We didn’t stay in the hotel but we went for a day trip at their last showing at 4:00 pm, arrive early. You have to reserve your visit a few days in advance to get the time and day you want and it’s expensive but worth it! You get to walk around the cat exhibits but once your tour begins you go out on the safari Jeep with a guide who’s knowledgeable and then the last portion is on foot through the bird observatory.
My now fiancé and I stayed for two nights Labor Day weekend 2023. We did a tour with Robert… which was amazing and he was very knowledgeable. We did the behind the scenes which was a tasty snack feeding for some of the animals before they got breakfast. During that private tour we had two of the most wonderful young ladies Killian and Kendra !!! They helped me with my proposal which I did during the giraffe feeding and as I started this she said yes! Corrine is the one who set everything up and made sure all the staff kept quiet as to not give away I was proposing. She had the most beautiful bouquet of Lillie’s and roses waiting at our table for dinner, and might I add we had two dinners that were cooked perfectly! S’mores in the evening!!! Nice touch! Everyone was super friendly and the tent overlooking the giraffes was awesome!!! We will be coming back!
Our safari trip was amazing, fun and your guide Nichole was very knowledgeable and fun! Room on antelope alley was cozy and view great. Fresh fruit plate while waiting for a fun buffet dinner was a nice touch. Smores later in the evening at the grill pit was fun. They have great attention to detail. Highly recommended stay-cation or vacation tour/stay. Newer Automatic gate for the safari vehicles worked perfect!!
Loved our visit!! Rooms & grounds were Lovely & Very clean. Staff was friendly as well as accommodating. Animals were Amazing!! Food was disappointing, however the bbq chicken was excellent! Kids don’t want anything in their macaroni except creamy cheese & it was gritty. Loved the tour!!! If you can tour with “Captain” she is Awesome!!! Knowledgeable, informative, fun & sings beautifully on point. Had a great time Celebrating our 6 year olds birthday with her & everyone else. Only 1 night is recommended as it is nice to stay tho you cover it all in day & be prepared to awake to wild animals at 5 am or earlier lol tho that’s part of the fun. Highly recommend!!
Omg!! Where do I start!!! The most wonderful experience ever!!! Our Safari tour guide was Dino, He was awesome, very patient, he knew so much information about the animals, the land history, my husband and I were very pleased, we will be going back soon, we highly recommend Safari West!!!!!!
We had a fantastic experience at Safari West today! All staff was friendly and instructions were clear. Our guide, Dano, was full of knowledge and very personable. I was impressed with the cleanliness of the enclosures and scarcity of flies (which I expected).We opted to stay for lunch, which you need to reserve in advance. Today’s buffet lunch consisted of 3 salads (fruit, green, and potato), mac & cheese, pulled pork, barbecued chicken, baked beans, and roasted broccoli- well worth the price!The only negative comment I have is that some of the staff spent a lot of time socializing with each other, discussing personal topics, in the vicinity of park guests, ignoring the guests entirely (gift shop).Signage at the enclosures stating animal species would be appreciated also.
Only a handful of animals on the property. Several in old small cages. Our tour guide, was good and did a great job keeping us engaged. Save your self $125+$6 online fee per ticket by going to your local zoo.
Firstly we spent about $ 900 for one night stay and a safari tour for 2 people on a Saturday. Thats awfully expensive for what you see and experience there. There are hardly any animals youll get to see in a 3 hour safari. We had lunch dinner reservation here, and the food was okay. The rooms are basic and definitely not worth $500 per night. I travel a lot and have been in amazing unique rooms for far less price. This is totally not worth it. There is no network in most of the rooms and their wifi is terrible. We called them in the evening for some water and they disconnected the call saying they couldnt hear us. Next day morning before the check out we asked them for some water and they gave a couple of bottle which we finished during the safari. After the safari we asked them for a couple of more bottles and they said they cant give us any. We paid literally 800+$ and they didnt even have the courtesy to give a bottle to a pregnant women when needed.Bottom line, if youre not too old or if dont have any kids DONOT GO TO THIS PLACE. its NOT worth it. You could go some place else for the same money and have a good experience.
This review is for the Safari West African Tour. This was such a great experience! Our tour guide was Kimberly and she was so awesome. She really kept me engaged during the whole tour and I learned so much! She also gave us opportunities to ask questions which just added more to the learning experience. The tour it self is about a 2.5 hour drive where she stops and speaks about the animals/plants in addition to being right in the enclosure with the animals. The second part of the tour was the walking portion where we got to see additional animals and walk through the bird sanctuary. Everything about the tour is spectacular. Kimberly even went as far as getting the kids who were sitting on top an umbrella from another tour guide. That was so sweet of her to go above and beyond. I will definitely plan to come on the different seasons or book an overnight stay. I highly recommend checking out Safari west!
Arrived at park without reservation due to not realizing we needed one. Upon approaching the girl at the front desk we were greeted with rudeness. Trying to allow time to see if the attitude would change, I asked if my family could get in later and was given more snark with a price sheet as if insinuating in silence “are you sure you can afford this?”. As another person approached, we were again rudely asked to MOVE aside. It was like torture trying to get out of her another opportunity for us to visit the park. We ultimately decided to leave. Our departing comment from staff was to firmly insist we don’t take it upon ourselves to wander around the park ourselves. SERIOUSLY?!?! Who would do that? For future reference to management, if they bother to read this, I would suggest training the staff to ask in this situation for any other future openings with even a hint of politeness would be helpful. This park may be wonderful, but we will never go back to see after this experience.
Awesome safari after some wine tasting. Only regret is that we didnt stay the night or order the bbq here. Heard from other guests that the rooms are clean for a wild overnighter. Bbq buffet smelled & looking soooooo good. Then, they started cooking dinner. No fence in my pics! Robert was an awesome guide knowledgeable on animals at and not at the park.
We had an amazing day of exploration and an excellent driver. We spent a very good time with friends. Love to see the different types of animals and birds. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to experience this Safari.
Everything was wonderful, despite the heat that we brought with us. The only thing to beware of is the lack of wifi, especially if you are working from home and plan to stay here during that time. There is no cell service here unless you have at&t and the tent wifi was spotty, making it tough to do work while staying here. Despite all of that, we had an AMAZING stay. Tents are great, bed and cots were comfy, the bathrooms and shower were great. Hearing all of the bird and animal noises at night and early morning was magical for kids and adults alike.
Super peaceful place, the tents are overall great, and the animal noises during the night add up to the wildlife feel. The tour was an amazing way to see and visualize animals without seeing them super cooped up like in a zoo
We are locals and had never been here despite driving by all the time. We decided to not stay over night but to do the safari only for my birthday. I am 57 and my hubby is 70. We had a blast! This tour is set for all ages but please be aware of physical limitations. There is walking and the riding tour is bumpy since its on back roads that are unpaved and the safari trucks are older. SO MUCH FUN and well worth the money. Kara our tour guide was amazing! She went above and beyond with her stories and natural tempo that sounded real and not a canned tour speech. We really loved this experience and would highly recommend. Next time we will spend the night for the experience in the yurts.
This is our second time staying at Safari West. Always enjoyable. The staff is awesome. The beds are great. A word of caution, the bathrooms in the tents are well ventilated. That means, unheated, so if you are there in cold weather and you have to pee in the middle of the night be prepared for a very cold toilet seat!The food is good and plentiful. Love the Lemurs!
Safari West is a special place! If you love animals you will love this spot! We LOVED glamping and the food at Safari west was GREAT! We loved going on Safari, our tour guide was bilingual Spanish English and very knowledgeable and friendly.
Had a wonderful summer morning in N. Cal with my daughter seeing all the baby animals getting bigger. Tour guide was professional, and shared a lot of great information.
I love this place! Educational & fun to see the animals up close. Spaces like Safari West are crucial to maintaining endangered species from extinction. Amazing to see the white rhinos and their baby! Also, I love how the animals have many acres to roam, and the set-up of their habitats does not force animals to be viewed.
The guided tour at Safari Wast is an incredible time. Its truly amazing to see and learn about some of these animals up close... and others so far away on the vast hillsides. I think everyone should be able to experience the joy one feels when watching several handfuls of giraffes interact with each other and their environment.The walking portion of the tour was a fantastic time as well. Im a bird girl so I loved the walk through the aviary. Theyre all so cute and eye-catching. Shout-out to the Nicobar Pigeons!
This is fun place to visit. We got here for morning trip. You will have two parts in your tour. One and half hours riding in the park, then another half an hour walking inside the birds and other animals. It is Really worth the money. Employees are super knowledgeable and friendly. We are enjoying this trip
This is a unique place for Northern California, not quite that of the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park in SoCal. However, here as part of the Safari you will get to walk through an aviary, putting you centimeters from the many beautiful birds and their nests. In the ridding tour, you too may come close to the bigger animals, ostrich, zebra, wilder beast, giraffe, etc. (meters). Plus, the guides are experienced and overflowing with knowledge, and the surroundings are picturesque. They also serve a very good buffet brunch, but I think that depends on what you choose. You may be able to stay for the night, but we opted for the day trip. Plan your trip in spring/late summer when the temps are coolishly warm and the sun is out.
