Safari West is not a zoo but a mini safari located in Sonoma, California with over 900 variety of animals spread over a 400 acre land. It was founded by Peter Lang as a conservative breeding facility but later Peter and his wife decided to open gates to the public to educate people.
They have variety of Antelopes, Bongo, Giraffes, Cape Buffalos, Zebras, Cheetah, Gazelle, Lemur, Monkeys and many more. Flamingos near the starting point of the tour are the center of attraction. They also have a lot of other bird species.
This trip has been on our bucket list since a couple years ago and we couldn’t wait for our daughter to turn four so we could take her. Fortunately, the safari west miraculously escaped the devastating wild fire in 2017. All the animals were safe and well taken care of during the time.Coming from south bay, it took us around 2 hours to reach Sonoma but an early morning drive and a pit stop at Starbucks for hot coffee was wonderful. It was a cloudy day and we took the first tour of the day so, it was a bit chilly morning.
Their tours start at 9:00 AM except during the months of January and February during which it starts at 10:00 AM. There are about four to five time slots each day for safari tours. Each tour lasts about 3 hours.
We reached there early and had some time to look around before our tour started. The tour meets near the cafe area and you have the view of flamingos from there . You are also free to walk up to see the flamingos before the safari guide arrives. You can also see the giraffes walking around but you will not be able to go up close or touch any of the animals.
Like I said, each tour lasts about 3 hours. Safari tour consists of walking part and on the vehicle ride on a bumpy terrain. Walking part is around an hour or so and then the ride on the vehicle lasts about one and half hours to two hours. We did get break after our walking tour and this is a good time to have a bite or use restrooms.
Let’s talk about the Walking part
At this point, all the visitors are divided into groups and each group has a dedicated guide. Don’t worry they usually group according to the reservations so you and your party will most likely be in the same group as you. First stop, flamingos. Aren’t they the brightest of all birds ? The tour guide talked about a little bit about each animal or bird that we stopped to look at. They answered questions from visitors and we never felt rushed through the entire tour. Continuing with the tour, we saw more variety of birds,monkeys,cheetah,lemurs. We were on the first tour of the day and it was breakfast time for those little monkeys. They were so excited to see the lady who brings their breakfast. They couldn’t wait for her to come into their enclave. It was cute!
Then we had a break, so that we could use the restrooms or have a quick snack before the vehicle tour. The restrooms were very clean and the sinks were beautifully made with colorful tiles.
On the vehicle tour
Its a good idea to use the restroom before you go on the vehicle tour and we will be given 10-15 minute break and good to utilize it. Now here is the fun part of the tour. We hopped on to their customized Dodge vehicle, choose the last row in the vehicle thinking it would add a little more thrill to our ride. I am not sure if it did but our ride was surely adventurous. You can also take turns for the top seat if riders in your party are at least 45 inches tall. We couldn’t take the top seat since our daughter was not tall enough to ride on top.
Firstly, we saw the group of giraffes walking around wide area in the same enclosure as the Gazelles. Antelopes, Cape Buffalos, Zebras, Ostriches and Rhinoceros were a few others that I can recall. The bumpy ride was an added bonus apart from looking at animals that we had never seen before. The tour was educational and we did learn a lot about these animals. Who knew the most innocent looking cape buffalos in the picture below are extremely dangerous to humans ? The tour guide explained about each of the animals, the sounds they make and their behavior. It was indeed very interesting!
Even though we were riding on a vehicle it was very soothing. The place was very peaceful and we felt calm in that wide open setting. I highly recommend this tour if you enjoy looking at animals and learning little bit more about them.
These zebras apparently didn’t want to be pictured. They never turned towards us the whole time we were there.
Looking at baby giraffes was my the best part of the safari and for my daughter except the little zebra toy that we bought her at the gift shop.
Pricing
Their pricing varies for different months. Weekend rates are slightly higher than the weekday prices. It’s $93/adult and $45/child during weekends. You can check more about their pricing here. It’s definitely much more than you would pay for a zoo visit but the experience is entirely different too.
Gift Shop
They also have a gift shop with lots of unique things. Stuffed toys for the little ones, coloring books and activity books that you might want to pick up if you are on a road trip. Also, they had lovely weaved baskets and totes which were fairly priced.
Cafe
They have a cafe that sells light snacks and beverages but the options are very limited. Savannah Cafe offers lunch and dinner upon reservations. They don’t accept walk in’s. So, if you plan to have lunch or dinner while on the safari, then make sure to make reservations ahead of time. Vegan & vegetarian options are very limited.
Where we ate?
We wanted to have Indian food and luckily there was one in Calistoga around 10 miles from there. We ate at the Everest Indian Restaurant. The ambience was good and calm with comfortable seating. The meal was definitely delicious and filling. Their service was excellent too.
Everest Indian Restaurant 104 Calistoga RdSanta Rosa, CA 95409
Good to know before you go
- Safari West does not allow children under the age of four to go on the vehicle tour. However they may join the walking part of the tour. They also provide concession in ticket price if you want to stay back with a baby after finishing the walking tour.
- Petting or feeding is not a part of this tour. You are not allowed to touch any of the animals.
- Use the restrooms before you go on the vehicle tour. It takes close to two hours and there aren’t any restroom stops for the entire tour.
- It’s a good idea to pack a fleece layer/light jacket since it might get a little bit cold as we go up the hill in the vehicle. They also provide cozy blankets on the vehicle.
- If you don’t plan on making a reservation for lunch or dinner, then make sure to pack a snack/lunch for yourself and your family.
- There are plenty of parking spots available once enter their premises.
- Safari West also offers night stay in one of their cozy tents/cottages if you want to camp overnight but still want to be comfortable.
Check out their website to know more about the overnight stays and private tour.
Safari West address:
3115 Porter Creek RdSanta Rosa, CA 95404
Hope this was helpful if you are considering a visit to Safari West or if you are looking for places to visit during the summer.