out of africa safari park arizona

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Out of Africa Wildlife Park

Lions and tigers and bears and more, just north of Phoenix

Within about 2 hours from most points in Phoenix ,  Out of Africa Wildlife Park is located on more than 100 wilderness acres at the base of Mingus Mountain range in Camp Verde, Arizona. The weather and landscape are similar to the Masai Mara region of Kenya and the Serengeti of Tanzania, which suits the inhabitants, bears, tigers, leopards, giraffes, zebra, wolves, deer and more, just fine. The objective here is to provide a natural habitat for the animals while allowing the humans to appreciate and enjoy them. The park is owned and operated by a husband and wife, Dean and Prayeri Harrison.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park is not really a zoo. It is a wildlife refuge where people are invited to enjoy the beauty of hundreds of creatures that aren't typically found in the Arizona desert.

About half of the animals here are rescues. The individual habitats range in size from about half an acre to 6-1/2 acres.

Ten Things To Know Before You Go

• You can easily spend 4 or 5 hours at Out of Africa if you want to take advantage of all the tours and shows on any particular day.
• Not all shows are available on all days.  Check the schedule  to see which shows are offered on the day you'll be going.
• It took a few years after the move to Camp Verde to bring back the Tiger Splash show, and it is the most popular show at the park. The animals are not trained, so you don't really know what you'll see the tigers do. There are plenty of seats at the Tiger Splash Arena, but only a couple of rows in the back are benches with backs. The other seats are basically like sitting on concrete steps. Most of the seating area at Tiger Splash Arena is covered.
• Because the animals here have large habitats that afford them ample space to move around, play, get shade and hide, there are times when you might not be able to find them. That can be disappointing. Be patient, or come back and try again later in the day.
• Although Out of Africa is about 2,000 feet higher in elevation than Phoenix and is cooler, keep in mind that in the summer in Camp Verde it is still hot! Take precautions!
• Out of Africa is suitable for all ages, but understand that there is no traditional petting zoo here. There are opportunities to feed a tiger (extra charge), feed a giraffe or camel, or touch a snake, but that's about it for hands-on activities.
• Be prepared to walk on dirt paths and uneven surfaces.
• You can only ride on the African Bush Safari, but you can walk or ride, or a combination of the two in the wildlife preserve. You'll definitely want to do both. If you can only do one, though, I always enjoy wandering through the Wildlife Preserve best, where you'll see the big cats, hyenas, bears and more.
• The snack bars near Tiger Splash Arena have reasonable prices. Leave the gift shop until the end of your visit so you don't have as much to carry. The gift shop is at the entrance/exit.
• Out of Africa is a bit rustic. This is not a theme park. Your tour vehicle might not be very glitzy (unless you are on the VIP tour), there are no carnival-type rides, just trams and tour buses.

Special tours

The Unimog Tour is designed for a smaller group of people, minimum 5 years old on a one-hour personal tour through the park, including the African Bush Safari where the animals walk up to the vehicle. Out of Africa Wildlife Park offers a Behind the Scenes VIP Tour as well as a  Zipline Tour . Various packages are also offered. Reservations are required, and pricing is different for those experiences.

Predator Zip Line

This isn't your grandma's zipline. This is a full, 2-1/2 hour experience with five lines starting on a 75' high platform over the wildlife park. You must be at least 8 years old, between 60 and 250 pounds and in good health. No phones or cameras are permitted. Admission to the park is not included in the price, so if you also want to experience Out of Africa Wildlife Park from the ground you'll need to buy separate tickets for that. No previous zipline experience is necessary. Daytime and night zipline tours are offered. Visit Predator Zip Line online for pricing, more information, and to make reservations.

Practical Information

Out of Africa is open seven days per week, 363 days per year, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. No tickets are sold after 4 p.m. Out of Africa is open on holidays except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Out of Africa used to be just outside of Fountain Hills, but they moved to Camp Verde in 2005. It is located about 90 minutes north of Phoenix.

As is common in the industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary visit for review purposes. While it has not influenced this article, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy. All prices and offerings mentioned herein are subject to change without notice. 

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Out of Africa Wildlife Park

Things to see and do.

Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Mingus Mountains of Camp Verde, Out of Africa Wildlife Park is nestled on over 100 acres of rolling hills and valleys. This setting is home to hundreds of exotic mammals, birds, and reptiles from all over the world. It’s the perfect place to raise the awareness of our exotic neighbors while promoting understanding through in-person contact. It truly is an awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild.

No passport needed! You may be in Arizona, but you’ll feel like you’re in Africa when hitching a ride on your own African Bush Safari Tour, included with general admission. This 30-minute tour narrated by expert guides is a photographer’s dream.

At Out of Africa Wildlife Park you and yours will experience the ultimate animal adventure for all ages. One steeped in fun, immersed in learning, and inspired by a living and colorful world of astonishing wildlife. They strive to foster an appreciation of our planet’s wild areas and wondrous inhabitants by supporting and promoting conservation awareness and action, practicing exemplary animal care, providing education and learning experiences, and establishing broad community support, through a peaceful and interactive relationship with our animal friends, who touch our hearts.

out of africa wildlife park highlights

Tiger splash®.

