Safari West

Giraffes. Monkeys. Rhinoceros. Oh my!

At Safari West, the wildlife ABCs start with antelope, buffalo and cheetah and continue through the alphabet to vulture, wildebeest and zebra. The African-styled preserve is home to 900 animals and 90 species, all located on a former 400-acre cattle ranch on an oak-studded woodland in the Mayacamas Mountains. Two attributes are unique about this privately founded conservation effort. First is its convenient location about 50 miles north of San Francisco in easy-to-reach Santa Rosa, in Sonoma County, California. Second, is the fact it survived the 2017 Tubbs Fire that devastated so many of the staff and the population of Sonoma, Napa and nearby counties.

Called the Sonoma Serengeti, Safari West is an exciting adventure for kids of all ages. In fact, even toddlers in strollers can be pushed a short way from the lodge’s dining room and safari staging area, and view an array of graceful giraffes or a giant flock of brightly colored pink flamingos. Kids can walk through the high-ceilinged aviary — or saunter around its gated perimeter. Within, there are an amazing number of multicolored bird species to admire. Some are as familiar as ducks and geese, but there are also cranes, ibis, guinea fowl, macaws and pheasant. We met and chatted with a staff member carrying a huge tray of food, especially formulated for the birds. Families can book a private safari for youngsters; and children 4 to 12 can enjoy a safari adventure. (There’s even a five-day kids’ day camp for ages 9–12.)

Family visiting Safari West

As exciting, comfortable and as much fun as the tours are — especially when you spot a herd of giant mammals grazing or galloping off in the distance — the adventure is designed to inform and educate, make discoveries and help everyone build connections with nature. Our guide, Ann, was well-versed about the animal kingdom (she could cite the length of a tongue or the blood pressure levels of some species), had wonderful driving skills (the back roads can be a challenge) and communicated gracefully, having the knack to make guests feel comfortable. Those with little schooling on the subjects of flora and fauna are bedazzled by all there is to see and learn; those with some knowledge treasure identifying wildlife and learning more. Whether the safari tour lasts an hour or three, it’s a chance for each person to find his or her WOW! and for everyone to pick up some information, including this essential: the necessity of conservation.

The 31 canvas-tented lodgings sit on raised platforms and were imported from Botswana; the customized spaces measure about 500 square feet, including decks and en suite bathrooms, and accommodate families with different bed configurations. Each is landscaped, within footsteps of an outdoor phone box and has a private viewing deck with table and chairs. Inside, there are polished hardwood floors, a wood-framed large bed or two doubles, a chair, table, library and African-style artifacts. The large, boat-like, screen-lined openings have canvas covers that close with Velcro. At night, it was chilly, so I used the electric blanket and the electric heater; in the morning I moved the heater to the bathroom doorway and warmed it in advance! The en-suite bathroom has a screened ceiling, leaving space for air to flow (and avoid mildew) under the canvas cover. Two of the tents are handicap accessible, with ramps for wheelchairs and an oversized shower and safety rails.

Photo: Safari West

Fresh flowers, fluffy comforters, silky sheets and soft towels added to the comfort, superior to when I tent-camped as a Girl Scout or cabin camped in the woods with our young children. Even without in-room TV or WiFi, all but the most device-addicted guests will be content with electricity for lights, heat and a portable DVD player. (The café offers complimentary WiFi and land phones are available in the office.)

As for meals, dinner at the Savannah Café featured a terrific barbecue inspired by the South African grilled meal called braai, which rhymes with dry. I enjoyed fall-off-the-bone ribs and spicy chicken prepared on the wood-fired grill and served with a variety of sides, plus beer or wine and dessert. A continental breakfast is included in the lodging rates, which vary according to season, location and configuration.

Safari West is a back-to-the-basics pleasurable adventure executed exceedingly well.