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San Diego Zoo & Safari Park Discounts & Coupons

LAST UPDATE: 3/29/24

The world-renowned San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are on opposite ends of San Diego County but are both operated by the San Diego Zoological Society.

There are many promotions that can save you money on your visit to the Zoo or Safari Park. Check below for the latest San Diego Zoo discounts and  San Diego Zoo Safari Park discounts .

If you need tickets to the San Diego Zoo or the Safari Park and other Southern California attractions , it’s worth checking out the available multi-attraction ticket discounts under both attractions to see if they can save you extra money. Be sure to compare the final cost of a multi-park pass to the combined cost of the individual tickets; the best deal varies depending on the specific attractions and the discounts that are currently available.

All offers are subject to change without notice. Always call ahead and confirm before driving out of your way to take advantage of a particular offer! 

San Diego Zoo Gate Prices

San diego zoo ticket discounts.

• Discounts on Multi-Attraction Tickets that include the San Diego Zoo

Hotels near San Diego Zoo

• San Diego Zoo Safari Park Gate Prices
• San Diego Zoo Safari Park Ticket Discounts
• Discounts on Multi-Attraction Tickets that include the Safari Park

Please note: San Diego Zoo charges a $2.00 fee per ticket for online orders.

1-Day “Any Day” Pass is $72 per adult (age 12 and up) and $62 per child (age 3-11), if purchased online in advance. It includes admission plus unlimited use of the Guided Bus Tour, Kangaroo Express Bus and Skyfari Aerial tram (if available). This ticket costs $2 more if purchased at the gate. 

1-Day “Value Days” Pass is $68 per adult (age 12 and up) and $58 per child (age 3-11), if purchased online in advance. It includes admission on Value Days (blackout days include weekends, late March/early April and most holidays), plus unlimited use of the Guided Bus Tour, Kangaroo Express Bus and Skyfari Aerial tram (if available). This ticket costs $6 more if purchased at the gate.

1-Day “Any Day” Pass Plus is $79 per adult (age 12 and up) and $69 per child (age 3-11), if purchased online in advance. It includes all features of Any Day Pass, plus admission to 4D Theater Experience. This ticket costs $2 more if purchased at the gate. 

1-Day “Value Days” Pass Plus is $75 per adult (age 12 and up) and $65 per child (age 3-11), if purchased online in advance. It includes all features of Value Days Pass ( see above ), plus admission to 4D Theater Experience.This ticket costs $6 more if purchased at the gate.

2-Visit Pass is $124 per adult (age 12 and up) and $114 per child (age 3-11) and includes two 1-Day Passes that can be used at the San Diego Zoo and/or San Diego Safari Park.

San Diego 3-for-1 Pass is $199 per adult (age 10 and up) and $189 per child (age 3-9) and includes one admission to each of San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari and SeaWorld San Diego. Must be used by the same person within seven consecutive days from the first visit.

San Diego Resident Membership , valid only for those who live in San Diego County, is $99 per adult (age 18-64) and $89.10 per Senior (age 65+). Includes limited weekday admission with blockout dates to the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park for one full year (excluding weekends and holidays); 2 coupons for 50% off regular admission to either park; 5% off food and merchandise and other benefits.

San Diego Resident Premium Membership , valid only for those who live in San Diego County, is $129 per adult (age 18-64) and $116.10 per Senior (age 65+). Includes unlimited admission to the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park for one full year; 2 coupons for 50% off regular admission to either park; 5% off food and merchandise and other benefits. 

Wildlife Protector Membership is $149 per adult (age 18-64) and $134.10 per Senior (age 65+). Includes limited admission with blockout dates to the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park for one full year; 1 FREE guest pass; FREE parking at the Safari Park; special early hours; 2 coupons for 50% off regular admission to either park; 10% off food and merchandise and other benefits.

Wildlife Protector Premium Membership is $169 per adult (age 18-64) and $152.10 per Senior (age 65+). Includes unlimited admission to the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park for one full year; 1 FREE guest pass; FREE parking at the Safari Park; special early hours; 2 coupons for 50% off regular admission to either park; 10% off food and merchandise and other benefits. 

Wildlife Explorer Youth Membership is $74 per child (age 3-17). Includes unlimited admission to the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park for one full year.

Additional levels of membership are available, see their website for details.

Parking at the Zoo is free.

Discount Tickets from Undercover Tourist

Aaa ticket discounts, costco ticket discounts, senior ticket discounts.

• Airline /Cruise Line Employee Ticket Discounts

Military – FREE Tickets & Discounts

October is kids free days, san diego zoo ticket discounts from undercover tourist.

Undercover Tourist, a great ticket vendor we’ve recommended for many years, offers significant discounts on San Diego Zoo tickets and tickets for other California and Florida attractions. We really like Undercover Tourist because they constantly strive to have both the best prices and best customer service in the business. That’s a tall order, but we have years of experience and feedback from our readers that tells us they really deliver!

• Get great deals on San Diego Zoo tickets and other attraction tickets from Undercover Tourist!

Exclusive Discounts for MouseSavers Newsletter Subscribers

Undercover Tourist offers its best prices to subscribers to the FREE MouseSavers Newsletter and Hot Deals announcements! By using the exclusive link located in every monthly MouseSavers Newsletter, you always get an extra discount on most tickets, and the lowest prices Undercover Tourist offers, across the board! In addition, Undercover Tourist puts a handful of individual tickets on sale every month, and those tickets are offered only to Hot Deals subscribers! (It’s a different set of tickets every month, and can include any combination of Disneyland, Walt Disney World and/or other California or Florida attractions.) The MouseSavers Newsletter and the Hot Deals emails also contain exclusive hotel and other discounts not found anywhere else. Remember, it’s completely FREE.

• Sign up today for the FREE MouseSavers Newsletter and optional FREE Hot Deals emails!   The main newsletter comes out on the 15th of each month (or the next business day) and the Hot Deals announcement with the special Undercover Tourist sale prices comes out on the final Monday of each month (or the next business day). We do not send out the private links separately from the newsletters, so please plan ahead.

AAA is a loosely associated group of clubs that each cover a small geographical area, usually a single state or portion of a state. Different clubs have different offers, so it’s worth checking both your own AAA state club and the Southern California AAA club websites. To check your own state club, just go to AAA.com and you will be redirected (usually) to your local club. If you haven’t yet set up your online access, you’ll sometimes need to do that to see your local club’s discounts.

To check the Southern California site, use this link and enter zip code 92112. Once you get to the club home page, select the “Discounts & Rewards” tab and then select “Theme parks & attractions.” If a particular discount on the Southern California site involves booking online through the club site, you will usually need to be a Southern California member. Discounts that involve showing your card at the gate are available to any AAA member. If you can get to a Southern California AAA club office, you can usually take advantage of offers that must be bought in person, even if you’re a member of a different AAA club.

AAA members get 10% off a 1-Day Pass, and sometimes discounts on other things such as food or merchandise.

Costco.com sometimes offers a very good discount on San Diego Zoo tickets and you don’t have to be a Costco member to buy through their site. (Non-members pay a 5% surcharge, however.) There is a shipping charge when ordering from Costco.com.

Seniors (65 and older) get 15% off a 1-Day Pass. Available at the ticket booth only (not in advance).

Airline / Cruise Line Employee Ticket Discounts

Airline and cruise line employees presenting a company-picture identification badge or CLIA at the ticket windows receive a 10% discount off the 1-Day Pass.

Active duty military personnel with valid military ID card receive FREE regular admission. Spouses and dependents receive 10% discount on 1-Day Pass only. Valid military ID required. Available at the ticket booth only (not in advance).

Children ages 3-11 receive FREE regular admission to the Zoo during the entire month of October (must be accompanied by a paying adult). The Zoo’s Guided Bus Tour is not included with Kids’ Free entrance and must be purchased separately at the Zoo.

Discounts on Multi-Attraction Passes that include the San Diego Zoo

If you know you want to visit other attractions as well as San Diego Zoo, there are a number of discount pass options available that can save you a lot of money, and eliminate the hassle of buying all of your tickets individually. We’ve scouted out some of the best discounts you can find from reputable companies and describe them here. For more details and pricing, just select the pass name.

Go City San Diego All-Inclusive Pass

Balboa park multi-day explorer pass.

Go City San Diego All-Inclusive Pass allows you to visit as many attractions as you want within a set number of days (usually 3 to 7 days). You pay one discount price for the number of days you choose. These work well if you are visiting at least two major attractions plus some less expensive attractions. The more attractions you visit, the more you save.

Go City San Diego Pass : If you want to fit in as much as you can in 1 to 7-days using one simple pass for one price, consider this all-inclusive pass. This pass includes the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park , Legoland California ,  SeaWorld San Diego on 3+ day cards,  Knott’s Berry Farm , plus multiple other attractions in the San Diego area. Plus, MouseSavers readers get an extra 5% off total pass purchases!

If you also plan to visit Balboa Park, consider the Balboa Park Multi-Day Explorer Pass , which includes one admission to each of the 17 participating Balboa Park museums (valid for 7 consecutive days) and 1-day admission to the San Diego Zoo.

Looking for a place to stay near the San Diego Zoo ? Choices are plentiful in the San Diego area near the San Diego Zoo, and getting around San Diego is fairly easy by car. If you don’t have a place in mind, we suggest checking out the hotels below. Our recommendations are not the cheapest places you can find– there are plenty of those out there– but we feel they offer a very good value for your dollar. As with our Preferred Hotels for Walt Disney World (Florida) , we suggest accommodations that will enhance your stay while not breaking the bank. That said, if you are used to Orlando area pricing, you will be in for some sticker shock. Low rates for decent but average hotels start at around $80-$120/night, mid-range hotels start at around $120 and can run upwards to $275/night or higher in peak seasons.

