A Traveler's Guide to the World of Pokémon/Safari Zone

The Safari Zone is an area of the Pokémon video game series. As its name suggests, the player, upon entering, may capture Pokémon in an environment resembling a safari. Although many Pokémon residing in the Safari Zone can be caught elsewhere, some, such as Scyther and Pinsir, are exclusive to this area only.

It also includes 1, 10, or 30 Safari Balls possible. If you pay the fee of 500 Poké-dollars you get 30 Safari Balls. If you have less than that you will get 10 Safari Balls. If you don't have any money you get 1 Safari Ball.

Unlike most areas containing wild Pokémon, the Safari Zone places several restrictions on the player.
 * A fee of 500 Pokémon dollars is required to enter.
 * A "time limit" of 500 steps (600 in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen)
 * The player is only allowed to use the 30 provided Safari Balls to capture Pokémon. In addition, owned Pokémon are not allowed to participate in confrontations, and the player must rely on a limited amount of commands, such as baiting and throwing rocks, to interact.

Red/Blue/Yellow
The Safari Zone in the Red, Blue, and Yellow versions of Pokémon is located in the northern part of Fuchsia City. It contains four areas, each containing different species of Pokémon.

When encountering a wild Pokémon, a Pokémon from the player's party is not sent out. Instead, the player has the option to run away, offer bait, throw rocks, or attempt to capture the Pokémon by using a Safari Ball. Offering bait will make the Pokémon less likely to run away, but decrease the chance of catching it by making the ball miss more often. Throwing rocks will hurt the Pokémon, making it easier to catch but increasing the chance of it running away.

It is also the vital piece of the puzzle of Glitch City. Also there was a way to steal safari balls and using them for own use.

Gold/Silver/Crystal
In the Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions of the game, the Safari Zone is absent. The entrance still remains at its usual location in the north of Fuchsia City, but the player is unable to enter it. A "beta" version of a Safari Zone map is included in the programming of the game, leading to the speculation that it might have been removed due to the discovery of so many glitches in the R/B/Y versions. However, it is also likely it was simply scrapped due to time restraints. The unfinished Safari Zone may still be accessed through GameShark or another cheating device.

Ruby/Sapphire
In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the Safari Zone made a reappearance. It is located about halfway through Route 121, and while it is similar to the R/B/Y Safari Zone, it introduces several new key differences. Only 500 steps and 30 Safari Balls are permitted, as in the old version, and the player is still restricted to engaging the Pokémon themselves by luring, distracting, capturing, or running away. However, instead of using unlimited "baiting," the player must now use a Pokéblock chosen from their own inventory. Instead of throwing rocks, the player is given the choice to "get closer".

Other changes include the addition of Pokéblock feeders, on which you can place a Pokéblock and wait for Pokémon to appear, rather than look for them. Also, some areas are inaccessible unless the player has a particular bike. The Mach Bike is needed to reach the Northwest corner of the map, while the Northeast corner of the map requires you to have the Acro Bike. Each area contains a different set of Pokémon.

Finally, the player cannot save while inside the Safari Zone. However, quitting at any time is available by choosing the "RETIRE" option on the Start menu or talking to the man by the exit.

The player can still use Pokémon abilities, such as Surf and Rock Smash, inside the Safari Zone, along with the new move, "Sweet Scent," which can be used to draw wild Pokémon without walking. Also, fishing or turning in circles without moving will not count against your time quota.

Emerald
The Safari Zone is also present in Pokémon Emerald, and is the same as Ruby and Sapphire's; however, it now has a new section to the right of the entrance that will open after defeating the Elite Four. This new area has a north and a south section, each filled with Pokémon from the Johto region (this is the only place in the game in which some Pokémon can be caught without trading).

Diamond and Pearl
Renamed Great Marsh (though the in-game map still refers to it as the Safari Zone), and located near Pastoria City. The player can travel by train to access each area of the Great Marsh, although some areas are interconnected without train. There are six areas in the Great Marsh most of which are covered with mud. You will get stuck in the mud and to get out, simply move the character around. The ability to "move closer" has changed to "throw mud", which functions much like the "throw rocks" of the earlier games, and "throw bait" also returns from the older games, while bait feeders were removed.