This was an amazing experience! Had an absolute blast. We had Killian as our tour guide and she was so much fun. Loved her personality. She had us all laughing. The animals all looked very healthy, and the whole place is so clean. The food at the end of the safari was delicious. So many beautiful animals. I cant think of one negative thing to say about my visit to Safari West . WILL DEFINITELY BE RETURNING VERY SOON!
Carson was a great tour guide. Unfortunately we were about to be turned away on September 2nd for the afternoon tour by the front desk man and lady. But luckily Carson saved us. No idea why we were told earlier that they didn’t have any spots for us ( plain stupidity or racism as evidenced in behavior of staff manning the main office ) ! Will allow them benefit of doubt ! Just fyi there was a ton of space and apparently front desk don’t care about revenue and profits ! Ha !
If youre doing this with smaller kids and are local its fun. Older kids or just adults may find it a bit on the smaller side and not too interesting. But we took our 7 year old and she said the jeep tour was a ton of fun. Plus the baby animals they have were just the cutest thing. The guide, Kara, was awesome. She had a ton of interesting things to tell us about all the animals and about the property itself. Id probably have a slightly lower rating if it wasnt for her and the time she took to show us everything and answer any questions. We will certainly be back to check out the cute cabins and the restaurant.
Had the best time with my granddaughter. Everything was lovely. Staff friendly and cheerful. Food pretty good. Safari drive on the truck was awesome. The aviary walk was the best.
An amazing day of exploration and an excellent host/driver. If you want to have a wonderful day enjoying the scenery and exquisite animals, then look no further than Safari West!!! The giraffes were amazing up close and the baby White Rhino was so darn cute. Spend the day and reserve a room for the night to get the full experience.
A unique experience and reasonably well run. Overnight camping was a comfortable, if a bit funky experience. Fun for kids, albeit not consistently friendly to them!1. Outrageously expensive for what you get.2. No dining options nearby and dining onsite is overpriced and not great3. A lot of animals walking back and forth in small cages - doesn’t seem right4. The tour itself is fun to do, but once you’ve done it once it’s pretty boring/repetitive5. Some of the staff were super friendly, others not very. Our tour guide was nice6. Weird cost cutting measures like no hair driers in the rooms, and a funky one way radio system 5 minutes walk from your cabin if you need anything7. No cell service all over the property, no WiFi except near the office8. You’d think this would be kid heaven but it’s oddly not kid friendly in some areas - like some of the workers were pretty unfriendly to them, the dining tables are super tall, not a lot of kid friendly dining options, etcAnd seriously- the caged animal section was pretty depressing. Not much better than a zoo. Sounds like they buy and sell animals and that many animals will be born and die in these cages versus ever being released. They must be making lots of money from this attraction, but I’m not really sure why this seems ok to them.
We took the private tree tops safari. Everything was excellent! Our tour guide was Kate. She was fantastic and so knowledgeable. We got to see giraffes up close and the new baby white Rhino with his mother. The private dinner had the best filet mignon I have ever had. We also went glamping for the night in tent #12. I highly recommend this place.
When I was a kid, about eight or nine years old, my grandmother was driving my little brother and home to Santa Rosa from her house in Calistoga. I saw a giraffe! I cried out look grandma! A giraffe! I saw a giraffe! She replied No you didnt. It was probably just a deer. But I persisted! No, grandma! A REAL GIRAFFE! I SWEAR! She indulged me and turned the car around, and what did we find? Yup. A giraffe! That was when Safari West was just getting started. Years later we went there to celebrate my grandmas 80th birthday. Amazing place. And for me, validating.
Wonderful experience. Worth it to make fantastic memories for grandkids. Staff is fantastic. Food was great. Didn’t spend the night this time. We’ll be back.
Beautiful Place ! We didn’t stayed in the hotel inside rather we stayed nearby. Arrived early, had limited parking but were able to find a parking spot easily. The overall safar was of 1-2 hours after which we had lunch in the restaurant inside the premise. The overall experience was amazing, we hadn’t had an safari experience yet - this was the first and we loved it. Good place to bring young kids.
Thank you to all the personalguide Matt and Josh O Pelonthere are great people.the hotel excellent experience. my room, I see the Jiraffes and the flamingos
Was a family outing for my wifes 65th. Definitely worth your time. We stayed overnight in on of the cabins and the decor was very Africana style. It was really well done. My only complaint, and its not the parks fault, is it was mating season for the Geese. My worst nights sleep ever. Those darn Geese are extremely loud during. So if you are a light sleeper just make sure it isnt mating season for the geese. The best part was the incredible amount of time we got to view the new baby rhino. We just got lucky on that one
This places was so much fun. Took my 10 year old for a Christmas present. He loved it! The tour was fun and you get up close to the animals. The tent we stayed in was right across from the warthogs and antelope. Although it was cold outside we stayed warm in the text, thanks to the space heater they provided and headed blankets. Would definitely go back.
Zebras & Ostriches Near Santa Rosa? Who knew?Review of Safari WestReviewed 6 days agoVisiting Safari West was a wonderful experience, even for a middle-aged couple with no children. The animals looked so healthy and content in their spacious surroundings and our safari guide, Denise, had in-depth knowledge of just about every animal and bird. She was able to answer all the questions from everyone on our tour (a group of 3 different parties including 7 adults and 3 children).A few reviews posted express disappointment in the safari. I think that is for 2 reasons:1) Inaccurate expectations. Safari West is not an adventure park or entertainment facility. It is a wildlife preserve dedicated to breeding and conserving rare and endangered species while educating the public. You will not see lions, tigers or elephants but you will see beautiful flamingos, giraffes, an amazing variety of antelope as well as zebras and ostriches. Your guide will explain the origins of each species and the conservancys efforts to breed and improve genetic diversity. Read through the material on their website carefully for a good understanding of the experience.2) Weather. The safari experience is entirely outdoors in the foothills east of Santa Rosa. It can be cold & rainy in winter and very hot in summer. The animals may be less active or more inclined to take shelter on really cold/hot days. Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.Best bits of our tour: the baby rhinoceros, ostriches deciding to block the road at a gate, a cape buffalo bull walking towards our jeep, and a walk through the amazing aviary!We also paid extra for the BBQ lunch, which was delicious! I recommend this because other then the snack shop, there are no dining options close by and we were hungry after our 3 hour tour. Reservations required for lunch or dinner.
Loved the experience:) they can amp up the ambience by playing some good music.But over all a nice experience
The animals look relaxed and comfortable. The staff is friendly and passionate about their work, the surroundings are lovely. Whats not to like?
So much care and planning evident throughout Safari West, it is pricey but very easy to see why with a lot of specialized employees everywhere supporting the animals and habitatsEmployees we met and spoke to are very committed to the mission and ideals of the park, and was great to see their excitement about newly born animals like the adorable 3 day old zebra (soo cute)Being able to experience the biodiversity at close range was amazing, highly recommended making time to come here for an overnight and tour.
We LOVED our safari, and Sterling was such an incredible guide!! We watch a ton of nature shows so I wasnt sure how much we would already know of the tour content but turns out, almost all the info was new to us - we learned so so many things. Sterlings patience, humor, knowledge, and communication with both adults and children made the trip such a wonderful experience. She went above and beyond to make the trip an amazing experience.
Excellent fun. Our driver / guide was very informative and engaging. We did morning tour.
We had a lot of fun.. it is a bit expensive! So worth it, though! We did the safari tour and the Behind the scenes tour. That tour was so fun! We got to feed the giraffes, hyenas, porcupines, and birds! Its so amazing! And they even had flowers for us in our room for our 10th anniversary! It was very sweet! Lunch and dinner were bbq and really good!!! You have to try this place even if only 1x!The place is large but easy to walk. I have a small mobility scooter and it was just fine most places. We did get a disability tent to stay the night in. The ramp to the room was perfect and easy to use.The only issue would be the smell of the water. Its so strong and smells life sulfer really bad..we chose to take showers when we got home..but we dont live far and only stayed 1 night. They did provide 4 bottled waters though at the room.
I was super excited to take my daughter here but mildly disappointed. The 3 hour tour is roughly 2 hours in the Jeep and 1 hour of walking, which you can do on your own. The jeep ride was fun as we sat on top. Our guide was also great. The number and type of animals seen was disappointing. Two Rinos, about a dozen zebras, buffalo, some giraffe and lots of variations of antelope and birds. I expected Hippos, lions and elephants and a bit more African type safari. The walking section is basically a small zoo and doesnt take an hour unless you want a thorough education. Basically an overpriced zoo with a bit of a safari. Money was better spent on a Disneyland ticket. My soon to be 13 year old who loves animals gave it a 7 out of 10. Perhaps younger children would enjoy it more.
Great experience! Our driver/guide made the tour fun. Great sense of humor & super knowledgeable. Tipping your guide is encouraged so bring cash.
