Have you ever felt claustrophobia for animals at the zoo? Do you wish you could see the antelope and lions run free? (But not necessarily together.) Do you long for a bit more “wild” in your encounters with wild animals?

The 1,800 acre San Diego Safari Park allows you to experience animals roaming free in their quasi-native habitat. (But not so free that your life is endangered.) A handful of different tours take you on various routes throughout the sprawling park. Safely behind protective fences, all of the open-air tour buses give you fantastic views of the roaming animals.

During Maureen’s visit in May, in addition to the Point Loma tide pools and the La Jolla seal beach, Kirk and I took her to the San Diego Safari Park. Yesiree, San Diego has animals a plenty.

The African elephant baby was the cutest little big animal in the park.

A walk-through bird sanctuary let all of the birds fly freely around you. This couple of mohawk-ed wise guys repeatedly tried to sneak out behind us through the plastic-sheathed doors.

Hey rhinos, you’ve got a bit of shmutz on ya.

We waited patiently for fifteen minutes while this pair of cheetahs lounged in the shade doing absolutely nothing. All of a sudden, one got up, ambled over to the other, and…

Cheetah showdown?

Nope.

Try sponge-bath hour.

Best animal photo-op to date? The San Diego Safari Park. Have a look at all of the photos in the gallery below. ☼