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Out
of Africa Wildlife Park
For Visitors of All Ages
By Sylvia Somerville
On a hot
day in July, Boom Boom, a rescued Southern White rhinoceros,
takes a nap under a large mesquite tree; Echo, a gray wolf,
anxiously awaits a fresh chicken treat from a caregiver’s
hand, black bear Payson stands up and begs for her supper, and
Chipa, a spotted hyena, is enjoying a misting.
All around, hundreds of other mammals are dipping
themselves in wallows, stepping into water containers, sleeping
or lazily walking around. It’s a typical summer day at Out of
Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde, Arizona.
Nearly
400 exotic animals, many endangered and threatened species
(including large land predators), have found refuge and a
dignified life in the heart of Arizona’s ranch country.
They feel safe and at home. And they are treated with
respect.
The
animals live on a 104-acre wilderness preserve, which has a
high-desert environment similar to the Masai region of Africa.
Unlike a zoo, where animals are squeezed into small
enclosures, here residents can roam freely in spacious, natural
habitats. Species
that are not normally paired in other wildlife situations in
captivity live comfortably together in Out of Africa, such as an
old tiger with a pride of lions.
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The animals have a
developed a close relationship with their caregivers, who
try to see life through the animals’ eyes. It’s part
of the park’s philosophy to anticipate the animal’s
needs so they are not frustrated, afraid or bored. Staff go out of their way to make the animals comfortable.
Debbie, our tram guide, came up with the idea of misting
Chipa and of bringing in dog hair for “an enrichment
experience.” The
hyenas sniffed and rolled around in the hair, obviously
appreciative of the gift. |
Visiting
the park is a memorable experience for visitors of all ages, but
especially for families. Children
delight in seeing the animals up close, taking pictures and
observing their behavior in the park’s two popular unrehearsed
shows—the predator feed on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
(800 pounds of raw meat devoured by carnivores) and the giant
snake show on Thursdays and Saturdays, featuring anacondas, boas
and pythons. Park visitors can come up and touch the snakes!
Both shows take place at 3 p.m.
The park
is open year round from Wednesday through Sunday. Gates open at
9:30 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Visitors can explore the park in
safari-like vehicles and trams or on foot.
The tours and the special daily shows are all included in
the price of admission.
The park
has two primary tours, which are a wildlife photographer’s
dream come true:
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The
Serengeti Safaris a 45-minute
adventure, designed after an authentic African Photo Safari.
It encourages personal encounters with giraffe,
zebra, wildebeest, ostriches and other hoofed animals.
“The giraffe just came right up and licked my face,”
said one excited visitor.
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The
Wildlife Preserve is an
educational hour-long tram or trolley tour, which circles
the large-habitat homes of lions, tigers, wolves, hyena,
bears, mountain lions and other predators.
Unobstructed photo decks are the perfect staging for
an unforgettable photograph of the park’s majestic
animals. “It’s
like seeing them in the wild,” said a visitor from
Washington, DC.
For an
additional fee, Out of Africa offers Behind the Scenes VIP
Tours. These personalized excursions around the park are
conducted by Dean and Prayeri Harrison, founders and owners of
Out of Africa, or expert caretakers. The VIP tour also
includes lunch and hands-on animal encounters.
Coming soon is the Tiger Splash arena, where tigers will frolic
in the water with their caregivers and colorful toys. This was
Out of Africa’s most popular show when the park was located in
Fountain Hills, 90 miles south of its present location. In 2004,
the park lost its lease on the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation
and reopened in Camp Verde. Fortunately, the new site is more
than six times larger and a few degrees cooler.
For
more information,
visit www.outofafricapark.com
or call (928) 567-2840.
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