San Diego Wild Animal Park Exhibits
Lion Camp
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The San Diego Wild Animal Park staff told us that lions look for the weakest members of the pack for prey. Which means that when they’re looking at a bunch of human onlookers, they’re zeroing in on their easiest catch – our children! It was amazing to watch the lion watch our son! Thank God we’re at the Wild Animal Park and not the African plains! Plan on visiting early in the day before the cubs wear themselves out with all their playing and exploring. And be prepared for a long walk out to Lion Camp, but it’s worth it! Heart of AfricaThe walking trail into the Heart of Africa begins at the southern end of Nairobi Village (where the Wild Animal Park entrance is). Think stroll here and not speed. It is a long walk into the Heart of Africa, especially when you have young children. The word “safari” means “travel” in Swahili and that’s exactly what you’ll be doing to get to Africa. But the long walk does beat a plane ride!The payoff is seeing the stars of the Heart of Africa, the cheetahs and giraffes.
Check the schedule for the giraffe feedings because that’s a great way to get really close to these fun animals. Your kids will remember being face to face with the tallest land animals on earth for a long time at the San Diego Wild Animal Park!
Here's my dad to the right, up close to this beautiful giraffe! Did you know a giraffe can look into a second-story window without straining? Their legs are 6 feet long, and their 6-foot neck weighs about 600 pounds! It takes a lot of leaves to fuel such a large animal – up to 75 pounds worth a day. So that’s why giraffes spend most of their day chewing because they get just a few leaves in each bite. It brings a whole new meaning to snacking!
Elephant OverlookHow would you like to name your child Impunga (im POON gah)? Well you might just see Impunga in the Elephant Overlook exhibit. He was born March 11, 2007 at a whopping 549 pounds to his mother Samba. The Park’s African and Asian elephants and their calves are wonderful exhibits to watch. An elevated walking path takes you between two exhibits areas to view these giant pachyderms. How can you tell the African and Asian elephant apart? Just look at their ears. If they have large ears (that actually look like Africa), they’re African. The smaller ears mean they’re Asia. And believe it or not, those ears act like air conditioners. As elephants flap their wet ears on a hot day, the blood flowing through the many blood vessels there is cooled, which in turn cools their large bodies. More About Wild Animal Park's Elephant Overlook 
Nairobi VillageAs you enter the San Diego Wild Animal Park, you will arrive in Nairobi Village where you’ll be instantly transported to exotic Africa! At the heart of Nairobi Village is Mombasa Lagoon, home to pelicans, storks and flamingos.Be sure to check out the Gorilla Habitat and see the largest of all primates at work and play. Cheerleaders aren’t the only ones who work in troops. Groups of gorillas are called troops also. Gorillas at the Park enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables, plus banana and ficus leaves. Mmmmmm…
If you want a great picture, stop by Lorikeet Landing with your kids. These beautiful and colorful birds will eat right out of your hand if you purchase a small cup of their favorite nectar ($3 per cup) in the exhibit. There’s also an Animal Care Center where animals who have been rejected by their mothers for some reason are hand-raised. You may even see large babies like antelope, rhinos or gorillas.
And especially for your kids, there’s the Petting Kraal where you can mingle with the Park’s kindest creatures: blackbuck antelope, gazelle and other deer species. Also there’s a Samburu Jungle Gym with a safari-themed playground and Discovery Station, a learning site with do-it-yourself crafts, a puppet theater, and frequent up-close animal encounters.
A favorite for kids will be the Conservation Carousel. Your kids have probably ridden on horses, but what about giraffes, rhinos, zebras, cheetahs and more? There are 60 ride elements to choose from. The carousel is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. Tickets are not included with general admission, but they are with the Best Value admission package. If you don't have the Best Value admission package to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, the carousel price is $2 per ride, or $4 to ride all day.
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