Elephant Valley Opens At San Diego Zoo Safari Park

ESCONDIDO, CA — Visitors to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park can now walk alongside the world's largest land animals as the park opened its long-awaited Denny Sanford Elephant Valley on Thursday.

The new habitat is the largest project in the 109-year history of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. The expansive space offers an immersive experience designed to bring guests closer to elephants while highlighting global conservation efforts to protect the species.

Surrounded by African savanna elephants on multiple
sides, guests of all ages can see what it feels like to share common ground with the Safari Park herd, which consists of eight elephants, ranging in age from 7 to 36.

Elephant Valley places visitors along pathways where they can observe the Escondido park's elephant herd roaming a savanna-style landscape, watching them forage, socialize and cool off in watering holes designed to mimic their natural environment.

The habitat, named for philanthropist Denny Sanford, features two large watering holes, including a 240,000-gallon pool where elephants can wade, swim and play while visitors watch from nearby viewing areas.

The space features Mkutano House, a two-story restaurant overlooking one of the watering holes, and Mkutano Park, an area where guests can learn from educators about African wildlife.

Elephant Valley is intended to connect visitors in San Diego with the conservation work the organization supports in African. African savanna elephants are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species due to threats including habitat loss, poaching and challenges to human-wildlife coexistence.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance partners with several conservation groups working to protect elephants in Africa, including Save the Elephants, The Nature Conservancy, Northern Rangelands Trust, Kenya Wildlife Service and Reteti Elephant Sanctuary.

Officials said research conducted with the Safari Park's elephant herd, along with work in the wild, helps scientists better understand elephant health needs, social behaviors and conservation strategies.

Construction on the new home for the herd began in 2023. More than 5,200 donors helped fund the project.