Welcome 'Stretch' - newest baby joins one of the Largest Private Giraffe Collections in the United States!

A new baby Masai giraffe was born at Safari West late Thursday night. We named the calf 'Stretch McCovey' after the former San Francisco Giant Hall of Famer. Seemed appropriate as baseball Spring season is just starting.

The calf is the 15th born at Safari West and marks a very important and celebrated event, creating the largest private giraffe herds in the United States.



Stretch weighed in at around 130 pounds, stood over 6 ft tall at birth and started walking within the hour. He was greeted with beaming faces from Safari West staff as he took his first steps toward mother Jamala to nurse.

Giraffes give birth while standing and the six-foot drop to the ground aids in starting the breathing process - a rude awakening! In the wild, mothers usually go off on their own to calf, so during the birthing process, the other giraffes were led into another enclosure. Mom spent time inspecting, licking and nuzzling the baby.

Breeding Success -- Safari West is committed to the management of captive populations to support wild populations, and continues to put significant effort into the conservation of the many species which call Safari West home. Animals are supplied with healthy diets that simulate the nutrients they consume in the wild. Gathering the most up-to-date information from zoo nutritionists, the animal management staff constantly adjusts diets to meet nutritional needs in a manner that best supports reproduction. "To allow our animals to exhibit naturalistic behaviors, including reproduction, we make every attempt to provide our wildlife with the most naturalistic settings possible. This includes multi-acre habitats, wooded areas, streams, and ponds," says Nancy Lang, Ph.D. The environments found on the 400 acre wildlife preserve at Safari West are much like those found in the exotic and untamed lands of the African continent.

Hunt for the Hare...
Join us in the pursuit....

Looking for hare-raising adventure this Easter? Join the animals of Safari West (and their human companions) for our ninth annual Hunt for the Hare, an egg-straordinary Easter celebration and brunch.

Click here

Welcome to the Wilds of the Safari West Trading Post

Stop by the Trading Post and discover exotic gifts, authentic African art and artifacts. Look for engaging toys and games and venture deeper into our shopping Serengeti for unique jewelry and more. There's plenty to stimulate the imagination!
Click here to enter

Grab your gal-pals and get away for a night!  End your work-week with a relaxing girls night including lodging in one of our luxurious tent cabins, dinner at our Savannah Cafe, a wild safari adventure, and wine & chocolate in your tent!

For Girls Getaway details and pricing, click here!

All the kids, pups, cubs and calves are doing it. Even the more mature leaders of the pack are tweeting, and now we are too! Safari West is now active on both Facebook and Twitter.

It's not just about updates and news, it's a home for you to become part of our family that reaches across the country and around the world. You'll be the first to hear about things like our latest births, and of course,  you'll also be able to enjoy the most current photos and videos!

And, because we want to see Safari West through your eyes, we'd love for you to post your own pictures and share your favorite Safari West stories.

Click below to join the fun:

Become a Fan on Facebook!

Follow us on Twitter!