What a wonderful experience. The animals are well kept and seem happy. Its in a beautiful part of sonoma. The tents are clean and comfortable. Food was good. Staff friendly. I am definitely coming back.
Very poor experience for our family of five. During our multi day stay we were not able to get food on site. We had to travel off property to eat, which was not the expectation set.
We took a safari at Safari West. Depending on what time of day your going you may want to eat at their Cafe or pack a lunch and hit the bathroom before your time. 2+ hours out in the park, there is no bathrooms out in the safari. Maybe a snack and water in a backpack and your set. Our driver was amazing and knew all her facts and conservation issues. They are about to have a white rhino in 2 months from 3/23. Dont forget to hit their gift shop lots of items at great prices there is something for everyone.
Awesome visit. Took my granddaughter on a small vacation. I will definitely go back. Actually going to start planning a trip for next year with friends.
It’s a good park. Even we have visited better ones we still give a four star. Because the staffs were all very nice and helpful. Our guide Jeff was knowledgeable and friendly with kids. There were some special animal like buffaloes and impalas, and lots of birds, noisy birds! We went there in November. It’s very cold. They do have a small heater and heated blankets in the tent.
We had a great experience with our 2 year old bud. First we spent the night in one of the tent where you can see the animals from the window and the bed was heated and there is a bathroom attached.We had also the dinner which was like home cooked meal followed by s’mores and that was fun.Then in the morning we had our breakfast and did the safari.The safari itself is amazing and we were so lucky to have our guide Richard he is well knowledgeable man and has a sense of humor. He put all his energy to make sure that everyone enjoy the tour. Totally recommend it!
It was a memorable experience! It rained when we were there last weekend but the rain added to the fun. My group, especially the kids, enjoyed the place. I want to thank the staff, especially Dan, for helping me coordinate my event. I would definitely go back there again.
We had a great time at Safari West with our guide, Lindsey, who was really knowledgeable and answered many of our questions. It was amazing to see the animals up close with lots of personality coming through. They looked well cared for and we learned many interesting things about each of their habitats and characteristics out in the wild.
We had an awesome time. Killian, our guide, did a great job. Lots of staff there who were very involved with the animals. What a beautiful place to live for them. We can’t wait to go back.
Wow is a beautiful place to explore in family, kids see animals so close.Safari west thanks for the experience we live at the time .
We did animal events in the morning and wineries in the afternoon. It was perfect.
Great location for seeing exotic animals in a natural and safe setting. Highly recommend their keep tours.
Nice experience to visit this safari. 2hours ride, 1/2 hour walk & delicious lunch.
Make sure to book far in advance. Our time share told us about the place and that we got discounts and it sounded good, but you have to make reservations at least 5 days in advance, something we were not told by the time share or by them ahed of time. They treated us extremely rudely like we should have known we needed a reservation even though the parking lot was totally empty. I suspect they lied to us and just didn’t want to offer a tour. Spend your money somewhere else that values guests becuase safari west doesn’t.
Such a wonderful experience. I took my very inquisitive seven year old and the staff answered her numerous questions in a cheerful and engaging way. We did the tour and stayed the night. The tour was amazing. We got to roam the grounds at night which my daughter loved. The dinner was lacking, but you’re not going for the food you’re going for the experience and you get that tenfold. The tent/room was beautiful. It was one of my favorite stops on our trip and something my daughter will always remember.
My wifes birthday had a good time I could have used a bit more signage to get to the tent. dinner was good for a buffet geared more for kids than an adult get away
Incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff. Tent cabins fun, though if you are a light sleeper bring earplugs, it is a symphony at night! Food was surprisingly decent as they feed you more like a barbecue buffet than anything else. The meats-ribs, chicken, etc are actually very good! Older elementary kids and up, are a perfect age for the tours.
Great experience!! Would highly recommend. So many beautiful animals to see and quite the unique experience! Our tour guide, Sterling, was extremely knowledgeable and led a great tour!
Nice, relaxing, informative. We were there on a perfect weather day so we saw all the fun animals. Kids would like it too. Most items in the gift shop were priced well. We enjoyed ourselves.
Our guide Isabel was fantastic! Highly recommend and ask for her!
What an amazing adventure! Wish we could give it 10 stars! Worth every penny and more. Dano was a great guide. What a beautiful thing they are doing for the animals and we are the beneficiaries being up close and personal with the amazing wildlife! What a blessing. Thanks again to the entire staff and our guide Dano! We were visiting our son, a Chef in Napa, and found this amazing opportunity to share. We are telling everyone! The Donato family.
Everyone in the state should go see this place. Ive lived in CA all my life and never knew it was there. Our safari guide, Lex, was very knowledgeable about the animals in the park, right down to their temperaments. The safari probably wouldnt be good for rambunctious children or really small ones that would get fussy and make a lot of noise, because of the sensitivity of some of the animals there, but I do think that this is a family activity. Everyone will learn something and enjoy the scenery at the same time
Overpriced tour. Our tour guide was not very enthusiastic and basically talked a bit when we asked questions. For the driving part, I think most of the time was spent on driving not on watching and learning about animals. For the walking part, I think it would be much better with some information or fun facts on the cages. Otherwise, we could only learn new things from our tour guide.
Very knowledgeable staff. Great time here! Bring water for summer months it can get really hot up there. If your taking the full tour in trucks you have to ride on top even for a little bit. They have umbrellas for the sun. My favorite was the rhinos. Being up close to them was amazing!
My wife and I took our daughter for the tour. We loved it and had a great time! Our guide was Jeff and he was Amazing. The staff are very friendly and curtious as well as knowledgeable about the park and the animals that live there.
Isabel is the best guide. Educational, academic, scientific, practical, friendly, easy going, informative, and more.
Really hoped we’d love this place. We’ve been to other safari type places and had a great time. Here not so much. The gates all have to be manually opened between each area. It takes a really long time and a large chunk of time from your tour. Our tour guide was really unmotivated and couldn’t answer some pretty basic questions. Big let down.
Super cool place! Learned a ton about the animals and staff are super nice! Animals are very happy and the tour was really great.
Awesome place... you can almost feel you are in the African Serengeti! The tour guides are very knowledgeable about animals, and the jeep ride helps keep even the kids interested! My six-year old granddaughter - along with another little girl - got to take turns sitting in the front with the tour driver/guide and they were so excited! Wonderful place for a family...from young kids all the way to grand- and great grandparents.
Went here for my sons 5th birthday. Reservations were easy to make. Staff was super responsive and helpful when I had questions. The tour itself was fantastic. Our guide Michelle was amazing!!! Had lunch there afterwards and it was great to. Love this place.
This experience was so much fun. The entire tour from the beginning to the end was amazing in itself from the initial meet and greet to seeing all the beautiful animals. There is a variety of animals, all in healthy condition, the grounds are kept up well, and the top seats of the jeep are the best seats in house. Aside the helicopters flying overhead quite a bit ( thanks PG&E), our tour guide Alex actually fit the flying helicopters into his tour narratives! This is a must see experience. We will be returning, staying overnight and enjoying the food!
We took the grandkids to see this place, rather I should say Experience this place. It was everything we had hoped it would be. The kids cant wait to go back! (ages 13 and 10) They loved the jeep ride into the wilderness to look at the animals and learn about them. Very cool experience to see very unique wildlife.
An amazing experience for me and my family and you can find it here in the heart of the bay area 🤗 to be able to see these wonderful animals. Plus a Very knowledgeable staff and crew. Special shout out to Robert! His patience is above and beyond The safari ride made it even better to have a chance to see the animal up close is amazing.
What a GREAT experience! The people, the animals, and the atmosphere are superb!
This place is great! The rooms were so cozy, even though it was a bit cold at night, the heated blankets and heater they provide make it so comfortable. The dinners were delicious and the safari tour is a must...The guide was so knowledgeable and fun! The views were nice and the animals are well taken care of. A great experience overall.
Very excellent reserve! Theres a wide variety of animals available to view and the tour guides are extremely knowledgeable on each animal you see. The food at the restaurant on-site is delicious and comes in nicely sized portions. If you like seeing animals up close, or want to photograph non-native critters without the zoo-like backdrop, then please support this wonderful place by attending!
There were a lot of animals to look at. The guides were very nice and looked out for us.
We had an amazing time hanging out with the animals, and our guide Megan was very knowledgeable! Thanks for the experience of a lifetime!
What a wonderful way to learn more about the natural world. Our guide, Killion, could not have been more fun or knowledgeable as she took us on a 3-hour tour of this remarkable wild life habitat. The giraffes, zebras, cheetahs and dozens of other species we got to see and learn more about were so beautiful and Killion’s big personality and command of fun facts made the morning a memorable joy. Not to mention Killion bursting into song and dancing like an ostrich, which had us all laughing and a bit in awe. I cannot recommend a visit to Safari West more highly.
