Attraction of the Week: Out of Africa Wildlife Park
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Recently, Mike and I took a quick daytrip from Flagstaff to Out of Africa Wildlife Park to take advantage of a free birthday month special they were offering. This is a unique wildlife safari park in the middle of the desert. The main draw here is a safari ride which gives visitors the unique opportunity to get an up close look at all sorts of exotic wildlife that you would typically see on a real safari ride. Seeing zebras, giraffes, and antelopes free roaming in a nature inspired environment is a truly memorable experience.
You will feel as if you are on an African safari despite the fact that you haven’t even left the US – although on a super hot sunny degree summer day, it’s not too far off weather-wise. If you can’t afford an uber expensive safari vacation and you live in or are visiting the Phoenix or Flagstaff region, a visit here is your next best bet.
A sanctuary, not a zoo!
This company’s slogan is “Call us wild. Call us crazy. Just don’t call us a zoo.” The staff stresses that this park is a sanctuary, not a zoo. Many of the animals taken into the park were rescued, some from former abusive situations, and others abandoned. The park receives no state or federal funding, thus the reason for the pricey admission fee. The high fee goes towards protecting these formerly abused, neglected, and abandoned animals, by providing a safer environment for them.
To help offset the high cost, free admission is offered the entire month of your birthday. You simply need to show your ID at the entrance. This is a great deal, especially in helping larger families to offset the cost. Update: This deal is now priced at $12.
Dean Harrison opened the park back in 1988. He is very enthusiastic about his job and the day to day operations of the company. You will see him out and about during your visit – he runs the Giant Snake show. You can tell that he is really dedicated to his job and loves animals.
Update: Unfortunately, Dean passed away in January of 2023.
From my experience, I could tell that the staff is very enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and you can tell that it is more than a simple job to all of them. This makes the entire experience more fun and educational for everyone. The entire staff is very passionate about providing guests with an amazing experience that is both fun and educational.
You will not find bored zookeepers here, but rather a dedicated team that loves animals. The trainers have a fantastic relationship with the tigers and you will be able to see this in action during the fantastic Tiger Splash show. It is crazy to think that these trainers are able to form a relationship with dangerous animals.
The walk through exhibit
There is not much of a typical walk through zoo section at this park. And the small portion that exists is honestly not that attractive and in need of some major renovations. To top if off, temps in this area of Arizona are very hot, often still hovering into the 90’s well into the fall.
There is no shade or landscaping either, so you will be literally walking around an empty desert. If you really want to see this section of the park, I recommend taking the free tram around. Or better yet, plan your visit during the fall or winter season.
It’s just too hot and hilly to walk around this time of year, plus you really won’t see many animals due to the extreme weather. Therefore, I recommend sticking to the great shows and the safari ride and leaving the zoo walk around for the summer. Or better yet, plan a visit to the wonderful Phoenix Zoo, which offers a much more attractive landscaped setting and a wonderful atmosphere for strolling around.
The Safari Ride
The narrated half hour Safari tour runs 3 times a day. I recommend deciding on a time in advance so you do not miss out! This is the highlight of the park and the main reason you are paying the hefty admission fee, so be sure to make the time. No reservations are required and the ride is included with admission. Tours run about 20 min.
One unique opportunity you will have during the safari ride is the opportunity to feed a giraffe a celery stick, and they will get up really close to the tram to take the celery, so it is a pretty exciting experience. Your tour guide will also demonstrate “kissing the giraffe,” which is basically where you put a piece of celery in your mouth and let the giraffe take it from you. It is truly a unique experience and we saw many guests on our tour “kiss the giraffe.”
Meet the animals!
Here are a few pics I snapped of the various animals we saw along the way from zebras to watusis. The best part was learning more via the knowledgeable staff.
Daily shows not to miss
There are 4 shows daily that you do not want to miss out on, particularly the standout Tiger Splash show. This is the best show if you only have time for one. Each show only runs once, so keep this in mind when deciding what time to head out to the park. Here is an overview of each one, along with the schedule.
Creature Feature
During this interactive show, you’ll get an up close look at smaller animals like the armadillo and a giant tegu lizard. This show is great, although if you are limited on time and cannot get to the park really early, it is probably the one to skip in my opinion.
Show runs daily at 11:30am
Tiger Splash
By far the most exciting and memorable show you will experience during your visit, and the one that got Out of Africa featured on popular TV shows like Animal Planet and Good Morning America. This one-of-a-kind show features Bengal and Siberian tigers interacting with trainers in a really fun show which includes tigers diving in a pool for toys.
