Out of Africa Wildlife Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Out of Africa Wildlife Park offers an exceptionally immersive and interactive animal experience, setting it apart from traditional zoos. Its unique value proposition lies in the opportunity for extremely close encounters with large animals like tigers, lions, and giraffes, including direct feeding experiences and behind-the-scenes access. Safari-style tours (Serengeti, MOG) allow animals to approach vehicles for interaction, providing a distinct 'wildlife park' feel where animals are housed in large, natural enclosures.
Key Highlights
- ✓Direct animal feeding experiences are available, including feeding giraffes on safari tours (where they poke their heads into jeeps for nibbles) and feeding huge tigers.
- ✓Remarkably close encounters with animals like tigers, lions, and giraffes, described as 'more up close and personal' than typical zoo experiences.
- ✓Engaging Safari Tours (Serengeti and MOG tours) provide educational facts, animal sightings in shared enclosures, and opportunities for close interactions.
- ✓Specific animal shows and exhibits like the 'Tiger Splash exhibit' and watching lions/tigers/mountain lions eat are major draws.
- ✓Staff are consistently described as incredibly nice, passionate about the animals, and very helpful (e.g., Barbara in the gift shop explaining park activities).
- ✓Animals are housed in huge enclosures, allowing them plenty of room to run and play, contributing to animal welfare and natural viewing experiences.
Standout Features
- ⭐Interactive Safari Tour (Serengeti & MOG) with opportunities to feed giraffes directly from the vehicle.
- ⭐Tiger and giraffe feeding opportunities.
- ⭐The 'Tiger Splash exhibit' showcasing tigers swimming and playing.
- ⭐Educational animal shows and presentations that delve into animal behaviors (e.g., watching lions feed, sloths munching).
- ⭐Accessible tour vehicles and overall park for electric mobility scooters.
- ⭐Passionate and helpful staff who enhance the visitor experience and education.
- ⭐A penny press machine for collectors.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Utilize the knowledgeable staff (like Barbara in the gift shop) to understand all available activities and tours upon arrival, to ensure you don't miss out on any experiences.
- →Be prepared for direct animal interactions and feeding opportunities, especially on the safari tours with giraffes and possibly with tigers.
- →If using a manual wheelchair, be aware that some areas may have rock and dirt terrain, which could be challenging, though electric mobility scooters navigate well.
- →Plan to take your time; visitors felt un-rushed and were able to enjoy the park at their own pace.
Things to Consider
- ⚠None reported in these highly positive reviews; all experiences described were overwhelmingly positive.
Price & Value
The experience is consistently described as being 'worth it' and a 'magical day', with one reviewer preferring it over similar safari parks in California. This suggests excellent value for money, driven by the unique close animal interactions, educational opportunities, and feeling un-rushed. No specific pricing details were mentioned, but the perceived value is very high.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Highly accessible for individuals using electric mobility scooters, as buses and tour vehicles are accessible, and most of the area can be navigated.
- •It might be a little bit difficult for somebody in a manual wheelchair due to a lot of rock and dirt on the terrain.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not mentioned in the provided reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Not mentioned in the provided reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Visitors reported feeling 'un-rushed' and 'able to take our time', indicating that even if busy, the park manages its flow of visitors well, or has ample space for a comfortable experience.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Not explicitly detailed, but the presence of passionate and caring staff who facilitate close animal encounters and tours implies supervised and managed safety protocols, especially for animal interactions.
⏰When to Avoid
- • No specific situations or times to avoid were mentioned in the provided reviews. The park seems to manage crowds well, allowing visitors to feel un-rushed.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Individual Adult Membership
Duration: One Year
Full one-year benefits for one named adult.
Includes:
- •Unlimited FREE daytime admission to Out of Africa Wildlife Park for one full year
- •One free ‘Feed-a-Tiger’ experience with each visit
- •10% off all gift shop purchases
- •10% off food purchases at the Jungle Hut Cafe
- •10% off annual summer ‘Campout at the Park’
- •Special invitations to exhibit previews and members-only appreciation events
- •Free access to all daily shows
- •Discounted admission at participating zoos and parks
Individual Child Membership
Duration: One Year
Full one-year benefits for one named child.
Includes:
- •Unlimited FREE daytime admission to Out of Africa Wildlife Park for one full year
- •One free ‘Feed-a-Tiger’ experience with each visit
- •10% off all gift shop purchases
- •10% off food purchases at the Jungle Hut Cafe
- •10% off annual summer ‘Campout at the Park’
- •Special invitations to exhibit previews and members-only appreciation events
- •Free access to all daily shows
- •Discounted admission at participating zoos and parks
Dual Named Membership
Duration: One Year
Full one-year benefits for two named adults.
Includes:
- •Unlimited FREE daytime admission to Out of Africa Wildlife Park for one full year
- •One free ‘Feed-a-Tiger’ experience with each visit
- •10% off all gift shop purchases
- •10% off food purchases at the Jungle Hut Cafe
- •10% off annual summer ‘Campout at the Park’
- •Special invitations to exhibit previews and members-only appreciation events
- •Free access to all daily shows
- •Discounted admission at participating zoos and parks
Dual Guest Membership
Duration: One Year
Full one-year benefits for one named adult and one guest. Can be a different guest each visit, but a named cardholder must be present.