I went to Safari West with my wife on Aug 1st. The experience was great! We lived there for one night. The first day we arrived, I felt the campus was a little small for a Safari. But the tent was nice and clean. The peaceful atmosphere was my favorite. Their employees were friendly. I walked with my wife in the campus with the animals sounds. I didn’t sleep well at that night because my “neighbor” talked and laughed until midnight. But I still love the experience. People should talk instead starting the Phone all day. The second day, we had a fantastic tour. After the tour, I realized that the founders wanted to give more spaces to the wide animals that’s why they keep the human space in a particular area. I strongly suggest my friends to go there with their children. I love there!
This is one of our favorite place to stay. Its the unique experience that you cant find at other hotels. There is no lock on the door of the tents. No light in the toilet. No light in the shower. No air conditioner. No microwave, no refrigerator, no tub. The sink is very small. In addition, there are mosquitoes, and flies.We have to reserve dinner in advance. After dinner, guests can gather around the fire pit for marshmallows roast which was fun for children. Breakfast was nice and is included.About 10 years ago, we visited this place in December, it was very cold. This time, at the end of April, its hot in the afternoon, and still very cold at night. The Internet is very slow.So, why should we re-visit it? We love wildlife, especially, the beautiful birds. The Jeep tour makes me feel like we are in Jurassic park!
Spectacular preserve. The tours guides were great. Views of the preserve from the trucks were awesome. We were lucky enough to see all 3 of the one month old giraffes while out on the tour. While leaving saw a group of lemur, two young brothers wresting around and a baby the size of a soda bottle playing close to mama. The waking part of the tour through the aviary was informative. We had a 5pm dinner reservation at the Savannah Cafe. The wait staff were super friendly, attentive, and swift with requests and the food was excellent. Reservations only so if you go plan way in advance. We wanted to stay the night but the bungalows were reserved 6 months or longer in advance for weekends. Fun for everyone and would highly recommend taking the trip. If you can get there early or stay late I would suggest and early or later tour as animals are trying to stay cool in the middle of the day.
Safari West is a wonderful place to visit. We went there with our grandkids to celebrate a birthday. We did not stay overnight, but the room-tents looked inviting.The park is home to many animals and birds of northern Africa. Too many to list, but as you are driven around in a double deck jeep, the driver/guide describes each herd of exotic animals. From white rhinos to wilder-beasts, several antelope species to giraffes it is a truly unique experience. It is a little pricey but totally worth it. Just think how much money you saved on airfare to Africa and you will agree.
We stayed in tent 7, it had a wonderful view! The beds were great! The staff are helpful and kind. The our safari guide was hilarious and well informed, it is evident that they put a lot into what they do here at this park. This is a must for families! Id love to go back! Just remember to pack warm clothes...it gets cold at night.
Great place to see many endangered species. Ride through the property on safari trucks. Great lunch and great tour guide.
It was our first time so not sure what to expect?? It was a WONDERFUL experience. My family loved it. Being so close to the giraffes was our favorite part. Dinner was nice and the Continental breakfast was perfect. We stayed in a tent, which was really neat hearing the animals at night. The staff was very friendly and accommodating.The only complaint I have is the mattress’s were uncomfortable. I know it’s glamping but for the price? Otherwise, we’ll definitely be going back.
This is the most luxury tents I have ever stayed in California, because it’s got the self bathroom. This makes it so special and enjoyable not like any other glamping. We stayed at night there to experience the night in Safari. You have to book your ride, dinners separately in addition to the night stay. The ride is 3hrs including an hour walk around the birds area. It has the species native to Africa, including giraffes, rhinoceros, cape buffalo, watusi cattle, antelope, cheetahs, zebras etc. don’t expect the experience as big as the San Diego safari but it’s still pretty cool to get to see the animals that close.
A friend and I enjoyed a tour last week. It was a wonderful opportunity to capture some great shots of animals and learn more about them from the tour guide. I lived in Santa Rosa for 25 years and drove by the place hundreds of times but never went. What a treat!
We went during Spring, just after a couple of days of light rain. Temperature was pleasant and most of the animals were out - even some that are apparently rarely seen. Tour guide was informative and entertaining. We all loved it. Topping it off we also had dinner -- served South African braii style, bbqd meats, salad, yams and a soup served buffet style. All fantastic. ... might advise if going in the summer to go on early or late tours both for temp and for animal activity.
This place was absolutely wonderful. Amazing tour, loved our tent overnight, friendly staff saying hi to you as you walk down to the cafe, or just even sitting on your patio. And the place is much bigger than expected. The tour took us into the habitats and we didnt expect it to be as large as it was. Saw a lot of interesting animals!
Unique glamping experience. Hear the sounds of exotic animals to lull you to sleep.
Such a friendly staff. Even when we faced a hiccup in our tour, it wasnt just our eternally optimistic tour guide Kates problem, every staff member in sight goes in to try and help.You can tell this wasnt something they did just in times of crisis, you could see it in staff members opening and closing enclosure gates for each other and even simple things like waving and greeting each other and guests at every opportunity.It makes such a difference being surrounded by people that seem to truly enjoy working where they are and who they are working with
So disappointed! Only a handful of animals on the property. Several in old small cages. Bird aviary tour is short, but I like birds. Our tour guide, Sara did a great job. She was very knowledgeable about the few animals on the property and their history. The parks tour bus fumes will almost kill you they are so strong. No walking by yourself in Safari West. Youd be better off going to your local zoo.
After seeing a segment about Safari West on tv, I decided to visit. I really love this place. Its peaceful, well kept, and and the staff was very friendly. Taking the tour and learning about the animals, I like how the the animals are treated well. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable of each animal, and funny. Afterwards you can have dinner, they have snack area, the restrooms are CLEAN, and I was able to pick up a few souvenirs. What I like best about this place is it right next door to Calistoga, they have overnight cabin to accommodate guest, so next time I will be bringing my family with me for a weekend getaway.
Its worth it for the time you get on the ride around the 400 acres of calm terrain. The guide was lovely and the weather in September was perfect. I enjoyed seeing animals up closer than I ever had before, and while its not cheap youre free to explore the Zoo area after for a longer amount of time.
Great place, learned a lot about African animals and our tour guide Carson was very helpful and informative 👍
The experience was awesome. I went with my family and the tour guide name was Alex. He was cool, down to earth person. The best part is when the baby giraffe did not want to move when we came back around. Its a bumpy ride but Alex definitely know his stuff. And during the walking tour it wasnt so bad especially since it its getting hot. The go and stop pace to explain each animal is actually better then my mother expected. As for the food that was serve is also good. Another word: thanks Mom for finding a hidden treasure that most of us did not even know about.
This was a fantastic way to spend a morning. The tour was great, delivered us on time, and everyone was friendly. Great for your kids.
What an experience on the outskirts of Santa Rosa! Safari West is a thrilling adventure through locations of domestic and African wildlife, allowing visitors to see a plethora of animals in their unnatural habitat.If you go on the Safari, definitely sit on top! Our tour guide Lindsey was very excited to share a plethora of knowledge, enlightening us about beasts both thriving and endangered.
When you arrive check in is nice and easy. You have the option to get picked up by jeep to your cabin if staying the night. The walk to the cabin was fun, you see animals everywhere and these cute Guinea fowl who take care of the bugs.The cabin is nice and spacious, clean, comfortable bed, nice bathroom, and a heater if its cold out.Lots of happy animals to go around and see when your not doing any tours, you will find little critters hiding everywhere.Food area is laid back and spaced out. Buffy style where servers bring food to you, food was great, and good drink menu. Lots of local vineyards and breweries which helps Sonoma county after the fires and the pandemic the world is dealing with.Safari tour is long and fun, animals I didnt expect to see. The guides are very nice and knowledgeable. Lots of steep hills, but the vehicles are perfectly suited for the trip. Lots of stops are made to listen to the guide talk about the different animals as we see them.I want to personally thank Nate the Font Desk Manager. Nate knows how to go the extra mile, you made my wife so happy.Our overall experience was once in a lifetime thank you for all you do for animal conservation, all your employees had nothing but good things to say about the founders Peter and Nancy Lang.Please support Safari West, you not only support local businesses but the chance to have your children see animals that already dont live in the wild...
Really good experience overall.The good:Organized.Lots of animals to see.Theres a walking tour and a truck tour.The not so good:The truck tour is a little too long given that much of the time is spent driving (slowly) and not seeing animals.Little kids are impatient and cant wait for the guide to explain things.Wish there were more animals to see in the truck tour.No elephants or big cats (lions/tigers)
We reserved 2 rooms for our party of 6. It was very comfortable glamping. The King-sized bed was extremely comfortable and the bedding, main living area and bathroom were all clean. We had a patio deck to relax on and to admire the scenery. We also made use of the heated blankets as it was a rather chilly evening.They offer discounts for AAA that gave us $10 off adults and $5 off childrens tickets for the Safari. The guide for the safari tour had a masters in a related field and we quite enjoyed her commentary as we traveled through the compound. They had a restaurant there, however, we did not eat there as we had plans to go elsewhere. I would definitely recommend Safari West for a family, a couple, friends or even as an individual. We visited here in October and the evenings got quite chilly so I would recommend bringing a sweater of some sort. There are no microwaves or refrigerators here so be aware of this. All in all, I highly recommend Safari West!
