here -- I saw them both today. I hope you see them on your visit!
Brilliant! Fingers crossed! Am I right in thinking (having watched some YouTube videos) that the paddocks are opposite one another once the tram reaches a sort of bridge?
 
Brilliant! Fingers crossed! Am I right in thinking (having watched some YouTube videos) that the paddocks are opposite one another once the tram reaches a sort of bridge?
That is correct. Once you reach the bridge, the African Forest field exhibit will be on your right, while the Central Africa field exhibit will be on your left. The tram path encircles three of the four sides of the Central Africa exhibit, so you will see that exhibit from multiple angles.
 
It has officially been a full year since I first posted this species list, so I figured this would be as good of a time as any to post another update!


San Diego Zoo Safari Park Field Exhibit Species List - 28 April, 2024:

Tram Loading:
1. Lowland nyala

East Africa:
1. Cape buffalo
2. Common impala
3. Defassa waterbuck
4. Fringe-eared oryx
5. Generic giraffe
6. Generic waterbuck
7. Lowland nyala
8. Nile lechwe
9. Roan antelope
10. Southern white rhinoceros
11. Thomson’s gazelle

Bird Delta:
1. East African grey crowned crane

Greater Flamingo:
1. East African grey crowned crane
2. Greater flamingo
3. Southern screamer

Nikita Khan Rhino Rescue Center:
1. Southern white rhinoceros

South Africa:
1. Cape buffalo
2. Common eland
3. Ellipsen waterbuck
4. Gemsbok
5. Lowland nyala
6. Masai giraffe
7. Nile lechwe
8. Sable antelope
9. Southern white rhinoceros
10. Springbok

Arid Africa (Paid Safari Only):
1. Addax
2. Cape buffalo
3. Ellipsen waterbuck
4. Generic waterbuck
5. Grevy’s zebra
6. Nile lechwe
7. Scimitar-horned oryx

Bird Marsh:
1. Cape vulture
2. Dalmatian pelican
3. East African grey crowned crane
4. Great white pelican
5. Lappet-faced vulture
6. Ruppell’s griffon vulture
7. Yellow-billed stork

Mammal Marsh:
1. Peninsular pronghorn

African Hillside #1:
1. Nubian Soemmerring’s gazelle
2. Somali wild ass

Mountain (Paid Safari Only):
1. Desert bighorn sheep
2. Transcaspian urial

Central Africa:
1. Greater kudu
2. Grevy’s zebra
3. Roan antelope
4. Southern white rhinoceros
5. Ugandan kob

African Forest:
1. Eastern bongo
2. Red-fronted gazelle
3. Red lechwe
4. Sitatunga

African Hillside #2:
1. Empty

North Africa:
1. Ankole cattle
2. Barbary deer
3. Bactrian hangul
4. Hartmann’s mountain zebra
5. Nile lechwe
6. Red lechwe
7. Scimitar-horned oryx

Central Asia (Paid Safari Only):
1. Barasingha x Indochinese sika hybrid
2. Burmese brow-antlered deer
3. Indochinese sika
4. Javan banteng
5. Transcaspian urial

Asian Plains (Paid Safari Only):
1. Bactrian hangul
2. Barasingha
3. Blackbuck
4. Burmese brow-antlered deer
5. Greater one-horned rhinoceros
6. Javan banteng
7. Malayan sambar
8. Nilgai
9. Pere David’s deer

Asian Hillside #1 (Paid Safari Only):
2. Malayan sambar
3. Nubian ibex

Asian Hillside #2 (Paid Safari Only):
1. Barbary sheep

Asian Hillside #3 (Paid Safari Only):
1. Arabian oryx

Asian Hillside #4 (Paid Safari Only):
1. Przewalski’s wild horse
 
Last edited:
It has officially been a full year since I first posted this species list, so I figured this would be as good of a time as any to post another update!


San Diego Zoo Safari Park Field Exhibit Species List - 28 April, 2024:

Tram Loading:
1. Lowland nyala

East Africa:
1. Cape buffalo
2. Common impala
3. Defassa waterbuck
4. Fringe-eared oryx
5. Generic giraffe
6. Generic waterbuck
7. Lowland nyala
8. Nile lechwe
9. Roan antelope
10. Southern white rhinoceros
11. Thomson’s gazelle

Bird Delta:
1. East African grey crowned crane

Greater Flamingo:
1. East African grey crowned crane
2. Greater flamingo
3. Southern screamer

Nikita Khan Rhino Rescue Center:
1. Southern white rhinoceros

South Africa:
1. Cape buffalo
2. Common eland
3. Ellipsen waterbuck
4. Gemsbok
5. Lowland nyala
6. Masai giraffe
7. Nile lechwe
8. Sable antelope
9. Southern white rhinoceros
10. Springbok

Arid Africa (Paid Safari Only):
1. Addax
2. Cape buffalo
3. Ellipsen waterbuck
4. Generic waterbuck
5. Grevy’s zebra
6. Nile lechwe
7. Scimitar-horned oryx

Bird Marsh:
1. Cape vulture
2. Dalmatian pelican
3. East African grey crowned crane
4. Great white pelican
5. Lappet-faced vulture
6. Ruppell’s griffon vulture
7. Yellow-billed stork