The San Diego Zoo is located at 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park, just north of downtown San Diego. Zip code is 92101.

If you don’t know where to start, we suggest checking out:

• Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown – 1.2 miles from the Zoo, 15 minute walk to USS Midway Museum; historic hotel with contemporary amenities.
• Hilton Garden Inn Downtown – easy walking distance to the Zoo and one block from the bay, new property with interior courtyards and heated rooftop pool. Note: self parking is not available – valet only.
• Best Western Cabrillo Garden Inn – Good value option if you are on a tight budget. Great location, exterior corridor style hotel, includes free continental breakfast.

Hotel Websites

Sometimes the best offers are directly through the hotels’ own websites, and if you are a member of a specific loyalty program, you probably want to search across all of that hotel company’s brands. For example, Hilton owns DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Waldorf Astoria, etc. Here are links to the overall parent company websites where you can search their whole portfolio– use Balboa Park, San Diego, California to find hotels closest to the San Diego Zoo:

• Hilton Hotels (DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton, Homewood Suites)
• Marriott Hotels (Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Courtyard, Fairfield, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites)
• Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG)  (Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites)
• Choice Hotels (Clarion, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites)
• Wyndham Hotel Group (Howard Johnson, Ramada, Super 8, Travelodge)

San Diego Zoo Safari Park Regular Gate Prices

Please note: San Diego Zoo Safari Park charges a $2.00 fee per ticket for online orders.

1-Day “Any Day” Pass is $72 per adult (age 12 and up) and $62 per child (age 3-11), if purchased online in advance. It includes admission plus the Africa Tram. This ticket costs $2 more if purchased at the gate.

1-Day “Value Days” Pass is $68 per adult (age 12 and up) and $58 per child (age 3-11), if purchased online in advance. It includes admission on Value Days (blackout days include weekends, late March/early April and most holidays), plus the Africa Tram. This ticket costs $6 more if purchased at the gate. 

Parking is $20 per vehicle; RV parking starts at $38. Preferred parking (available on weekends and holidays) starts at $38.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park Admission Discounts

San diego zoo safari park ticket discounts from undercover tourist.

Undercover Tourist, a great ticket vendor we’ve recommended for many years, offers significant discounts on San Diego Zoo Safari Park tickets and tickets for other California and Florida attractions. We really like Undercover Tourist because they constantly strive to have both the best prices and best customer service in the business. That’s a tall order, but we have years of experience and feedback from our readers that tells us they really deliver!

• Get great deals on San Diego Zoo Safari Park tickets and other attraction tickets from Undercover Tourist!

Costco.com sometimes offers a very good discount on San Diego Zoo Safari Park discount tickets and you don’t have to be a Costco member to buy through their site. (Non-members pay a 5% surcharge, however.) There is a shipping charge when ordering from Costco.com.

Seniors (age 65 and older) get 15% off a 1-Day Pass. Available at the ticket booth only (not in advance).

In February 2024, seniors (age 65 and older) get FREE admission to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Parking is not included. Available at the ticket booth only (not in advance); must show valid ID. 

Children ages 3-11 receive FREE regular admission to the Safari Park during the entire month of October (must be accompanied by a paying adult). The Safari Park’s Africa Tram is included with Kids Free entrance.

Discounts on Multi-Attraction Passes that include the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

If you know you want to visit other attractions as well as the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, there is a discount pass option available that can save you a lot of money, and eliminate the hassle of buying all of your tickets individually. 

• Go City San Diego Pass

San Diego Safari Park Discount Tickets 2024: $55

Looking for a San Diego Safari Park Discount Code? We’ve listed all the different ways you can buy San Diego Safari Park Discount Tickets 2024 so you can save on admission tickets, safari upgrades, or if you wish to bundle tickets with other San Diego attractions. Plus, check out our Tips for Visiting San Diego Safari Park based on our past experience visiting.

We also just recently visited San Diego Zoo, check our San Diego Zoo Tips and San Diego Zoo discount tickets as well. The zoo and the safari park are located 35 miles away from each other.

DISCOUNTS FOR SAN DIEGO SAFARI PARK:

1. cheapest san diego safari park discount tickets: $55 – $65 using promo code.

Safari Park tickets cost $62 for a 1-day child ticket (ages 3 to 11) and $72 for an adult ticket (ages 12+). To save, use our San Diego Safari Park promo code “SPRING” to save $7 off per ticket bringing down your ticket to $55 for a child ticket and $65 for an adult ticket.

A$2 convenience fee applies but tax is already included. When buying directly from the park, they charge a $1 convenience fee as well so this deal saves you a total of $6 per ticket.

1-Day Pass includes admission, unlimited rides on the Africa Tram, Cheetah Run, and all shows and exhibits.

San Diego Safari Park 1-Day Discount Ticket

• 1-Day Child Ticket (ages 3 – 11): $55 using promo code SPRING
• 1-Day Adult Ticket (ages 13+): $65 using promo code SPRING

Note: If you are wondering whether AresTravel is legit, we bought Valleyfair discount tickets during our trip to Minnesota and they definitely worked. I didn’t have to print our tickets and just had the code scanned from my mobile phone when we got to the theme park.

2. San Diego Safari Park 2-Day Pass: $114 – $124

San Diego Safari Park is big so if you have the time, I recommend visiting for 2 days especially if you are traveling with kids. You can take advantage of the 2-Day Pass which is $114 for a child ticket and $124 for an adult ticket .

You can use the 2-Day Pass for 2 days at either San Diego Safari Park or San Diego Zoo or use it for one day at the Safari Park and one day at the Zoo. The 2 zoos are only a 30-minute drive from each other.

3. Kids Free San Diego

Every October in San Diego, kids can enter San Diego attractions for free including San Diego Safari Park.

The San Diego Safari Park Kids Free San Diego offer is free admission for up to 10 children (11 and under) with the paid admission of one adult between October 1 to 31. Check other attractions included in the Kids Free San Diego promotion.

Children 2 and under can always visit San Diego Safari Park for free. Qualifying kids do not need a ticket to enter for free during the October Kids Free San Diego promotion. Kids ages 3 to 11 usually have to pay $59 to enter San Diego Safari Park so you are saving a lot when visiting in October.

To save on the adult ticket, buy a San Diego Safari ticket discount, only $62 when you use our promo code WINTER to save $7 off per ticket.

Discounted Adult Tickets – $65

Use promo code WINTER to save $7 off the $72 adult ticket.

4. Groupon San Diego Safari Park – $59 to $69

San Diego Safari Groupon tickets are available starting at $59 to $69 for single-day admission . Since ticket deal #1 is cheaper – only $55 to $65 , I would only recommend buying your Safari Park tickets from Groupon if you have Groupon Bucks to use.

Groupon Bucks are credit dollars you can use towards your next purchase. You earn Groupon Bucks with certain ticket purchases from Groupon.

San Diego Safari Park Groupon Tickets

Recommended if you have Groupon Bucks to use.

5. Safari Upgrade Discount

The African Safari Tram is free and is included with your admission ticket to the park but if you want to add more activities, you can partake in other safaris as well. The Behind the Scenes Safari, Wildlife Safari, and Flightline Safari are available at a discount, you can buy them on top of your San Diego Safari Park discount ticket.

Note: These 4 are safari upgrades (extra activities), make sure you also buy your admission ticket to enter the park. Ticket deal #1 above for discounted San Diego Safari Park.

Behind the Scenes Safari – During this 90-minute safari, your guide will escort your group to a variety of locations around the Safari Park to see animals up close and share stories of wildlife care and conservation. For ages 3 and up.

Tickets to Behind the Scenes Safari cost $92 on weekdays, $105 on Sundays, and $115 on Saturdays and holidays so if you are visiting on a Saturday and/or holiday when tickets are $115, take advantage of the Behind the Scenes Safari discount, only $105 per person to save $10 each.

Behind the Scenes Safari Discount – $105

Wildlife Safari – The 1-hour safari takes you into the Safari Park’s expansive, multi-species savanna habitats for up-close views of wildlife including a variety of birds and mammals. Each tour visits one or more habitats representing areas of Africa and/or Asia.

You’ll travel in the back of a covered, open-air safari truck, with an expert guide. It is 1 hour long and is for ages 3 and up.

Tickets to Wildlife Safari cost $92 on weekdays, $105 on Sundays, and $115 on Saturdays and holidays so if you are visiting on a Saturday and/or holiday when tickets are $115, take advantage of the Wildlife Safari discount, only $105 per person to save $10 each.

Wildlife Safari Discount – $105

Flightline Safari – Ride the zipline at San Diego Safari park and soar as high as 130 feet above the ground, with a spectacular bird’s-eye view of rhinos, giraffes, and other wildlife in the fields below you. The minimum age to ride is 8.

Tickets to the Flightline Safari cost $81 on weekdays, $87 on Sundays, and $99 on holidays and weekends so when visiting on Saturdays and/or holidays when tickets are $99, take advantage of the Flightline Safari discount, only $87 per person to save $12 each.

Flightline Safari Discount – $87

6. san diego safari park + other attractions all-in-1 pass.

If you’re visiting San Diego for the weekend or a whole week, get a Go City San Diego All-Inclusive Pass to visit San Diego Safari Park and other San Diego Attractions to save up to 55% off.

