The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is 32 miles away from the San Diego Zoo, near Escondido in the San Pasqual Valley area. However, the animal enclosures here are not like those at a zoo; these are large, open-air, free-roaming areas where you can see over 3,000 animals within more naturalistic habitats. 

Elephant Valley is home to eight African elephants living on six acres with two main yards and a large pond. The Elephant Viewing Patio is a great place to watch the gentle giants, especially energetic young calves who love to play. In addition, this section of the park is currently being transformed into the new Denny Sanford Elephant Valley. The new-and-improved Elephant Valley will provide extraordinary opportunities for visitors to see the elephants from just a few feet away! 

Best times to visit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park: 

Springtime is one of the best seasons to visit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The weather is fantastic, and this is when all the baby animals are born. You can see many of them up close in special nursery exhibits.
The busiest time to visit is between June and August, and during school vacations. If you’re looking for a quieter time with fewer crowds, try going on a weekday instead of a weekend. 
Mornings are the best time of day to see the animals. They tend to be more awake and active before it gets too hot. 
Winters are also a great time to visit since San Diego has moderate temperatures and typically great weather all year round.