Accessibility Guide Page 1 f 10 Figure 1 Giraffe
Table f Cntents San Dieg Z Glbal, an Access Friendly Organizatin 3 Frequently Asked Questins 4 Blind r Lw Visin Guest Assistance 5 Deaf r Hard f Hearing Guest Assistance 5 Develpmental Disabilities Guest Assistance 5 Autism Spectrum Sensry Prcessing Disabilities Guest Assistance 5 Limited Mbility Guest Assistance 6 Africa Tram 6 Easy Access Pass 6 Parking 6 Shws 6 Shuttle Service 6 Wheelchairs and Other Pwer-Driven Mbility Devices 7 Admissin 8 Drinking Funtains 8 Health Services/First Aid Refrigeratin fr Medicatin 8 Restrms 9 Service Animals 9 Dining and Shpping 9 Best Times t Visit 9 Guest Services Office 9 Premium Experiences 10 Cntact Us 10 Page 2 f 10
San Dieg Z Glbal, an Access Friendly Organizatin San Dieg Z Glbal (SDZG) is cmmitted t ensuring that ur campuses are welcming t all! This is a pledge made by all f ur emplyees. We strive t prvide a safe, pedestrian-friendly envirnment where visitrs f all ages and abilities can enjy getting clse t nature as nly the San Dieg Z and San Dieg Z Safari Park can ffer. We are cmmitted t cmpliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Califrnia Access Laws. This guide addresses many f the accmmdatins San Dieg Z Glbal prvides fr persns with disabilities. Hwever, if yu have needs r questins utside f the cntent fund in this dcument, please cntact us at the Z at (619) 231-1515, ext. 4526 r at the Safari Park at (760) 796-5621, based n the facility yu are planning t visit. Yu will find that we are able t best serve yu if yu call at least ne week prir t yur visit. We always welcme calls, cmments, and suggestins frm ur guests. On the day f yur visit, please feel free t discuss any special needs yu have at ur Guest Services ffice, adjacent t the frnt entrance. Access is a field that changes frequently as new infrmatin, technlgy, and laws evlve. We reserve the right t mdify this guide and ur accessibility plicies as apprpriate. Page 3 f 10
Frequently Asked Questins Wheelchairs Q: D yu rent wheelchairs? A: Yes. We have manual and electric wheelchairs available t be rented fr the day. Q: What is the cst fr wheelchair rental? A: Prices are subject t change. Prices are psted n-site at the rental facility. Q: Can a wheelchair (manual r electric) be reserved ahead f time? A: N. Wheelchairs are rented n a first-cme, first-served basis. Q: What is the minimum age t perate an electric wheelchair? A: 16 years ld. Q. Des yur guided tram tur accmmdate wheelchairs? A: Yes. The guided tram tur accmmdates ne wheelchair per vehicle. Q. D yu have a map that suggests the best path f travel? A. Yes. Our Park map indicates best path f travel, lk fr blue dtted lines Attendants Q: If a persn with a disability brings an attendant, des the attendant get int the Safari Park free f charge? A: Yes. Fr yur cnvenience, cmplimentary passes fr attendants may be btained at any f the ticket windws at the entrance t the Safari Park. Mbility/Transprtatin Q: Is there a shuttle service fr guests with disabilities? A: Yes. Q: Where des the shuttle service g? A: Please dwnlad and refer t the Accessibility Map, which shws ur Shuttle stps in the Safari Park. Cmmunicatin Q: D yu prvide assistance fr guests that need American Sign Language interpretatin? A: Yes. We request that arrangements be made at least 1 week in advance f yur visit. Please call (760) 796-5621 t arrange fr an interpreter. Special Assistance Q: D yu prvide assistance fr guests wh are Blind? A: Yes. We request that arrangements be made at least 72 hurs in advance f yur visit. Please call (760) 796-5621 t make arrangements. Q: D yu allw service animals? A: Yes. We welcme guests with disabilities that chse t bring their trained service animal int the Safari Park. Animals in training are nt allwed in the Safari Park. Please dwnlad the Service Animal map, which shws the restricted and sensitive areas fr service animals. Q: Are service animals allwed n safaris? A: Service animals are permitted n the Africa Tram. All ther Safaris require the animal t be kenneled. Q: Can a staff member assist guests in the restrm? A: N. Safari Park emplyees are neither trained nr permitted t lift a guest r help them inside a restrm. Shuld it be required, guests needing this assistance shuld plan t visit the Safari Park with smene wh can physically help them. Page 4 f 10