The show varies daily as they rely on the natural instincts of these amazing cats, rather than forcing them to do tricks in a zoo-like show. It is an unpredictable exciting show which always keep you on your feet guessing. You never know what the tigers may do one day as they are left to let their natural instincts take over. I couldn’t imagine getting upclose with a tiger and it was scary and exhilarating seeing the trainers so close. It’s obvious that these tigers are super intelligent and able to perform a wide variety of strategic tasks.
Show runs daily at 1:15pm
Enjoy a few great pics of the talented tigers featured in the show
Giant Snake Show
The Giant Snake Show is a fun and interactive way to learn about some of the world’s largest and deadliest snakes. You will get to see guests (picked from the audience) interacting with these snakes via the guidance of an experienced caretaker.
It is really interesting to learn what really makes snakes attack, along with proper handling techniques. In general, watching the staff get so close and feel so comfortable with these feared creatures, is a pretty exciting experience. I am not sure how the volunteers from the audience handled being so close – it’s not personally something I would feel safe doing! I am not a huge fan of snakes but this show was pretty cool.
Show runs at 2:15pm daily
Wonders of Wildlife Show
During the Wonders of Wildlife show, of which the spotlight animal varies, you will get the exciting opportunity to see wildlife play and interact in an unrehearsed way. Animals are left to be animals with no provoking or prior training. We were lucky enough to see a grizzly bear during our visit.
We learned lots of interesting tidbits about this magnificent animal and got to see the trainers interacting with them (behind a fence of course!). Besides being educational, it was interesting & entertaining to watch the grizzlies being so interactive (even jumping into the pool!).
Shows runs at 3:00 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
More great pics of bears in action with their trainers!
Other activities include an indoor reptile viewing area, tram rides around the sanctuary, and zip line rides (extra fee). In addition, you can pay extra for a 3 hour in depth Behind the Scenes VIP tour.
Park improvements
In terms of future improvements, the park could definitely use more landscaping (would be especially helpful during the hot, sunny summer season). The enclosures in the walk around section seem to be falling apart and really need some major work.
That being said, they rely on donations and admission fees to provide for the animals, so this may not happen for a while. I also recommend more trams as the wait out in the hot desert is just too uncomfortable. As each guest is paying so much to visit the park, there really needs to be more extra precautions for the hot climate, including more frequent trams, trees planted around the grounds, and more covering for the shows. On the plus side, the natural surrounding scenery the park consists of picturesque views of the Mingus Mountains. If you are sensitive to the heat, please save your visit for the cooler months.
Overall – a great addition to any Northern Arizona vacation
Camp Verde is conveniently located just 40 minutes outside of Flagstaff and 20 minutes from Sedona. This makes it a great addition to any Grand Canyon or Sedona vacation. If you are looking for a full day activity other than a strenuous hike, then this is one of the many options I would consider in the region. We have been exploring so many wonderful places since moving out here. You can check out my full guide which includes over 100 different activities, attractions, and historic sites. What a gorgeous and interesting area of the country. It was such a privilege to live in such a beautiful and exciting area.
Tips for a great visit
*Visit during your birthday month for free admission. Based on the limited number of animals you will see, you may not feel like a visit to this park is a great value, especially compared to a cheaper regular zoo. However, keep in mind that the park has no funding, and thus, relies on your admission fee to support these rescued animals. It’s not the most attractive looking park, nor the biggest, however, you have to love that the animals are all rescued. Update: The park now charges $12 for bday month admission.
*Wear sunblock and a hat. Not surprisingly, it is really, really hot in this area of the state, and the park is not at all shaded. Even a fall visit is unbearable with the heat. Be sure to arrive early for each show so you can get a seat in the shade.
*Bring with plenty of water. Unfortunately, there are no drinking fountains here. I recommend bringing with at least a full bottle per person, and preferably a camelbak to ensure you have enough.
*I recommend taking the free trams as opposed to walking the park. It will be a really miserable experience attempting to walk around the unmaintained paths in the desert. Take the trams – you are paying for them!
*Be aware of all show times and safari times and plan your visit around these times. There really isn’t much else to do. If you miss the safari or any of the shows, you will most likely be disappointed. The hefty admission tag is a better bang-for-your-buck with the show.
*If possible, plan a winter visit. The temps will be much more bearable at this time.
Address & Admission Info
Location: 3505 W. State Route 260 Camp Verde, AZ 86322
Hours: Daily from 9:30am-5pm. The park recommends planning about 5 hours for your visit.
Prices start at $43 for adults, $41 for seniors, and $28 for kids. Extra fees for feedings and special animals encounters. Discounted tickets are available online, or you can print out coupons to bring to the gate. Don’t forget about the $12 birthday month admission special! Pricing current as of 2026. Memberships are a great option if you live the region.
