30 Years of
Rescuing
AZ Wildlife
by Kirstin Conlin
Photos by Josh Gray
J
ust an hour and a half north of Phoenix, located in the foothills of the beautiful, sagegreen Verde Valley Mountains, is a 104-acre wildlife sanctuary that both the animals and their human visitors thoroughly enjoy. Out of Africa Wildlife Park is home to nearly 40 exotic big cats and hundreds of other mammals, birds and reptiles which represent the incredible biological diversity of the jungles, forests, and plains of the world. The preserve was designed to give animals the freedom to roam and interact similarly to behaviors in their native habitats. Humans can experience many different interactions with the animals and thereby develop an appreciation for ‘the wild’ and its wondrous inhabitants, many of whom are currently teetering on extinction. One of the amazingly unique experiences that Out of Africa offers to human guests is their annual Family Campout on the expansive park grounds. Imagine pitching a tent a few feet from the mountain lion enclosure, or hearing the cackling of hyenas just beyond your campsite. This past May, my family and I got to experience this amazing overnight adventure, and I’m happy to share the highlights of our surprising, sometimes funny, and always entertaining memories.
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