Blind r Lw Visin Guest Assistance If yu are blind and yu wuld like yur persnal assistant t guide yu, that persn is cnsidered an attendant and he/she will be admitted t the Safari Park fr free. If yu wuld like a sighted staff persn t accmpany yu, an Access Ambassadr will be prvided. We ask that yu make a reservatin 72 hurs in advance f yur visit. The Access Ambassadr is a staff member wh will accmpany yu n a walking tur, read infrmatinal signs r map infrmatin, read menus and pricing signs. These staff members are prepared t prvide descriptins f animals and the exhibits. He/she will describe the current activity f the animals and prvide yu with visual descriptins f the areas yu visit. If yu have purchased premium turs r experiences, ur Access Ambassadr can accmpany yu if arrangements are made at the time f ticketing. Please call ur Access Crdinatr, Tuesday thrugh Saturday at (760) 796-5621 t make arrangements fr an Access Ambassadr. This service is available fr guests wh are blind r wh have lw visin. Please remember that we appreciate as much advance ntice as pssible, 72 hur minimum helps us t schedule the best experiences fr yu. Deaf r Hard f Hearing Guest Assistance If yu are Deaf r hard f hearing we have a number f accmmdatins available t yu. If yu wuld like us t prvide yu with scripted infrmatin fr ur shws r turs, these are available. They can be picked up at Guest Services r at Ranger Base. Each tur presentatin may vary depending n the rute and/r the animals that are mst visible s the script rder may vary frm the presentatin. If yu wuld like an ASL Interpreter, we request a minimum f ne-week ntice in advance f yur visit. Please call (760) 796-5621 t arrange an interpreter. Develpmental Disabilities Guest Assistance If yu are guest with a develpmental disability wh requires an attendant, the attendant will be admitted at n charge. Autism Spectrum Sensry Prcessing Disabilities Guest Assistance The Safari Park is unlike many recreatin sites because ur treasured cllectin f plants and animals are living. As such, the Safari Park is a place that includes many smells and sunds. These ccur intermittently and withut ntice. Here are sme f the tls and suggestins we have t assist with yur visit. Be aware f the changing envirnment at the Safari Park. We suggest bringing items t reduce stress. If yu are lking fr a quiet area, please ask ur staff at the Guest Services ffice t prvide suggestins. Health Services is lcated at Ranger Base. Summer, hlidays, and weekends are busiest at ur facility. We suggest cming earlier in the day, n weekdays and during the ff-seasn t avid larger crwds. Nte the Easy Access Pass sectin fr mre infrmatin. Page 5 f 10
Limited Mbility Guest Assistance The San Dieg Z Safari Park has many natural hills and valleys, which are inherent barriers t easy mbility access. The Safari Park has many accmmdatins t make ur hills and valleys mre access friendly. Please pick up a map fr the mst accessible rutes. Additinally, we have a shuttle service and elevatr t assist guests. The Safari Park has many changes in surfaces and guests are advised t use cautin when traveling thrughut the Z. Please nte: The Safari Park is an expansive, walking theme park. We recmmend that guests with limited mbility/stamina bring r rent a mbility assistive device. Please keep in mind that Park emplyees are neither trained nr permitted t lift guests. A guest requiring such physical assistance shuld plan t visit the Safari Park with an attendant. Africa Tram Guests may park r stre their strllers, wheelchairs, r Other Pwer Driven Mbility Devices (OPDMDs, frmerly knwn as electric scters r ECVs) at the lading dck. Please utilize the accessible line if yu require assistance lading nt the tram, r if yu cannt transfer frm yur device. An emplyee will assist with the lading prcess. The tur is rund trip, therefre, yu will return t the same lcatin as departure. Easy Access Pass Guests wh have difficulty standing in line r wh have limited mbility may request an Easy Access Pass at any ticket windw at the entrance t the Safari Park, Ranger Base, r at the Africa Tram ticket windw. This pass may be utilized at the Africa Tram, attractins, and shw areas. The attendant n duty will direct the guests t a designated barding area. Three additinal members f the guest s party may accmpany the guest with a disability. If there are mre than three guests in yur party, yu may request t be seated at the lading facility t wait until ther members f yur party prgress thrugh the line t the lading area. Parking Accessible parking is available in ur parking lt n a first-cme, first-served basis. A valid disability parking placard r license plate is required. Please nte that the San Dieg Plice Department enfrces the Safari Park s disabled parking spaces. If designated