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California

From A to Zebra: A Sonoma Serengeti Safari With Your Grandchild

Program No. 1560560MEADV-1116-60
Spot African animals like giraffes and zebras from an authentic safari jeep and camp in tents on a wildlife preserve in the “Sonoma Serengeti” with your grandchild.

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Age 7 - 11
ROOMING OPTION PRICING
The figures below indicate the rooming options available.
DATES
Jun 9 - Jun 12, 2025
Per Adult
1,599
Per Child
799
Jun 9 - Jun 12, 2025
1,599
/ Adult
799
/ Child
1,599
/ Adult
799
/ Child
2,349
/ Adult
799
/ Child
Jun 23 - Jun 26, 2025
Per Adult
1,599
Per Child
799
Jun 23 - Jun 26, 2025
1,599
/ Adult
799
/ Child
1,599
/ Adult
799
/ Child
2,349
/ Adult
799
/ Child
Jul 7 - Jul 10, 2025
Per Adult
1,599
Per Child
799
Jul 7 - Jul 10, 2025
1,599
/ Adult
799
/ Child
1,599
/ Adult
799
/ Child
2,349
/ Adult
799
/ Child
Jul 14 - Jul 17, 2025
Per Adult
1,599
Per Child
799
Jul 14 - Jul 17, 2025
1,599
/ Adult
799
/ Child
1,599
/ Adult
799
/ Child
2,349
/ Adult
799
/ Child
Aug 4 - Aug 7, 2025
Per Adult
1,599
Per Child
799
Aug 4 - Aug 7, 2025
1,599
/ Adult
799
/ Child
1,599
/ Adult
799
/ Child
2,349
/ Adult
799
/ Child
This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!

