Located in Camp Verde, Arizona, Out of Africa wildlife park puts every other "zoo" to shame.
I took the short hour and half drive up to Camp Verde last Tuesday and let me tell you, my experience was one I will never forget.
When you immediately arrive at the entrance, you may be confused whether you're at the right place or not. Since the park is privately owned, it doesn't look like the grand entrance you may be expecting. It's a fairly small park, so don't worry about getting there right when it opens. You won't be facing the long lines or crowds like you do at other zoos. Once you get into the park you check in and your adventure awaits you.
While waiting for the tram to take you to the top of the park, you're greeted by a few wild cats and an enclosure with a lemurs, turkeys and birds. What I thought was especially cool was that the lemurs were active and were peeling and eating bananas.
Once you hop on the tram, you get a tour of the park. They have rhinos, bear, wolves, lions, tigers, pigs, hyenas... you name it, they have it.
Here you can get up close and personal with the animals. The only thing standing between you and Hunter the tiger is a chain link fence.
What's amazing is that the zookeepers all have a special relationship with the animals. They know everything about the animals from where they came from to they act in the wild and how they're taken care of at the park. You know that these animals are well kept.
Some special features that the park offers is a unimog safari ride, a zipline and a tiger splash show. The unimog ride takes you through a large enclosure where zebras, giraffes, and many more animals run free. You even get the chance to feed Kebow the giraffe!
The zipline takes you flying over the enclosures where you get an aerial view of the animals. Flying over the tiger enclosure is magnificent as you are literally looking down at the animals.
The most unique thing at the park is the Tiger Splash Show. The zookeepers basically play with the tiger where you get to see him run, jump and roar. You've never seen a tiger so active in an enclosure.
Watch animals chomp down on some meat, lick a meat ice box and hear hyenas laugh. This is an experience you will not forget.
