Safari West Review

Safari West is one of my favorite places. Such a peaceful setting, very uncrowded and personal.

Highly recommended! Almost feels like a real African Safari

Great safari experience in a place I never expected it to be. Richard - our guide - was very professional, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. Really a lot of fun. We were very impressed by an aviary. Frankly, I never paid too much attention to birds - compared to other animals. This visit changed this. I will be looking at birds differently now! Lemurs are fun! Cape buffalos - wow. And giraffes - I have never seen them so close (and so free moving). A++++!

It's ok for a different kind of excursion.
In a jeep a couple hours, friendly knowledgeable guide. Animals are not in high abundance in the 400 acre park but they are there and represent Africa ok. Best part is the giraffe who walk up to you and the bird, cat walk through cage at end. If you are just interested in seeing a big variety of wildlife go to the zoo and pay a lot less
You need appt here

Had a wonderful adventure in the rain today. Our tour guide Nate was funny and informative. Thanks for a wonderful trip, better than the zoo any day. Saw giraffes, cheetahs, flamingos, foxes, pigs, antelopes, buffalo, and more so close and personal.

Lunch was also a great addition. All you can eat smoked chicken, pulled pork, potato salad, Caesar salad, fruit, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, grilled zucchini, rolls, and chocolate pudding for dessert. Includes coffee, tea, and hot chocolate too!

Go on this adventure and enjoy!

Pretty cool place. Very educational. Well worth it. Eat lunch there too.

Although it was unfortunately raining when we went to Safari West it was still a very good experience and in fact it led to a very special thing -- they allowed us to see the giraffes up really close in their barn since they were not out in the fields. Some animals like the rhinos were hiding from the rain but the tour guide still got us the best views possible. Close encounters with ostriches, cape buffalo, and wildebeest were all quite memorable. It seems that the animals are well cared for, there is a decent variety, and the tour guides are knowledgeable. The terrain is actually rougher than I had expected so the ride was very bumpy and due to the rain there were several times when we were in danger of bogging down. My kids are 12 and 16 and even at that age they were still interested in the whole adventure. I recommend it.

Beautiful place. Not sad like a zoo. Our tour guide today was great. I wish i remembered her name! She had a Short bob hair syle under her hat that had a feather in it i believe. She made our trip even better!

I bring my grandkids on their first safaris at Safari West.
I continue to be impressed by the tour guides, their knowledge and the well being of the animals that they in care of.
(For some reason, the giraffes seam to really like my "granddaughters". They always seem to get a close encounter).
I think that Safari West is a good way to introduce individuals to the reality of animals and their habitats.
I love the Rhinos, myself.
See you soon Safari West.. got a couple more grandkids to introduce.........

Intimate encounters with Giraffes, and views of a herd of Wildebeasts! Amazing location as well, very natural and serene.

Our guide was amazing and nice at telling everything about the animals and the whole place!! And the night stay with provided dinner and breakfast was delightful!!

Excellent visit. Safe, great service, excellent food. And the animals were breathtaking.

Wonderful wildlife refuge with zoo-like animals. Great tour and meal packages are offered.

Our tour guide "Jared" was fantastic. We saw many animals and learned a lot, while having fun.

Relaxed tour, very kids friendly. Food there are good.

The jeep tour was awesome. The yerts were classy and the smores were wonderful.

My granddaughter loved it, make sure you reserve for lunch.

A must do experience! Go out and show your support for wildlife

Greatest experience ever going back soon as my kid out of school for summer

I was surprised to learn about the presence of a cool safari option so close to the Bay area. It's just about 2 hours north of San Francisco. We made online bookings for Safari West (about 100 per person) which was super simple and arrived 10 mins before the start of the tour. We had about 12 people on the same tour.

About the Tour:
It's a 3 hour long tour which includes about 50 minutes of walking. The guides gave an option on how to start and we started with walking part of the tour which includes seeing the primates, aviary with gorgeous birds, flamingo park, cheetahs and so many lemurs. We would make stops where the guides would talk about these animals and birds and answer any questions.
The second part of the tour which lasts for 2 hours is the Jeep ride and is super fun. They take you through Giants of acres and stop wherever you spot animals. It's cool to see that these animals aren't caged and have a free habitat. My biggest highlight was seeing the giraffes, zebras and ostrich up close. The guides will give you an option to sit on top of the Jeep, max 4 people at a time. They offer two swaps during the journey so you'll get to sit on top as long as you want it. I recommend going first turn if you want close-ups with giraffes. But if you prefer bumpy rides, then take the second or third turn!

About the Guides:
Leslie and Alex were super friendly and knowledgeable. Leslie has been there for 27 years and she pretty much knew everything about all creatures there. You could tell she loves them all. Make sure to chat with the friendly guides and tip them for a great service!

There's also accomodation at this place which is supposedly super cool because you wake up to the sound of animals and birds, the idea of being in the wilderness is insane. We couldn't do it unfortunately because it's closed for maintenance in January. Overall great experience and highly recommend this place with family or friends.

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.

The kids had a blast riding up top. Amazing how close you get to the animals.

