Phoenix, known for its year-round sun and warm temperatures, is a city where mankind and wildlife have coexisted peacefully. Thanks to the presence of numerous wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in and around Phoenix, safari tours are the best way to enjoy the wildlife of this beautiful city. Luckily, most of the zoos and national parks here provide the best safari tours and guided-tours as part of their packages, which gives tourists the perfect opportunity to immerse themselves into the wild side of Phoenix.
So, there’s no reason to keep yourself waiting because there’s a lot that awaits you in this U.S. city.
10 Best Safaris In Phoenix
Here are the 10 Phoenix safaris that we think you should not miss out while visiting the city. Let not the modern buildings and urban developments of Phoenix fool you what you can experience in a Phoenix Safari.
1. Balloon safaris over Phoenix region
It is only appropriate that a city which shares its name with a mystical bird gives us an opportunity to see its beauty and magnificence from a bird’s-eye view. So, hop into these 100 feet tall balloons to explore and discover what Phoenix is all about. Constantly rated having high Phoenix safari reviews in all major recommendations-sites such as TripAdvisor, Yelp and Groupon, this Phoenix safari over the skies of Phoenix ranks certainly a must-visit.
Location: 29834 North Cave Creek Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331
Timing: Just after the sun-rise
Entry Fee: $289 per person
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2. Phoenix zoo safaris
A Phoenix safari does not get any bigger than the one provided by the Phoenix Zoo, right at the heart of the city. Housing more than 30 species of animals that are either endangered or threatened, the safari tours offered here helps us understand the threats faced in their conservation efforts. Overall, there are four major safari tours provided – Discovery Tours, Backstage Adventures, Guided Tours and Custom Guided tours, all of which are the best ways to engage in a Phoenix safari, wildlife-spotting guaranteed too!
Location: 455 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Timing: 9 am to 4 pm, Open on all days
Entry Fee: $16.95 (for ages 3-13); $24.95 (for ages 14+)
3. Sea life in Arizona
How about a safari of a different kind? Here, at the Sea Life Arizona Aquarium, one can explore the creatures of the big blue ocean without getting wet. A twenty minutes-drive from downtown Phoenix guarantees you will have a whale of a time, pun intended. With over five thousand creatures at the display, one can easily lose track of time inside this place. Creatures from the Great Pacific Octopus to the Hermit Crab call this their home, making it a one-of-a-kind safari to remember.
Location: 5000 South Arizona Mills Circle, Tempe, AZ 85282
Timing: 10 am to 6 pm, all days except Thursday and Sunday; 11 am to 5 pm on Sundays
Entry Fee: $14.95 (for ages 3-12); $19.95 (for ages 13+)
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4. Butterfly Wonderland
America’s largest indoor butterfly pavilion, the Butterfly Wonderland is an amazing state-of-the-art facility that houses thousands of butterflies. In this Phoenix safari like no other, people get to meet one of the gentlest creatures known to mankind. The in-built theatre runs regular shows of a 3-D movie titled “Flight of the Butterflies”, which we can safely say is a blockbuster. The main glass atrium is the best place to get a slice of the tropical rainforests and be amongst the butterflies.
Location: 9500 East Vía de Ventura, Scottsdale, AZ 85256, USA
Timing: 9 am to 5 pm, Open on all days
Entry Fee: $15.95 (for ages 2-12); $23.95 (for ages 13+)
5. Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium, and Safari Park
There are a lot of animals! This is what everyone got to say after a day at this amazing site. Home to over six thousand individual animals, one day is simply isn’t enough to fully enjoy this experience in the wild. The African Savannah is now a part and parcel of Arizona and the guided safari tours provided are simply too good to miss. The guides are passionate about the project and are extremely tourist-friendly. So, what are you waiting for!