The Go City San Diego All-Inclusive Pass allows you to choose over 50+ San Diego attractions to visit using a 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7-day pass. You don’t need to keep buying separate tickets and you can access your digital pass through your phone. Choose how many days you want your pass to be valid for, and then visit as many attractions as you wish.

The San Diego attractions you can visit using an All-inclusive pass include:

• Safari Park
• SeaWorld Theme Park
• Legoland California
• San Diego Zoo
• USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum
• Belmont Park Ride & Play Pass
• San Diego Speed Boat Adventures
• One Hour San Diego Harbor Cruise by Hornblower Cruises
• Whale Watching
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps
• The Fleet Science Center with IMAX
• San Diego Natural History Museum
• Air & Space Museum
• San Diego Hiking Tour
• PETCO Park Tour
• Speed Circuit
• La Jolla 90 Minute Kayak Rental
• Full-Day Snorkel Rental
• iFly San Diego
• One Way Coronado Ferry
• Knott’s Berry Farm in Orange County , and many more.
• Check the  complete list of San Diego attractions you can visit.

San Diego Multi-Attraction Pass

Note that you can’t use this Go City San Diego Pass to get a child-free in during the Kids Free San Diego in October.

7. San Diego Safari Park + other Theme Parks Combo Ticket

Save on admission tickets to multiple San Diego attractions by buying combo tickets. Check out various combo deals below.

A. San Diego Safari Park + Legoland California Combo Ticket – $157.99

• Child Ticket (ages 3 -11) – $157.99
• Adult Ticket (ages 12+) – $167.99

B. San Diego Safari Park + San Diego Zoo + Legoland California Combo Ticket

• Child Ticket (ages 3 – 11) – $214.99
• Adult Ticket (ages 12+) – $234.99

C. Safari Park + Zoo + SeaWorld Combo Ticket

• Child Ticket (ages 3 – 11) – $188.99
• Adult Ticket (ages 12+) – $209.99

8. Vacation Packages

Save on hotel and attractions tickets by buying vacation packages. Choose from a number of hotels and which San Diego attractions you wish to visit.

A. San Diego Safari Park Vacation Package – Save up to 20% off

• Choose from 18 hotels
• Choose from 1-Day Pass or 2-Day Pass

B. The Best of San Diego Adventure Package – Save up to 30% off

• Choose from 117 hotels
• Choose your attraction/s: SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park and LEGOLAND California.

C. San Diego Family Fun Package – save up to 30% off

• Choose from 122 hotels
• Choose your attraction/s: San Diego Zoo, San Diego Safari Park, USS Midway or Old Town Trolley.

SAN DIEGO SAFARI PARK TICKET PRICES (REGULAR PRICE)

These are the regular-priced Safari Park tickets if you buy them online via their website plus a $1 convenience fee per ticket.

• San Diego Safari Park tickets cost $72 for adult tickets (ages 12 and older), $62 for a child ticket (ages 3 to 11), while kids 2 and under can enter for free.
• San Diego Safari Park Value Days tickets are also available for only $68 for an adult ticket and $58 for child tickets which can be used for certain weekdays but ticket deal #1 above is still cheaper.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. AnyTots.com has made every effort to confirm the information in this article and we try our best to update as often as possible but things can often change so we urge you to confirm every event detail like date, time, location, ticket price from the host of the event or attraction, and actual savings calculation in case of an error on our part. AnyTots is in no way responsible for any injuries or damages you sustain while visiting an attraction or event posted on our website and you assume the sole risk of relying on any of the information in our post.

BUY DISCOUNT TICKETS TO SAN DIEGO SAFARI PARK: $55 TO $65 (Use Promo Code SPRING)

Things to do in san diego:.

• Legoland California Discount Tickets
• SeaWorld San Diego Discount Tickets
• Sesame Place San Diego Discount
• Tips for visiting San Diego Safari Park
• San Diego Getaway Guide
• Belmont Park Discount
• Kids Free San Diego October
• San Diego SEAL Tour Discount Tickets

In this Article

Discount to Theme Parks, Water Parks, & other Major Attractions:

• Legoland Arizona Discount  (Discovery Center)
• Aquarium of the Bay Discount (San Francisco)
• Aquarium of the Pacific Discount (Long Beach)
• California’s Great America Discount
• Castle Park Discount
• Disneyland Discount
• Gilroy Gardens Discount
• Knott’s Discount  &  Knott’s Soak City Discount  &  Knott’s Scary Farm Discount
• Legoland California Discount
• Medieval Times Discount
• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Discount
• Pirate's Dinner Adventure Discount
• Raging Water Los Angeles Discount
• Raging Waters San Jose Discount
• San Diego Safari Park Discount
• San Diego Zoo Discount
• SeaWorld San Diego Discount  &  Howl-O-Scream Discount
• Universal Studios Hollywood Discount  &  Halloween Horror Nights Discount
• Warner Bros Studio Tour Discount
• Wild Rivers Waterpark Discount

Connecticut

• Lake Compounce Discount
• Busch Gardens Tampa Discount  and  Adventure Island Waterpark Discount
• Disney World Discount
• Kennedy Space Center Discount
• Legoland Florida Discount
• SeaWorld Orlando Discount and  Aquatica Waterpark Discount
• Universal Orlando Discount &  Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights Discount
• Wild Adventures Discount
• LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta Discount
• Adventureland Discount
• Kentucky Kingdom Discount
• Michigan’s Adventure Discount
• ValleyFair Discount
• Worlds of Fun Discount
• Legoland New York Discount

North Carolina

• Carowinds Discount  &  SCarowinds Discount
• Columbus Zoo Discount
• Kings Island Discount
• Monsoon Lagoon Waterpark Discount
• Zoombezi Bay Discount

Pennsylvania

• Dorney Park Discount
• Dutch Wonderland Discount
• Idlewild Discount
• Kennywood Discount
• Sesame Place Philadelphia Discount
• George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Discount
• LBJ Presidential Library Discount
• San Antonio Zoo Discount
• SeaWorld San Antonio Discount
• Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Waterpark Discount
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg Discount
• Kings Dominion Discount
• Noah’s Ark Waterpark Discount
• Canada’s Wonderland Discount

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. AnyTots.com has made every effort to confirm the information in this article and we try our best to update as often as possible but things can often change so we urge you to confirm every event detail like date, time, location, ticket price from the host of the event or attraction, and actual savings calculation in case of an error on our part. AnyTots does not sell any tickets but only lists reliable sources where you can buy discounted tickets, make sure to check the refund or exchange policy before buying tickets through them .   AnyTots is in no way responsible for any injuries or damages you sustain while visiting an attraction or event posted on our website and you assume the sole risk of relying on any of the information in our post.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - KAT

For over a decade, Kathleen has been chronicling her family's travel adventures to assist travelers in planning their vacations while staying on budget through firsthand experience and insider tips. She also shares recipes and free printables. For inquiries, reach out to [email protected].

San Diego Zoo Discount: 7 Ways to Save Up to 16% Off

A lush, urban oasis located just two hours from Los Angeles, the San Diego Zoo is a ‘can’t miss attraction’ for kids and adults alike. Spend days on end exploring their 100 acres of botanic gardens and over 650 species of exotic animals.

Keep your zoo budget in check and save money like a pro with our Ultimate Guide to San Diego Zoo Discount tickets.

Bask in the wonders of wildlife as you encounter everything from polar bears to primates at this world-renowned urban park. Visitors of all ages will be enchanted by the popular animal attractions, hands-on interactive experiences, and thrilling live presentations.

Whether chilling with the cuddly San Diego Zoo Koalas in the delightful Koalafornia Adventure or hopping aboard the Kangaroo Express, there is no denying the delight in a visit to the Zoo.

Sniff out the best San Diego Zoo deals, secure the cheapest San Diego Zoo tickets , or wrangle a magnificent membership card. 

From coupons to promo codes and everything in between, we have all the details on how to plan your Zoo adventure like a pro. And, for the inside track to learn all you need to know about this incredible attraction, read our Insider Guide to San Diego Zoo .

San Diego Zoo Discount Tickets

The number one way to save when planning your San Diego Zoo experience? Pre-purchasing your tickets! You’ll receive the most up-to-date discounted tickets when you purchase ahead of time. Forgo the stress and headache of waiting in lines and buying your tickets at the gate when you can book your discount San Diego Zoo tickets this very instant. 

Choose from the following sizzling day pass options:

1-Day Pass – Any Day

2-Visit Pass

Pro Tip: searching high and low for the best San Diego Zoo Ticket discounts? Did you know you can save up to $10 per ticket by upgrading your San Diego 1 Day Pass to a 2 Day/2 Park Pass?

Please note that any day pass includes access to the following attractions: 

• Guided Bus Tour
• Kangaroo Express Bus
• Skyfari Aerial Tram
• And all shows and exhibits

San Diego Zoo Memberships

Are you pondering over the perks of becoming a San Diego Zoo regular? If you can’t get enough giraffes, jaguars, and gorillas, why not spring for a San Diego Zoo membership? You can apply your 1 or 2 Day Pass towards the price of an annual membership by visiting any ticket window during your initial zoo visit date.

Related Post: Upcoming Events and Festivals at San Diego Zoo

Whether you’re lucky enough to call the City in Motion home or are looking to build a lifelong passion for mother nature, there’s a jungle’s worth of memberships to consider:

San Diego Zoo Resident Memberships

Spice up your surf and sun routine with year-round visits to San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park . Rejoice in reptiles, amphibians, and mammals from June to January when you spring for a San Diego Resident* or San Diego Resident Premium Membership. Your San Diego Premium Membership affords unlimited admission to both the Zoo and Safari Park sans blackout dates. 

