Among other outstanding groups of animals, it has white rhinos, hippos, lions, African and Asian elephants, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and a Komodo dragon.

[citation needed] The Safari began as a small children's zoo in the Ramat Gan National Park in 1958.

In the late 1960s, the founding director Mr. Zvi Kirmeyer, was inspired by the novel concept of Safari Parks which were developing around the world during 1966-1974.

He convinced the first mayor of Ramat Gan, Avraham Krinitzi, that a drive-through Safari Park in Israel was a viable idea.

The animals were supplied by Carr-Hartley from Tanzania, in 1968 and 1972 and included seven African elephants, eight white rhinos, Grant's zebras, Thomson's gazelles, defassa waterbuck, eland, ostriches, Masai giraffe, Grant's gazelles, beisa oryx, dik-diks, Grévy's zebra and De Brazza's monkeys.

To this day the drive-through African Safari section, with its large and dynamic mixed herds of 13 species of mammals and birds, is the signature area for the visitor experience.

Situated adjacent to the City Hall of Tel Aviv, it was a nuisance due to noise, traffic and smell.

The physical spaces for the animals were no longer acceptable according to modern zoo practice; the real estate value of the property was great.

An agreement was reached between the cities of Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan to construct a new zoo within the space of the Zoological Corporation of Ramat Gan, to house the collection from the old Tel Aviv Zoo, thereby concentrating a major animal attraction in one place in the center of Israel.

The mild Mediterranean climate enabled the development of large open enclosures amid lush subtropical gardens.

The Safari participates also in local captive breeding projects which support declining or extinct raptor populations in Israel.

The Asian elephants Motek and Warda had already begun breeding in the old Tel Aviv Zoo before being transferred to Ramat Gan.

The hippo family grew from a pair originating in the old Tel Aviv Zoo and at its peak reached 40 animals.

The Israeli Wildlife Hospital (IWH) was founded in 2005 as a cooperative enterprise between Ramat Gan Safari and the government Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA).

In March 2021, archaeologists announced the discovery of two 1,800-year-old sarcophagi, ancient stone coffins dating to the Roman period.