disabled spts are all taken, cmplimentary parking is prvided in ur Preferred Parking Lt. Be sure t display yur placard issued by an apprpriate gvernment Mtr Vehicle agency. Shws Wheelchair seating is available at the frnt f each amphitheater and n the rad abve Temb Stadium. Please lk fr the accessible areas f the amphitheaters that are designated by the wheelchair access symbl. Please ask any emplyee fr assistance if it is needed. Shuttle Service Shuttle service is available fr access t different lcatins arund the Safari Park. Please dwnlad and refer t the Map fr Guests with Disabilities, which shws the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Shuttle stps in the Safari Park. The shuttle service runs n a cntinuus rute thrughut the day. Page 6 f 10
Wheelchairs and Mbility Devices The Safari Park is widely accessible t guests using bth manual and electric wheelchairs. Cnsistent with federal guidelines, we define wheelchairs as devices designed primarily fr use by individuals with mbility disabilities. We als accmmdate the use f certain nntraditinal wheelchairs (e.g. steerable knee walkers). We reserve the right t inspect devices t determine whether they are safe enugh t navigate the Safari Park. If yur child is using his/her strller as an accessibility device and is unable t transfer ut f it, please visit the Guest Services Office and request a wheelchair tag. Please nte, all persnal prperty is the respnsibility f the wner. Other Pwer-Driven Mbility Devices (OPDMDs) The Safari Park accmmdates the use f sme Other Pwer-Driven Mbility Devices (OPDMDs), which are vehicles that are nt wheelchairs, but rather are electric devices designed primarily fr use by individuals with mbility limitatins. In the interest f maintaining a safe and pedestrian friendly envirnment while at the same time ensuring that everyne has a psitive experience at the Safari Park, we regulate the peratin f mbility devices. It is prhibited t perate a mbility device at a speed significantly greater than the flw f the surrunding pedestrian traffic. Acceptable OPDMDs Permitted mbility devices include the fllwing: Electric OPDMDs and ther single-seat electric scters with three r mre wheels that cannt exceed mre than 6 miles per hur. Segways with a steering handle are permitted but must perate nly in turtle mde. Prhibited OPDMDs Prhibited OPDMDs include the fllwing: Any device that has r shuld have a registered license plate Any device that has nly ne wheel Any device that has tw tandem wheels (e.g. tw-wheeled electric r mtrized scters) Any OPDMD that has been structurally r mechanically altered All Hverbards r Segways withut a steering handle Any glf carts r similar type vehicle Any gas pwered vehicle Any OPDMD that is nt listed as acceptable (abve) Ntwithstanding the abve lists, fr safety reasns we reserve the right t inspect any mbility device t determine whether it appears safe enugh t perate at the Safari Park. During such an inspectin, we will cnsider varius factrs, included but nt limited t the fllwing: The type, size, weight, dimensins, minimum speed, and maximum speed f the device. The high vlume f pedestrian traffic the Safari Park receives. The Park s unique natural and architectural characteristics (e.g. hills, pathways). The ptential harm the device might cause t its peratr, ther guests, and the envirnment. Page 7 f 10
Whether the device appears stable and can balance n its wn withut the use f a kickstand. Federal, state, and municipal regulatins (e.g. whether the device is permitted n sidewalks). Other infrmatin the Park might find in the device s use manual r thrugh ther investigatin The Operatin f Wheelchairs and OPDMDs Please cnsult bth the standard Safari Park map and the Accessibility Map befre perating a wheelchair r OPDMD n the grunds. Familiarity with the areas f the park that have steep slpes and ther limitatins will ensure a safe and enjyable visit. We recmmend guests cnsider nly perating their wheelchairs and OPDMDs n mild slpes. It is als required that guests perate their wheelchairs and OPDMDs within the applicable manufacturer guidelines. Operatin f wheelchairs and OPDMDs is restricted t thse fr whm the devices have been fitted. Befre perating an OPDMD, please read the device s manufacturer guidelines t determine whether the vehicle is susceptible t electrmagnetic interference. The Safari Park has areas with steep grades that limit accessibility. In the interest f safety, we recmmend that guests in manual wheelchairs avid these areas. All guests using these rutes shuld use cautin t avid serius