Great tents (truly) and a fun place for kids. Dinner is simple but totally works. Safari itself good for kids - guides make a TON of stops to open gates and just shoot the breeze - and there really isnt a TON of things to see on the safari, so its more about the ride.
This place is amazing! Except for when you see things behind the scenes. They shoot the skunks that get trapped, since they’re shooting into a trap it’s not always a clean hit. They keep birds in small cages in the back if they are not friendly enough, literally only going into the cage to feed them. I volunteered there and left because it was definitely not okay.
Beautiful place with a wide variety of animals and knowledgeable people. The tour was awesome and got to see all the animals at the park. Great place to bring your kids if you want to learn about animals from around the world.
We did the Overnight stay + Safari tour experience. The property was well adjusted to COVID times. The employees were very courteous and made us feel welcome. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and at the same time humble. Regarding the tents - afternoons are extremely hot (ceiling room fans are not helpful) while the night became extremely cold (heater was helpful for the night). The tent window flaps exist on both inside and outside and the outside ones are kept open to see outside from tent - might want to get the outside flaps closed (in addition to inside flaps) if you feel too cold - do check with the front desk. Giraffe strolling right within 50 feet of your tent is an awesome experience.
While on a tour, Robert was so disrespectful and unbelievably rude to another family and their child. He needs to be fired.
It must stop for individual, couples, small families because it does cost some pretty pennies!But the staff and some of the long-term caretakers of the property are undoubtedly some of the kindest, hardworking, dedicated individuals Ive had the pleasure to come across treated my family and friends like gold when they didnt have too, for that I am eternally grateful : ))
It was an amazing experience! Thanks to the wind and rain blowing our flaps open waking us up drenched after 11:00pm, it felt like a real Safari adventure. Most people would take that poorly, but I mean it in great fun. It really added to the rustic feeling of being away from the every day safety of things and being a bit more outdoors. The tents were kind of cold, but cozy. The interiors were decorated beautifully with African decor and the bed was warm and VERY comfortable. I loved it! The food they served was really good and varied greatly in what they offered, nothing was bad at all. I imagine its even better after Covid-19. The staff was a highlight of the stay. Everyone was very warm and welcoming, incredibly helpful, and dedicated to assuring you were comfortable and pleases with your stay. There was one person that really stood out named Cayla (not sure if I got the spelling right) that checked us in and got us situated. She was very helpful and went so far above and beyond what Id expect from someone. All with a great smile and demeanor to match.The layout of the place was beautiful as well. The animals were well cared for and didnt look like a bunch of depressed patients at an asylum like a lot of zoo animals do. The tour guide (Zach) was engaging and incredibly knowledgeable. It was very impressive how much he knew, but what was more impressive was his passion for the animals and conservationism as a principle.I truly recommend going and staying for a night while doing the tour. It was a great adventure for my wife and daughter.
So fun and such a beautiful place. I recommend this stay and the tours offered for any overnight date or a family vacation. Everything is on the pricey side, but this is one of those experiences you should try at least once. One or two days would allow enough time to experience all that is available and offered. Safari West provides an unforgettable experience for sure. Their dinner was very nice and was a buffet style. Their continental breakfast is complimentary with a nightly stay, but it is far far better than any typical continental breakfast Ive ever had. Perhaps it is the setting, good customer service and beautiful views of their dining area, whatever it is, their food is good..both breakfast and dinner. We didnt have their lunch, but I can only imagine it is just as good. The tent was really cool too. Unless you can sleep through a loud night, I recommend getting a tent on the hillside, which is further away from the animals.
Sanctuary hidden in the hills of Sonoma County. Knowledgeable staff that are charismatic, and answer all sorts of questions! We took the driving and walking tours. Driver not only took time to find the animals, but give our party opportunities to switch seats from the main level to the top level and back. We were able to grab water/refreshments jn between the two portions, then we were off walking with our driver/guide. Learned about the history of the park, each animal, ages, average lifespans, origins, etc.
We stayed in a tent overnight. Nice and comfy. Dinner and breakfast was tasty and service was quick, personal, and considerate with masks and limited contact. The safari the following morning was interesting and Sammy our tour guide was informative and funny. The animals were accessible at all times and the environment was laid back and welcoming. My son loved the trip. Just a side note that little ones have to be a certain height to be considered to ride the top of the jeep for the safari. But the tour guide is considerate and offers you the back or front of the jeep first if you have kids. The top is rotated out so everyone interested gets a turn sitting on the top bench. The jeep was sanitized after the tour. Ready to visit again.
This place is awesome. My family and I enjoyed it and our tour guide Jackson was affable and knowledgeable while giving us an authentic safari tour experience with the safari trucks as seen on National Geography and driving among the animals. My kids are five and under and they enjoyed it. We will stay over on our next visit. Four stars only because we didnt stay over.
If you are a fan of giraffes, this is the perfect place to visit. We stayed in a tent very close to the giraffes and there they were right in front of our deck. All the animals were great. We took the behind the scenes tour and saw a giraffe that was born on Thursday before we arrived on Sunday. It was an amazing visit. Great service, accommodations, food, and atmosphere and tour. Perfect for families.
We had an amazing time with our 5 & 7 year olds. If you are 45 tall you can sit on top of the roof of the jeep during the tour. Highly recommend dressing in layers. They provided blankets though. Great amazing tour guide Dan O! Also they are super organized and had notes for when we checked in that we wanted to do the drive tour before the walking portion. Walking portion we semi skipped... we had another appointment but Dan O asked if we had time to spare to at least see the aviary - that was worth the wait! Wish we could have stayed the rest of the day. If you do 8am tour, have lunch then hang around and explore.
I just have to say- we had the best time! I brought my 12 year old daughter and my 11 year old son. My son is autistic and we had no issues with dinner, walking the grounds, the safari, and breakfast and accommodations were great. A big shout out to Sarah at Savannah Cafe who recognized when we walked up for our dinner reservation that my son may be sensitive to the noises in the dining area, so we were able to sit inside in the Elephant room and had a pleasant experience. The tent was bigger than we thought with a view of the giraffes from the porch! The tent ended up having WiFi, which was a bonus. We all slept well and each bed had an electric blanket. The continental breakfast at Savannah’s cafe had choices of cereal, oatmeal, bagels, toast, scrambled eggs, muffins, and a coffee station.Our tour guide for the safari this morning, Paulo, was very informative of the animal species and behaviors. We had such a great time! Worth the trip and the experience. Highly recommended!
Amazing place and would def recommend to visit.We stayed 1 day in Safari West, We chose the Antelope alley tent, very beautiful view of the Giraffes and Antilopes, We did the Safari tour the next day. a good 2.5 hour tour with beautiful wildlife sightings.The tent overnight gets pretty cold. They have the heater and heated blanket but we felt it still would get really really cold as the face would be exposed. But worth an experience .
Super neat place. Fun. Went in March, the grounds were beautiful and green. Not too hot. Great time spent with animals. Ungodly amount of food for lunch. Very tasty. No cell service, so know directions because your GPS will not be available. Wear a sun hat! I see there is a photo in here of an elephant - there are no elephants, just a heads up.
Very unfriendly towards kids, beware unless you like to see this place yelling at your kids, this woman driving a jeep around and started to yell “hey we don’t chase birds like that here” at my kid and other kids for no reason, what kind of place is this, very disgusting, you shouldn’t be working at a place like this! If you open business for public with kids at least be nice and friendly! Is this how you treat your customers and your own family! Will never come back nor recommend this place to anyone with kids! No kids hurting any animals, this place is not nice, ridiculous workers! They only care about money is that it? Trapping the animals and making easy money and running around yelling!
A private zoo, going on safari, just much closer and doesnt cost as much as going to Africa. This place is amazing!! Was here with the folks today and a couple of friends.The tour of the park was wonderful, Alex did a great job. Hes a cool dude, our group had fun. Life is to short not to have fun, and 2020 has been a bad year for everyone. Thanks for giving us a great tour Alex.Then we had Dinner, which was tasty. Jenny was our server, she did a super job. She is cute and sweet. The food was wonderful.So many different types of animals to see. This place was packed today. It was quite warm. If you stay in the main level of the jeep, your mostly in the shade. This place needs people to come so then can continue to operate. Was a great day all around!!!!!!!
Amazing experience! Went here for a company retreat and was pleasantly surprised at how many different animals we saw and how close we were able to get. While the animals are enclosed in fences, it was not as rewarding as driving around an actual safari and actively seeking them out. But since it is an enclosure, you will definitely see all the animals they have. Our tour guide Alex was very knowledgeable and catered the trip to what we wanted to see. Highlight of the trip was that we got to see a new calf that was born 20-30 min ago. It was a fantastic learning experience and animal lovers should definitely check this out!
Very good tour. If you stay over night bring jackets since it’s cold in the morning. Breakfast is ok. Very educational and kids would love the tour.
