It’s the closest you can get to Africa without needing a passport! Wildlife preserve Safari West offers adventure seekers a one-of-a-kind wildlife experience in Sonoma County wine country. Located on 400-acres in the scenic foothills of the Mayacamas mountains, there’s never been a better time to visit the so-called Sonoma Serengeti thanks to a new addition to the nearly thousand animal-strong family.
Oh, baby!
A nearly 100-pound bouncing baby Southern white rhino named Otto Lang was born in early April at the Santa Rosa animal park. Making history as the first rhinoceros born at Safari West and in Sonoma County, Otto is named after Safari West owner Peter Lang’s father, a pioneer ski instructor and Hollywood director and producer. After more than a decade of showing no interest in her rhino suitors, Otto’s mom, Eesha, met dad, Ongava in 2021. A tremendous amount of patience is required by veterinarians and animal caretakers when awaiting a baby rhino’s arrival — the gestation period for Southern white rhinos is 16 to 18 months.
White rhinos are considered “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to illegal poaching of their horns and loss of habitat, so welcoming a rhino anywhere in the world is important for the future of the species. Along with collaborating with the American Institute of Rhinoceros Science (AIRS) to improve rhino husbandry, Safari West is conducting internal research on the use of thermographic imaging to detect and monitor rhinos’ pregnancies.
Wild Luxury
You can meet Otto — along with an adorable zebra foal named Azkaban and towering giraffe calf named Grace — on a three-hour African Safari tour at Safari West. But for a singular staycation, book a night or two in one of the wildlife preserve’s glamping tents. Imported from Botswana, after a stay on the Sonoma Serengeti you’ll never look at camping the same way. Each of the 30 tents boasts private bathrooms with hot showers, cozy beds, hardwood floors, and decks with wildlife views.