In addition, both Resident Memberships provide:

• Guided Bus Tour and Kangaroo Bus access
• Rides on the Skyfari Aerial and Africa Trams
• Two 50% off admission coupons
• And a 5% Wild Perks℠ discount on Zoo food and merchandise 

To see if you are eligible for the many SoCal celebrations and safari fun, enter your zip code here . To enjoy the perks of this membership, your entered zip code must match your billing zip code.

Related Post: How To Spend The Day at the San Diego Zoo

*Please note that the San Diego Resident Membership excludes admission on weekends and holidays. For a complete list of blackout dates, click here . 

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorer Pass

Need an attraction pass for the pint-sized animal lover in your life? Encourage your favorite youth to pursue their passion for the natural world when you bless them with a San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorer Pass.

This unique membership bestows children ages 3-17 with unlimited year-round entry to the Zoo and Safari Park. Intrepid naturalists can even take in the Zoo’s botanical beauty from above with unfettered access to the Aerial and Africa Trams. 

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Protector

Adults can appreciate the timeless joys of the Zoo too! The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Protector Pass scores tons of VIP-worthy perks, discounts, and coupons. Linger over lemurs or coo over cuddly Grizzly Bears all year long. 

Related Post: 6 San Diego Zoo Safari Park Tips That Will Make Your Visit Even Better

In addition to unlimited admission, excluding blackout dates take advantage of:

• A SDZWA Journal subscription
• One Complimentary Guest Pass
• Complimentary general parking
• Use of a special donor entrance
• And a Wild Perks℠ 10% discount on food, merchandise, and more during each visit.

Want to fill your weekends up with wildlife and awe-inspiring botanical gardens? Spring for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Protector Premium pass and experience the same Wildlife Protector benefits with zero blackout dates!

San Diego Zoo Ticket Packages

The San Diego Zoo may be the crowning jewel of ‘America’s Finest City.’ Still, there is an abundance of unique attractions and history to engage in outside the confines of Balboa Park . From adrenaline-pumping theme parks to the military marvel of the USS Midway, this SoCal oasis is stocked full of awesome activities. 

Stretch every last dollar of your San Diego Zoo trip by bundling your San Diego Zoo tickets with the following popular activities or booking a San Diego Vacation Package . 

SeaWorld and San Diego Zoo Vacation Package – SAVE as much as 9%**

Legoland California and San Diego Zoo Vacation Package – SAVE as much as 11%

San Diego Zoo Vacation Package – SAVE as much as 14%

**travelers have saved up to this and more depending upon their travel dates.

Beautiful weather, beautiful beaches – San Diego is just simply too stunning for a single-day jaunt. Squeeze the most pleasure out of your Southern Californian sojourn by staying overnight.

With a veritable cornucopia of options for hotels by the San Diego Zoo , you can choose lodgings that perfectly complement your travel style. 

Related Post: Which is Better: SeaWorld vs. San Diego Zoo

From beachy seaside resorts in La Jolla to trendy downtown San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Hotels , there are accommodations for every budget and desire.

Discounts for San Diego Zoo

A leader in both animal care and conservation, the San Diego Zoo takes its commitment to education seriously. 

They employ several incredible specials, promotions, deals, and discounts to make the Zoo’s facilities and attractions available to a wide range of guests.

Related Post: 15 Absolutely Free Things to Do in San Diego

Every October, in honor of the Zoo’s founding, kids ages 11 and under are allowed free entry into the Zoo while accompanied by a paying adult. This month-long event is a great way to expose young children to the magic and festive nature of the Zoo during fall. 

Pro Tip: If you were wondering, children ages two and under are always admitted for free.

Still unsure what to do with the kids after the zoo and beach? Check out our 11 Fun & Free Things to Do in San Diego with Kids .

San Diego Zoo Military Discount

Those who protect our freedoms deserve the very best, and the San Diego Zoo is honored to provide the following discounts and promotions to our military members:

• Active Duty Military – Complimentary admission
• Military Spouses & Eligible Immediate Dependents – 10% off admission

San Diego Group Discount

The more, the merrier! If you are planning a large group event, be sure to utilize the San Diego Zoo’s generous group discounts:

• Groups of 15 or more – 10% off admission
• Groups of 100 or more – 15% off admission

Related Post: Pet-Friendly San Diego: Hotels, Restaurants, and Beaches

Got to feed a hungry crowd? Along with group discounts, the Zoo is pleased to provide Meal Vouchers for larger parties. More convenient than cash and cheaper than ordering a la carte, these vouchers can be redeemed at participating restaurants for an entree combo or child’s plate and a non-alcoholic drink.  Did you know that Southern California cuisine is legendary with some of the top chefs in the nation? Check out the hottest San Diego dining options in our 16 Best San Diego Restaurants . 

Pro Tip: For large parties, advanced group reservations are strongly encouraged.

Seniors & Students

Love of animals and their habitats knows no age limits! Both senior citizens and students of the San Diego area and beyond should feel free to take advantage of the Zoo discounts offered:

• Students & Seniors who reside in San Diego County – 10% discount off the current price of a San Diego Resident, Resident Premium, Wildlife Protector, and Wildlife Protector Premium memberships
• Students & Seniors who reside outside of San Diego County – 10% discount off the current Wildlife Protector and Wildlife Protector Premium memberships.

Disneyland® Theme Resorts is another option for both teens, seniors and tots. Tripster has great savings on Mickey tickets here .

San Diego Zoo AAA

Been dying to put that AAA membership to work? AAA members can receive a 10% discount by showing their valid cards. (applicable up to 6 guests) on a one-day pass. 

Wondering about other wildlife AAA discount codes ? Check-in with your local AAA branch for even more dynamite deals, including up to 20% off the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park.

Related Post:  The Ultimate Balboa Park Guide: Everything You Need to Know

San Diego Zoo Promo Codes

While you can always save a buck or two by combing the internet for promo codes, we recommend staying on top of the Zoo’s social media and event schedule. Many of the Zoo’s annual festivals, events, and parties include free or discounted admission for children.*

*With the purchase of an adult ticket.

Travel Agent Discount

Lucky enough to work in travel? Travel agents, wholesalers, and tour operators can receive a 10% discount (applicable to one other guest) on their one-day Pass by submitting their valid IATA or IATAN card with a picture ID.

Ways to Save

From botanical tours to 4-D theatrical extravaganzas to exotic animal encounters, there is never a dull moment at the San Diego Zoo. 

As you meander through the park and encounter animals from (almost) every continent, be sure to take part in the wealth of free activities included with your zoo admission:

• All public exhibits – we love the polar bears and the penguins
• Guided bus tour
• Kangaroo Express bus
• All regularly scheduled shows 
• Keeper talks – try the rhino or the polar bears

No need to shell out big bucks for expensive parking rates. The San Diego Zoo is happy to provide free parking to all Zoo guests and patrons.

Related Post: 12 Best Tide Pools in San Diego

Worried your little minion won’t be able to manage a full day of walking in the Zoo? Skip the Zoo’s stroller rental fee by bringing your own from home. 

Food & Drink

A foolproof way to cut down on your Zoo expenses is to come prepared with your own food and drinks. 

Pro Tip: Eat picnic-style at one of the Zoo’s many outdoor dining spaces.

Another way to shrink your dining bill is by saving your Zoo splurging for one of the lower-cost restaurant options such as the San Diego Sandwich Co . or Front St. Cafe . 

Related Post: 16 Best San Diego Zoo Restaurants

Or try saving that vacation spending for a tasty treat that you can’t bring in, such as soft-serve ice cream or a warm churro from Hua Mei Cones .

Navigate the Zoo with precision and ease! The San Diego Zoo’s official app is a handy way to access their GPS-enabled map, learn fun animal facts, and plan your unique zoo day itinerary. 

A true botanist and animal lover’s paradise, the San Diego Zoo presents a staggering snapshot of biodiversity. This conservation institution is home to more than 3,700 rare and endangered species from distinct bioclimatic zones. Enjoy wildlife encounters with the mighty rhino or a delightful spin on the miniature Balboa Park Railroad.

Exploring can work up an appetite which is why you should enjoy a four-course feast at the Pirates Dinner Adventure . The show, filled with special effects, swordplay and aerial artistry, is hailed the “World’s Most Interactive Dinner Show.”

However you choose to spend your time with your San Diego Zoo Tickets , we can guarantee you’ll enjoy the best savings, discounts, and deals thanks to our Ultimate Guide.

Do You Have Any Tips for Scoring Discount San Diego Zoo Tickets?

Written by Isis Maya Nissman

A New York native, Isis-Maya spent most of her professional life working in TV production until a vacation whisked her away to Central...

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San Diego Local Discounts for Top Attractions

Every single day spent in San Diego offers another opportunity to create lifelong memories with your friends and family. The city and surrounding area are full of epic things to do. Choose between surfing the famous Pacific Ocean waves, relaxing on the beaches, hiking the rugged trails, or visiting one of the world-class local attractions.

Within minutes of the downtown area, you can visit famous San Diego attractions like Balboa Park , the San Diego Zoo , the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum , and so much more. After a jam-packed day of adventure, head to one of San Diego's excellent restaurants for a mouthwatering meal and then hit the city to check out some of the local nightlife in neighborhoods like Gaslamp Quarter which is packed full of trendy clubs and hip music venues.

With so many fun things to do, you'll want to squeeze in as many experiences as you can during your San Diego vacation, which can be challenging if you're trying to stick to a budget. Southern California is notoriously pricey, especially compared to other parts of the country. Despite the higher prices, you can still enjoy all of the fun America's Finest City offers and stick to your budget by taking advantage of the many local discounted tickets, deals, and coupons.

