"I grew up in San Diego and visited the Wild Animal Park from the time they first opened, but we visited it just last year. It is a different experience than visiting the zoo because part of the experience is riding the tram through the savannahs while animals intermingle. They don't have lions and tigers and bears (oh my) out amongst the other animals, but you will find giraffes walking amongst gazelles. Unfortunately when we were there, they were getting ready to close part of the area and shorten the route of the tram. This is because these trams are the originals and are getting old and replacement parts are hard to find. The tour guides are very well versed when it comes to telling about the different animals you come across. It is best to hit the tram first thing when you arrive, because it gets very busy later in the day. You can ride more than once, but you will have to wait through the line. Afterwards, be sure to catch the different shows throughout the park and to visit the butterfly house. Just like the zoo, the Wild Animal Park has some very beautiful plants from around the world that you need to take in as well. I think that the San Diego Zoological Society has done an excellent job in developing the zoo and the Wild Animal Park. Since I grew up going to both of them, when I go to another zoo, there just isn't any comparison! You will not be disappointed!"

Read read4fun2's Escondido reviews | Comment

"I think I like the Wild Animal Park better than the S.D. Zoo. I love how you can take the train around the Park and see the animals in their own habitat. Sure, it’s not really the Serengeti, but it’s better than the enclosures at the Zoo. The bird aviary is a fun place to see. One of the little birds decided he liked my husband the last time we went and decided to camp out on his shoulder. I’ll have to find that picture and upload it. Be sure to check the weather before you decide to go. Escondido can get really hot and humid in the summer."

Read am-van's Escondido reviews | Comment

"This is part of what I came to San Diego for. My guide said that this is what everyone goes home talking about and I certainly did. I was driven to the wild animal park by one of my friends, and as soon as we started on the train tour, we saw a white tiger come out of hiding. It had been a particular misty morning, and it had just rained. These animals are next to never seen in the open out here, so I was one of the few people to get a picture that day. I don’t have that picture now unfortunately. I also managed to get a picture with not one, not two, but three parrots sitting on my shoulder waiting for food. It was another rare sight, and I had a big audience standing around me what was going to happen next. For some reason they had told one another that I was going to give them food, go figure. I only could give out a few pellets, and I coudln’t feed all three, lol. My friend mentioned that he had been on the Kilimanjaro walking tour, but our tour took so long, most of the day, I figured I’d need to be back for another trip some time in the next century. My time there was fun. If you have a chance to go there while you are styaing in San Diego, I can assure you, this place has the biggest draw for tourists. You get to see wildlife out in the open as they should be, and we, the tourists and spectators, are in trains, and not harming them or bothering them as we pass."

Read sassylaurie's Escondido reviews | Comment