San Diego Zoo Safari Park to Open Elephant Valley in 2026

Have an elephant lover in the family? You might want to add San Diego Zoo Safari Park to your 2026 travel list. On Aug. 12, (a.k.a. World Elephant Day), the zoo announced the new Denny Sanford Elephant Valley will open in early 2026. This first-of-its-kind experience is the largest and most transformative project in the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s 109-year history, and it will offer new insight into the role the zoo’s alliance plays in wildlife conservation. It also highlights its global partners and celebrates the cultures and local communities in Kenya, where people and elephants live together peacefully.

“Denny Sanford Elephant Valley’s innovative design celebrates the world’s largest land mammal and the communities that coexist with them,” said Shawn Dixon, interim president and CEO, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “Every detail of this habitat has been purposefully designed to reflect the elephants’ natural environment, supporting their well-being while inspiring meaningful connections. We’re eager to welcome guests in early 2026 to experience a place unlike any other—where wildlife and people come together in powerful new ways.”

Elephant Valley offers an immersive experience for guests to learn about the crucial role elephants play in the ecosystem, as well as gain a better understanding of the herd’s social structure. The park will also help visitors gain greater empathy, understanding and appreciation for elephants, encouraging them to help protect the elephants.

The new area was carefully designed to create the seasonal variations of the African savannah year-round. Plant life was chosen by a team of expert horticulturists and arborists to authentically represent the sights and smells of Africa’s ecosystems. It will feature more than 350 plants, specifically grown for the valley, to replicate the rare and endangered African plants.