Is the San Diego Zoo worth going to?

Travelers almost unanimously agree that the San Diego Zoo is the best zoo they have ever visited. Recent visitors were impressed with the vast number of animals on display and the various activities. In fact, many said a daylong visit isn't enough time to see everything.



People Also Ask

Although one can easily enjoy a full day or more at both parks, to visitors with limited time we recommend a minimum of three to four hours to see some of the Zoo and a minimum of four to six hours to experience a portion of the Safari Park.

MORE DETAILS

Comparing the Animals & Exhibits. Which has more animals -- San Diego Safari Park vs Zoo: To sum it up succinctly, the San Diego Zoo has more animals both in quantity and variety. The San Diego Zoo has animals from all over the world, including Australia, Asia, Africa, Central America, South America, and more.

MORE DETAILS

In summary, the San Diego Zoo has a greater quantity and variety of animals from different types of habitats from all over the world while SeaWorld's animal exhibits are exclusively focused on ocean life and marine animals from various parts of the world.

MORE DETAILS

Our colorful Conservation Carousel features 60 ride elements to choose from, many of which replicate rare and endangered animals. You can ride a giraffe, rhino, zebra, cheetah, and more—unlimited rides for only $6.

MORE DETAILS

San Diego Zoo Vs LA Zoo: A Short History As well as around 650 species and somewhere in the region of 12,000 animals, San Diego Zoo is also a designated botanic garden with well over half a million exotic plants, which really help bring the jungle/rainforest vibe to the various zones.

MORE DETAILS

One of the best activities to do — regardless of whether you're flying solo, as a couple, or on a family outing — is taking a day to explore the vast San Diego Zoo. In fact, this is one of the most popular attractions in all of Southern California, right up there with Disneyland, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios!

MORE DETAILS

Two Different Locations: Balboa Park and Escondido The reason you should not visit both San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park on the same day is that they are about 45 minutes apart from each other, without traffic (and there can be traffic along this busy freeway corridor).

MORE DETAILS

Distance between the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is 35 miles. Please allow 45 minutes to 1 hour travel time.

MORE DETAILS

The winter months make great times to visit the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. We love the comfortable temperatures and smaller crowds. December through March also marks the official whale-watching season.

MORE DETAILS

The San Diego Zoo has a lot of walking and hills. Be prepared for climbing or plan to use some of the park transportation options.

MORE DETAILS

Obviously, the san diego zoo does do a lot of conservation, and great things for animals all over the world, and a lot of science with the frozen zoo, but it is also very different from the bronx zoo. I think it is much more guest oriented than the bronx zoo is, in that it has all the big animals.

MORE DETAILS

The San Diego Zoo includes many different areas to explore, each with its own collection of awesome animals to see. The Africa Rocks area features species unique to the continent (such as lions, giraffes and rhinos), while the Lost Forest region is where guests will find the great apes, hippos and tigers.

MORE DETAILS

Especially on weekends, the San Diego Zoo can get crowded fast. Arrive early— right at the 9am opening—to avoid the worst of the crowds and the southern California heat. Another great way to avoid crowds is by visiting during the week instead of the weekend.

MORE DETAILS

Other disadvantages of safari parks include habituation, which can cause wildlife to lose their natural instincts, and animals can even risk contracting human disease if people are able to pet, touch, and take selfies with them.

MORE DETAILS

San Diego Zoo tickets and San Diego Safari Park tickets cost $67 for an adult and $55 for a child at either park at the gate (as of 2022). Children under two are free. However, there are discounts available if you purchase a ticket in advance. No reservations are necessary and the ticket is good for a year.

MORE DETAILS

One of the world's largest zoos, and voted the #1 Zoo in the World on TripAdvisor, the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park is home to over 4,000 animals and more than 800 species of rare and exotic creatures.

MORE DETAILS

Considered by many to be one of the best zoos in the United States, the San Diego Zoo is very arguably the best zoo in California. This is so for a number of reasons, including its size, its number of animals, and the quality of its exhibits.

MORE DETAILS