Safari West Adventure: Sonoma's Wildlife Escape

Explore Sonoma’s wild side at Safari West. Discover exotic animals on a thrilling Jeep tour, perfect for families seeking adventure and education.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Safari West - Nestled in a region celebrated for its premium wines and gourmet cuisine, Safari West stands out as a top family-friendly attraction in wine country, perfect for a visit with children! Upon arrival at the preserve, located approximately 20 minutes north of downtown Santa Rosa, guests will meet their safari guide and embark on a…
What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • Transport by Jeep
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks (if you would like to eat at the on-site Savannah Cafe, please call Safari West to make a reservation after booking; the phone number will be on your voucher)
Additional Information

Discover the wonders of Sonoma County’s African Serengeti wildlife preserve. Embark on an open-air safari vehicle for an unforgettable journey, where you can observe giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and cape buffalo in expansive habitats that replicate their natural environment.
Continue your adventure by exploring walkable areas, where you can meet…

Location
Safari West
Porter Creek Road
From San Francisco (North on HWY 101) • Take the River Road exit. The approach to the exit is also marked Calistoga/Mark West Springs Rd. • Exit freeway and turn RIGHT. You will be on Mark West Springs Road heading East toward Calistoga. • Note: We are seven miles from HWY 101 • Mark West Springs Road turns into PORTER CREEK ROAD at the Lodge. • Continue - for approx. another 1.25 miles to Franz Valley Road. • At Franz Valley Road, turn LEFT directly into our entrance. • Note: Entrance is on Franz Valley Road (not Porter Creek). From Sacramento (West on I-80) • Take U.S. 80 West to the HWY 12 Napa exit. • Cross the valley and turn RIGHT on HWY 29 for Napa and Calistoga. • At Rutherford, HWY 128 joins HWY 29. • Remain on HWY 128, going past, not through, Calistoga, 1 mile. • Turn LEFT on Petrified Forest Road, toward Santa Rosa. Go 4.5 miles • Turn RIGHT on Porter Creek Rd. Go 3 miles. • At Franz Valley Road turn RIGHT directly into our entrance. Do not take Franz Valley School Road. • Note: Entrance is on Franz Valley Road (not Porter Creek).Tired of getting stuck in traffic? Now you can now fly directly into Santa Rosa on Horizon Air. The Sonoma County Airport is a mere 10 minutes away from Safari West!
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(93 Ratings)
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Melz_niko
Sep 3, 2025
Fun times had by all at Safari West - The safari was just as incredible the 2nd time around. Seeing the zebras, spotting the baby rhino and especially the giraffes wanting to greet us was a highlight for us. Our guide, Justin was the best! He was engaging, very knowledgeable and his animal themed jokes kept the group entertained. The walking tour was just as amazing. Walking through the aviary and seeing beautiful birds, watching the monkeys play, seeing an active caracal which we got to hear hiss, and spotting a cute fennec fox taking a nap with its cute ears. We had such a fun experience and Safari West is highly recommended! We will be back again soon.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amy_j
Aug 16, 2025
safari yes! - We went on the earliest safari of the day. Our guide, Eric, made sure we got great views of all the animals, seeing even the shyer animals that are less often seen. He was very knowledgeable and seemed to really enjoy his job. He also made sure that everyone got a ride on top and navigated around the roads routes for the greatest experience. So many baby animals along the way. Nice walkabout tour after the jeep ride with lots of feathered and furry friends.
Review provided by Viator
Robbin_b
Jul 23, 2025
Amazing Experience - This was an amazing day! Megan was an awesome tour guide and a master at driving the jeep! She took us into the compounds where we were just a few feet away from giraffes, various varieties of elk and a huge variety of birds. I feel like I don't need an African safari now!
Review provided by Viator
Aap8992du
Jun 22, 2025
Awe-inspiring non-human animals cared for and protected by extraordinarily friendly human animals - A two hours drive from the Bay Area and we entered an absolutely amazing world: these wondrous animals with superior adaptations to survival challenges, extraordinarily genuinely friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff, astonishing natural beauty in big and small, and an important conservation effort behind it all. The experience for us humans is over the top - all ages and backgrounds, just open your heart and minds to the wonders of nature (that many of us tend to in theory separate ourselves from) - there will be many astonishing moments. The aviary is like a magical garden - it's almost like a fairytale come alive. It left me with a deep feeling of gratitude for what these people are doing to counteract the damage that others humans, in many ways all of us, are doing to our so-called 'natural world' (all is of course nature, including the dead, dirty, unfriendly urban areas we have created). Know that your money will be going to well-cared for animals, an important mission. I hope everyone who even considers going, will go. Bring your children, if a little bioempathy can be fed or possibly awakened it can mean a lot for the future of us all, and that bioempathy-nurturing can continue in our own backyards. This is in short an amazing place doing an amazing job, and these fellow living beings are very awe-inspiring.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
60sarinaf
Apr 18, 2023
Great company event! - Amazing tour for my company, the buffet lunch was great and had delicious options for my vegetarian staff too! My 6 year old son left his wallet in the gift center, they found it and even put an adorable sticker in it with a kind note when we went back to pick it up a day later. Amazing staff, kind, knowledgeable, and they all made our entire time at Safari West amazing. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shondas69
Jul 25, 2021
Everyone must experience this…family fun all ages - We all had an outstanding time. The tour was awesome, dinner divine and our stay incredible. The staff service was impeccable! My entire family ages 24-83 had a fabulous time! It was great way to start the week! I have several friends now booking their trips!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ellesbelles925
Oct 27, 2020
Great Experience! - We had the BEST time at this remarkable place! From the cheery and knowledgeable staff to the beautiful accommodations and great meals- it was nothing but a treat! We did the private experience because our child is 18 months and she LOVED being able to feed the animals and I loved getting to nerd out and learn more about the animals from our wonderful guide Sarah. We spent the night in one of the tents and were blown away by how clean and well cared for the room was. My husband and I joked that we literally had the best night of sleep as the beds and bedding were super comfy- and the cool Sonoma air was just what we needed. We had a few staff members go above and beyond and felt like everyone on site was happy to be there. We will absolutely be back!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Knickerbockerjones
Oct 14, 2020
I love that a place like this exists. - I came to the Safari West to celebrate my husband's birthday. We did the tour in the morning, had lunch, stayed in a hillside tent, had dinner with a personalized cake, a bottle of Coppola cab waiting in the room for me, bough great pieces of jewelry in the gift ship and a great piece of amethyst. To finish it off with a wonderful, cool, peaceful nights sleep. The next morning a continental breakfast. The staff was wonderful, they all wished my husband a happy birthday. The cake taste great, it had raspberry filling. It was a great getaway that I can't wait to do again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thaila
Aug 28, 2020
Lots of fun for the family - Great animal safari and the kids really enjoyed it (and so did we). They took all the necessary precautions due to Covid and we felt very safe. No more than 8 people per vehicle and we were all spaced out from one another. It starts with a 45 minute walking tour, the highlight of which is that you step into the aviary and can see birds just a foot away beside you! We all loved that. On the drive, you can see zebras, giraffes, antelopes, and more. We didn't eat lunch there and note that there aren't a ton of food options close by (the closest would be Calistoga or downtown Santa Rose, about 15 minutes away).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Donita_m
Sep 2, 2025
Prepare for a long three... - Prepare for a long three hours, also check the weather, very hot for us and a lot of stopping and starting going through each enclosure took the most time of the experance, especially if you have small kids
Review provided by Viator
From $110
up to 9 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).