If you want to make the most out of your time in San Diego without breaking the bank, check out this guide to the best San Diego deals for theme parks, tours, and restaurants to save money without skipping popular attractions during your trip.

What kind of prices to expect in San Diego

If you're visiting San Diego for the first time or haven't ventured back to our shores for a few years, you may be curious about what the current prices look like in the city. According to Numbeo, the average cost of a meal in San Diego at an inexpensive restaurant costs around $25, although it is totally possible to find cheaper meals - especially at the taco stands and food trucks around San Diego. A three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant ranges from $65 to $160. A beer will run you around $8; for a latte, you can expect to pay at least $3.50.

The costs to visit museum and attractions varies greatly. Some popular activities in the San Diego area can be seen for free, while others, like a trip to a popular amusement park, can cost over $100 per person. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save during your visit, both on food and entertainment. Before your trip, spend some time planning what you'd like to do so that you score the best deals.

San Diego Discounts for Top Attractions

If you're looking for tips on finding San Diego discount coupons, we're here to help! From multi-day passes that give you access to all of the major theme parks with one convenient virtual ticket to vouchers for local restaurants, plenty of great deals can help you stretch your budget during your San Diego vacation.

San Diego CityPASS®

The San Diego CityPASS is an excellent option to make the most of your time and visit as many attractions as possible. It will allow you to save 40% on many of the top attractions and activities around the city. It's convenient because you can snag your tickets online with the pass and pull them up on your cellphone - perfect for on-the-go travelers. The key is valid for up to nine days. With the pass, you can choose to visit theme parks like SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California as well as admission to three more attractions, including; the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, USS Midway Museum, or a harbor tour through City Cruises.

Go City San Diego Pass

Go City San Diego offers the best all-inclusive pass for all of the city's top destinations -- on top of the convenience, it will save you 45%. You can choose between purchasing 1,2,3,4,5,6, or 7-day passes, including all the activities you can squeeze into your day. 1-day passes start at $119, and a 7-day pass costs $389 -- the more you do, the more you save!

Go City also offers an Explorer Pass, which allows you to choose how many activities you want to visit. You can select seven attractions for $199.

Combo Tickets

Combo tickets are available for some of the best San Diego attractions like the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and Seaworld San Diego. One option allows for one day at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and up to 7 days at Seaworld. It will save you about $33 if you plan to visit all of the attractions.

Another excellent combo ticket is the Fab 4 Combo Deal; the deal offers you admission to 4 major amusement parks, including the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Safari Park, LEGOLAND California, and SeaWorld.

Costco San Diego Discount Tickets

Costco is a great place to get discount tickets for San Diego attractions. Simply visit a local Costco for discount tickets to major tourist attractions like Seaworld, LEGOLAND, Hornblower Cruises, and the USS Midway Museum, and it also has some deals for local restaurants that can save you around 30%.

California Explorer Pass

If you're planning on traveling around California outside of San Diego, the California Explorer Pass could be an excellent money-saving option as it includes attractions in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Drive around the great state of California, where you can visit major attractions within 30 days. Pass options range from 3 - 5 attractions, including Universal Studios Hollywood , Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and so many more.

Balboa Park Explorer Pass

Balboa Park is home to some of San Diego's best museums, and it's an absolute must-visit spot if you're staying in San Diego, especially for the first time. Locals and tourists fall in love with Balboa Park - an iconic local landmark.

The Explorer Pass is a fantastic option if you plan to explore the museums. You can walk from museum to museum without worrying about purchasing different tickets each time.

Several pass options include the Limited Pass, which provides for museums for $56, and a Parkwide Pass, which consists of 16 museums for seven consecutive days for $67. A museum/zoo combo pass offers admission to all the museums and the zoo for $117. For locals or tourists staying for an extended period, consider purchasing the Annual Explorer Pass, which allows you to visit as much as you want for $129 per person or $229 per family.

Other Ways to Get San Diego Discounts and San Diego Coupons

This list offers a great starting point for finding coupons, passes, and deals in San Diego, but there are plenty of other places to check. Savings in the San Diego Entertainment Book offer discounts to all sorts of smaller local attractions as well as restaurants.

Hometown Pass San Diego

If you're a San Diego resident looking to save on attractions, check out the Hometown Pass. This money saver is only available to locals and residents and includes attractions like San Diego SEAL Tours and Old Town Trolley. You can get a buy one get one free deal to help make your summer extra special.

Amanda Morgan

Amanda is a freelance writer, a travel enthusiast, and a digital nomad. She loves exploring unique destinations and writing about local culture and cuisine. When she isn’t traveling, she enjoys hiking with her dog, reading, yoga, rock climbing, and hunting for vintage clothes.

What’s the Best San Diego Safari Park Tour? Chart & Reviews

With 18 choices, how do you pick the best San Diego Safari Park Tour/Safari? After the quick summary below, check the comparison chart for prices, tour duration & age limits. Then read the individual tour reviews and about their refund policy if you have to cancel.

Africa Tram’s the best free San Diego Safari Park tour. The 1-hour Wildlife Safari truck trip into the African fields is the most popular paid one. But a 90-minute Twilight Wildlife Safari with lunch is a better deal. Roar & Snore Safari overnight stays are family favorites. All require separate admission.

If you make purchases through the links in this post, I may be compensated. Read my Advertising Disclosure for more info. Thanks! ~ Nancy

* Save with a secret promo code on each San Diego Zoo or Safari Park 1-Day Pass. Go any day. Go directly to the gate. Click  HERE  to get your code, instructions & discounted tickets by email. By clicking the link above you agree to receive an automated email message. Valid only at aRes Travel , San Diego’s local authorized ticket seller. Read my full privacy policy .

Prices are given as a range because Safari Park charges extra for tours on peak days. Prices and availability can change without notice.

• Least Expensive: non-holiday Mondays and Tuesdays thru Thursdays
• Mid-priced: most Fridays
• Peak prices: Some Fridays. Usually Saturdays, Sundays, and 3-day holidays (best time for aRes discount tour deals )

You’ll need to buy a Safari Park admission in addition to your tour ticket. Why not take advantage of the best admission discount from aRes Travel , the San Diego-based authorized ticket seller? Click on the koala’s furry face below!

And finally, here’s what else you can do at Safari Park . That’s a page that I wrote that covers the animal exhibits, shows, and keeper talks. And if you’re wondering where to eat I’ve also written an article on where’s the best food ?

Wildlife Safari Tour

The 1-hour Wildlife Safari is the most popular tour at San Diego Safari Park followed by the 90-minute Twilight Wildlife Safari. You go inside the African animal enclosure in an open-air covered truck. Twilight tours add a light meal. Deluxe Safari is 90 minutes long and also tours the Asian enclosures .

The worst thing about these Safaris is that there are sometimes so many opportunities for close-up photos of animals that you won’t know where to point your camera first.  The best part of them is that you have the opportunity to feed giraffes if the animals are feeling hungry. Don’t worry, they’re ALWAYS hungry.

There are 3 different variations of this Safari plus an alternative for those with teenagers:

Wildlife Safari

• Duration: 1 hour
• Price: $89 – 105 per person. Admission is separate for each person and required.
• Age restrictions: Ages 3+. Children 15 years old and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult
• What’s Special: The overwhelming SIZE of a 4-foot long giraffe head next to yours. And how daintily they take the acacia leaves from your fingers.
• Deals : Check HERE for discounted tours for SanDiegoing readers from aRes Travel — San Diego’s local authorized ticket source.

Twilight Wildlife Safari

• Duration: 90 minutes
• Price: $109 – 129 per person. Admission is separate for each person and required.
• Age restrictions: Ages 3+. Children 15 years old and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult 
• You’ll also enjoy a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic drink with some tasty nibbles at a stunning overlook.

Deluxe Safari

• What’s Special: The Deluxe Safari provides you with your best chance to pet a rhino. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s more likely than on either of the other truck safaris. Why? Maybe because the One-Horn rhinos in the Asian fields are a bit smaller than the White rhinos in the other safaris? Still, stroking the soft snout of a 3,500-pound animal instead of a 5,000-pound one is ok with me. And there are always hungry giraffes!

Combine A Truck Safari with a Zipline Experience

If you’ve got teenagers or other adrenalin junkies in your group, try the Deluxe Flightline Safari (further down this page). It combines a shorter truck caravan safari with a 3,520-foot zipline ride. Same cost, but more experiences!

Wildlife Safari Tips

Feed giraffes, but don’t touch them . Keep your hands low during feeding. Raise your hand just a bit so that they can see the acacia leaves. Then let them reach down for the leaves.

Why? They use their heads as battering rams in dominance contests. Your friendly hand reaching towards their head can be viewed as an aggressive gesture. So no high-fives with giraffe horns. That avoids misunderstandings with a creature 10 times your size and makes for better photos as well.

THIRSTY? Bring drinking water in a container with a closed lid. Sip, don’t guzzle unless you’ve got an iron bladder.

MOBILITY ISSUES : If anyone in your party has mobility issues or needs to use a wheelchair call 619-718-3000 after you purchase your ticket. They will make arrangements for you.

RESTRICTIONS

• Selfie sticks must be stowed away. They can scare animals.
• No outside food, beverages, or bulky camera equipment (small tripods are ok if they’re used as monopods)
• Admission is separate and required.
• 5 or more days before reservation – changes allowed but $15 Administrative Change Fee will be charged.
• Less than 5 days before reservation – changes not permitted

CANCELLATIONS

• 5 or more days before reservation – changes allowed but $25 Cancellation Fee will be charged.
• Less than 5 days before reservation – payment not refundable.

