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

Around mid-day my husband and I headed over to the Tiger show. Trainers and the big beautiful cats gathered near a large pool with of inflatable toys. The trainers demonstrated the fact that the animals are the leaders of the show. The tigers participate to the degree they desire each day.  Trainers rely exclusively on positive reinforcement, and the tigers initiated many of the behaviors and games during the show. At the end of the show, my husband and I participated in the Tiger Feeding. We used a two-foot long pinching tool to feed the tigers large chunks of meat through a chain link fence. Again, I have never been closer to a “wild” animal, especially a predator.

ZipLine

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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