This is a little African animal kingdom drive through zoo. Guides drive you around in open Jeeps to see the animals and explain about them at the same time. Our guide, Zack, was phenomenal, as he spends a lot of time in Africa and really gave great info about how the animals behave in the wild.Note that the Jeeps are open, it’s hot, sun will beat down on you, can be dusty, and the jeep bounces a lot. Don’t let it stop you from going.There is a parking lot, restrooms (not while you’re driving around so go before you get in the jeep), and a little store with snacks and drinks. There are also cabins you can stay in on site. Looked nice though we were just day trippers.
Don’t listen to anything below five stars. Safari west is an incredible, upstanding business, that does everything in its power to create a safe place for both the animals and the families that visit. I have been multipal times, a few on the tour and a few staying in the tents. The tents are great, modern, and cozy, and the food was great. The animals are treated like royalty, and there was even a news article about how the owner stayed during the california wild fires, risking his own life, to save the animals by hosing everything down to make sure they were okay. The actual tour: the animals are AWESOME; I’ve been here as both a kid and an adult, and have also gone with kids. If your looking for a good gift for a kid, this is it. This is the coolest place for a kid that loves animals, as it has everything. The tour guides have always been so cool and friendly, and make sure you are comfortable and enjoy your ride. Basically, do yourself a favor and book a stay or tour here, you will not be disappointed. This is genuinely one of my favorite places, and I have so many incredible memories here.
Good place. The bedding very comfortable. All the staffs are friendly. Only very bad luck happened was that some guests check-in the nearby tent after 11pm. All adults and they didnt stop speaking loudly with dirty words in the midnight, my little kid got scared, with body shaking and saying big bad wolf coming. Upon calling, one staff helped us let these guys go to the bar, when they were back tent at near 2am, they started more crazy noise again. Hope you guys can separated family guests away from others. I dont know how to explain all sound to my little kid. Thank you for prepring all thoughtful thing here. Very warm. It should have been a great memory.
We had a great time here today. The staff is super knowledgeable and friendly. The animals seem really well cared for and enjoy their handlers. The park is huge. 400 acres so the animals have lots of room to roam. Highly recommend for animal lovers who appreciate close encounters mixed with conservation! Great
Great guide and can see giraffe and zebra very close .
I had never heard of this place but my husband surprised me for our Anniversary with a day experience and it was so much fun. I cant believe this is in CA. I showed my friends who have gone to Africa and they said I saw more animals here than they did on safari. You ride around in a jeep with a guide and just enjoy the animals in their habitats learn stories and history of the animals. The kids and adults loved this! We all had permanent smiles. I would definitely take visiting family there!
Safari has never been this close. We were lucky to have our tour guide Quellion. They has the best personality, taking us on improv tour to say hi to all the animals and other jeeps with great smiles (if the antelopes could smile).
Very impressed! … a little spendy, but the place is a first class wildlife refuge. Our guide, Samuel (I believe) was awesome, entertaining and so very knowledgeable. Need to bring the grandson!
Fun experience for all and the family. The grounds are very authentic and the animals seem happy to be there. They are well loved and cared for. We did the behind the scenes feeding with Tad and he was full of information and had a kind sense with the animals. The jeep ride is just plain fun.
We made reservations for lunch and the afternoon walk/drive tour. Everything went smoothly. Check-in was a breeze. Lunch was surprisingly very good and filling. If you do the walk/drive tour, the whole experience is about 3 hours: 45-minute walk, 15-minute break, then 2 hours on the safari drive. Our driver, Carol, was fantastic! Safari West is a great place for all ages!
We brought our whole family here which consists of Grandma in her 80s my wife and I and our four kids ages 17 15 13 and 6. Everyone had a blast and loved it! Chris was our tour guide and he was fantastic. We highly recommend this place for families and make sure you arrive early enough or stay late enough to enjoy everything.
A great gem located an hrs drive from SF city! Check-in was easy, we were greeted by our Safari guide/driver and off we went to see the animals. Our guide was very knowledgeable and stopped by each animal to allow photos & questions. Be sure to ride on the top seat to get better views. As a family we really enjoyed the day including lunch! A great intro to a true Safari experience...
Wife and I enjoyed our stay. Its easy to walk around and check out the animals at your own pace. The room tent was super cool, and dinner was fine although maybe a bit simple for the price. I didnt take the safari tour, but everyone around me seemed to really enjoy it.
Great tour...we enjoyed it very much. After the tour we spend the night in the ⛺...creating a good sense of nature and a feeling of being out on the wild. Highly recommend this place, if you are not able to travel out of the country to Africa for a real Safari.
We went on the classic safari tour which we have done before. Each time we visit we learn more about wildlife. Our guide, Lindsey, took very good care all of the guests in our group. She was knowledgeable and answered every question asked. I was especially impressed by her explanation of the animals adaptions to their environments: the differences in coloration, markings, types of horns, body-type differences among cats (cheetah vs. lion), etc.I plan to return again!
We drove from Sacramento to Safari West and found the site easily. We parked next to the main office to check in and get our tent assignment. Vehicles arent allowed on the campus so we had to leave our vehicle and carry our things to the tent. They dont have signs posted to help you find your way. It was cold and raining. Im carrying a suitcase and cooler pluss my 10 year old is losing patience with finding the tent area. We walked down 3 dead-end trails and decided to go back to the office to ask for help. The attendant helped us navigate through the property and we finally found it.The tent is constructed well. It has wood floors, heavy canvas walls with roll up window covers. The beds are typical low budget hotel beds with rustic wood frames. The bathroom ceiling is open to the outside and its about 35 degrees. It has a shower with hot water but its way to cold in that bathroom for me to consider taking a shower.The room has an old space heater that takes the chill out of the air. The beds have electric blankets as well. I also brought my own space heater because I read some other reviews that said the room was too cold. I ended up using my heater the whole time and the tent maintained 60 degrees. We felt comfortable with the extra heater and cooler full of munchies from home.We had a dinner reservation for 5pm. For me and my daughter it was $85. The atmosphere was nice but the food was unedable. I noticed people sending untouched dinner plates back to the kitchen. I ended up sending mine back as well. The rice was very dry, the mac-n-cheese was grainy and the brisket was rubbery. I brought cup-o-noodles soup from home and we just added hot water and ate in our tent. Its hard to see once the sun goes down. The front desk didnt offer flashlights. I brought a lantern and that was used on many occasions.I dont like feeling frustrated or defeated when Im supposed to be having fun with family. The grounds at this place arent user friendly. My daughter is asking what kind of birds are we looking at? And I cant find a sign containing any information. I cant research anything on my phone because theres no service. So we dont even know what we are looking at. Its just a bird I guess. Or maybe its a secret that they dont want us to know. Either way, it frustrates me. Its not a fun experience 😕
This a great property and experience for adults and kids alike! The animals are the draw and the staff are fantastic and very knowledgeable. We stayed on property at one of the cottages and they are very charming. Internet access is very limited, but that may be a bonus for parents wishing to get their kids to have an experience not involving a screen.
This was a fun, unexpected find. The safari was super fun and we got closeup views of giraffes, zebras an ostrage and other animals. Fun for the parents and fun for the kids. Our cabin was nice and its a great place to go glamping. Sky was quite dark as well and I was able to see way more stars than I can see at home.
Great place to bring children. We did an overnight stay for our daughters birthday. Rooms are very comfortable. Slept very well. Dinner was good. They offer plenty of food. Staff was amazing! I think the Staff was the best part. They really make you feel welcomed and are well informed on the animals. I wish I had of got some names because they definitely deserve the acknowledgement.
Have not stayed here overnight yet, but love the safari experience!!
WOW, I was pleasantly surprised with this place. Had not heard about it until the fires, when the owner sadly lost his own home while he was saving all the animals. The people who work here are all delightful and friendly. The tour was just long enough to be enjoyable and yet not too long. I highly recommend the lunch afterwards, it was delicious and fun to sit with people that you had just met and talk about the animals that you just saw. I cant wait to come back and stay in the tent-cabins.
It was wonderful. From start to finish, the entire staff was knowledgeable and hospitable. This experience with wild animals is much more intimate than a zoo. You are able to be in the habitat with them. The food was excellent as well.
Fun and great learning experiences. Never seen wild animals so up close. Definitely recommend this place for all.
I cannot recommend this place enough. We ended up with Jeff as our tour guide, and he was very knowledgeable and incredibly friendly, especially when our group had people that were very young or didnt seem like that were excited to be there. The food was great, which was a big surprise! We even had to reschedule the day before our original date a month ago and they were very accommodating. Cannot wait to go back and when we do we will be asking for Jeff as our guide! just ask for the guy with the Captain America shield backpack!
We spent the night and it was great. Not very noisy as i thought it might be. Very cozy in the huts and comfy beds. We hit the safari the next morning. Dinner and breakfast was good. Rhino and cheetah were star attractions. Nice get-away.
We really had a good time. Our guide was great. Her name is Nicole she knew alot about the animals, fun day..would definitely recommend going .
Our tour guides Owen and Camille were very knowledgeable, interesting, relaxed, and friendly. Their attention to passenger safety and concern for the animals was first rate. My granddaughters and I had a wonderful experience.