Sun-Up Cheetah Safari Tour

Do you love cheetahs? Then this is San Diego Safari Park’s best tour for you. It’s the very best way to get amazing cheetah photos like the one above.

• Duration : 1 hour
• Start Time: 8:00 AM on most Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
• Price: $99 – 105. Admission is separate and required for each guest.
• Age restrictions: All ages ok. There must be a responsible paid adult present for every 3 children. Children aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Proof of age of children may be required.

You’ll get into the park early and meet your experienced guide for a walk down to Shiley’s Cheetah Run . There you’ll see a cheetah fly by at nearly 70 miles per hour from a prime viewing location.

After the cheetah chases the mechanical lure down the track you’ll head down to the Watering Hole at Kijamii Overlook . There you’ll get to see another speedster, this one flying through the air. After all that rushing around, relax with a savory brunch. Enjoy coffee, tea, mimosas, and the only San Diego restaurant view that includes giraffes, rhinos, and antelope.

• Purchase your admission ticket(s) in advance online. You will be arriving before the ticket sale booths are open. Have your admission ticket printed or ready to be scanned on your cell phone.
• To get the best viewing locations for all of these tour events, arrive about 30 minutes before check-in so you get the first pick. But don’t worry if you can’t be early. There aren’t any “bad” locations.

Cart Safari Tour

A Cart Safari is the best tour at San Diego Safari park if you’ve got small children or babies. The cart is much lower to the ground than the truck used in the Wildlife Safari. It’s much easier to get in and out to view animals while carrying infants or toddlers. The ride is also much smoother since Cart Safaris only go on paved roads.

You’ll have a private tour driver/guide. They’ll be masked and the cart has special screens to social distance your guide from your household group. But they’ll still be able to hear and see you to answer just about any question and direct you to wildlife feeding opportunities and photo stops.

• Price: $55+ per person. Admission is separate and required for each guest.
• Age restrictions: None. Infants and children under the age of 2 are welcome as long as they sit on an adults’ lap. There’s a limit of two lap children per group. Children 15 years old and younger must be with a paid adult.
• Two Options: Asian Cart Safari or African Cart Safari

There Are 2 Flightline Safari Zipline Rides and Tours at Safari Park

Flightline safari.

• Duration : 1 hour. Includes orientation session and Fledgling flight
• Price: $77 – 85
• Age restrictions: 8+ years old. There must be one paid parent or guardian accompanying up to 3 children aged 8 to 15 at all times. If you’re 16 or 17 you may ride the flightline alone, but you must have a parent or guardian sign a liability waiver at check-in. 
• Deals : Check HERE for daily discounts for SanDiegoing readers from aRes Travel — San Diego’s local authorized ticket source. TIP : The deals are best when you need them most, on weekends and holidays.

Take an exhilarating flight down a zip line 2/3rds of a mile long. Soar up to 130 feet above herds of wild antelope, giraffes, and rhinos. 

You’ll take a training course on the Fledgling run. There you’ll become familiar with the procedures and safety equipment. Once you’re comfortable with the short Fledgling flight, you’ll be transported to the launch platform for the Flightline Safari. You land near the campground at Kilima Point.

Deluxe Flightline Safari

This tour is a very good deal for groups that include restless teenagers looking for a bit more action. It adds a truck caravan tour into the African plains exhibits before your orientation session and zipline flight. You can get up close with the animals, take great photos, and ride the zip line for the price of just the Wildlife Safari truck tour.

• Duration : 90 minutes.
• Price: $89 – 105

Safety Restrictions: You will be asked to sign a liability waiver. You must be able to understand the waiver and be able to follow instructions in English. There’s a weight limit of between 60 and 300 pounds (your weight may be checked). 

The safety harness must fit comfortably. Wear snug-fitting closed-toe shoes. Do not drink alcohol before the Flightline Safari. If the trainers or those assisting you think that you’ve been imbibing you will not be allowed on the zip line. 

If you don’t meet all of these qualifications you will be denied access to the zip line and there will be no refunds.

Behind the Scenes Safari Tour

If you’re looking for an insider’s view, these will be San Diego Safari Park’s best safaris for you. There are 3 different safari options available, each focusing on one animal or exhibit area. But no two Behind the Scenes Safari Tours are exactly the same. All of them provide an intimate look at off-exhibit areas that are inaccessible to the general population of Safari Park guests.

You’ll take a ride on a small electric cart and then explore on foot with a guide who’ll fill you in on the park’s animals and conservation initiatives. 

There are three Behind the Scenes Safari Tour s:

Elephants & Friends

Have a close encounter of the pachyderm kind! See the Safari Park elephant herd from a private viewing area. Discover how they’re cared for and what’s being done to protect their wild relatives. Selfie sticks are not permitted on this tour.

• Price: $89 – 105 per person. Admission is separate and required for each guest.
• Age restrictions: Children 3-15 must be accompanied by a paid adult. A maximum of 2 children per group.

Rhinos & Friends

Get close to rhinos. Explore behind the scenes at Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center. Here the Safari Park staff is developing assisted reproductive techniques that may bring back the Northern White Rhino from functional extinction.

You’ll also take a trip around the park’s large field exhibits and view many other species there. You have to be able to stand or walk for at least 60 minutes to take this tour.  Selfie sticks are not permitted here.

• Age restrictions: Children 3-15 must be accompanied by a paid adult. A maximum of 2 children per group. A maximum of 2 children per group.

Roar & Snore Safari Tour

In my ever so humble opinion, and that of many others, this is the BEST safari at San Diego Safari Park. You can experience the sights and sounds of sleeping on safari in Africa without traveling there (no extra vaccinations needed!).

Fall asleep to elephants’ rumblings. Wake to the sound of lions roaring. But don’t worry about it being too noisy to sleep. Most of the time it’s so quiet that you can hear the footsteps of giraffes passing by. 

What happens at Roar & Snore? Close-up animal encounters, night-time guided walking tours, and a backstage look at some of the animal accommodations. You’ll also enjoy good food, and relaxing around a campfire.

The last time Bob and I went, we saw the inner workings of Lion Camp at night. Did you know that they sometimes put different colored glitter in each lion’s food? Me neither! The colored particles let keepers know which scat belongs to which cat. Examining their feces is just one way that keepers monitor lions’ health.

The sleepovers include a catered hot dinner and breakfast. They’ve got something for everyone with many gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan selections. For adults, there’s a cash bar. And everyone will enjoy sitting around the campfire eating s’mores and listening to the guides and campers trading stories of their wildlife experiences.

Most Roar & Snore Safaris include an evening or early morning Africa Tram ride. It’s magical. The animals in the African multi-species enclosures are at their frisky best. It seems as if they’re trying to get all of their sparring, running, and chasing done in the cooler weather. 

The campsite overlooks the African Plains multi-species enclosure loaded with antelope, giraffes, rhinos, gazelles, wildebeests, and many other animals. Clean restrooms and a limited number of showers are available. The tents are clean and spacious.

If you cringe at the thought of sleeping on a cot or the floor of a tent you’ll probably be happier spending the night at a nearby hotel. I’ve written a guide to the best local lodging close to Safari Park .

There are 3 different tent options:

Classic tent.

• $149 (Ages 3+)
• $30 (Ages 0 – 2)
• Price is per person. Single campers pay 2-person tent price. Maximum 5 people per tent. Admission is separate and required. 
• Size: 9 ft x 14 ft interior
• Tent Type: Canvas roof, vinyl-covered tent floor
• Furnishings: Sleeping bag pads. Bring your own sleeping bag, pillow, etc.
• $189 (Ages 3+)
• Price is per person. Single campers pay 2-person tent price. Maximum 6 people per tent. Admission is separate and required. 
• Tent type: Canvas roof, vinyl-covered tent floor. 
• Furnishings: 2 single cots, 2 chairs. Bring your own sleeping bag, pillow, etc.

Premium Tent

• $229 (Ages 3+)
• Price is per person. Single campers pay 2-person tent price. Maximum 4 people per tent. Admission is separate and required. 
• Great for couples looking for a special evening or families of 4.
• Size: 12 ft x 16 ft interior
• Tent type: Canvas roof. Wood floors with rug. Electrical outlets (charge your mobile devices!), storage/night-stand
• Furnishings: Queen bed with linens & pillows., 2 cots with sleeping bags, a fan and a space heater 

There are 5 different Roar & Snore Safari options:

All-Ages Roar and Snore

• Best sleep-over option for families with young children . 
• Age restrictions: For ages 3 and up
• What’s Special: There’s an evening, after-hours Africa Tram ride just for All-Ages Roar & Snore campers and an easy guided walk. Full cash bar for adults.

Adults-Only Roar and Snore

• Best option for couples . 
• Age restrictions: Ages 21+
• What’s Special: Adult topics like animal reproduction are presented by keepers. There are more animal experiences than during the All-Ages offering. The guided hikes are more strenuous. We went backstage at Lion Camp to see the big cats’ bedrooms and care areas.  It was dark in spots and the footing was a bit challenging. There was a cash bar for adults during dinner and the campfire experience.

Girl Scouts Roar and Snore

• Age restrictions: Ages 5+ with adults
• Pricing: $139+
• What’s Special: This is a troop oriented event. There are group guided walks, conservation related activities and animal-oriented crafts.

