Discover Africa
Program Details
The Discover Africa Program is offered to Title 1 underserved schools to enhance classroom conservation, science and biology school programs. Each 90-minute educational excursion is led by a Safari West Naturalist. Grades 3-12 encounter giraffes, primates, cheetahs, and birds from around the world. This experience provides a conservation-focused exploration of wildlife biology, ecology, and conservation sure to spark an interest in students of all ages. The curriculum undergoes constant refinement to ensure it adheres to California State Science Content Standards.
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Mission and Thanks to SATO Foundation and California American Water
The Safari West Wildlife Foundation is grateful to the SATO Foundation who has generously provided funding for Discover Africa and remains an important and distinctive partner. For Spring 2025, SWWF received a gift from California American Water (CAW), the water agency for the Mark West/Larkfield region. CAW was so impressed with the Foundation’s programs, they gifted a fund to the Foundation so that school children in the Mark West/Larkfield region may experience Safari West. Due to this amazing gift, the Foundation is collaborating with the Mark West School District on a special hybrid program that combines the onsite wonder of the Discover Africa program with the Safari West LIVE program. Safari West LIVE provides live and interactive wildlife conservation programs for children in hospitals across the United States. This hybrid program offers school children an educational adventure to experience the amazing species at Safari West, including Giraffes, Rhinos, Lemurs and walk-through the amazing aviary filled with birds from all over the world. In addition, school children are working on class projects related to wildlife and habitat conservation, then presenting their project in class to the Safari West LIVE team. In return, the Safari West LIVE team is showcasing museum-quality horn and antler specimens for a STEM learning show & tell session for the children to learn about the importance of horns and antlers, keratin, bone structure, and species differentiation.
The Foundation is seeking funding to expand on this hybrid program to provide meaningful education. We are asking for the public’s support to sponsor a school or district in Northern California or for Safari West LIVE programming for a school anywhere in the world, so we can continue to teach about the importance of wildlife conservation and habitat to protect species. Recent studies have shown that wildlife conservation would benefit from environmental education that enables children to spend time outdoors and learn about nature in multiple ways. The Foundation’s goal is to “Inspire Wildlife Stewards for Life”, and with funding, the Foundation can continue this important impact to help preserve our precious resources for future generations.
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​Impacts from 2023-24 School Year:
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Schools 23 Title 1 Schools
Children 1,090
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School Locations: Sonoma County, American Canyon, Napa, Ukiah, Calistoga, Kelseyville, Laytonville, Woodland, Oakland
Additional information for educators:
Thank you for your interest! While all students enjoy making a personal connection with wildlife, the Discover Africa program is most impactful for students in grades 3-12. Additionally, the limited funding available in support of Discover Africa means that we cannot approve every application. Acceptance decisions are rarely based on grade level or reduced-cost lunch percentages alone. We strongly encourage you to take the time to craft a strong argument as to why your class deserves to receive a Discover Africa scholarship.
Thank you to these dedicated teachers who support wildlife conservation!
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I have taken students to Safari West for 4 consecutive years. I wanted to give my students who are dedicated young artists, the opportunity to draw from life and experience the beautiful environment that Safari West provides. I can honestly say that in every group, there have been a number of students who have told me that it was the best day of their lives (most are 14 years old). The guides are informative and engaging, giving enough information without overloading students, the animals are the stars of the trip.
I scaffold the trip with lessons on gesture drawing, but I focus my lessons mostly on the element of texture. Safari West is the perfect field trip to explore different textures and put into practice all the work we do in the classroom learning about real and implied textures. I have created a number of lesson plans around this trip and each year, the student work outdoes the year before. Last year we made a quilt that we donated to Safari West and the students are thrilled, knowing their work is at the original point of inspiration! This year we did a mixed media piece, and most of the students have told me it has been their favorite project this year.
The application process is straightforward and the staff at Safari West and Safari West Wildlife Foundation could not be more helpful in making your field trip happen. Thanks, Safari West!
Janet Fisher
Santa Rosa City Schools
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Robert Louis Stevens Elementary
The RL Steven's COOL School program was so grateful to receive a scholarship from the Safari West Wildlife Foundation. The students who attended loved seeing the animals. They left Safari West with new knowledge about Safari animals. They had an amazing time learning and exploring! Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to expose our students to this new adventure! Thanks!
Jena Preston
COOL School
Robert Louis Stevens Elementary, Santa Rosa
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Thanks to your generous support, our students experienced a day not only of fun but of profound educational enrichment. During our visit, the children were thrilled to see the animals they had only previously learned about in textbooks and online resources. Observing the animals in their habitats allowed the students to witness firsthand the adaptations these creatures have developed to thrive in the wild. This real-world connection has been invaluable, bringing to life the lessons we’ve explored in the classroom. The excitement from the trip has been palpable since we returned. The students are eagerly discussing the animals they saw and are motivated to learn more about them. Each child will be choosing one of the animals they encountered at Safari West to research further and will write a report based on their findings. It is inspiring to see them so engaged and enthusiastic about continuing their studies. We are profoundly grateful for this opportunity you’ve provided. Your commitment to environmental education and conservation is clearly evident and deeply appreciated. Thank you for making such a memorable and impactful experience possible for our students and chaperones. Please know that your support has sparked a renewed zeal for learning in our students, and the memories made during our visit will be cherished for years to come. We look forward to hopefully partnering again in the future to continue bringing such wonderful experiences to our students.
Tiffany Blake
Kid Street Charter School, Santa Rosa
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My colleague and I combined our Freeman Elementary school classes (special education and general education) for our trip to Safari West in 2023. We were greeted and guided with smiles from the moment our bus pulled onto the lot! The staff are very customer-focused and professional: they made the process of scheduling a trek impossibly simple even though we applied for (and were granted) a scholarship offered by the Safari West Foundation. The park itself is pristine and the wildlife are obviously very well cared for. The trek was a very pleasant ride aboard a safari vehicle - super fun! Safari West also offers educational materials which we used to recap our visit and to give our students a tangible takeaway to accompany their memories. Thank you to the Safari West Foundation and to Safari West for all you do to ensure that students have an opportunity to learn about wildlife in their natural habitat in a safe, clean environment. Freeman Elementary appreciates you!
Kimberley Oliver, M. Ed., Education Specialist
G.A.T.E. Liaison
Freeman Elementary - Woodland WJUSD​​​​​​​
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