Excellent place for a look at wild life not normally found elsewhere. The price seemed a bit steep at first, but once you realize the extent of the operations and the fact that all their staff are employed (no volunteers), you feel the cost is worth it.The 400 acre site is something to be admired. From the base camp clean bathrooms, nice outdoor areas with space heaters (it was cold and windy) as well as the misters for summer, this place has all you need to make for a fun day of safari on a 12-person Jeep.Our safari guide was extremely knowledgeable. There wasnt one question he didnt have an answer to. We started with a walking tour of he flamingo pond, the aviary which holds one of the most curious birds, in the sense that he just follows the crowd the entire time. Once on the Jeep, our tour guide stopped at all vantage points to get a good look at the giraffes, rhinos, antelope of many kinds, Cape buffalo, etc., etc.We opted for the lunch option available for $15/person. A really good bargain for what you get: BBQ pulled pork, smoked chicken, potato salad, green salad, fruit salad and dessert (chocolate pudding). All really good. There is all-you-can-drink hot cocoa and drinks for additional purchase.All in all, this is a really good place to visit. In the summer, Im sure this place must be extremely busy. Plan accordingly.
Such a rich experience,My tour was so satisfying, knowledgeable guide, respectful, informative, fun. I’ll admit I had some apprehensions about a Safari in Santa Rosa, but this experience is a great value and very educational. Plenty of wildlife from all over the world, animals coming right up to the truck, free roaming, relaxed atmosphere. I am so glad that we went here and spent a few hours.
Wonderful experience. The staff is exceedingly friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. Going on safari was a terrific experience, it was really great seeing all these animals in a nice wide open space. Staying overnight was also very nice, the cabins are comfortable, and the heated blanket is very pleasant. Definitely recommend.
The tour guides were fantastic and very knowledgeable. The tour was fun and informative with a walking tour of some animals and then a two hour trip around the property. We enjoyed the safari lunch afterwards. Definitely a fun adventure and worth the trip.
I found this place to be very pricey, for what it was. Perhaps I am just expecting too much having been to Africa on safari.
We had a great time. Not as many of the bigger animals as I expected. But still plenty to see and enjoy. Loved the rhinos and giraffes. The guides were all pretty good too. Lots of information and excitement.
Absolutely hands down the best experience for kids and adults alike. This place is wonderful. The tour is fun, exciting, and educational. The tour guides are knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. The mini zoo has interesting animals and the aviary is super cool - walking through puts you right in the middle of a different world. Stay for lunch as the food is excellent - its a buffet but still excellent. My family and I will be back and I encourage you to take the kids (or yourself) there for a visit. What an amazing place!
My daughter and I visited Safari West on 3/1/22. It was on my bucket list to visit and feed the giraffes. We were met by a friendly staff who showed us to our glamping tent. It was so adorable. The night temperature was 43 degrees, but between the portable heater and electric blanket, we were very comfortable. The bathroom was chilly so you didnt dilly dally. Lol. We had the pleasure of doing the behind the scenes tour with our guide named Dano. He let us feed warthogs..porcupines and a gazillion birds. The highlight was being up close and personal with the giraffes while feeding them. He was very knowledgeable and made our experience so much fun.We had a delicious dinner. The brisket was so tender that you could cut it with a fork. We also had chicken..salad..mac and cheese..rice and veggies. We took our brownie sundae back to our tent and ate it out on our deck. We were awakened by all the animals also awakening. Sure beats an alarm clock! We had breakfast and went on our safari tour with our guides Kyra and Kate. They taught us alot and were very personable. We had a fantastic visit and thank everyone for making our dreams come true!!
INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE!! Our guide Jackson was extremely knowledgeable and gave an incredible tour. We learned so much about the many animals there and had a few laughs as well. Definitely worth a visit!
We stayed at the Cottage. It was a very cute and cozy place. If you stay at the Cottage you get designated parking for two cars, a mini fridge stocked with water, and flashlights for walking the grounds at night. Definitely going to stay again!
It was a pleasant experience for the niece. The tour guide was pilot and well informed, answer all her little questions to the hest of his ability. The animals were fun to watch. Just maybe bring a little sunscreen if you plan on riding up top on a hot day.
Loved every minute of it The guide was great The food was great the animals were beautiful. Had the best time ever everyone should go that likes animals. Always wanted to go to Africa and I guess thats as close as Im going to get. Thank you for this park It was my birthday gift the best birthday 😀
Nothing but great memories. We appreciated the spunky Sandy blonde girl at the front desk. She might manage the place some day. Tent camping, awesome! Safari ride, awesome! 24 hours to explore! Certain animals are out at certain times. My grandsons were very happy to be able to explore animals in their timeframe. Food! Lunch is good. Dinner is great. All around good time.
Our guide was so knowledgeable. Birds, zebras, giraffes, monkeys, etc. We were there for 3 hours and totally enjoyed ourselves. The place is very clean and beautiful grounds. It was fun riding in the safari jeeps and walking through the bird sanctuary. Perfect day!
Can’t say enough positive things about our experience at Safari West! The staff are so helpful and friendly, our guide Dano was awesome and we learned so many interesting things about the various animals on site. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained and all of the animals are well cared for and thriving.We really enjoyed the dinner and the continental breakfast had great options for everyone.The snack bar had all the necessities if you didn’t bring your own (Coffee, Maté, various snacks, food items, etc). There is plenty of self serve cold water stations to fill up bottles or use their disposable compostable cups.The tent was amazing! Comfy cozy beds and plenty of warmth at night and plenty of hot water for showering. Jeeps are just a quick call away if you need to go back to your car but the walk is super quick as well if you’re up for it. FYI there is no cell service unless you have AT&T but unplug for a moment and enjoy this beautiful place. You can use the phone in the office if need be.The safari tour was so cool! So many animals to see and lots of well maintained backroads to explore. We got to take turns sitting on the top level of the jeep which was a super fun experience. Our guide was super respectful as to give the animals their space while still providing the guests with great views and information. All in all, an amazing experience! Thank you Safari West crew for excellent customer service, maintaining the grounds so well and for the quality care of the incredible animals! This place is a gem! We will definitely be back!
Amazing place in the bay area to see these animals. The safari ride made it even better. A fun way to spend 4 hours and help the conservation of animals. The guide we had was great as well.
Pretty unique experience, but there werent that many animals compared to other safaris that Ive been to. That being said, I probably wouldnt go again unless someone I was with wanted to. Its great for kids and if youre looking for something different in the area. The driver, Donna,was incredibly knowledgeable and I love their conservation efforts!
It was a great experience for the whole family. At night you feel like you are really in the jungle with all the animals. The tents are nicer than a lot of hotels. The dinner is just amazing 4 course meal with a full bar. The staff is also amazing and professional. Our tour guides name was Terry, and he knew everything about all the animals. He also had a great sense of humor. If you are lucky enough to get Terry, ask him if he got his license from the gift shop? It is a joke, and he will love you for it. Feel free to tip the staff because they all deserve it with all they put into your familys experience. We are going back next year. Thank you Safari West staff and Terry. Sincerely, Jack Robinson and family.
My family loved this place! You can tell how much everyone that works there cares about the place by how beautiful they maintain the grounds. My wife, two boys, 5 and 6, and I did the three hour tour and lunch. It was so cool to see all of the animals that we would never have gotten to see at any other zoo in the country. My boys were excited and paid attention until it was over...which is pretty impressive for them! Our guide, Richard, was super informative and we could tell how passionate he is about the place and animals. Even the lunch afterwards surpassed our expectations. Smoked chicken, pulled pork, beans, potato salad...all of it was delicious! My boys kept saying best day ever! Their mom and I agree!
Stayed overnight and the tent experience was excellent. From check-in to check-out, the staff was great. The brisket at dinner is a must. The most impressive part of the stay was the riding tour of the safari. The tour guide, Zack, was very knowledgeable and you could tell he loves what he is doing. It does get cold at night so be prepared.
Great time checking out the animals and beautiful property. Super nice employees and amazing animals. Nice drive through Napa to get there.
Experience based on overnight staying.Good stuff 👏 👍 : animals, birds, tent and overall unique atmosphere 😊🤗🤠 really feels like you are on the get away somewhere in Africa . You can walk around get a drink or snack from small coffee shop (big restaurant has to be reserved) check out animals and birds, relax 😌 (no mobile service but wifi is available), nice gift shop and friendly staff great 👍 😀Not so good part 😕 is that its pretty expensive, probably overpriced, to be honest.And bad 👎 breakfast scramble eggs and oatmeal, yes there is cereal, bagels, muffins and other snacks but no bacon, no sausage links or ham, no meat at all, no omelet or pancake or mix to make a waffle, really bummer 😕Overall will recommend anyway because of experience but dont get your hopes up about breakfast lol 😆
A wonderful experience start to finish! The friendly, knowledgeable staff, tent cabins, African Savannah sounds, great dinner and breakfast, campfire and smores! What more could you ask for? To top it off we had an incredible 400 acre safari experience with an amazing tour guide. Best way to celebrate milestones with friends and make lasting memories. Truly a bucket list adventure I highly recommend.