You’ve never seen anything like this before! Witness one or more Bengal and Siberian tigers interact in a predator-and-play relationship, romping and splashing in a large pool as they play with their caretakers and various colorful toys.

VIP Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Predator feed, plan your adventure, location map + directions.

VISITOR INFO

Out of Africa Wildlife Park 3505 W. SR-260 Camp Verde, AZ 86322 (928) 567-2840 Visit Website

photo gallery

Watch fun shows like Tiger Splash and get smooched by a giraffe on your African Bush Safari at Out of Africa Wildlife Park. Enjoy fabulous encounters like the Giant Snake Show, Predator Feed and Wonders of Wildlife Show. With a jungle hut eatery and gift shop, plenty of fun awaits!

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Out of Africa Wildlife Park

Experience the thrill of an African safari, see exciting shows like Tiger Splash™, enjoy exotic animals roaming in spacious habitats, zip lines and more. This awe-inspiring adventure blends family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild. Visit www.outofafricapark.com for show schedule and info.

• Trip Advisor

• (928) 567-2840
• Fax: (928) 567-2839

• 3505 W State Route 260
• Camp Verde, AZ  86322

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How can you get an African safari experience without stepping foot on a plane, train or boat?

Look no further than Arizona’s Out of Africa Wildlife Park . It feels like you’ve walked out of the Sonoran Desert and into a savanna. This park is unlike any other zoo or animal experience, and it has something for everyone within its gates.

Expect to find habitats for tigers, lions and bears, plus our personal favorite: spotted hyenas.

You’ll also find a dazzle of zebras, a Black Leopard named Enoch, a White Rhino names Jericho, and many more.

Out of Africa is a unique 103-acre preserve that allows animals to thrive and flourish in spacious exhibits, and none of the animals have to go through any training. The park even lets some of the animal shows run almost completely on improv.

The park offers a variety of unique ways to get up close and personal to their furry, scaly and slippery residents. One of our favorite options is the Unimog Adventure Safari Tour, a giant truck that takes you into some of the exhibits to feed and get to know the animals face-to-face.

For something a little more casual, and easier for little ones, visit the Tiger Splash show. The entire show involves people playing, swimming and running around with a tiger. A mix of comedy and crazy, it’s just plain fun, and a great family activity. Those brave enough can stick around and feed a tiger, too.

Even more adrenaline-pumping encounters await at the park’s African bush safari, giant snake show and predator feed. There’s also a Wonders of Wildlife show that's a big hit. 

Visitors can even camp out at the park during select times of the year, opt for a special VIP behind-the-scenes tour, or take a photography workshop for a little something extra. And bonus: The park is free during your birthday month.

Out of Africa also has one final option: the Predator Zip Line. You can fly over all those spectacular animals for an aerial view that’s to die for. It’s the only one of its kind. 

The park even has great lunch options that won’t break your budget. Of all the burger, sandwich and hotdog options, we recommend The Kibo (turkey on grilled sourdough) when you get the chance.

Out of Africa is in Camp Verde, Arizona, about a 75-minute drive from central Phoenix . It’s located about 30 minutes south of Sedona.

Out of Africa 3505 W. SR-260, Camp Verde 928-567-2840

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Out of Africa Wildlife Park – A Safari in…

My happiest place on earth…  or at least pretty darn close to it..

In September of 2016 I visited the western United States including Arizona, Nevada, and California. Sedona, Arizona is certainly a highlight when I think back on all of my travel experiences.  I completely fell in love with the outdoor opportunities and the foreign, captivating landscapes of red rocks. I also had one of my favorite tourist experiences in the Out of Africa Wildlife Park. In my opinion, the park was very reasonably priced, especially for the value of the experience. Our ticket (which included a tiger feeding and a Jeep safari tour) cost us less than our local theme park admission. I set my expectations low due to the reasonable price, but I was quickly pleasantly surprised.  Out of Africa Wildlife Park offers a unique experience in which you can interact with a variety of animals. We split our day into four distinct activities: Solo Exploring, Jeep Safari Tour, Feeding the Tigers, and the ZipLine.

Solo Exploring 

In the morning, we took the shuttle to the beginning of the gravel trail that winds through the animal enclosure. We explored the park using only the paper map as our guide. Physically fit people can easily walk to each of the animal exhibits, but the shuttle between major intersections can reduce the amount of walking required. Out of Africa provided each animal more space than any other animal exhibits I have visited, but the angles of enclosure plots are taken advantage of so that visitors can see animals in quick succession.

At Out of Africa we were very close to the animals. We were so close to large predators that at times I felt afraid. I had confidence I was safe, yet  the park was unique as there were no giant ditches or plexiglass separating animals and humans. The experience was very intimate, even before we added any optional experiences.

