Out of Africa Wildlife Park is a wildlife park and sanctuary in Camp Verde, Arizona, founded in 1988 by Dean and Prayeri Harrison. The park began in Fountain Hills, Arizona before relocating to its current 100-plus acre site near the Mingus Mountains in 2005, where it continues to operate as both a public attraction and an animal sanctuary.
The park is best known for letting visitors get closer to exotic animals than a traditional zoo allows, with spacious naturalistic habitats for lions, tigers, and other predators. Its signature Tiger Splash show, in which tigers play and swim with their handlers in a pool, has become one of the most talked-about animal encounters in the American Southwest.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Camp Verde, Arizona
- Opened: 2005 (founded 1988 in Fountain Hills, AZ)
- Size: Over 100 acres
- Notable Animals: Nearly 40 big cats, including lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, and cougars
- Famous For: Tiger Splash show and African Bush Safari tour
- Founders: Dean and Prayeri Harrison
The Wildlife Experience
Visitors explore the park through several featured exhibits, including the African Bush Safari wagon tour, the Predator Feed Experience, a Giant Snake Show, and a zip line that passes over predator habitats. The park’s collection includes tigers, lions, a giraffe, a white rhinoceros, zebras, hyenas, sable antelope, and sloths, among many other species, with animals housed in open, naturalistic enclosures rather than traditional cages.
The Tiger Splash program remains the park’s most distinctive draw, giving guests a rare view of full-grown tigers leaping and playing in water alongside their handlers, an experience the park has built much of its reputation around since its Camp Verde debut.
Conservation and Rescue Work
Beyond public exhibits, Out of Africa functions as a sanctuary, partnering with organizations such as the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund on rescue and conservation efforts. In April 2024, the park took in an orphaned mountain lion cub through a rescue coordinated with the Tohono O’odham Nation and Arizona Game and Fish, reflecting its ongoing role in regional wildlife rescue.
Explore more: Explore more Zoos & Aquariums.
Out of Africa Wildlife Park FAQs
Where is Out of Africa Wildlife Park located?
It is located in Camp Verde, Arizona, along State Route 260 near the Mingus Mountains.
What is Out of Africa Wildlife Park known for?
It is best known for its Tiger Splash show, where tigers swim and play with their handlers, as well as its African Bush Safari wagon tour and large collection of big cats.
When did Out of Africa Wildlife Park open in Camp Verde?
The park was originally founded in 1988 in Fountain Hills, Arizona, and moved to its current Camp Verde location in 2005.
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Photo: Scotwriter21 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.