San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego Wild Animal Park (SDWAP) Review

Zoogoer2000

Well-Known Member
The Best

Nairobi Village:As the Park entrace,its serves the zoo very well and it the first visitors see upon entering.The replica of a congo fishing village has well done exhibits for meerkat,dik dik,red river,babirusa and pudu with great viweing as well.The centre piece is the huge waterfall leading into a beautifal lagoon with several african swamp birds including shoebill storks whch are awkward looking but beautifal at the same time.It also has an African Mixed Bird Aviary which smells really bad!


Journey Into Africa:Serving as the park's namesake and centrepiece,this 130 acre set of ox expansivly massive fields is called Journey Into Africa for a reason! The entire exhibit is basically only seen from a 25 Minute Tram Ride around the entire expanse.It is split into several sections which consist of East Africa,South Africa,Central Africa,North Africa and Mountain Habitat (yes all though its not offically open anymore,the animals are still on exhibit and can be scene on the way by it!).the animals on exhibit also include antelope,gazelle,wildebeast,white rhino,ostrich,giraffe,cape buffalo,bongo,vaal rhebok,scimitar horned oryx,ankole cattle,barbary red deer,aoudad,kilpsringer and there is also a view of exhibits for cheetahs,lions and black rhino.The setting is basically a lush savanna with dryer parts.It also has misters to cool you off on hot days.


Elephant Overlook:Housing the worlds largest land animals is no problem here.The two seperate exhibits hold both asian and african elephants but soon the asian's will move to San Diego Zoo and the two exhibits will be fused together to make a 5 acre home for the ever growing elephant herd.The current exhibits are long and surprisingly grassy,eacha has a massive pool and dirt piles.It is all maily viewed from one side from a wooden overlook which is kind of annoying becasue its difficult to see the other end!There is also a large elephant show ampitheatre.


Lion Camp :The park's newest exhibit is dedicated to lions in a fantastic habitat.The 33,000 sq ft exhibit replicates Smaburu National Park with great glass viewing areas,a bridge view and huge kopjes.There is also a jeep which the lions are often seen resting on.The boundries int he exhibit are'nt very visible with the large savanna as the back-drop.There are also several fully grown acacia trees which the cusb were climbing.


Big Cat Overlook:Although not a star exhibit,I think this exhibi twas amazing because of its sheer size!It is located quite far from the main zoo with the main feature being its two acre tiger exhibit.It was placed ina densely planted valley and the only problem was the viewing was high up with no upclose encounters.The tiger was sleeping but the enitre exhibit had a heavy forest and a fairly large,clear pool.The old lion exhibi tdoesn't look too shabby at 3 and a half acres but the only problem is the viewing.Im glad a family of dholes will take up residence soon though.


Petting Kraal: The Petting Kraal is great as yoy can walk right up to barashinga,sitaunga,impala,persian goitered gazelle and barbary deer and pet them.The only part i dislike is that there is no chance for grazing.

The Average

Heart Of Africa:Heart OF africa was on the fence for me.The exhibit starts of poorly as the exhibits are all dirt and the fences are ugly and way to visible.As you continure along though until it gets fantastic at the end.The parts I don't like are the Forest Exhibits but I really liek the savanna and swamp areas.The cheetahs had a fantastic exhibit with lots of hiding area and tons of room and the colobus monkey island and flamingo island were awesome as well.The exhibit in all had bontebok,eland,gazelle,vultures,okapi,stork,duiker,gerunuk,warthog,bat-eared fox,colobus monkey and flamingo.


Gorilla Habitat:This exhibit was again alright at best.It was'nt terribly large but big enough.I wasn't all that apealling either as the vieiwng sucked.The good part was that there was tons of enrichment and there were alot of trees.


There was no terrible exhibits
 
Did you get to see the baby Black rhino born over the summer in one of the side exhibits when you went on Journey Into Africa??

By the way great review, and my opinions on the SDWAP are exactly the same as yours!
 
Oh and about Elephnt Overlook there is another overlook inbetween the two barns and it provides great views of the African herd.
 
Elephant Mesa:That is actually the only overlook I stopped at,lol


Black Rhino calf:yes,I did see it actually which was actually apparently quite rare as mom usually keep the baby hidden in the back.It is a male and is getting big plus its very healthy
 
Had you ridden the old WGASA bushline monorail in the past? If so, how did you feel the experience of the new Journey into Africa compared?
 
Actually,i've never been on the Wsaga but kind of wish i had gone on it to see the asia sections
 
Another great review, Zoogoer2000. A piece of trivia which you probably all know is that when the directors of the park sent out a message to the staff asking for names for the monorail, an employee used some slang of the time - Wgasa meaning who gives a s*** anyway. The powers that be thought the name was perfect and so the monorail was christened the Wgasa Bush Line! Once again, many thanks for the excellent review.
 
Thanks,haha thats sucha n awesome story
 
Actually it was Chuck Faust, the park's designer that scribbled the name on some plans...everyone knew what WGASA meant, but their official answer (for the press) to the name's meaning at the time was "World's Greatest Animal Show Anywhere".
 
What about the raptor show?

Did you happen to take in the birds-of-prey show? I'd be curious as to what has changed over the years.

Thanks.
 
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