loading spinner
California

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

Program No. 15605RJ
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.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

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 3 - Jun 6, 2024
Per Adult
1,549
Per Child
749
Select
Jun 3 - Jun 6, 2024
1,549
/ Adult
749
/ Child
1,549
/ Adult
749
/ Child
2,249
/ Adult
749
/ Child
Select Date
Jun 10 - Jun 13, 2024
Per Adult
1,549
Per Child
749
Select
Jun 10 - Jun 13, 2024
1,549
/ Adult
749
/ Child
1,549
/ Adult
749
/ Child
2,249
/ Adult
749
/ Child
Select Date
Jul 8 - Jul 11, 2024
Per Adult
1,549
Per Child
749
Select
Jul 8 - Jul 11, 2024
1,549
/ Adult
749
/ Child
1,549
/ Adult
749
/ Child
2,249
/ Adult
749
/ Child
Select Date
Jul 15 - Jul 18, 2024
Per Adult
1,549
Per Child
749
Select
Jul 15 - Jul 18, 2024
1,549
/ Adult
749
/ Child
1,549
/ Adult
749
/ Child
2,249
/ Adult
749
/ Child
Select Date
Aug 5 - Aug 8, 2024
Per Adult
1,549
Per Child
749
Select
Aug 5 - Aug 8, 2024
1,549
/ Adult
749
/ Child
1,549
/ Adult
749
/ Child
2,249
/ Adult
749
/ Child
Select Date

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 African 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.
African History for Kids: A Captivating Guide to the History of Africa
by Captivating History, Matt Clayton
A kid-friendly book that breaks down tough topics into simple terms. Learn about colonialism in ancient Africa, Egyptian civilization, and fun facts about the history of Africa.
African Critters
by Robert Haas
National Geographic photographer, Robert Hass, provides readers with a first-person narrative and close-up photography of the African wilderness.
The Magnificent Book of Animals
by Tom Jackson
This book features oversized pages with detailed full-color illustrations of 36 of the world's most majestic mammals. Brief facts highlight each animal's unique behaviors and abilities. Fact boxes allow readers to easily compare each animal's size, habitat, lifespan, and diet.
The Kindgon Pocket Guide to African Mammals
by Jonathan Kingdon
Pocket guide that covers every African land mammal. Includes condensed text that focuses on essential information, maps, distribution maps, and color photos.
Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale
by Verna Aardema
A retelling of a traditional West African tale that explains how the mosquito developed its habit of buzzing in people's ears.
The Tree Where Man Was Born
by Peter Matthiessen
The author provides revealing insights into the human and natural history of East Africa.
Folktales from Africa
by Dianne Stewart
South African and award-winning Author, Dianne Steward, retells folktales from the African Continent.
The Kids Who Travel the World: African Safari
by Lisa Webb
Two adventurous sisters set off for an adventure in the African country, Namibia. What countries will they visit? What animals will they see on safari?
Print All
Map details are not available for this location.
View Map
Expand All
4 days
3 nights
8 meals
3 B 2 L 3 D
DAY
1
Check-In, Registration, Orientation, Game Night
Santa Rosa, California
D
Safari West

Activity note: Check-in from 3:00 p.m. at the front office. Remember to bring your name tag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:30 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: 5:00 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. We will review COVID protocols and will adhere to applicable requirements and guidelines throughout the program. 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.

DAY
2
Jeep Safari Drive, Animal Observation, Animal Project, Dance
Santa Rosa, California
B,L,D
Safari West

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. Then, 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: Next in the Elephant Room, we’ll organize into grandparent-grandchild teams and engage in animal observation. Each team will then 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! After observing our animals and making notes, we will head back to the Elephant Room for an engaging talk with Safari West’s keeper staff. We’ll learn about their exciting careers and how they work with the animals. We’ll then have time to work on our animal projects.

Dinner: In the Elephant Room.

Evening: Members of the staff will lead us in an African dance lesson to get us all out of our seats and moving.

DAY
3
Meet An Animal, Conservation, Presentations, Movie Night
Santa Rosa, California
B,L,D
Safari West

Activity note: Walking about 2 blocks; uneven gravel roadway, slight inclines. Elective walk 1/4 mile; dirt road. Flashlights provided at night.

Breakfast: In the Elephant Room.

Morning: Safari West staff will join us in the Elephant Room. The presenter will bring out animals and talk about each one. We’ll then work on a conservation project led by a Safari West staff member.

Lunch: In the Elephant Room.

Afternoon: We will be joined by an expert for an up-close look at some of the unique insect inhabitants of the Sonoma Serengeti. We’ll then take some time to finalize and deliver our animal project presentations in the Elephant Room. Next, we’ll gather in the Elephant Room for a wildlife movie before dinner.

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.

DAY
4
Wrap-up, Program Concludes
Santa Rosa, California
B

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!






Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.