School Nights Roar and Snore

• Age restrictions: Ages 3-12 with adults
• What’s Special: This is a great field trip. The kids will get hands-on educational conservation & animal care experiences 

Supreme Roar and Snore

• Age restrictions: Aged 8 – 15 with adults.
• Pricing: $303+
• What’s Special: This is a great bundle of activities. Soar into the Roar & Snore camp on a zipline Flightline Safari. Spy on animals in the Night Vision Safari with vision-enhancing goggles. See the Sun Up Cheetah Safari with an exclusive viewing spot. And finally ride into the herds of giraffes, rhinos and antelopes on a morning Wildlife Safari.

For more detailed information on what to bring, how to prepare, and a menu, check out the Safari Park Roar & Snore Safari page on their website.

Ultimate Safari Tour

Assemble a Safari Park tour that is customized to your interests and desired activities. Full disclosure, we haven’t been on this safari, but we’re saving up for it! Because of that, I’ve asked a LOT of questions on the phone to the booking team. I hope that you’ll benefit from my research. And if you go before I do, send me pictures!

When you book your Ultimate Safari know the answers to the following questions before you call:

• What are your favorite animals?
• Are you interested in feeding any of these animals?
• Which animal exhibits would you like to see behind the scenes and find out more about how they’re cared for? 
• Do you have any dietary restrictions? They serve you lunch on this safari. You don’t want this experience spoiled by food that you can’t eat!

Duration: 5 hours. It’s easy to add too many activities and animal experiences to this safari. You’ll have to be selective so you don’t feel rushed. Your planner will help you decide how much to see in the time that you have.

Price: Varies depending upon day and seasonality

• $675+ for a 5-hour tour. Priced per person.
• $50 – children aged 2 and under
• Children aged 15 and under must be with a paid adult

Age and other restrictions: Depends upon the activities you choose.

You must book/reserve your tour at least 72 hours in advance . San Diego Safari Park usually only schedules one Ultimate Safari per day. The animals need to be fed and cared for daily and their keepers need to be notified so they can make special accommodations for Ultimate Safari visitors. 

Balloon Safari

Soar 400 feet up in a helium balloon. You’ll have great views of San Diego Safari Park and the San Pasqual Valley agricultural area that surrounds the park. 

Duration: About 30 minutes. You’ll spend 10 to 12 minutes at the highest viewing point.

Price: Varies depending upon peak hours and days. Plan on spending $20 or less. Reservations are NOT available online. Pay at the gate.

Ages restrictions:   All ages. 

Tips: The best times to fly are between 9:00 AM and noon, but it’s open until sunset. The ride may shut down due to windy or rainy conditions. Afternoons in Escondido can be windy. The balloon is grounded shortly before Cheetah Run at about 3:00 PM and afterward while any cheetahs remain near the Shiley’s Cheetah Run track. 

Africa Tram Tour

Africa Tram is San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s best tour if you’re on a budget . It’s one of the highlights of the park. And it’s free with your park entrance ticket! We’ve ridden this attraction hundreds of times and plan to do it many more.

You get to see dozens of species at once, and they’re always doing something new. The many thousands of rare plants surrounding you and the over 900 acres of open California Sage Scrub habitat make it even more appealing.

Duration: 25 – 30 minutes.

Price: FREE with your paid admission to Safari Park, except for children in school groups. Ride as many times as you want to.

Ages restrictions:   All ages. Children under 2 years of age must remain in their parent’s lap.

• Skip this one if you have booked a Caravan or Cart Safari, and you are feeling like you don’t have time to see everything on your list.
• In a rush? You can purchase priority boarding. Check the kiosk at the entrance to the Africa Tram queue. 
• When’s the best time to ride the Africa Tram? The peak hours are from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. So anytime before or after will be good. The animals are most active when the weather is cool. Many people try to take the first Africa Tram trip or one of the last ones for that reason. But there’s really not that much difference. You’re going to see spectacular creatures whenever you go. 
• Where’s the best place to sit? We like sitting in the 2nd or 3rd car. The first car can be a bit noisy. However, that car is the only one with accessible seating for those with mobility issues. So it may be best for you. 
• Which side of the tram is best? You’ll see animals on both sides. And you are encouraged to stand up if the vehicle is not moving. So you’ll be able to take great photos no matter where you sit. However, the cheetahs, zebras, and most giraffes and rhinos are on the right side.
• Expect long lines on weekends & holidays. There are signs that tell you approximately how long the wait times are. They are fairly accurate. The longest times are from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.The wait times are shorter during Cheetah Run (around 3:30 PM). We also like late afternoon trips because it’s getting cooler and they’re less crowded. The last trip of the day starts 45 minutes before the park closes. 
• Request an “Easy Access Pass” if you have difficulty standing for long periods or are of limited mobility. With this pass, any guest with a disability and 3 additional members of your group, can be directed to a separate boarding area. Park employees are glad to provide extra boarding and disembarking assistance (if requested), to those boarding from the Easy Access areas.

7 Tips for Better Safari Tours

• Save money by reserving in advance versus purchasing the same day in the park. Plus you’ll be more likely to be able to choose a convenient time. 
• Get the best deal by booking on non-peak days . Safari Tour tickets generally cost less on weekdays. Non-holiday Mondays and Tuesdays are the cheapest. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays are a bit more expensive. You’ll pay the most on weekends and holidays.
• Include parking fees in your budget. Parking is not included and must be paid upon arrival at the parking entrance to Safari Park. Parking costs $15 for passenger vehicles and $20 for RVs. You can have preferred parking by adding $18 to either of the parking fees. “Preferred parking” means that you get a spot close to the entry/exit and you don’t have to walk uphill to get to the Park entrance.
• Arrive a minimum of 45 minutes before your tour or safari . This will allow time for you to travel from your parking or drop-off point to your safari check-in location. Leave earlier during holidays and on Friday afternoons when the traffic is usually heavier.
• Check in 10 minutes before the beginning of your safari.
• Know where your safari check-in location is. Check their map from the San Diego Safari Park website before you arrive.
• Download their map app. It’s available for both Apple and Android. Apple iOS download here.
• Android download here.

About Refunds or Cancellations of San Diego Safari Park Tours or Safaris

• There are no refunds if you arrive late or are a no-show.
• Make changes or cancellations early! There are no changes or cancellations less than 5 days before the date of your safari.
• What if you get sick? Call them at 619-718-3000 as soon as you know that you can’t go. Their Reservations Sales Department is open every day at 8:30 AM. They will need your Order Number, so have it with you when you call.
• Pay attention to the age limits and other restrictions for certain safaris. You won’t be given a refund at the last minute because you didn’t read the tour descriptions.
• The park reserves the right to cancel any safari or tour because of bad weather, animal welfare concerns or concerns for your safety. If they have to cancel your safari they try to do it as soon as possible and do their best to reschedule your safari at your convenience. If you cannot reschedule, your money will be refunded.  However, if it’s raining and they don’t call to cancel, enjoy! The park can be wonderful when it’s wet. Check out my article on how to enjoy San Diego Safari Park if it rains.

Closing Thoughts

Take the Caravan Safari Deluxe or the Ultimate Safari if you’re visiting for the first time and may not be returning for a long while. Splurge a bit. If you’re feeling guilty about the extra expense, tell yourself that you’re spending the extra cash to help end wildlife extinction.

If one of the paid safari experiences is not in your budget, then take the Africa Tram. Maybe twice. Once in the morning and again right before closing time.

Maybe you’ve read all the way down this page and still aren’t sure whether the Zoo or Safari Park is a better fit for you? In that case, go to my page where I compare the differences between the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park and the pros and cons of each.

I hope that this has been a help for you to decide which San Diego Safari Park tour or safari will be best for you and your family.

Nancy Ulrich

I'm nuts...about animals, polymer clay, mixed media art & husband Bob. Happily planted in San Diego among good friends, family that I would have chosen if given the choice and optimism for a bountiful future for us all.

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Zoo Single Day Tickets

Buy online and save, 1-day pass – any day.

Includes: One visit to the San Diego Zoo®, Guided Bus Tour, Kangaroo Express Bus, Skyfari Aerial Tram, and all regularly scheduled experiences. Experiences above subject to availability.

1-Day Pass Any Day tickets valid any day within one year from date of purchase. Cannot be exchanged for Value Days ticket. No reservation required.

Additional $2 Mandatory Processing Fee Charged Per Ticket

1-Day Pass – Value Days

1-Day Pass Value Days tickets valid on any Value Day (see calendar)  within one year from date of purchase. Cannot be combined with any other discount/offer/promotion. No reservation required.

$72   $68

$62   $58, 1-day pass plus – any day.

Includes all the features of the 1-Day Pass, plus one 4D Theater Experience. Subject to availability.

$81   $79

$71   $69, 1-day pass plus – value days.

1-Day Pass Plus Value Days ticket valid on any Value Day  (see calendar)  within one year from date of purchase. Cannot be combined with any other discount/offer/promotion. No reservation required.

$81   $75

$71   $65, multi-day / multi-park tickets, 2-visit pass.

Includes: One visit to the San Diego Zoo and one visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park -or- Two visits to the San Diego Zoo -or- Two visits to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Two total visits by the same person on any and all days.

2-Visit Pass tickets valid on any day within one year from date of purchase. Ticket cannot be combined with any other discount/offer/promotion. No reservation required.

San Diego 3-for-1 Pass

Enjoy visits to the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and SeaWorld® San Diego. The San Diego 3-for-1 Pass is valid for one visit per attraction—three total visits—by the same person on any and all days. Valid for seven consecutive days from the first visit.        

Go San Diego Pass

Discover 55+ top San Diego attractions and enjoy incredible savings with Go City. Meet wildlife at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park,  spend the day at SeaWorld®, explore the USS Midway, cruise the bay with Speedboat Adventures, and more!