Awesome place for people of all ages. Animals are well cared for and interactive! Loved every minute!

It was great fun and enjoyable specially for kids and family to spend 3/4 hours with some animals. We were twelve with five kids from three families, the Guide was a jolly senior knowledgeable person who illustrated the history and background of the animals their nature behavior. He answered all the questions asked. We all went nearer to Girrafe with longest neck Zebra we closely seen Rhino. It was amazing experience and great fun for all of us specially for kids.

We had a great experience. The place is beautiful and the atmosphere very relaxed and welcoming. Our guide Jenna was just awesome and honestly one of the coolest people I've met in a while.

If you have kids, TAKE THEM HERE! I went as part of a work offsite (apparently a very common place for off sites) and really enjoyed the experience. We did the 3 hour tour, which consisted of a 45 min walking tour through the bird enclosure and the monkey areas, and then the 2 hour tour on a jeep through the rest of the animal sanctuary. The jeeps were very well designed. Tip: if you want the bumpy adventure feel, sit on the second level since they are mounted on springs. Our tour guide took us on a great adventure and we got to be very close to the animals, enough for the giraffe to shoot saliva on us! I would imagine kids would love an adventure here.

They also have cabins/tents for overnight stays. A lunch buffet was provided with our group package, but the lunch was just okay. Lunch included mac and cheese, pulled pork slider, roasted chicken, salad, and fruit. Dessert was cream puffs.

Had an amazing experience here for my first time! Will definitely come back again.

This is the review for the tour guide (Mr Skyre) only: We went to Safari West in early July 2018. Our tour guide made the whole trip unpleasant. In the beginning when we were sitting on the truck, everything seemed fine. However, during the 45 minute walk about, he was being verbally abusive the whole time. He used negative words frequently, including 'dead', 'stupid', 'crazy', 'nuts', 'mental health problem' multiple times. It is such a shame and embarrassment for every audience and also you the Safari West Team. Get him fired and hire another decent individual

It was an amazing expericance for myself and my family.

Be aware that Safari West is NOT a sanctuary and they do breed animals to sell/trade to other zoos, so if that is not acceptable to you, skip this place. Had I known this, I would not have visited.
The park was quite large, with lots of room for the herd animals to roam. For the birds and monkeys, the enclosures weren't optimal for the animals.
The tours are by appointment and are quite rushed- I felt like there was no time to just sit and observe. To see most of the large animals, you ride in large jeep like vehicles, driving through large pastures. How much you get to see the animals is dependent on where the animals are and how long your tour guide allows you.
It gets very chilly in the winter, especially in the afternoon, so dress accordingly. I heard it is very hot in the summer and the animals are lethargic and tend to seek out shade, so morning visits are preferable.

An amazing resource to have in our little neck of the woods! Lots to enjoy and appreciate critter wise

Well, this was not what I expected in the least bit. Instead of boosting up on immunizations and traveling to the Motherland, I opted to stay near home for my daughter's birthday this year and check out Safari west.
The website was extremely helpful, and quick to check out- I was so impressed! Unfortunately, the people (staff) were unwelcoming, and unpleasant. I've added a photo of my family so the ones who do read this review, know who wrote it. And, they'll know why.
The jeep we happened to be in had extreme issues with the engine- starting then dying, over and over again. The rhino's apparently were "tired" during our time out to visit. It was a rather sad site to see. Our tour guide did not give us very detailed information about The Preserve about anything really.
My overall experience I give two stars and will not return. Eat before you come.
Wash your hands.
Done.

Great safari experience with kids from 4-12 year old. Educational and fun.

Will definitely plan to come back! Donna is a wonderful tour guide.

At first I was skeptical because it was almost 100 per person. After I left was worth the money. Will be a experience I will never forget our tour guide was very informative.

Awesome place, Safari was a great experience! Africa right here in Sonoma county.

It was a very nice trip very educational would go again

Typical wildlife attraction based in the mountains of Santa Rosa, offering a isolated yet foriegn retreat to all visitors. RESERVASIONS ONLY. Prices are moderate and fit into the range of average zoo based prices.

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

Fun local safari esp. the rhinos and open plains. Great way to spend a morning (go early as the animals are awake). Definitely, stay for lunch. Surprisingly good.

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...

"In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it. Marianne Williamson

The benevolence of Safari West is apparent in it's support in the community and for those animals less fortunate. We asked for a donation for 3 local non profit animal rescues and Safari West came through with a hefty donation to show their support. Thank you for being a part of our community and showing us what it means to come together for a common cause. We were able to bring in $15k for these rescues in needs and know we can count on you next year to support our endeavors.

My daughters and I had an amazing time at Safari West, and loved photographing the animals. We enjoyed spending the night in the tent - glamping - and really enjoyed the guide (and sitting on top of the truck).

If youre just passing through the area or just a local , i highly encourage you to book a tour. Be sure to add on the lunch to your package , your taste buds will thank you later . I am very impressed with the way Leslie ( our tour guide ) told us about every animal we came accrossed on our journey. Our group even had a " bathroom emergency " which she seemed to go out of her way to make sure the guest was relieved. I would highly recommend seeing one of Sonoma Countys very own Serengeti . Next trip will be an over night stay , thats for sure .

