The Solo Scale:

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When it comes to zoos, one of the most famous in the world is San Diego. Did you know that there’s both the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, but also San Diego Safari Park? True, the latter is harder to access, but it’s worth the drive. If you have a rental car, it’s even easier to make a case for a visit! I decided to spend one day from open to close at both parks — a truly fantastic choice.

I began my day driving out to the Safari Park, which I would recommend. Given that it’s a bit further out and not as easy to access, going to the Park at open means that there are very few other people to fight against. I also went on a school day in the middle of the year. That definitely helped with crowds. By going early, there weren’t any groups in attendance yet either.

It meant that for my entire visit, I would be on my own, never really dealing with crowds. You can walk several of the trails, as well as the well-architectured areas of the park. You can even ride a tethered hot air balloon to get a bird’s eye view of the park and animals. However, this activity will cost extra.

If you want to stay on ground level, the Africa Tram will take you around the habitats. It’s similar to what you might experience at Animal Kingdom at Disney. This is a 25-minute journey and will take you through the savanna to see the animals. The price for this one is included in your admission ticket.

There are other exhibits to see, but it’s more open spaces that you’ll be wandering through, with well-manicured landscapes and flora to go along with the fauna. All in all, with a trip to the gift shop, I spent about 4 hours here at the Safari Park. I never felt rushed or that I’d missed anything.

When you’re done with the Safari Park, you can head back into the city. In Balboa Park is the more famous of the two locations — the San Diego Zoo. It’s a much more compact location, so if you’re looking to balance your time, I would do a 60-40 rule. Spend 60% of your day at the Safari Park (to include driving time) and the remainder of the day at the San Diego Zoo. Here, the park gets a lot quieter in the evening. By threading the needle with your visit, you’ll get to experience both zoos without it being overly crowded at some point in the visits.

It’s not a small location, but it’s smaller, which means that you can hike up and down and see all the exhibits. You could also pay a little more and take advantage of some of their other modes of transportation. As the zoo nears close, you’ll be able to grab a bite to eat without worrying about lines, and continue to visit the animals, including koalas, giraffes, camels, and more.

If you’re lucky, you might even see the cheetahs with their emotional support puppies, seeing as the San Diego Zoo is one of the locations that runs this program! Even if you don’t, you won’t be disappointed with your visit.

I spent just over three hours at the San Diego Zoo after I arrived, including a break for food. I felt like I had more than enough time to see everything. That includes the free bus tour around the zoo that helped take some of the pressure away from having to walk everywhere. The bus is a 35-minute experience with a double-decker bus. If you’re there in the summer, the exposed top deck might get warm. On the other hand, you might be the only one up there and it delivers fantastic views.

If you love animals, love to learn more about zoology, or just want to experience one of San Diego’s most famous attractions, this is a fantastic way to fill a day when you’re there!

For information about the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, visit the website here.
For information about the core San Diego Zoo, visit the website here.

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