Take a Safari Adventure in the Heart of California Wine Country
Just over an hour's drive north of San Francisco you will find all the beauty and bounty of the Sonoma Valley (aka Wine Country) unfold before your eyes. Traditionally known for the grand variety of award winning wineries and rolling vineyards, Wine Country isn't just for grown-ups. There are plenty of activities to be found fit for the whole family to enjoy.
One of these fabulous family friendly activities is the well kept Santa Rosa secret: Safari West, a 400 acre wildlife preserve specializing in endangered and extinct-in-the-wild African animals including but not only: Cheetahs, Zebras, over 20 different species of Antelope, a White Rhino as well as a couple different species of Ibis.
When visiting Safari West you have a couple different options. You can take a Safari Tour only ($28 each child & $62 each adult) or you can actually stay on the grounds (starting at $225 per night) and take a Safari Tour. The lodging accommodations are beautiful Serengeti-style tents that can sleep up to five with hard wood floors and private bathrooms or the wooden cottage that sleeps up to 8 and has a private bathroom and kitchenette. Safari Tours run twice daily year round. Reservations for both accommodations and Safari Tours are required.
My husband and I (along with two of our friends) opted to take the Safari Tour only, when we visited in early March 2007. Upon arrival, we first got to peruse some of the grounds on foot along with the resident Ring-Tailed Lemurs, Guinea Fowl, African Swans and some sassy brightly colored Macaws. Soon we were told by a SW employee to visit the restrooms if we needed to and meet in a near-by clearing where we would be assigned a jeep and Safari Tour guide. We were assigned to Leslie, a tall, lank, blonde woman in khakis who looked as if she had just stepped off of an Animal Planet show. We soon found out that she was just as knowledgeable about the animals as an Animal Planet show host as well.
Seated in the back of the jeep we had a great view of all that was around us: the surrounding mountains and oak trees, the small lake and mangroves and of course....THE ANIMALS! Giraffes, Zebras, Cranes, Ostrich, Antelopes, and Bovine of several persuasions were among the critters we got to see up close and personal. SW is not a zoo so most of the animals you see when there are not behind any kind of barrier. It's a Safari! You are sitting in the jeep and the animal is right there, about 8 yards from you. A number of the Giraffes came right up to the jeep to get nose to nose with us. Leslie reminded us numerous times that the animals are wild and if you were to get out of the jeep they most likely would challenge you. So, there's a bit of a thrill that goes along with the privilege of seeing these creatures, many of which are endangered or extinct in the wild.
After the hour and a half Safari, we were able to take a bathroom break and visit the snack bar. Then it was off to the aviary and other enclosures for the on-foot portion of the tour. Bright coral colored Ibis and black and white Ibis native to Egypt were perched in every tree along with a number of other exotic birds including the largest breed of Pigeon in the world weighing 20 pounds or more. Also among the birds were a species of tiny little Antelope that at most weigh 7 pounds. Now that is less than half the size of Miss Kitty Pants, my house cat! In the other enclosures we saw sweet tiny Foxes with big ears, huge Tortoises, Goats and Cheetahs. Leslie answered any and all of our questions about the animals and SW with ease and enthusiasm. The walking portion of the tour took about an hour.
Afterwards we were all left with the desire to work at Safari West. How could we not. It was a beautiful place covered with beautiful creatures. This is a must see if you are visiting the San Francisco Bay Area. Forget the San Fran and Oakland Zoos. Safari West is a superior experience.
To learn more about Safari West visit their web site: www.safariwest.com.
Additional notes:
-
Click here for directions to SW from San Francisco, CA.
-
Private Safari Tours are available as well.
-
Safari Tours are not suggested for pregnant women or children under the age of 3.
-
There is dining other than the snack bar available. Reservations are required.
-
If you are traveling without children, I suggest taking the morning Safari Tour as fewer families opt for this one. Most families with children opt for the afternoon tour.
-
Wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers fall through spring.
-
Bring your camera and make sure the battery is charged up.
-
Bring a snack like a granola bar and a bottle of water for yourself.
-
You may not touch any of the animals with the exception of the goats.
-
Safari West was founded by Peter Lang in 1979. His mission has been to preserve wildlife through education, breeding, research and public interaction.
