Posts Tagged ‘TIGERS’
Out of Africa
Out of Africa
By Bobbie Green
Seal splash no, Tiger Splash—Huh! Watching wild tigers at play swimming and splashing in a pool with humans—not professional animal trainers, is one among many amazing sites one can see and experience at the “Out of Africa Wild Animal Park.”
Out of Africa Park located in Camp Verde, Arizona is where the wild things share their feelings with staff and visitors. This wild animal park cannot be compared to others in the nation. The animal habitat is the life and blood of owner Dean Harrison.
Harrison and his wife Prayeri began sharing their wide-ranging animal experiences with the public in 1988. Since then, their park has grown and flourished. It is home to over 100 species of animals, most of them rescued from closing zoo’s, parks or personal ownership. In my opinion these lucky animals have arrived at animal heaven.
Here they are housed in a natural habitat setting with plenty of room to roam. Although many visitors tour the park daily one never feels they are in a zoo. This is a shared experience– the animals are also viewing you. They are friends with all of the staff members therefore; they are your friends also. They do not hide from view, but come out to see you. We ate lunch sitting at a bench on one side of a chain link fence with lions just on the other side, one lying down close to the fence happily watching us, maybe waiting for a bit to be tossed to him. Unless the animals are sleeping, when a staff member and especially Harrison, the owner, comes by their habitat, they come running to greet him. They want him to come in and play, this is not the norm in wild animal parks and why Out of Africa is so special. It was a real treat to be riding with Harrison in his jeep around the park and see how all the animals treated him with affection, he had no food treats in his pockets, but the affection was returned. 
Visitors may walk around the park on their own, or they may take an African Bush Safari, where the driver/guide makes sure you have a personal encounter with a zebra, giraffe or ostrich. The animals know everyone on this bus has a treat for them and they want it– great fun for kids and adults. There are many beautiful wild animal species and unique animal experiences to be enjoyed by visitors to the park.
There is a large pool with a chain link fence around it and a 2000 seat covered seating area outside the fence. This is where the Tiger Splash, Bear Splash and Tiger Feeding take place. The tigers and the bears seem to look forward to their fun time in the pool. These animals are not trained to perform tricks. Each day different tigers and bears and different staff members with toys come to the pool. The animals want to play with the toys and they are friendly with the staff members who bring the toys. The tigers leap high into the air as they dive into the pool. The heavy bears seem to plop into the pool. It is an amazing to watch. After the tiger splash is over visitors may feed the tigers who eagerly await the stick they hold with food on the end. This seemed to be another special highlight for the visitors.
Visitors also get a close encounter with reptiles. At the giant snake show each snake is brought out and visitors are given a brief history of the animal. Afterwards visitor are invited inside the gate to pet the giant snakes-Pythons, Anacondas and Boas. This is one female did not participate in the reptile show, those who did were thrilled—I still do not know why.
One of the visitor’s favorite is Boom-Boom, the Southern White Rhino. I was quite amazed at his habitat area, large, yet not very confining. I questioned his getting out of it and was told no, he could not; he loves where he lives and would not want escape.
I completely believe that the animals here are quite happy with their home and would not want to leave it.
Out of Africa is quite a unique place to visit and one that should be high on your bucket list. If you go, choose one of the tours and walk around on your own, watch for Harrison,
he is always around, don’t miss a chance to chat with him. He loves to tell you about his animal friends.
Travelers will find lodging in Camp Verde or near by Sedona, Arizona.
IF YOU GO
Out of Africa
Open daily
928-567-2840
Days Inn & Suites
Camp Verde, AZ
928-567-3700