Wanna see safari animals up close without going to africa? Check out this place!

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.

Very nice stay and very nice safari ride! It's not perfect and little pricey especially if you stay overnight.

Great experience. Vast area. Eco friendly. Very knowledgeable guides.

I was not that impressed the tour guide was very helpful but the tour was boring to say the least

This was a great experience. Cabins were comfortable and rhe staff was nice and helpful. Terry was our safsri guide and he was extremely fun and knowledgeable.

Awesome place! Wonderful guide we had. Very passionate about the animals and working there. Nate was our guide. He was so great! I totally recomend him.

Awesome Safari tour. Go. Guides are great and so is the experience.

It's a nice place, but still more zoo than safari. I was really upset by the fact that they cut flamingo's wings to make them stay. Flying is unbelievable blessing, and what is given to these birds by God is taken away by human. It's cruel. I hope one day it will be illegal.

Beautiful safari park with very knowledgeable leaders. Many up close and personal interaction with the animals.

Third times here in the last seven years. Still enjoyed and learned

The most amazing experience. The Safari trips are truely great. Our leader Jeff was a really well-informed and safety strict guide. He explained everything in detail and gave great safety instruction to have a very safe and joyful Safari ride. It is much better than a zoo. Great for children and families.

We took my mother here for the Mother's Day Brunch Safari yesterday morning/afternoon. Overall the park itself was really spacious and the animals were beautiful. Staff seemed very knowledgeable about the animals. The reason I only give this place 3 stars is because (1) the brunch itself was lacking in more ways than one, and (2) staff seemed really uncoordinated and did not communicate effectively to ensure we had an enjoyable time.
Our reservation was at 10am which we were told to be there by 9:45am as we would be on a schedule. We arrived at about 9:15am and were told all mother's day brunch safari guests would have to park in an "overflow lot". The lot was really just a dirt turnout on the side of the road. Luckily they provided a shuttle but this was not communicated to us when we made our reservation so no one carried any cash to tip.
We were able to go inside the restaurant a little before 10am but we were not able to get our food until about 10:30am. We assumed that there was some staff delay and that our safari would begin closer to noon; although no one had communicated any of this explicitly to us. The buffet consisted of a variety of pastries, bagels with lox and other fixings, a turkey carving station, salad mix, mixed vegetables including carrots, green beans, and potatoes, bacon, sausage and a blueberry french toast. Not a huge variety. I was very disappointed that they didn't have any eggs. Eggs are a staple item for any breakfast or brunch in my opinion. When we asked staff if there were eggs they looked at us like we were crazy. And since I don't personally eat meat, I was left to have a VERY high carb breakfast. The food that I did have was very good but the lack of spread was overshadowing. The brunch itself was described as all-inclusive. The brunch was advertised as having mimosas. Since it was described as all-inclusive I assumed that meant bottomless mimosas. It didn't. That meant that you would get one drink ticket per person and have the option to pay $7 per mimosa, wine or beer. Safari West did a horrible job of advertising this and I feel that it was very deceptive how they described it all-inclusive. Simple language saying all non-alcoholic are included; a cash bar is available would have worked. Since the breakfast had started late we assumed that our tour would begin later. A little after 11:30am we were approached by a staff member and said our tour party was waiting on us. Up until then there had been no information about when anything would start. At this point we were told we were going to be walking for about 30 minutes on a guided tour. Great although we went into this not knowing we would have a walking portion. The 30 minute walking tour seemed rushed and the guide was easily frustrated by people falling behind. After our 30 minute walking tour we were to board a caravan with a different group. Again this whole itinerary we were learning on the fly. Since we were rushed out breakfast and just went on a 30 minute walk my family had to use the restroom. When they asked the caravan driver she seemed very reluctant to allow them but told them to hurry. We were put in very awkward situations continually because staff never communicated what the day would be like. The caravan ride itself was nice. It was about an hour. The seats were really uncomfortable to me but the rest of my party was fine with them. Make sure to have a camera because it's unreal how close some of the animals get. It was nice have the guides describe the various animals and their specific behaviors. I kind of expected more as far as variety of animals but I understand all the animals need to have adequate space. The brunch by itself was priced at $42/person. With the hour long safari you get to see 100 of the 400 acres -- it was $75/person.
If you read anything from this review, save your money and eat breakfast/brunch somewhere else and use that money towards the safari of the whole 400 acres. The full safari is about $95 but would have been money better spent.

Fantastic place to visit. You actually get extremely close to the animals! If you're going in the morning - buy the catered lunch option. You will be on the tour for 3 hours and hungry! The food provided was delicious and the staff were attentive. Remember to bring cash to tip your driver!

This can be pricey but it is worth it. It is great seeing animals in a more natural habitat than the zoo. Your tour guide makes all the difference. The more questions you ask the better the experience.

Really enjoyed this place! The food was delicious the beds were comfortable!