Written by Julianne Foster
The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park have titled their reopening “Roaring Back” as the 103-year-old organization returns from the first major closure in its history.
The public reopening will take place on June 20 at 9 a.m. and their hours will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. They are allowing only half capacity in the park with a first-come, first-serve system to allow people in the park. Once the limit is reached, guests will be allowed in as other guests leave, and re-entry into the parks will not be permitted for the time being.
Parking will also be limited, but the $15 general parking fee at the Safari Park will be waived until further notice.
The parks are eager to reopen as “guests will once again be able to experience wildlife with their families, stroll among diverse habitats, and take part in fun, educational activities that bring us closer to the natural world.”
BIG news: We're roaring back! 🦁 The San Diego Zoo & @sdzsafaripark will open to the public on June 20th, with a series of member & donor appreciation days leading up to our opening. If you plan on visiting, please read up on what your visit will entail. https://t.co/9qZSKmRRcK pic.twitter.com/9qJD9flekv
— San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (@sandiegozoo) June 10, 2020
The park has placed green and orange signs around the park to navigate traffic and ensure that social distancing is followed. Family units must stay six feet apart from other guests, team members, and wildlife. Guests older than two years of age are required to wear face masks around the park, except while dining.
For San Diego Zoo Global members, the parks are offering exclusive preview visitations from Tuesday through Thursday, with the hours of operation being 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
As much as the park has adjusted to fulfill health guidelines, they have still worked hard to ensure an enjoyable and safe experience for their guests.
“As the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park reopen to guests, it’s true that we will be faced with a new normal,” said San Diego Zoo Global President and CEO Paul Baribault. “However, within this new normal, I have no doubt we will be able to showcase our strength, our resilience, our dedication to community, and our continued mandate to save wildlife around the world. Welcome back!”
Guests can expect a much different experience from what they remember with the remaining closure of some experiences, programs, and animal viewings. The organization’s website warns guests that they cannot ensure their complete safety from exposure to COVID-19, however, they have reformed the park to follow guidelines set by the CDC, the State of California, and San Diego County.