injury. Wheelchair Rentals available n a first-cme, first-served basis Manual wheelchairs and electric scters (an OPDMD), are available fr rent just inside the main entrance t the Safari Park. Rentals require a picture ID and the age requirement t perate an electric OPDMD is 16 years ld. Rental Prices are subject t change; please call fr pricing. Admissin All guests with disabilities must have a valid frm f admissin t the Safari Park. If a persn with a disability requires an attendant, a cmplimentary pass will be prvided fr the attendant and it may be btained at any f the ticket windws at the entrance t the Safari Park. This als applies fr special prgrams and turs at the Safari Park. Drinking Funtains Drinking funtains accessible t guests are lcated thrughut the facility. Cmplimentary cups f water may als be requested at any fd stand r restaurant. Health Service/First Aid Refrigeratin fr Medicatin Health Services is lcated in Ranger Base. If at any time yu need immediate assistance, please ask any Safari Park emplyee. If yu have special medical needs, please cnsult with ur health service persnnel at this lcatin. Refrigeratin fr medicatin is available at this lcatin. Page 8 f 10
Restrms Please refer t yur guide map fr restrm lcatins. All restrms in the Park are accessible. Family/gender neutral restrms are lcated near Ranger Base. Safari Park emplyees are neither trained nr permitted t lift a guest r help them inside a restrm. Shuld it be required, guests needing this assistance shuld plan t visit the Safari Park with smene wh can physically help them. Service Animals We welcme guests with disabilities that chse t bring their trained service animal int the Park. Emtinal supprt animals as well as cmpanin, cmfrt r pets are nt allwed entry int the Z. Service animal trainers may nt bring their in-training animals int the Z. Service animals permitted t the Safari Park are dgs and miniature hrses. Service animals must remain n a leash r a harness, be under cntrl f its handler at all times. Leash cannt exceed 6 feet in length. Animals must be huse brken. If, at any time yur service animal s behavir is inapprpriate, yu will be asked t remve yur service animal frm the premises. Yu may temprarily huse yur service animal in ur kennel while visiting the Safari Park. Please inquire with the attendant at the turnstiles at the entrance t the park, r at Ranger Base fr assistance. Space is available n a first cme, first served bases fr trained service animals. Fr yur cnvenience, any accessible planter may be used as a relief area ; please pickup after yur animal. Service animals are restricted where there is direct cntact with Park animals r limited in certain areas due t the sensitivity f the Park s animal cllectin. These restricted and sensitive areas can be fund n the Safari Park s Service Animal Map. Please visit an attendant at the turnstiles at the entrance t the Safari Park t check-in yur service animal, and receive a service dg bandana. Service animals must be kept back 6 feet frm animal presentatins in public spaces. Dining and Shpping All dining lcatins are accessible. All merchandise lcatins are accessible. Best Times t Visit T avid large crwds, visit San Dieg Z during nn-peak times. Typically, fall and winter tend t be less cngested and summer and hlidays bring the greatest crwds. Weekdays, and nn-hlidays and early mrning times are generally less crwded. Guest Services Office Upn arrival, feel free t stp in and visit the Park s Guest Services ffice, lcated at the Z s entry turnstiles. The staff will advise yu f accmmdatin tls the Park has in place that might be beneficial. The Park is a living rganizatin with the task f caring fr a variety f animals and plants and as such changes in exhibits may ccur. The Park can prvide tips and updates n its daily calendar f events that might help yu plan yur day. The Park staff is here t help. The San Dieg Z Safari Park is a full inclusin rganizatin welcming ALL guests. Page 9 f 10
Premium Experiences Caravan Safaris Each Caravan vehicle can accmmdate up t tw wheelchairs. Bth the persn with a disability and the wheelchair itself must be able t withstand the mvements f the truck. Rar & Snre The Rar & Snre campgrund is wheelchair accessible, with partial access t behind-the-scenes areas. An ADA restrm is prvided at the campsite. Fr mre infrmatin please cntact the Reservatins Office at (619) 718-3000. Cntact Us Safari Park Accessibility Questins (760) 796-5621 Custmer Service (Cmments, suggestins, and questins abut the Safari Park) (760) 747-8702 Page 10 f 10