Whether you’re soaring above the San Diego Zoo on Skyfari® or overlooking the San Diego Zoo Safari Park from Condor Trail, you’re bound to notice a few things. The California sunshine, majestic birds flying overhead, the smiling faces of your fellow visitors. But most of all you’ll be awed by the stunning panorama of trees, plants, and flowers laid out before you. As far as the eye can see you’ll find jaw-dropping greenery that could rival the pages of a nature magazine—and as you visit wildlife, this natural beauty is beckoning you to explore it as well.
You might think of animals when you think of the Zoo and Safari Park, but these unique places are also living, breathing wonderlands of flora from across the globe. And as accredited botanical gardens and plant rescue centers, these two locations are helping plants thrive in spectacular fashion every day. So whether you’re a foliage aficionado or just looking for a little peace among the petals, get ready to be wowed by the vibrant landscapes surrounding you and discover the family-friendly plant-tivities that await.
The self-guided tour through Fern Canyon at the Zoo offers a tranquil oasis full of foliage.
Strike Out on Your Own
Become a flora explorer with our complimentary self-guided garden tours. Available all day across both parks, these tours are integrated into the walking trails around you, making them easy to access as you hop from habitat to habitat.
The Zoo boasts numerous distinctive gardens and collections with a stunning array of the plants we care for onsite as well as in ecosystems around the world. From towering bamboo forests to colorful coral tree thickets and tropical fern groves, there’s a surprise growing around every corner. Just download a brochure or pick one up at the ticket booths out front, and take off on a rousing adventure.
A whopping 1.3 million individual plants are thriving at the Safari Park, and you can experience many of them in our six flourishing gardens. Hike through the Nativescapes Garden to gain an appreciation for local vegetation, or step into the serenity of the Bonsai Pavilion and marvel at these living works of art. There’s even an Herb Garden where you can learn about the fragrant foliage we value as food and medicine. Whichever path you choose, download a pamphlet or grab one at the site of each tour and embark on your journey.
Ride through the splendor of our gardens with our breathtaking botanical tours.
Let Us Show You Around
Want to experience the fun while on the go? Allow us to take you on a trip in comfort and style.
At the Safari Park, reserve your complimentary ticket and board our Botanical Tram every Saturday and Sunday to get whisked away across the African savanna. Our expert tour guides will show you the flora that bring this immersive habitat to life and the vital part they play in maintaining the delicate balance of nature. You’ll also learn how our 30 acres of browse farms supply nutritious, delicious food for wildlife we care for, and how our sprawling nearby Biodiversity Reserve protects wildlife we support through our Southwest Conservation Hub. This lively adventure will give you a brand-new understanding of just how crucial plants are to ensuring all life thrives.
If you’re visiting the Zoo, we have something special for you too! On the third Friday of every month, the double-decker Botanical Bus Tour takes off on a relaxing parkwide excursion to discover some of the 700,000 plants that grow here. You’ll see massive dragon trees, striking hibiscuses, and graceful weeping aloes that help make the Zoo one of the lushest locations in the region. Along the way you’ll find out more about how we're protecting these species worldwide, and how you too can make a difference as an ally for wildlife.
Brilliant blossoms are around every corner at Orchid Odyssey during Plant Days at the Zoo.
Go Behind Closed Doors
The bus tour is just one of the fun offerings available during Plant Days. These special events, scheduled for the third Friday of every month, celebrate some of nature’s most arresting treasures.
During Orchid Odyssey, we open the doors to our resplendent Orchid House, where you can roam among the daring shapes and rich hues of these bold blooms while learning about our work as an orchid rescue center. And visit the Carnivorous Plant Greenhouse, where our horticulture team will share with you what makes these one-of-a-kind species so fascinating—and so important to maintaining their ecosystems. These areas are only open during Plant Days, so it’s a rare opportunity to witness these wonders up close.
Plant Trader has a bevy of sustainable offerings to fill your home garden.
Take the Beauty Home with You
The botanical fun can continue long after you leave at the end of the day. Get a gift to take home and relish the experience of caring for wildlife throughout the year.
During Plant Days at the Zoo, the Plant Sale presents a variety of drought-resistant flora such as succulents, bottle tree saplings, aloes, and more. Up at the Safari Park, the Plant Trader shop is open every day, offering gifts like cacti and succulents for yourself and the nature lovers in your life. These selections native to California are both lovely to look at and sustainable for our local environment, a win-win for your home garden. And don’t forget a piece of Southwest-inspired décor to put the finishing touch on your own idyllic paradise.
Best of all, with each purchase you support the conservation work we do every day around the globe to help all wildlife thrive—plants and animals alike.
So whether you’re charting your own course, riding with our experts, or exploring our greenhouses, you better be-leaf there’s a vibrant, verdant adventure waiting for you at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
As an ally for wildlife, you are planting the seeds of hope that create a world where all life thrives. Learn more about how we protect and care for plants of all shapes and sizes through our eight Conservation Hubs.
