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Enjoy a fine dining Thanksgiving feast at the San Diego Zoo or San Diego Zoo Safari Park!

Celebrate Thanksgiving Day at the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Zoo Safari Park - where you can enjoy a lavish buffet with Thanksgiving favorites and chef's specialties, as well as special selections just for the kids. 

We've had the pleasure of attending the Thanksgiving events at both the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park the past two years and had a great time enjoying a Thanksgiving feast and then walking off the meal after and strolling through the world-class zoos in San Diego!


What do you need to know and what can you expect if you decide to attend a Thanksgiving Feast at either the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Zoo Safari Park?

See more below for details and tips from our experience attending these wonderful events the past few years!


San Diego Zoo
If you're planning on visiting the San Diego Zoo on Thanksgiving day, you can expect lower crowds, great weather and a lavish Thanksgiving meal!

When: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday 11/28/2019
Where: Treetops Banquet Room at the San Diego Zoo (also may be available at Albert's Restaurant - three-course Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings.)


Time: Continuous Seating from 11:30 AM or 3:00 PM
Cost: I couldn't find information for Thanksgiving 2019 at the San Diego Zoo website, but did find a menu so I believe it is being offered again this year.  If interested in attending, I would call the San Diego Zoo and say the pricing is similar to the Thanksgiving Dinner event at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

What Can You Expect?
If you're traveling for the holidays, the Thanksgiving Dinner at the San Diego Zoo is a treat - you won't leave disappointed!

Here is a photo tour of the layout at Treetops Banquet Room and what you expect for your Thanksgiving meal:











After your meal (or before depending on the time selected), be sure to enjoy the San Diego Zoo and all of the exhibits and trails.  If you've never been to the San Diego Zoo before, the one thing you'll need to know is that the San Diego Zoo is huge!  I would budget at least 3+ hours to see the main exhibits and trails.






San Diego Zoo Safari Park
If you're planning on visiting the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Thanksgiving, you can expect low crowds, great weather and a lavish Thanksgiving meal!


When: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday 11/28/2019
Where: Hunter Nairobi Pavilion at San Diego Safari Park
Time: 11:30 AM or 3:00 PM
Cost: $49.95 for adults and $19.95 for children ages 3 to 11; plus tax and parking. Admission is also required for nonmembers, making the total with admission $105.95 for Adults and $65.95 for children.

Tickets are on sale now at the San Diego Safari Park website.

The backdrop for the event at the Hunter Nairobi Pavilion is very nice and the event didn't feel crowded at all.


Once you arrive, you'll be seated at your own reserved table, set according to the guest count.


We decided on attending the earlier buffet for lunch and then had the whole afternoon to explore the Safari Park which worked out great for us.

The Buffet Selection is immense and there is something for everyone, with a small kids buffet setup as well with favorites like chicken nuggets and other finger foods.






Honestly, there is so much selection of food, including classic Thanksgiving items, as well as many other options for tastes of all kinds.

After your meal (or before depending on the time selected), be sure to enjoy the Safari Park and all of the wonderful exhibits and trails, also among less crowds.  If you've been to the San Diego Zoo before, the one thing you'll need to know is that the San Diego Safari Park is even larger and more spread out, but offers a lot more activities and safari tours out to the open field enclosures to see the animals.