2008 Woodie Awards
The spirit of Africa in the heart of Sonoma
Safari West in Santa Rosa takes students on a wild adventure
Lexie Imhaus
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: Features
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Safari West is a home and safety net for over 500 species of wildlife including a wide variety of mammals, birds and reptiles.
Associated Students is excited to offer Sonoma State students the unique and rare opportunity to experience the spirit of Africa at Safari West. On April 19, the local preserve will be hosting a Safari tour at 1 p.m. for the special price of $5. The day will consist of a 90-minute tour-half walking and half driving-through Sonoma's very own African savannah. This special experience is not only available for students, but for faculty and staff as well.
"It's a great opportunity just to get off campus and escape from the routine of school and stressful classes," said Dan Kelly of Associated Student Productions. "Tickets are usually $65 so students should seize the opportunity to travel through an environment that is completely foreign to anything they have ever experienced."
The preserve was founded by Peter Lang in 1989, and it later obtained membership in the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. Safari West is one of only six private establishments in North America that belongs to the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. More than sixty thousand people visit the preserve yearly.
Safari West's mission and ongoing goal is to help preserve and save endangered wildlife through breeding, education, research and public interaction.
Safari West serves two important goals, the first being wildlife preservation. This is carried out through projects such as the propagation of endangered species, and the breeding of many endangered bird species under the direction of Nancy Lang, wife of founder Peter Lang. There are also many ongoing conservation projects and programs for the two species of "Saharan Desert" antelope that are now endangered in the wild.
The second of Safari West's main goals is to continue raising awareness of our exotic and endangered animal friends by promoting understanding through direct, in-person contact. Because of this, Safari West offers safaris on a year-round basis.
Besides the wildlife park, there is also the Safari West Wildlife Foundation. This foundation is a nonprofit organization aimed to support the park's constant goal of protecting and preserving animals and wildlife, as well as educating adult and student visitors.
The Safari Wildlife Foundation also has another dream of world conservation. They believe that by working toward such an ambitious goal, they can one day see a future where everyone, everywhere can respect their fellow living creatures with harmony and not cruelty. Safari West encourages their visitors to discover that wild animals are perfect and happy as they are: wild and free.
The foundation also provides the public with wildlife education through seminars, workshops, wildlife camps for kids and much more.
Safari West is not a zoo or theme park, it is a wildlife preserve as well an African tent camp. It is dedicated to personal, educational and hands-on learning and observation. Since Safari West is both privately owned and a non-profit organization, it relies solely on the income of the guests and visitors to feed their 500 species.
In addition, Safari West offers lodging in their unique African safari tents, as well as dining and gift shops.
Safari West is located at 3115 Porter Creek Road in the northernmost region of Santa Rosa.
Tickets are on sale at the Student Union Front Desk as well as the Residential Life Office, for $5. For more information contact Mo Phillips at 664-2804.
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