Great experience with everything.The guide Alex doing real great of his job and you can definitely see the contribution and the passion within.It’s a lovely trip, kids are excited, especially flamingos and buffalos 🐃 are the hottest topic to go, definitely worth itBut remember to book your lunch while getting the tickets, it’s sad to missed out the great lunch.I am glad that there’s a place like this in CA.Highly recommended.
Wonderful experience. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. The 2 hour safari ride was so enjoyable. All the animals seemed very happy and content. A walk through aviary and cheetah pathway was the cherry on top. I would revisit Safari West in a heartbeat!
Me and my husband went to safari for morning 9am tour. Our tour guide John was very thorough and explained about each and every animal and bird we could find. If you are really into animals and like to visit safari then this place is definitely worth visiting.
Nice little safari with giraffes, varieties of antelopes, rhino, zebras and tons of birds. Safari is on a jeep where you can sit on opted top if you like. Very knowledgeable rangers and they take you at a slow pace to explain all the animals.
Did the 45 minute friends and neighbors tour and it was great! We rode up on the roof of the safari truck and saw Giraffes, Rhinos, Flamingos, cheetahs, and much more!! What a beautiful way to start the day. Best part, was afterwards we could walk around and enjoy the animals closer to the entrance as well as the Deli and BBQ. Highly recommend the tour!
My husband and I were given tickets for our honeymoon from his sister. We got to eat at the buffet (totally stuffed ourselves. Paid for it later but the food was delicious. I do highly suggest not over doing it like we did bc you’ll go home with a terrible stomach ache. That really ruined part of my trip. My fault entirely.) We also got tickets to ride the safari jeep. This was seven years ago and we loved it. We wanted to go again now with our daughters but unfortunately our youngest (3yo) was under age to ride for the safari. But when she is older I would love to go as a family again (I believe the age limit is five years. But I would double check the website)
The tent cabin got pretty hot during the summer without an AC. However the buffet dinner was scrumptious and the service was stellar. After dinner we strolled around and check out many exotic birds. The safari tour was the absolute highlight of the visit. Out tour guide was very knowledgeable of the animals and her humorous style kept everyone laughing the whole time. Hope the place will be around for many generations to come.
As an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed the tour, grounds & buffet lunch more than expected. They take great care of the animals & grounds. Our tour guide, Sam, was highly knowledgeable & entertaining. The top of the vehicle is the best spot & everyone who wants to have a turn, gets one. Our driver, Jackson, did a great job driving us around. The walking tour was nice as well. Its fascinating to think that this is only two hours away from Sacramento, in the hills of Santa Rosa! It feels like a real Safari. Theres also a cute gift shop. Money well spent. I plan to bring my kids here once my young toddler is old enough. Definitely put this on your list of things to do in NorCal.
Had a wonderful time here earlier today! Our tour guide was Kate and she was super nice and very knowledgeable about each animal and bird that we saw. We had our tour at 9 am and I dont recommend going any later as it looked like the tours were more packed and some of the animals less active as it got later in the morning. We got amazing pictures from the top of the safari jeep! Just a warning that if children arent a certain height, they cannot ride on the top. Just make sure that you bring some water and a snack in your car to have when you have a break in between the drive tour and the walking tour--its a long tour so youll definitely get a little hungry!
Wonderful experience. Our guide Alex was knowledgeable, helpful and entertaining. We spent approximately 40 minutes at the start viewing various animals (monkeys, cheetahs, numerous birds, lemurs, giraffes, fennec fox etc) in enclosures on foot. After a brief break, spent about 2 hours on a comfortable jeep and toured around the truly beautiful and expansive grounds. Got up close with many cool animals (African Buffalo, Zebras, many antelope species, Rhino). Lots of fun, and informative too.
Love this place. The overnight tents are large and comfortable, the food is great and the safari tours are super fun. Lots of interesting wildlife to see and very knowledgeable and engaging guides. 100% recommended.
What a awesome adventure!! The safari was great, with lots of animals. Dinner was really good and had many gluten free items I could enjoy including homemade mac and cheese!! The lodging is fantastic, qualifying as glamping with the animals. The people were knowledgeable and friendly. I look forward to returning with my grandson when he gets a little older. Sort of pricey, yet worth it. The animals are well taken care of so you know where your money is going. I highly recommend it!!
Absolutely a place of wonderment and joy! It is as close as you can get to natural wildlife without being in their actual homeland while still being safe and letting them live a loving life well cared & provided for. Outstanding staff, extremely knowledgeable, great at teaching, handle all ages well and appropriately, and clearly love what they do. I also was impressed as I saw scattered throughout emergency prep materials and remember back during the fire in 2007 how all the animals were saved. I cant say enough positive. Very impressed and highly recommend. 👍 (The drive itself is beautiful. Plan for a day. Lots of things to do. One suggestion is sunblock or a hat. It can be hot and is outdoors.)
Total reviews rating 4.7
199 Reviews for Safari West 2024:
Review №1
2023-12-03 07:41:01FABULOUS. We did the 3 hour afternoon tour and the entire team working there were so organized and welcoming. The animals were stunning. (Loved the rhino couple that were having a small domestic dispute🤣) Our tour guide Hale, was outstanding. She was so knowledgeable and passionate. I highly recommend Safari West to locals and tourists of all age groups! I am going to go back for a overnight stay.
Review №2
2023-11-03 19:25:27Info on endangered animals was fascinating. Tour guide was great and you could tell the staff really care about the animals and birds.Very hot weather that day. There were multiple water stations with ice cold water available.Worth the price for animal lovers!
Review №3
2023-12-09 23:20:54We visited Safari West for our sons birthday and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. I had low expectations since weve done the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, but Safari West was better in every single way!Our kids got to ride on top of the jeep for the first half of the tour and almost got licked by the giraffe, and we got to see so many animals up close, it was really fantastic.The walk afterwards was equally great, and we all agreed our favorite part was walking through the aviary.
Review №4
2023-12-09 23:44:20Spent this morning with Jeff. Toured the facility in a fun and learning way, I was very impressed with his knowledge of such a diverse group of animals. He made jokes with the kids and adults the like. He was kind and friendly with what felt like endless saved photos to answer questions like an encyclopedia.10/10 will be back!
Review №5
2023-09-18 19:28:35I surprised my partner for his bday, it was a wonderful experience all the way around. Miranda was THE BEST driver/guide, she obviously has passion for the job and is so well informed about all the animals. She answered every question asked and shared some of her favorite things about the animals and working at SW. The tent was great; very clean and though it was cold the heated blanket kept us toasty warm. Highly recommended Safari West!
Review №6
2023-08-05 07:18:01Went here on a day trip/standard tour with the family and loved it. Its pretty much like going to your local zoo, but smaller and a whole different experience. You have to book your tour time online, check in at the main office. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your tour start time. Depending on the guide, you might load up on the visible vehicle right away and do a walking tour of some animals/bird aviary after, or it could be reversed starting order. The vehicles have a top seating section that guest could take turns on if there is more than one group that wants to sit up top. Guides will stop at several locations and talk/give information about animals.
Review №7
2023-11-18 08:27:11It has a lot of information you will learn a lot and you can come closer to animal through the trip more than any safari zoo. I wish there was more animals there to watch like lion and tigers. Also, if you want to stay one night just to let you know that only at/t is working and the room wifi doesnt work perfectly. Also, night is so dark there if you want to leave your room for walking. I like the view in the morning from the room. If you want my advice take the safari trip in the morning and then check in for the room before the night time then enjoy the second day sun rising and beautiful view.
Review №8
2023-07-09 22:46:49I have been here once before, and my family and I really enjoyed it. First off, the food is absolutely amazing. A couple things to note, the food isnt available to people who Havent made a reservation. Even if you are camping in one of the tents, you still have to reserve dinner. Next, the Rooms are really great. Theyre a little hot during the summer days, but nights are still a little chilly. They have a heater, but we found it unnecessary. The only thing I would say about the rooms is the water is well water so it smells a little funky. If youre not comfortable drinking well water, buy your own bottles outside of the resort. Activities are definitely one of their strong suites. I have to recommend you buy a Safari in advance (2 months prior to your reservations).Notes on the safari. We brought water, sunglasses, and sunscreen. I highly recommend sitting on the top. If you want to sit on the top, make sure to tell your staff member leading your Safari. I really do recommend this place even though the prices are pretty spendy.
Review №9
2023-08-01 04:50:52Safari West was a great experience, one that I highly recommend you experience with your family and friends. The ideal time to spend would include an overnight stay at the nature reserve and a tour during the day. You can spend your extra time during your stay looking at all the wildlife and nature around you. It’s also a great opportunity to go for a nice walk, especially during sunset. During the tour, you can learn about all the animals at the park while going on a nice drive on a van and getting a close look at all of them.
Review №10
2023-10-21 18:24:52It was beautiful!! Theres like a huge dome with birds inside it and you could go inside!! 2 hours in the car and a 40 minute walk included also you can go camping there! Amazing experience would go again