MainTour Theme Park Tipsheet
This special feature not only lists the best theme parks in the area but is loaded with tips
on how to beat the admission price, the crowds, the heat and more.
San Diego Wild Animal Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd., Escondido, CA 92027-9614; 760-747-8702;
Park Website;
Park opens daily at 9AM-5PM (Extended hours in summer);
Annual pass valid at both Zoo and Wild Animal Park.
Discounts available for seniors, military, schools and groups of 15 or more guests.
The San Diego Wild Animal Park comprises 1,800 acres located five miles east of Escondido. It was started as a breeding facility for the San Diego Zoo's larger mammals. Today there are over 2,500 animals here and also 250 species of exotic plants.
The main park exhibit is an open cageless habitat recreating African, Asian and Australian grasslands. Animals present are tigers, lions, elephants, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, giraffes, etc.
Tour Escondido California
Visit the many other cultural and entertainment features.
| MainTour Resort Lodging Search Engine - San Diego CA | |
|---|---|
|
| |
Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel
- Carlsbad Ranch
Located adjacent to Legoland California and Carlsbad Flower Fields
An absolute must is the 50 minute narated monorail tour that goes around the large habitat area. Also recommended is the 1.75 mile walking trail.
Lion Camp
This is also one place where you can come right up to the big cats, separated only by
large glass panels from top to bottom. A second area of the exhibit is an open, grassy plain
that starts at the top of a hill and slopes gently downward. Our lion pride likes to stalk,
pounce, and wrestle with each other here.
Condor Ridge
A popular exhibit in the park features a variety of birds, reptiles and mammals unique to the North America continent.
Includes big horn sheep, porcupines, ferrets, hawks, owls and of course the endangered California Condors.
Nairobi Village
This area includes gift shops, animal and bird shows, aviaries and habitat exhibits for the smaller mammals.
At the heart of Nairobi Village is Mombasa Lagoon, surrounded by paths, wooden walkways, and a simulation of a Congo fishing village.
This peaceful watering hole is home to pelicans, storks, flamingos, and ducks, along with the many
migratory bird visitors, like herons and egrets, that are not part of the Wild Animal Park's collection
but make use of our hospitality each year! Reeds, grasses, lilies, and other water-loving plants thrive along the edges of the lagoon, creating a lovely picture.
Other Nairobi Village exhibits include the following:
Congo Fishing Village - home to gibbons and lemurs
Bee-eater Aviary - home to beautiful acrobatic little birds that capture flying insects like bees in midair.
Animal Care Center - get a chance to watch food being prepared for baby animals being hand-raised there.
Petting Kraal - kids mingle with the Park's gentlest animals: blackbuck antelope, gazelle, and several deer species roam freely in the Kraal, accepting gentle hugs and touches from guests.
Heart of Africa
This is the park's largest development. This 30-acre safari area has a 3/4-mile loop trail and allows for
closeup viewing of okapi, giraffe and other African wildlife in a natural habitat setting.
Elephant Walk
two large exhibit areas for our elephant herds: one for our Asian elephant group and another one for our African elephants.
An elevated walking path called the Elephant Overlook takes you out between the two exhibit areas to see what our pachyderms are up to.
Lorikeet Landing
Giant bird aviary resembles the rainforests of Australia and New Guinea - the natural habitat of the green-nape lorikeet.
These beautiful, colorful birds are also known as brush-tongued parrots because their tongues are specially adapted to extract nectar and pollen from flowers.
Visitors have a hands-on opportunity these pretty creatures their favorite meal - a small cup of special nectar.
Hidden Jungle
Exhibits secrets of the rainforest. Look for special exhibit of colorful butterflies in the early Springtime.
African Aviary
Located just beyond the Wild Animal Park's entrance turnstiles, this aviary is designed to show a wide variety of African birdlife. Some of the species are rare in the wild and others are seldom seen in collections.
Kilimanjaro Walk
1.75 mile trail past the cageless enclosures of elephants, rhinos, tigers and lions, as well as the Park's extensive botanical gardens.
Kupanda Falls Botanical Center
1.25 mile winding trail past the park's botanical gardens.
Cheetah Run Safari
Weekends - by reservation only;
Small groups of spectators travel to a beautiful, rustic camp at the Wild Animal Park called Cheetah Outpost.
From here you'll prepare to feel the wind whoosh by as the sleek African cat bolts past, mere feet away, after a mechanical rabbit lure on a track.
In addition to seeing the fastest land mammal running, the 11/2-hour experience includes up-close encounters with
other African wildlife, light refreshments, and a 5x7 photo of our cheetah.
Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center (HVMC)
Closed to public;
Guided tours by reservation only;
A state-of-the-art animal hospital located at the Wild Animal Park. Considered to be the
largest and most sophisticated zoo animal hospital in the world, it has treatment rooms,
a central surgery room, intensive care wards, and a special area where X rays can be taken
on critters from small to large. There are also individual rooms for animals waiting for
treatment or recovering from surgery, with windows or skylights and outdoor sunbathing areas!
Be sure to keep your eyes open for casual encounters with some of the wildlife ambassadors in the Park's Animal Encounters program, out for walks with their trainers, usually in the area of Nairobi Village.
Free-flying Bird Show
Comedy and entertainment shows offered daily in the Benbough Amphitheater at the south end of Nairobi Village.
Elephant Show
10,000 pound pachyderm shows his strength, intelligence and versatility.
Cats & Carnivores Tour
Weekends - by reservation only;
Explores the world of the carnivore. On land, carnivores range in size from the least
weasel to the polar bear. But perhaps the most fascinating of the meat-eaters are the cats.
Take this amazing tour into the world of the carnivores during which you'll
meet a carnivore up close and visit an off-exhibit cat area.
MainTour Vacation Cruise Central
Planning your next getaway? Whether you are looking for a last-minute three-day cruise to the
Bahamas or a 21-day cruise through the Orient several months from now, we can help with savings of up to 70%!
In addition to the traditional fare of "fun foods" (i.e., cotton candy, ice cream, hot dogs and soft drinks) San Diego Wild Animal Park offers the following diverse and healthier choices:
Thorn Tree Terrace - Nairobi Village
- sandwiches, salads and burgers with daily entertainment from nearby Spider Monkey Island.
Breakfast is also served here until 10:30 a.m.
Mombasa Island Cooker
- An outdoor dining facility covered with a thatched roof and located in a secluded area surrounded with exotic waterfowl
that serves up Italian and Asian specialities, as well as salads and burgers.
Okavango Outpost - Heart of Africa
- Select your meal from a choice of hot dogs, deli sandwiches, salads, and Kid's Meals,
then dine outdoors and enjoy the spectacular scenery in the Park's Heart of Africa exhibit.
Samburu Terrace - Bird Show Amphitheater -
This outdoor dining facility offers burgers, hot dogs, fries, chicken sandwiches, barbecue ribs, tri-tip sandwiches, Kid's Meals, salads, and "South of the Border" entrées.
Congo Kitchen - Nairobi Village
- Located across from the main gift shop, Congo Kitchen serves hot dogs, nachos, and Kid's Meals.