Location: 16501 West Northern Avenue, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340, USA
Timing: 9 am to 6 pm, Open on all days
Entry Fee: $19.00 (for ages 3-12); $39.00 (for ages 13+)
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6. Southwest Wildlife Conservation Centre
If you are an animal lover, then this Phoenix safari is the perfect one for you. The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Centre, established in 1994 rescues and rehabilitates injured, orphaned and disabled wildlife. Since its mission is to preserve wildlife, it is not open to public unless reservations are made online for their “Walk with the Wildlife” tours, which is a two-hour tour where one can meet and greet the famous mountain lions of Arizona.
Location: 27026 North 156th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
Timing: NA
Entry Fee: $15.00 (for ages 3-12); $25.00 (for ages 13+)
7. Out of Africa Wildlife Park
About eight miles from downtown Phoenix, is the “Out of Africa” wildlife park, which brings Africa to the citizens of Phoenix. One need not have his passport stamped to experience the sights of exotic free-roaming animals. Creatures of Africa, such as the Zebras, African Elephants, Giraffes, Antelopes, Hyenas, and many others are the main highlights of this African Bush Safari. Each animal at this wildlife park has its own origin-story and its worth to hear them out. Also, they don’t like to be called a zoo, so never call them a zoo!
Location: 3675 West Summit Point, Camp Verde, AZ 86322
Timing: 9.30 am to 5 pm, except on Thursdays
Entry Fee: $18.95 (for ages 3-12); $33.95 (for ages 13+)
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8. Hiking in San Tan Mountain Regional Park
This Phoenix safari is for all fitness-freaks out there! With over eighty miles of trails, ranging from beginner to advanced, the San Tan Mountain Regional Park gives us more than we paid for. The Scorpion Hunt, the moonlight trails, the Goldmine trails are all well-frequented due to its popularity and are the perfect weekend getaway for the adventure seekers who love the wildlife.
Location: 6533 West Phillips Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142, USA
Timing: Sunday-Thursday 6 am to 8 pm; Friday-Saturday 6 am to 10 pm
Entry Fee: Visit
9. Thunderbird Conservation Park
The 1,185 acres park in the Hedgpeth Hills, is dedicated to preserving the desert environment and also provides opportunities to trek, hike, ride bicycles as well as bird-watching. Creatures from the small rock, squirrels to the mighty Mountain Lions call this area, home. There are wildlife viewing blinds located within this park for the convenience of the visitors. This is the one place in Phoenix, where you can combine hiking and exploring wildlife at the same time.
Location: 22800 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85310
Timing: 7 am to 5.30 pm. Open on all days
Entry Fee: Free
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10. Desert Botanical Garden
This American Alliance of Museums accredited botanical garden is home to nearly 4,500 displays of flora in living condition. With fascinating exhibitions, events and festivals held around the year, this Phoenix Safari is for those who adore the flora of the deserts. The gardens are spread over 140 acres and make the otherwise boring cacti, interesting, thanks to their interactive exhibitions. This is the chance to fulfill your desire to visit the desert.
Location: 1201 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Timing: NA
Entry Fee: $12.95 (for ages 3-17); $24.95 (for ages 17+)
Further Read: 7 Museums In Phoenix That Will Satiate Your Appetite For Art, Culture And More!
The above list of Phoenix safaris shows us that Phoenix is not always about the heat, the aridness, and the humidity. It hosts some of the finest safari tours in the whole of America thanks to the sincere efforts by its officials and citizens. The number of national parks, conservation centers, wildlife sanctuaries bears testament to how much Phoenicians love their wildlife and how far they would go to preserve it. So, zip up your backpack and head out on your USA trip with TravelTriangle now. After all, anything can wait, but a U.S. trip cannot!
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Exploring new places and trying out new food cuisines are two things that bring Seema all the happiness. Travel freak and a die-hard foodie are the synonyms that define her the best. Popular on social media by the name of ‘PandaReviewz’, lazing around the beaches, exploiting the sunset points, visiting the farthermost villages, exploring the renowned cities, trying out new food cuisines, and blogging about them are few things that keep Seema occupied, and happy!