At a Glance

Go “wild” on an adventure with your grandchild at the Safari West Wildlife Preserve. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the Serengeti of East Africa as you jump into a real safari jeep to search for spotted cheetahs sunbathing on a hill and neon pink flamingos wading through shallow pools of water. Trek through the inner grounds to look for giraffes towering over the grasslands and grazing gazelles. Become an expert on an animal as you put together a research project to present to your new friends. Experience the sights and sounds of the Serengeti as you learn with your grandchild about some of nature’s most majestic animals!
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to one mile, some uneven gravel terrain with slight incline to and from tent cabins and meal areas. Flashlights provided at night. Must be able to climb a few steps into a safari jeep and tent cabins.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Enjoy a truly immersive experience by staying overnight in tents imported from Africa with views of grazing giraffes!
  • Get up close with a private presentation of mammals and other fun reptiles of all shapes and sizes.
  • Move to the rhythm and beat of African music during a private dance lesson.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
4 days
Program Begins
Santa Rosa, California
Program Concludes
Santa Rosa, California
Meals
8 | 3B | 2L | 3D |
Activity Level
Go “wild” on an adventure with your grandchild at the Safari West Wildlife Preserve. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the Serengeti of East Africa as you jump into a real safari jeep to search for spotted cheetahs sunbathing on a hill and neon pink flamingos wading through shallow pools of water. Trek through the inner grounds to look for giraffes towering over the grasslands and grazing gazelles. Become an expert on an animal as you put together a research project to present to your new friends. Experience the sights and sounds of the Serengeti as you learn with your grandchild about some of nature’s most majestic animals!)
Best of all, you'll...
  • Enjoy a truly immersive experience by staying overnight in tents imported from Africa with views of grazing giraffes!
  • Get up close with a private presentation of mammals and other fun reptiles of all shapes and sizes.
  • Move to the rhythm and beat of African music during a private dance lesson.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to one mile, some uneven gravel terrain with slight incline to and from tent cabins and meal areas. Flashlights provided at night. Must be able to climb a few steps into a safari jeep and tent cabins.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List (9 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call 800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
4 days
3 nights
What's Included
8 meals | 3B | 2L | 3D |
3 expert-led lectures
2 expert-led field trips
4 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
3 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Expand All
Activity Note
Check-in from 3:00 p.m. at the front office. Remember to bring your name tag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. After you have your tent assignment from the front office, join us at the Road Scholar table in the Elephant Room (next to the Savannah Café restaurant) to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived Orientation: 4:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. Local experts will give lectures and lead field trips. We’ll get around primarily by walking with one activity by jeep. As a special feature of this program, each kid will choose an animal for a study project to learn everything we can about that animal and give a report about it on Day 3. During the upcoming jeep safari drive and animal observation time, we will have opportunities to ask questions about our chosen animals. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
In the Elephant Room.
Evening:
We’ll gather for a campfire chat at the fire pit (weather permitting). Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a jeep; driving about 2.5 miles with numerous stops, approximately 3 hours. Walking up to a mile.
Breakfast:
In the Elephant Room.
Morning:
We’ll answer the call of the wild and board our open-air jeep for a safari drive through parts of the Safari West Wildlife Preserve that covers 400-acres of oak-studded hillsides and Sonoma County grasslands. Safari West has two big goals: preserving and propagating endangered species and promoting conservation by raising awareness of these animals through education. Led by an experienced wildlife expert, we’ll explore natural habitats of this “Sonoma Serengeti” that’s the closest we can come to Africa without going there. Amid the 400-acre wilderness, there are more than 900 animals representing 90 different species. They roam across some of the largest enclosures in the country. We’ll observe animals from antelope to Cape buffalo, gazelle, giraffe, rhinoceros, warthog, wildebeest, zebra, and more.
Lunch:
In the Elephant Room.
Afternoon:
Following lunch we’ll be joined by a Safari West staff member to learn all about bees and the hard work they do. How do bees make honey? How do they communicate? Why are they so important to human life? We’ll learn the answers to these questions and more in the Elephant Room. Next, we’ll organize into grandparent-grandchild teams and engage in animal observation. Each team will spend time in the wildlife preserve with our experts for field observation of our chosen animals. We will walk about a block in our family groups with zoo-keepers. Questions are encouraged! We’ll meet up in the Elephant Room where someone from Sonoma County Bird Rescue will come to teach us all about the local wild birds in the area. We’ll learn about the impact humans have on the environment and the birds who share it. We’ll have a chance to observe some birds as well!
Dinner:
In the Elephant Room.
Evening:
Get ready to get up and get active after dinner as we’re joined by friends who will teach us some African Dance moves. The fun drumbeats are sure to get us out of chairs and moving!
Activity Note
Walking about 2 blocks; uneven gravel roadway, slight inclines. Elective walk 1/4 mile; dirt road.
Breakfast:
In the Elephant Room.
Morning:
We’ll start our morning in the Elephant Room with a Safari West staff member to enjoy an exciting animal presentation. The staff will have animal friends with them and we’ll get to learn fun and interesting facts about each one. Then we’ll head out on a “bushwalk” with Safari West staff. We’ll walk through the grounds with enclosures for many other animals, including cheetah, lemurs, and colorful birds in the open-air aviary. Kids will have opportunities to ask the animal keepers about their selected animal for tomorrow’s presentation.
Lunch:
In the Elephant Room.
Afternoon:
After lunch we’ll be joined by an expert for an up-close look at some of the unique insect inhabitants of the Sonoma Serengeti. Then we’ll compete in a Safari West themed scavenger hunt. Can you find the answers to all the scavenger hunt questions? Then we’ll take some time to put the finishing touches on our animal presentations. We’ll gather in the Elephant Room where everyone will have a chance to share about their chosen animal.
Dinner:
In the Elephant Room. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We’ll gather in the Elephant Room for movie night. Then prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
