Safari West

I cannot say enough good things about our trip to Safari West. The animals are so well cared for, with their environments tailored to their health and well being (some photos are taken with zoom and may make things look more caged in than they actually are). Taking a turn on top of the truck was daunting but cool, and getting to feed the residents on the behind the scenes tour was amazing. So grateful to Schea in reservations and our awesome guide Michelle for making a special day for us a memory we'll treasure forever.

Far exceeded our expectation. Even my 4 and 9 y/o enjoyed it very much. The off road vehicle they have had for 70 years are quite amazing. They have their own sanitation, gas station, “poop patrol” and mechanics etc. 35 years they have been in business the animals were so amazing and gets super close to your vehicles. I’ve never been to Africa but this felt like I went to Africa. 400 acres and 900 animals with 99 species were amazing. Great visit. FYi it was freezing on Valentine’s Day, but they offered blankets and we shared.

Amazing experience. I have older children all in their early to late teens. They loved it. We had John as our guide and he cracked jokes, was super informative, and gave a great tour around the area. Myself and my children rode on top of the tour jeep and had a great view of everything around us. We were not disappointed. Whether you have older children or younger, this is a great place to take them for a day out. Plan on spending around 3hrs on the tour if you book it, some walking, and is pretty rough on the trail but very enjoyable. Definitely bring snacks with you or book the buffet as there aren't many resturaunts around the area is my only big recommendation.

Our visit to Safari West was truly unforgettable, and it was one of the most special experiences I’ve ever shared with my son. From the moment we arrived, we were immersed in an environment that felt both adventurous and thoughtfully designed, with incredible animals, stunning scenery, and a real sense of care for conservation and education. Seeing my son’s excitement as he spotted giraffes, zebras, and rhinos up close was priceless—this is the kind of experience that creates lifelong memories. My favorite were the
Two female ostrich. They definitely gave us a good show.

What truly elevated our visit, though, was our guide Killan.She was absolutely phenomenal and made the entire safari come alive. Her knowledge was impressive, but what really stood out was her enthusiasm, warmth, and ability to connect with both adults and kids. She explained everything in a way that was engaging and easy to understand, answered every question with patience and passion, and made sure everyone felt included and excited. My son was completely captivated by her stories and insights, and it was clear how much she genuinely loves what she does. Killan’s energy, professionalism, and kindness turned a great experience into an exceptional one.

Safari West is a must-visit, especially for families, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you’re lucky enough to have Killan as your guide, you’re in for something truly special. We left with full hearts, amazing photos, and memories we’ll be talking about for years to come. Thank you, Safari West—and especially Killan—for such an incredible experience!

PS: we will definitely be planning a future trip to come back and go glamping.

Being from Sonoma County I had never been and now having a 4 year old that has a true love for animals- we finally decided to take the safari. I might also have had high expectations because my husband and I were lucky enough to go on a Safari in Kenya, though I know this is not the same. Pricing was a bit steep so my expectations matched the pricing as well. We did the 10am safari- 3 adults and 2 kids. The staff all seemed to really enjoy what they did and seem truly happy with the jobs which is always nice to see and translates to good service. We had a younger guide who doesn’t work often and just seemed a little out of practice. Now for the actual property/preserve and animals, extremely underwhelming. Most of the time you are driving and enjoying the views of Sonoma County but I can do that driving myself- the land the animals live on doesn’t not seem to be what they should have, I am not an expert but two cheetah in about 4-5000 sq foot enclosure with a rock and grass- you can see the trail around the inside perimeter the have created trying to “form” there territory which is what they do in the wild but for 20 square miles of land. I know we are talking about a preserve and not the wild but even this was sad to see. The SF Zoo does a better job of forming a more natural habitat and enclosure for these animals. Just overall underwhelming- for my expectations (which I can admit were probably too high) and the price as too steep. I would rather have have had a shorter tour and cut the scenic time, show me the animals you do have - you could probably do that in 1.5 hr and charge me 1/2 the price and I would have likely rated higher.