San Diego CityPASS®

One easy purchase saves big on admission to San Diego's top attractions and theme parks, including San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld®, and LEGOLAND®. 

No need to decide now, choose which attractions as you go. Visit the attractions at your own pace, in any order, over a 9-day period. No reservation required.

Membership offers a variety of ways to visit both the Zoo and Safari Park all year long. Please visit our membership pages for more details.

Starting as low as $95 per person

San Diego Zoo Gift Cards make the perfect gift! A gift card is valid toward San Diego Zoo and Safari Park admission packages, gift shop and food-stand purchases, tours and education programs, Zoo memberships, and more!

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San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance members are eligible for  Wild Perks℠ . Simply show your membership card to receive these incredible savings!

Wild Perks℠ Discount Program (some exclusions apply*)

Green stripe receives a 5% discount 

Orange stripe receives a 10% discount 

Blue stripe receives a 15% discount 

Gold stripe receives a 20% discount 

Zoo Discounts Include:

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages at all food stands and Albert's Restaurant
• Merchandise in any gift store
• Strollers/wheelchair rentals
• Picsolve photo purchases
• 1-Day Pass (limit 6 per day)
• 1-Day Pass Plus (limit 6 per day)
• Animals in Action Experience
• Discovery Cart Tour
• Inside Look
• Wildlife Walking Tours

*( Maximum of 24 per year. Discount for tours can only be applied by calling Reservation Sales at 619-718-3000. The discount cannot be applied to online orders. Actual purchase must be made by member and is non-transferable. )

SAFARI PARK Discounts Include:

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages at all food stands
• Africa Tram Priority Boarding ticket purchases
• Behind-the-Scenes Safari
• Cart Safari
• Wildlife Safari
• Sun Up Cheetah Safari
• Flightline Safari
• Balloon Safari

*( Maximum of 24 per year. Discount for tours can only be applied by calling Reservation Sales at 619-718-3000. The discount cannot be applied to online orders. Actual purchase must be made by Donor cardholder and is non-transferable. )

Exclusions:

• 2-Visit Pass/3 for 1 Pass/Go San Diego Card
• Zoo: Train/Giraffe Feeding
• Safari Park: Conservation Carousel
• Valet Parking at the Zoo
• Education Programs
• Summer Camp
• Special Ticketed Dining Events
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• Gift Cards/Gift Memberships/Gift JOURNAL
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Eligible member must present valid member card at time of purchase. Actual purchase must be made by cardholder and is non-transferable. Eligible membership must be current and in good standing. Program benefits are subject to change at any time and right of final interpretation resides with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. 

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The Family Vacation Guide

How To Get San Diego Zoo Tickets at Costco

posted by James Brockbank on January 1, 2023 // last updated on January 1, 2023

Here’s everything you need to know about how to get tickets to San Diego Zoo from Costco.

Including a zoo visit on your itinerary can be a wonderful experience. However, when traveling from another town or from overseas, obtaining tickets can be inconvenient. Fortunately, San Diego Zoo tickets at Costco are available once you set your eyes on visiting and exploring San Diego .

It can be more convenient to buy your zoo or other attraction tickets simultaneously while buying your groceries. You can also find great deals when purchasing these tickets, and they are available numerous times a year. Here’s all you need to know about buying San Diego Zoo tickets at Costco.

Are Zoo Tickets Always Available at Costco?

How to buy san diego zoo tickets at costco, the price of san diego zoo tickets at costco, what can san diego zoo offer, final thoughts.

San Diego Zoo tickets at Costco are available only at specific times each year, such as spring break, the holidays, and even summer, when zoo visits are at their peak. You can sometimes find that admission passes in this store go on sale from time to time.

Hence, it is significant for potential zoo visitors to watch out for ticket announcements for releases and discounts in Costco. Similarly, aside from locations like zoos, the giant store also announces and offers separate tickets to access the company’s other associated sites and attractions. 

San Diego Zoo Tickets at Costco: Deals, Discounts, and Options

Most people find San Diego Zoo tickets at Costco for a good deal, as Costco often offers zoo ticket deals like discounted one-day visits. Likewise, you might notice deals like buying two-day visits to get the third one for free when getting zoo tickets from the store.

Some deals can allow you to save money by using a single pass for three attractions. The San Diego 3-for-1 Pass can bring you to tour the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and Safari Park for a bundled, discounted, and single payment.

To choose the right ticket option, consider your budget, schedule, and interest before purchasing your ticket. You also need to think about the times you want to visit and who you’re going to the zoo with.

Once you settle for a single-day deal, the Theme Park Center can sometimes offer you a $5 zoo ticket discount when using promo codes.

Costco is a well-known store to buy any necessities. Aside from household to personal essentials, the store can also allow you to buy tickets to popular attractions or theme parks like the San Diego Zoo. 

As of the end of 2022, you can only acquire San Diego Zoo Tickets at Costco through in-store purchases. Unfortunately, purchasing zoo tickets for your next San Diego visit is unavailable online.

Previously, when purchased, Costco tickets could simulate a gift card. Nowadays, personnel from the Costco Travel Section can print your tickets out for you. 

You can find this ticket booth section in front of Costco stores. All you need to do is go to the booth and request your desired tickets. You’ll need to pay on-site.

Although purchasing San Diego Zoo Tickets at Costco online is unavailable, you can check the discounted tickets and standard prices on the store’s website. 

Zoo ticket pricing may vary for adults and kids. Each ticket can give you access to every animal and other attractions presented by the zoo. For a single-day visit, adult tickets can cost around $52. For kids ranging from 3 to 11 years of age, ticket pricing is around $62.

For adults, you can purchase two-visit pass tickets for $104. The same ticket goes for around $94 for kids. The San Diego 3-for-1 Pass—which can welcome you to the zoo, Sea World, and Safari Park—can cost $165 for adults and $155 for kids.

San Diego Zoo also extends military discounts. They provide discounts to the Military as long as they meet the requirements once they apply.

San Diego Zoo started its operation in 1922 and has become a home for approximately 4,000 animals of various species. When visiting the 100-acre park, you can find an array of animals, including the following:

• Polar bears

San Diego Zoo is also home to the largest koala colony in the world outside of Australia.

Until 1960, San Diego Zoo gave free admission to visitors 16 years old and younger. The zoo also provides animals and visitors with a safe environment. Likewise, architecturally simulating a wild habitat and providing toys for animals offers zoo visitors an enjoyable experience.

The wildlife park and exhibits can give visitors an idea of how animals live in their habitats. For example, you can see polar bears thriving on land and underwater. In addition, you can observe exotic and majestic birds living in aviaries and how they communicate with one another.

After the aviary, you can visit the reptile house and insect dwellings. The San Diego Zoo is also renowned for its Koalafornia—a vast area where koalas can freely roam around and get adequate sunlight for perfect health.

Other than animals, San Diego Zoo also has separate attractions like rainforests. It is a habitat where hippos, buffalos, okapis, and birds dwell. During your zoo visit, you can also pet selected animals for close observation and interaction.

All the San Diego Zoo activities and animal exhibits are safe, making this attraction a perfect family vacation destination. The management also implements kid-friendly tags for designating children of all ages. San Diego Zoo offers not only an educational but also a fun, real-life experience.

Visiting zoos can educate, raise animal awareness, and even protect certain species from extinction. And San Diego Zoo is one of the highest-rated parks in the world. Fortunately, this trip does not have to be difficult for anyone to plan. San Diego Zoo tickets at Costco can help you save time and even resources when wanting to visit the San Diego Zoo.

So whether you’re taking your whole family to the zoo or going with your partner, consider buying your tickets directly at Costco for a hassle-free experience.

More about our TFVG Author

James Brockbank

A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.

Featured in Travel articles such as Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy and SFGate, you know you're reading some of the best vacation tips online.

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Get ready for an experience you’ll always remember!

Want to get up close and personal with your favorite wildlife, sit back and relax, or tackle a challenging adventure? Choose your safari!

Butterfly Jungle Safari

• $15 per person

Visit Butterfly Jungle in an all new way! Learn about the butterfly life cycle on your way into the Hidden Jungle aviary, then become immersed in the wonder of colorful, fluttering butterflies.

Wildlife Safari

• Ages 3 & up
• $92 & up per person

Travel in the back of a covered, open-air safari truck into our expansive savanna habitats, with an expert guide.  

Behind-the-Scenes Safari

These Safaris are guaranteed to thrill and amaze! Your guide will escort you to a variety of locations around the Park to see animals up close and share stories of wildlife care and conservation.  

Cart Safaris

• $60 & up per person

Sit back in the comfort of a Safari cart, as you enjoy a 60-minute guided tour of the Park’s spacious African or Asian savanna habitats, led by one of our knowledgeable guides. 

Sun Up Cheetah Safari

• $90 & up per person

Come join us at the Safari Park to see what happens before we open our gates to visitors, including watching a cheetah run at top speed!  

Ultimate Safari

• $710 & up per person

Enjoy a custom safari experience of a lifetime! The Ultimate Safari is your key to exclusive areas, wildlife interactions, and the very best in personalized service.

Roar & Snore Safaris

• $160 & up per person

Pack up your “trunk” for a sleepover adventure at the Safari Park! Choose from several age-appropriate sleepover categories with their own themes.  

Flightline Safari

• Ages 8 & up
• $81 & up per person

Soar as high as 130 feet above the ground, with a spectacular bird’s-eye view of rhinos, giraffes, and other wildlife in the savanna habitats below you.

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