Camping Out
Under theStars
In the Wild
by Kirstin Conlin
Photos by Josh Gray
J
ust 90 minutes north of Phoenix, in the foothills of the beautiful 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 as they would in their native habitats. Humans can experience many different encounters 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. Last 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. Although we’d never been to Out of Africa before, we are animal enthusiasts, so the thought of camping out with the animals excited us. Although, with two children, I 62
was also just a bit nervous – what exactly did ‘with the animals’ mean? Upon arrival, we were greeted by friendly staff members who immediately calmed my nerves and prepared us for our adventure. I quickly learned that Out of Africa was very different from places we’d visited before. The animals all have very large spaces in which to live and play, and the animal-centric attitudes of the keepers was evident. I was surprised by the feeling of being immersed into the lives of animals that we wouldn’t normally get close enough to see, let alone get to know on a personal level! After setting up camp, we made our way to the “Tiger Splash Show.” Seeing the large fenced area with a pool in the middle and several staff members milling around inside, gave us pause. We knew something unusual was about to happen. Dean Harrison, the wildlife park’s founder acted as our emcee. While several other staff members stretched out as if they were preparing for a marathon, Arizona KEYMagazine
