Beyond Orange County

Tips for visiting San Diego Zoo Safari Park in October

Published on October 1, 2017

!Ya llego Octubre! October is here and this year it brings many great deals a short drive away. San Diego Zoo and Safari Park offer kids free admission all October. This is why our little family of five kids and two adults took advantage and headed to San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Here are some tips on making the most of your trip to Safari Park.

Tips for visiting San Diego Zoo Safari Park in October

Prep Ahead

First things first – buy your tickets online to avoid the wait at the ticket booth. You do not want to have the kids extremely excited to get in, then have to wait 20 minutes in line. Every adult can take up to 10 kids so make sure to load up the car and invite your kids’ friends. Yes, kids admission is free, but only if they plan on going on the Africa Tram; which by the way is a MUST DO. You will have to pay $12 per kid. Also buy these tickets online.

Take Lots of Water

The Safari Park is located in the inland mountains of Escondido and it is HOT. They allow you to bring food and drinks inside, small coolers are best. Freeze water bottles the night before and they will stay cold all day. You will be walking up and down small hills and the park expands many acres so you will be hot and thirsty. The $10 souvenir cup is a great buy since the day of purchase you get unlimited FREE refills. Score!

Safety

I have five kids and their safety is a big concern for me. At a large zoo like the San Diego Zoo Safari Park the crowds can get crazy and kids love to wonder off. Make sure to take a quick picture of them at the entrance. If they get lost you will have a current picture of what they are wearing. I also wrote my cell number on their arm since they do not know it yet.

Must Sees

As I mentioned before the Africa Tram is a must. It is a great glimpse at how African animals live and interact in wilderness. The tram guide is very knowledgeable and will show special things that guest would not catch. The kids loved “Tiger Trails”. We could have spent hours watching the tigers. It is a large exhibit with a children’s playground, restaurant, and waterfall. We had a great experience while eating our lunch, the tiger came right up to the glass (there was a bone right by the glass). Great spot to eat lunch and watch the tigers extremely up close.

October is a great month to take advantage of many free kids events. If you are like me and love a great free deal then head out this October. The drive down to San Diego is so worth it to experience such an amazing zoo. The Safari Zoo is opened 9-5 every day and has tons of extra activities this month geared at kids. Like they say “Let your wilds ones meet ours.”