In the Elephant Room.
Morning:
We’ll have a wrap-up session with our Group Leader and say farewells. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
8 Meals
3 Breakfasts
2 Lunches
3 Dinners
The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian, Gluten Free
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
Aug 04, 2025 - Aug 07, 2025
  • Aug 04, 2025 - Aug 07, 2025
  • Jun 09, 2025 - Jun 12, 2025
  • Jun 23, 2025 - Jun 26, 2025
  • Jul 07, 2025 - Jul 10, 2025
  • Jul 14, 2025 - Jul 17, 2025
  • Aug 04, 2025 - Aug 07, 2025
3 nights
Location: Santa Rosa
In the heart of California's wine country, in the field of wheat-colored grass, on the slopes of rolling green hills, among the trees and ranches and vineyards is where you will find the essence and spirit of Africa. Come through the gate and be transported into an exotic new world.
3 nights
Location: Santa Rosa
In the heart of California's wine country, in the field of wheat-colored grass, on the slopes of rolling green hills, among the trees and ranches and vineyards is where you will find the essence and spirit of Africa. Come through the gate and be transported into an exotic new world.
3 nights
Location: Santa Rosa
In the heart of California's wine country, in the field of wheat-colored grass, on the slopes of rolling green hills, among the trees and ranches and vineyards is where you will find the essence and spirit of Africa. Come through the gate and be transported into an exotic new world.
3 nights
Location: Santa Rosa
In the heart of California's wine country, in the field of wheat-colored grass, on the slopes of rolling green hills, among the trees and ranches and vineyards is where you will find the essence and spirit of Africa. Come through the gate and be transported into an exotic new world.
3 nights
Location: Santa Rosa
In the heart of California's wine country, in the field of wheat-colored grass, on the slopes of rolling green hills, among the trees and ranches and vineyards is where you will find the essence and spirit of Africa. Come through the gate and be transported into an exotic new world.
Participant Reviews
5
Based on 14 Reviews
Sort By:
Janet | Pleasant Hill, CA
The Safari A to Zebra held at Safari West was a wonderful experience for my grandson, age 7 and me his grandmother. This was his first trip without one of his parents so a milestone for him and a great opportunity for me to see him in the context of the person he is becoming, one on one, and within the context of the entire group. Some of the grandparents in our group had physical challenges and I liked that Roads Scholar accommodated them. First thing I did after getting him and his dad to the airport to fly home, was to start looking at the catalog showing next year’s grandparent/ grandchild trips.
— Review left August 12, 2024
Kathie – Class of 2004 | Sequim, WA
Serengeti Safari is a wonderful program for grandparents to share with younger children! It is full of enrichment activities such as special hands on animal demonstrations and activities that keep the children delighted. The food is great. The leader is a master at bringing out the best in every child and adult. Love, love.
— Review left August 14, 2023
Karen – Class of 2017 | Niles, MI
A wonderful first trip for myself and 7 year old grandson. Fun and engaging for us both. I learned so much about HIM. I look forward to our next trip together.
— Review left August 30, 2022
Carolyn – Class of 2011 | Portland, OR
This program exceeded my expectations. My grandson and I had a wonderful time. We both learned so much and he felt very comfortable at the property. He also made new friends in the short time. The staff at Safari West and Mary from Road Scholar were exceptional. I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to have a fun experience with their grandchild.
— Review left August 22, 2022
This participant did not give a star rating.
Ann – Class of 2011 | Concord, CA
My granddaughter and I had so. much fun! The accommodations were comfortable (a little wakeup chorus from the residents). The animals were well maintained and the food was very good. The animal park tours were great and so were the extras. We enjoyed the African drums and dancing and the exotic animal presentation. My granddaughter had a good time enjoying the animals exhibits and the other kids on the trip.
— Review left August 5, 2022
Diana – Class of 2015 | Los Gatos, CA
My grandson and I completed the Safari program for grandparents/grandchildren. The program was one of the most positive experiences of my grandson's life. He was able to engage in activities with the animals and also do games and activities with his peers. The last night he and his new friends played tag and hide and seek for hours. I've seldom seen him so happy. At the same time he is still talking about "his" animal, the one he chose to study. He got two stuffed animals at the gift shop and named them after his two new friends because they will remind him of their time together whenever he sees them.
— Review left August 5, 2022
Anne – Class of 2014 | Valencia, CA
A great experience with my grandchild. I would highly recommend it. Lots of fun things to do, lots of learning and and the environment was amazing. Tent cabins were perfect.
— Review left July 28, 2022
Carol – Class of 2019 | San Francisco, CA
This is an extraordinarily well organized program in a lovely wildlife park in a safe and secure environment. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience there and so did our 7 year old granddaughter. Highly recommend. If you choose to post this in your materials please only do so anonymously. thank you
— Review left June 26, 2022
Dee – Class of 2022 | Gainesville, FL
From-A-to-Zebra-A-Sonoma-Serengeti-Safari-With-Your-Grandchild This was a wonderful trip that we took with our granddaughter. She enjoyed seeing the animals and learning about them. She was able to use information learned on the trip to complete several of her Girl Scout Badges. After our Road Scholar trip ended, we made a short day trip into San Francisco which she enjoyed also.
— Review left June 13, 2022
Galyn – Class of 2022 | Marina del Rey, CA
This was an amazing and wonderful trip. I loved every minute of it and so did my 10-year-old grandson. I literally watched him blossom. His self confidence grew exponentially during the few days we were with Road Scholar. We both learned a lot and had so much fun.
— Review left June 10, 2022
Carol – Class of 2007 | Sherwood, OR
Great bonding with our grandchild
— Review left July 21, 2019
Barbara – Class of 2000 | Palo Alto, CA
I am a 92 year old great grandmother who went on this trip. My advice would be to be in really strong walking condition before this trip. I did a lot of walking up and down the hill from my tent to public areas.
— Review left July 14, 2019
This participant did not give a star rating.
Jenny – Class of 2013 | Morgan Hill, CA
We had a wonderful time with our 7 and 10-year-old grandchildren at Safari West. They made friends with the other campers, and we all enjoyed the many varieties of animals. The projects and hands-on meet-the-animals activities were big hits. Definitely a "glamping" experience in the tents. Very comfortable and good food.
— Review left June 30, 2019
Shantha – Class of 2011 | Shorewood, WI
African Safari if the Excellent trip. i highly recommend Safari West. RoadScholars has planned the trip very well. I have been to Africa. Safari West is very unique.
— Review left June 24, 2019





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