USA Today's top-rated glamping destination, featuring Botswana-imported canvas tents and open-air safaris among 1,000 exotic animals.
Safari West is a 400-acre private wildlife preserve and luxury glamping destination situated in the rugged foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains near Santa Rosa, California. Founded in 1993 by Peter and Nancy Lang, the preserve represents a lifelong dedication to animal conservation and education. Peter, whose father was the ski pioneer and Hollywood director Otto Lang, spent his childhood on television sets surrounded by trained animals, while Nancy brought her deep expertise as an avian biologist and former general curator of the San Francisco Zoo. Together, they transformed a former cattle ranch into what is widely celebrated as the Sonoma Serengeti. Today, this sprawling sanctuary provides a protected home for approximately 1,000 animals representing over 90 exotic species. Guests can observe herds of elegant giraffes, massive southern white rhinoceroses, zebras, wildebeests, cheetahs, and ring-tailed lemurs roaming through spacious, naturalistic enclosures that mimic the African savannah.
The overnight experience at Safari West centers around 30 authentic canvas safari tents imported directly from Botswana. Elevated on high wooden platforms, these luxury tents are strategically positioned to overlook the animal enclosures, allowing guests to watch giraffes and antelopes graze from their own private viewing decks. Inside, the tents offer a seamless blend of rustic adventure and wine country comfort, featuring polished hardwood floors, hand-carved wooden furniture crafted by Peter Lang himself, plush beds with pillow-top mattresses, and fully plumbed en-suite bathrooms complete with hot showers and copper sinks. To ward off the chilly Northern California nights and early mornings, the tents are equipped with electric heaters and blankets. When the sun sets, the sounds of the Sonoma wilderness fade into the calls of the wild, with guests falling asleep to the grunts of rhinos, the chatter of lemurs, and the rustling of exotic birds in the nearby trees.
A stay at the preserve is anchored by the classic safari adventure, a three-hour guided tour led by knowledgeable and unscripted naturalists. Guests climb into customized, open-air, vintage Dodge Power Wagons, some of which are Korean War-era military trucks, featuring elevated rooftop seating for a truly immersive vantage point. The rugged drive traverses dusty trails and rolling pastures, bringing visitors remarkably close to free-roaming herds, followed by a walking tour through the lush aviaries and primate habitats. In the evening, the gathering point is the Savannah Cafe, where dining is inspired by the traditional South African braai, a wood-fired barbecue. Guests sit on the expansive outdoor terrace to enjoy a buffet of slow-smoked beef brisket, ribs, and chicken cooked over a custom wood-burning grill, paired with hearty sides like macaroni and cheese and a curated selection of local Sonoma and Napa Valley wines. The spirit of the preserve is perhaps best embodied by its history: during the devastating Tubbs Fire of 2017, Peter Lang famously refused to evacuate, spending ten heroic hours alone with garden hoses to save every single animal on the property, cementing Safari West as a true sanctuary of love and resilience.
Book your South African braai dinner at the Savannah Cafe at least 48 hours in advance, and request a tent on the upper hillside loop for the best morning views of the giraffes. Bring warm layers and a headlamp: the evenings get surprisingly chilly, and navigating the unlit paths at night is much easier with your own light.
Where to Stay — Curated accommodations hand-picked by Basecamp West. Glamping, boutique hotels, historic lodges, and unique stays across the American West.