ZOO TRIPS · SAFARI PARKS
Open range, no glass, and the animals on the wrong side of your windscreen. The 15 below cover the drive-through parks and the ranger-truck ones, from South Africa to the Australian outback, priced and clear about whether your own car is allowed in.
Spend a full day at Dubai Safari Park, home to about 3,000 animals across African, Asian, and Arabian themed areas. Your ticket includes entry, a 15-minute Arabian Desert safari, animal presentations, and scheduled talks. Add the Explorer bus or train for easier access and closer views.
“Great experience, lots to see. You will need to pay extra for certain tours.”
Ride an airboat through the Everglades with an English-speaking guide, then watch a Wildlife Nature Show and explore the jungle boardwalk. The boat trip lasts about 40 minutes, and the full park visit usually takes around two hours. Bring sunscreen, water, comfortable shoes, and insect repellent.
“Its long enough and very pretty out there The guide was very nice also”
Explore Werribee Open Range Zoo on foot, then board the included safari bus across 200 hectares of open savannah. Look for giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and kangaroos, and plan time for lion, gorilla, hippo, meerkat, and koala exhibits. Keeper talks and accessible paths add value for families.
“Great zoo! Easy to get around and plenty to see. Loved the hippo experience and deluxe safari.”
Take a self-guided drive through Wild Florida in your own vehicle, moving at a gentle 5 mph among more than 100 native and exotic animals. Afterward, visit Gator Park and, for an extra fee, hand-feed the giraffes. Plan several hours for the full visit.
“My husband and I went on this day trip. We both thought it was way more fun than Disney’s Wild Animal Kingdom! We could take our time and drive our own vehicle in! There were so many animals and babies that were just born! They were close enough to really watch and enjoy! The best part was we were allowed to go to the walking zoo down the street which was included in our tickets! It was full of some really cool exotic animals! We could also go on an air-boat ride (additional cost) They also had a restaurant and ice cream stand/ frozen drink stand! It was well worth…”
Travel from Johannesburg or Pretoria with an English-speaking guide such as Thapelo, Dusty, or Ceepo, then join a one-hour open vehicle drive at Lion and Safari Park. Expect close views of lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, and possibly a rare white lion.
“Our tour guide for the safari park (Dusty) was absolutely amazing! She was so knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour. Our transportation guide was also great! He so so polite, and professional!!! Would highly recommend for everyone!”
Spend 2 to 8 hours exploring the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido. Your $78 mobile ticket includes admission, animal exhibits, shows, and unlimited Africa Tram rides. Walk among kangaroos, watch giraffes and rhinos, and choose paid safari tours if you want a closer look.
“Just amazing concept! I highly recommend the African tram and lunch at the watering hole restaurant.”
Explore San Diego Zoo Safari Park with entry, Africa Tram Safari, Cheetah Run, and shows included. Walk through Lion Camp, Hidden Jungle, and the new Elephant Valley, then watch elephants at Mkutano House. Arrive early for cooler weather, lighter crowds, and the best chance of seeing active animals.
“Excellent opportunity to see animals, many in an open habitat.”
Use your mobile ticket to enter San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, then explore 1,800 acres of open habitats, animal trails, shows, and the Africa Tram Safari. See lions, elephants, cheetahs, tigers, condors, and more. Plan for lots of walking, paid parking, and changing show times.
“They staff were very kind and helpful. There was always someone around to tell you which way to go or give recommendations. On the safari the guide literally offered my son her jacket if he was cold due to the breeze. She was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions (even those not about pandas and not related to the tour) The pathways were clean, shaded and so full of plant foliage it felt like a botanical garden. I wished I lived closer so I could walk around this gorgeous place regularly.”
Spend 30 minutes riding a camel through the Oasis of 1,000 Palms at Camel Safari Park La Baranda in Maspalomas. Your ticket also covers the animal park and tropical garden, where you can see donkeys, goats, peacocks, ducks, birds, and possibly young camels. English, German, and Spanish are available.
“had a warm welcome and enjoyed the sunshine and fresh juice on offer in peaceful surroundings. we didn't have any issues with flies or smells as some have said . good value for money and all animals were well behaved”
Monarto Safari Park gives you a full day to explore 15 km of walking trails and open-range animal areas. Ride the unlimited Zu-loop bus, stop at viewing platforms, hear keeper talks, and look for lions, giraffes, rhinos, chimps, meerkats, and Australian wildlife.
“It’s an amazing park. We saw all of the animals, even the Porcupines. The Zoo Bus was a real bonus taking us to all areas of the park without having to walk too far. The guides were all very friendly & informative. The only improvement suggestion I have is that the prices for food & beverages could be a little less steep. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our day.”
Use one mobile pass for the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, with admission to every standard exhibit plus Skyfari, guided buses, and Africa Tram rides. Plan separate days for the 100-acre zoo and 1,800-acre safari park, about 35 miles apart.
“Lovely layout and impressive critters Too many kids/ families as school break was on Crowded and noisy But, wouldn’t have missed it, enjoyed the outdoors”
Spend about three hours at Werribee Open Range Zoo, combining general admission with a 40-minute safari bus through open grassland. See rhinos, giraffes, lions, hippos, gorillas, monkeys, and Australian wildlife, then add keeper talks, walking trails, playgrounds, and food stops at your own pace.
“This was an amazing experience. I will definitely go again. It was great seeing the animals up and close.”
Ride through Jhalana Panther Safari Park in an open 4x4 with a naturalist, searching for free-ranging leopards, hyenas, desert foxes, and birds. Choose a morning or afternoon departure. Permits, interpretation-center entry, and still-camera fees are included, with pickup available near the park.
“It was a very nice experience to see two leopards, although they were sleeping and it was quite far away. We had a very good guide”
Ride in a small-group safari truck through Lion & Safari Park near Hartbeespoort. Your English-speaking guide takes you past lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, leopards, and antelopes before a relaxing stop beside the Crocodile River. Guides such as Dina, Dusty, and George have earned strong praise for their humor and animal knowledge.
“Simply amazing - guides were funny and entertaining as well as being very knowledgeable. Worth every rand!”
Join an English-speaking guide such as Thoko, Jabulani, or Mzi for a two-hour truck safari through Hartbeespoort’s Lion and Safari Park. You’ll see lions, antelopes, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards, and wild dogs, with time afterward for lunch, drinks, and souvenirs.
“Jabulani was the highlight of the the tour,his energy and fun facts on the animals was entertaining,we laughed alot,loved him,big ups to him🤌🏿”
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