The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is the main reason most visitors come to Escondido. Spread across 1,800 acres of chaparral-covered hills in the San Pasqual Valley, the park keeps African and Asian animals in enclosures large enough that you need a tram to cross them. Giraffes, rhinos, lions, elephants, and cheetahs roam territory that genuinely resembles their home landscapes, which makes for far better viewing than a conventional zoo.
The Africa Tram Safari rolls through the large African habitat and is included in general admission. For a closer encounter, various premium experiences — Cheetah Safari, Tiger Trekking, Rhino Rescue — can be booked in advance and are well worth the extra cost. The park opens early and the animals are most active in the morning before the heat builds.