Conservation is at the heart of Safari West’s mission as a nonprofit organization, as one of our core pillars of Research, Education, and Conservation (REC). Our conservation work focuses on the ethical care of the animals in our stewardship, the protection of biodiversity, and the support of sustainable habitats. 

Our efforts begin right here on our 400-acre preserve—through managed breeding programs, animal welfare enrichment, and responsible habitat management—and extend outward through collaborations with partners and conservation organizations. Together, these initiatives strengthen species survival, promote ecosystem health, and inspire our community to take action for wildlife.

Where Wonder Begins: Why Every Safari is a Conservation Story

At Safari West, every journey begins with a simple idea: to introduce people to the wonder of the wilderness and the remarkable animals that share our world. Our safari tours aren’t just sightseeing—they’re immersive, unscripted experiences designed to shift perspectives and deepen our collective commitment to wildlife conservation.

A Different Kind of Safari

The safari tour has been at the heart of Safari West since day one. What our guests discover is something wondrous: animals living in wide, naturalistic, mixed-species habitats; quiet landscapes without crowds; and moments that unfold naturally rather than on a predetermined route.

Here, every safari is unscripted. Here, guests climb aboard an open-air vehicle and venture into the hills—exploring and observing. No two days are alike. We don’t know where the giraffe will be or what the rhinos will be doing when we find them. One moment you’re discussing giraffe behavior; the next, the conversation shifts because a pair of addax has begun courting nearby. These spontaneous encounters remind us that wildlife operates on its own terms—and we are privileged simply to witness it.

Curiosity Is the First Step Toward Conservation

Guests ask wonderful questions—about rhino populations, zebra stripes, migration, behavior, and survival. Our guides foster curiosity and, in doing so, kindle something deeper: connection.

When we’ve done our job well, guests leave excited and informed, equipped with stories and insights they can share. But more importantly, they leave with an understanding of what’s at stake in our natural world—here and across the globe—and how each of us plays a role in protecting it.

Conservation Starts at Home

Much of Safari West’s landscape is protected through open space and conservation measures, helping ensure that this habitat remains dedicated to wildlife, education, and ecological research. Within this protected landscape, significant portions of the preserve are intentionally managed to support native species and habitats in the local Sonoma County ecosystem.

While Safari West celebrates the extraordinary wildlife of the African continent, we never forget that we are rooted in the hills of California Wine Country. The land beneath our feet is part of the Mayacamas Mountains, rich with native species and delicate ecosystems worth protecting.​

Our safari grounds support more than the animals in our care. They are also home to:

• River otters, black-tailed deer, bobcats, and rattlesnakes
• Native western pond turtles and salamanders
• Red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, Canada geese, and the occasional bald eagle​

This blend of African species and California native wildlife creates a unique teaching environment: Conservation is not only about rhinos and giraffes—it’s about the ecosystems in our own backyard.​

Why It Matters

We believe that people—individually and collectively—benefit from genuine encounters with nature. When guests feel the breath of a giraffe, watch a rhino calf trot beside its mother, or spot a bobcat slipping through the grasslands, something shifts. Awareness becomes empathy. Empathy becomes stewardship.

At Safari West, that transformation is our mission.

We will always be here doing what we do best—inviting people into the wild, inspiring a deeper understanding of our interconnected world, and encouraging every guest to leave with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.