SimSafari

SimSafari takes the familiar Maxis simulation formula and moves it from cities and farms to the African savannah. Players create and manage a wildlife park, balancing animal populations, visitors, staff, scenery, and finances while trying to keep the whole ecosystem functioning. Lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes, and other animals all have their own needs, and maintaining a successful park requires more than simply throwing a few trees onto the map and hoping for the best. Visitors expect entertainment, animals expect suitable habitats, and the accountant presumably expects you not to spend the entire budget on elephants. The game combines educational elements with the relaxed experimentation associated with Maxis simulations. SimSafari is at its best when the park begins to feel alive, with animals moving around and visitors enjoying the environment. It is essentially wildlife management with spreadsheets, only considerably more entertaining than that description makes it sound.