Mammal Marsh:
1. Peninsular pronghorn

African Hillside #1:
1. Nubian Soemmerring’s gazelle
2. Somali wild ass

Mountain (Paid Safari Only):
1. Desert bighorn sheep
2. Transcaspian urial

Central Africa:
1. Greater kudu
2. Grevy’s zebra
3. Roan antelope
4. Southern white rhinoceros
5. Ugandan kob

African Forest:
1. Eastern bongo
2. Red-fronted gazelle
3. Red lechwe
4. Sitatunga

African Hillside #2:
1. Empty

North Africa:
1. Ankole cattle
2. Barbary deer
3. Bactrian hangul
4. Hartmann’s mountain zebra
5. Nile lechwe
6. Red lechwe
7. Scimitar-horned oryx

Central Asia (Paid Safari Only):
1. Barasingha x Indochinese sika hybrid
2. Burmese brow-antlered deer
3. Indochinese sika
4. Javan banteng
5. Transcaspian urial

Asian Plains (Paid Safari Only):
1. Bactrian hangul
2. Barasingha
3. Blackbuck
4. Burmese brow-antlered deer
5. Greater one-horned rhinoceros
6. Javan banteng
7. Malayan sambar
8. Nilgai
9. Pere David’s deer

Asian Hillside #1 (Paid Safari Only):
2. Malayan sambar
3. Nubian ibex

Asian Hillside #2 (Paid Safari Only):
1. Barbary sheep

Asian Hillside #3 (Paid Safari Only):
1. Arabian oryx

Asian Hillside #4 (Paid Safari Only):
1. Przewalski’s wild horse
Nice list, keep it up!
 
It has officially been a full year since I first posted this species list, so I figured this would be as good of a time as any to post another update!


San Diego Zoo Safari Park Field Exhibit Species List - 28 April, 2024:

Tram Loading:
1. Lowland nyala

East Africa:
1. Cape buffalo
2. Common impala
3. Defassa waterbuck
4. Fringe-eared oryx
5. Generic giraffe
6. Generic waterbuck
7. Lowland nyala
8. Nile lechwe
9. Roan antelope
10. Southern white rhinoceros
11. Thomson’s gazelle

Bird Delta:
1. East African grey crowned crane

Greater Flamingo:
1. East African grey crowned crane
2. Greater flamingo
3. Southern screamer

Nikita Khan Rhino Rescue Center:
1. Southern white rhinoceros

South Africa:
1. Cape buffalo
2. Common eland
3. Ellipsen waterbuck
4. Gemsbok
5. Lowland nyala
6. Masai giraffe
7. Nile lechwe
8. Sable antelope
9. Southern white rhinoceros
10. Springbok

Arid Africa (Paid Safari Only):
1. Addax
2. Cape buffalo
3. Ellipsen waterbuck
4. Generic waterbuck
5. Grevy’s zebra
6. Nile lechwe
7. Scimitar-horned oryx

Bird Marsh:
1. Cape vulture
2. Dalmatian pelican
3. East African grey crowned crane
4. Great white pelican
5. Lappet-faced vulture
6. Ruppell’s griffon vulture
7. Yellow-billed stork

Mammal Marsh:
1. Peninsular pronghorn

African Hillside #1:
1. Nubian Soemmerring’s gazelle
2. Somali wild ass

Mountain (Paid Safari Only):
1. Desert bighorn sheep
2. Transcaspian urial

Central Africa:
1. Greater kudu
2. Grevy’s zebra
3. Roan antelope
4. Southern white rhinoceros
5. Ugandan kob

African Forest:
1. Eastern bongo
2. Red-fronted gazelle
3. Red lechwe
4. Sitatunga

African Hillside #2:
1. Empty

North Africa:
1. Ankole cattle
2. Barbary deer
3. Bactrian hangul
4. Hartmann’s mountain zebra
5. Nile lechwe
6. Red lechwe
7. Scimitar-horned oryx

Central Asia (Paid Safari Only):
1. Barasingha x Indochinese sika hybrid
2. Burmese brow-antlered deer
3. Indochinese sika
4. Javan banteng
5. Transcaspian urial

Asian Plains (Paid Safari Only):
1. Bactrian hangul
2. Barasingha
3. Blackbuck
4. Burmese brow-antlered deer
5. Greater one-horned rhinoceros
6. Javan banteng
7. Malayan sambar
8. Nilgai
9. Pere David’s deer

Asian Hillside #1 (Paid Safari Only):
2. Malayan sambar
3. Nubian ibex

Asian Hillside #2 (Paid Safari Only):
1. Barbary sheep

Asian Hillside #3 (Paid Safari Only):
1. Arabian oryx

Asian Hillside #4 (Paid Safari Only):
1. Przewalski’s wild horse

Two additions since my last update!

Bird Delta:
1. East African grey crowned crane
2. Southern ground hornbill

Asian Plains
(Paid Safari Only):
1. Bactrian hangul
2. Barasingha
3. Blackbuck
4. Burmese brow-antlered deer
5. Greater one-horned rhinoceros
6. Javan banteng
7. Malayan sambar
8. Nilgai
9. Nilgiri tahr
10. Pere David’s deer


 
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