Jeep Safari Tour 

When it was time for our Jeep Safari tour, we loaded into the jeep with a cheerful guide. She demonstrated knowledge and an excellent relationship with the animals we visited on the tour. The guide fed hyenas and coaxed them to laugh for us. She scratched furry bellies and was able to encourage animals to stretch on the fence to show their height or claws. We learned indiviudal animals’ names and detailed species information. The tour visited animals along the walking path, but also entered a large plains area where zebras, giraffes, and several other goat, antelope, and sheep-like animals resided.

Visitors fed small “cookies” to giraffes and zebras, who  would come right up to the jeep to receive the offerings. The guide encouraged me to hold the cookie in between my lips and allow the giraffe to retrieve it— a practice advertised on Out of Africa t-shirts as “kissing a giraffe.” I have never been closer to my favorite non-domesticated species. It was definitely a highlight of the entire trip west.

Feeding the Tigers

On my previous trip, I discovered I am acrophobic. This was somewhat new information to me, but when my husband expressed interest in the zipline through the park, I knew I would not “Zip” by his side. Though relieved to be in the observation tower, I was a little bit jealous. As he glided overhead, he had unique view of the area where giraffes and zebras roomed freely. His thought the zipline was a fun, but was limited because he only rode a single line. There are multiple ziplines in the park but he snagged a single ride late in the day. Having the bird’s eye view cruising over a lion’s pen is a unique experience that you won’t find in many other places.  

A Happy Place for Wildlife

I love animals with a childlike glee that is evident in even a mediocre zoo. Yet, I have a conflicted relationship with the concept of captivity. Captivity is not a natural state, and many factors seems to reduce the animal’s quality of life, even when it is necessary for survival of the animal. Even with this viewpoint, I appreciated many facets of Out of Africa Wildlife Park. Spacious enclosures contained several sources of exercise and entertainment that seemed suited to each animal. There were tall trees and connecting appliances for animals who climb and swing, platforms for animals who like to observe surroundings, and plenty of tall grasses in which  the tigers and lions to practiced stalking and pouncing.

Every interaction I observed between staff and the animals clearly demonstrated passion and patience. I never encountered any lethargic, sad-looking animals common in my experiences of other animal parks and zoos. I felt like a guest in the animals’ home, rather than feeling guilty for having drug the animal into our artificial environment.

Go to Out of Africa, Bart is Waiting

Finally, Out of Africa offered the option to meet a sloth named Bart, up close and personal. I cannot believe I let myself walk out of the park without meeting Bart! I think it is an excellent reason to go back. If sloths are your favorite non-domesticated species, definitely go to Arizona and meet up with Bart.

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Travel Adventures in Arizona, USA & Abroad

Day Trip to Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Arizona

Out of Africa Wildlife Park is just north of Phoenix in Camp Verde, about 30 miles from Sedona .  The park is nestled right up against the Mingus Mountains.

This park is all about the big cats.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my  disclosure policy .

If you love lions, tigers, jaguars, and/or bobcats you’ll enjoy a trip to this park. Most of the animals are rescue animals. None of the animals are bred or born in this park. There was a baby lion and a baby white tiger when we visited.

Part of the experience of the park is to watch the interactions between the animals and the people who work at Out of Africa.

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Where is Out of Africa Wildlife Park & How to Get There

Out of Africa Wildlife Park is in north central Arizona. Just north of Phoenix you can visit this cool Wildlife Park. From Phoenix take Interstate 17 North, exit 287, turn left and follow the signs, 3 miles from the I-17 make left by sign then take right at entrance.

Park Address: 3505 West Highway 260 Camp Verde, AZ

Out of Africa Wildlife Park Tiger Splash

Do not miss the Tiger Splash show, where you will get a chance to see two big tigers play with toys in the water and with employees of the park.

It isn’t a show in the sense of a scripted trained act. The tigers are allowed to be themselves and dictate how the time is spent. It is an enjoyable show for both adults and kids. This and the Serengeti Safari were the most enjoyable part of the park.

On our visit we saw both baby and adult White Tigers.

Other Shows

Other shows include the Snake show , a chance to feed the tigers, and a ever changing wild animal show.

Safari Tour

Immediately upon entering the park, you can take the Serengeti Safari which is a 30-minute ride on an open-air bus. From this tour you can feed the giraffe or camel.

See the Zebras and Ostrich very close up. You can also take a longer tour on a hummer or take the Wildlife Preserves Tram tour up to see the various shows and learn a little bit about the park on the drive there.

Once you get off the tram you are free to see a show or walk around and see the various animals. As I said before big cats are everywhere in this park. They have nice viewing stations, so you can see most of the animals in their habitats with unobstructed views.

Note: This park has very little shade for people, so if you are planning a visit, keep this in mind especially on those 100 + degree summer days. All trails are dirt paths. Save $$ Check out local magazines and mailings for coupons.

Phone: 928.567.2840 Hours: Open Wed-Sun 9:30-5:00 Website: http://outofafricapark.com/

Nearby Attractions:

• Tuzigoot National Monument
• Verde Cany on Rail

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