The San Diego Zoo‘s safari park has set early 2026 as the opening of its new Elephant Valley habitat, which is now 80 percent complete.
The largest and most transformative project in San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s 109-year history, Elephant Valley offers an immersive experience where guests learn about elephants’ crucial role as ecosystem engineers.
“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 chief executive officer of 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.”
The new habitat is described as a dynamic savanna at the heart of the safari park.
It is designed to reflect the year-round seasonal variations of the African savanna, and features more than 350 rare and endangered African plants to replicate the sights, sounds and smells of Africa’s ecosystems.
It also offers Mkutano House, a restaurant positioned along one of two expansive watering holes for the safari park‘s herd of elephants.
“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,” Dixon said.
San Diego Wildlife Alliance supports various collaborative elephant conservation initiatives in the African savanna, with elephants across the continent facing immediate threats like habitat loss, poaching, and difficulties with human-wildlife coexistence.
Elephant conservation in African savanna
Research conducted in Africa and with the safari park’s elephant herd offers an opportunity to advance technologies and approaches to monitoring and protecting elephants in the wild.
Earlier this year, a herd of African elephants were filmed shielding their young during a 5.2 magnitude earthquake at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
