Right in the heart of Northern California's wine country is the state's own slice of African savannah where you can dine and spend the night amongst giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, gazelles, and other wildlife.
If you've heard of or have been to Safari West in Santa Rosa, then you know how unique and incredible an experience this is.
Safari West started out in the 1980s as co-founder Peter Lang's small-but-growing collection of exotic wildlife on 400 acres of land in the Mayacamas Mountains. In collaboration with other local zoological facilities like San Francisco Zoo, Lang turned the former cattle ranch into a conservation breeding facility aimed at conserving critically endangered species. This led to him meeting the lead curator and raptor specialist, Nancy, who later became his wife. Together, Peter and Nancy built Safari West into what it is today.
Peter and Nancy's focus has always been conservation at Safari West, but they opened their home to the public in 1993 for educational purposes.
Today, guests can experience African wildlife at Safari West through tours, presentations, dining, and even spending the night at this one of a kind Sonoma Serengeti.
Out of all the glamping experiences I've come across, this is one of the coolest and most special simply because you'll be able to hear some of the animals from your glamping tent.
The tents on property were imported from Botswana and customized with a private viewing deck, en-suite bathroom, and polished hardwood floors. Continental breakfast is included in your stay, and there's a restaurant on site you can dine at.
At the time of writing this, the rates range from $330 to $490 per night depending on the day of the week and time of year. Summer months appear to have the highest rates.
If tents aren't your thing, Safari West also has a cottage experience that's a bit more secluded from the crowds near Lemur Island. The cottage is a quieter experience, so you may not hear quite as many wildlife sounds but at least you're further away from people.
Safari West is located at 3115 Porter Creek Road in Santa Rosa, which is about two hours away from Sacramento. See photos of the tents, cottage, and wildlife and learn more about Safari West here.