Includes:
- •Unlimited FREE daytime admission to Out of Africa Wildlife Park for one full year
- •One free ‘Feed-a-Tiger’ experience with each visit
- •10% off all gift shop purchases
- •10% off food purchases at the Jungle Hut Cafe
- •10% off annual summer ‘Campout at the Park’
- •Special invitations to exhibit previews and members-only appreciation events
- •Free access to all daily shows
- •Discounted admission at participating zoos and parks
Family Membership
Duration: One Year
Full one-year benefits for two named adults and up to any four children (ages 3-12). At least one named pass holder must accompany children.
Includes:
- •Unlimited FREE daytime admission to Out of Africa Wildlife Park for one full year
- •One free ‘Feed-a-Tiger’ experience with each visit
- •10% off all gift shop purchases
- •10% off food purchases at the Jungle Hut Cafe
- •10% off annual summer ‘Campout at the Park’
- •Special invitations to exhibit previews and members-only appreciation events
- •Free access to all daily shows
- •Discounted admission at participating zoos and parks
Family Plus Named Membership
Duration: One Year
Full one-year benefits for three named adults and up to any six children (ages 3-12). At least one named pass holder must accompany children.
Includes:
- •Unlimited FREE daytime admission to Out of Africa Wildlife Park for one full year
- •One free ‘Feed-a-Tiger’ experience with each visit
- •10% off all gift shop purchases
- •10% off food purchases at the Jungle Hut Cafe
- •10% off annual summer ‘Campout at the Park’
- •Special invitations to exhibit previews and members-only appreciation events
- •Free access to all daily shows
- •Discounted admission at participating zoos and parks
Family Plus Guest Membership
Duration: One Year
Full one-year benefits for two named adults, one unnamed adult guest and up to any six children (ages 3-12). This option allows you to bring a different guest with you on each visit. At least one named pass holder must accompany children.
Includes:
- •Unlimited FREE daytime admission to Out of Africa Wildlife Park for one full year
- •One free ‘Feed-a-Tiger’ experience with each visit
- •10% off all gift shop purchases
- •10% off food purchases at the Jungle Hut Cafe
- •10% off annual summer ‘Campout at the Park’
- •Special invitations to exhibit previews and members-only appreciation events
- •Free access to all daily shows
- •Discounted admission at participating zoos and parks
Annual Campout
Adults: $79.95 + tax, Children: $49.95 + taxDuration: Overnight
An unforgettable family adventure to experience animal behavior under a canopy of stars. Includes nighttime activities, campfire, ice cream social, and breakfast.
Includes:
- •Tiger Splash™ show
- •Cobra show
- •Out of Africa movie time
- •Keeper stories
- •Campfire
- •Ice cream social
- •Hearty breakfast
- •Early gift shop access with 10% discount
- •Daytime park exploration after wrap-up
Adopt an Animal Program
$100Duration: One Year
Support the park's efforts to enhance animal habitats and maintain animal care. Contribution goes directly toward animal care.
Includes:
- •Personalized certificate of adoption
- •Fun fact sheet about the animal
- •Color photograph of the animal
- •Inside scoop on the animal’s life story, favorite treats, individual mannerisms
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Predator Feed After Dark
Three times in October
Call to reserve
A fan favorite event featuring nighttime feeds of tigers, lions, and bears.
Rhino Run 5K & World Rhino Day Celebration
September 20th, kicks off at 7 AM, family fun starts at 9:30 AM
First ever 5k race to save rhinos, followed by a full day of family fun. Includes music by DJ X Factor, comfort food, fresh flavors, artisan loaves, face painting, jewelry, conservation partners, and community support.
Photography Workshops with Kathleen Reeder
No specific dates mentioned, occurs annually.
An unparalleled photo workshop for all skill levels to photograph animals at dawn's first light before the park opens. Includes online webinar, exclusive access, dedicated transportation, animal staging, fence cut-outs for Tiger Splash, instruction, lunch, doughnuts, and bottled water. Workshop ends at 2:00 PM, guests can stay until 5:00 PM. Limited to 12 participants.
🍎Food Policy
- • Jungle Hut Eatery is open for dinner (not included in Annual Campout fee).
- • Evening ice cream social and hearty breakfast provided for Annual Campout guests.
- • 10% off food purchases at the Jungle Hut Cafe for members.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Weather updates may lead to early park closure (e.g., 3:00 p.m. for wet/sloppy conditions or road maintenance).
- • Partial/crucial power outages may affect phone service and ticket sales.
- • Photography Workshop physical requirements: good health, able to step onto and off a bus frequently, able to walk 200 yards with a single camera/lens, able to carry full camera bag a short distance a couple of times, able to kneel on one knee and get back up to standing position without needing to grab and hold the fence.
📅Booking Policy
- • Tickets can be purchased for single-day, year-long memberships, and groups.
- • Reservations required for 'Predator Feed After Dark' by calling (928)567-2840 Ext 2000.
- • Membership passes are mailed within two weeks; picture taken on first visit. Lost membership card replacement fee is $10.
- • Discounted room rate for Photography Workshop at Best Western Cottonwood must be booked directly with the hotel by asking for the 'Out of Africa Photo Workshop Rate'.
What People Say
What's Great
- Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 5 reviews)
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 4 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Whitney Freeman
in the last weekOut of Africa is really awesome! The staff here is really nice and they take such great care of these animals. These enclosures are huge with plenty of room for these animals to run and play, which is very nice to see. The safari tour is really awesome because you get to learn some interesting facts about this zoo and get to feed the giraffes. If you're a collector of pressed pennies, they do have a penny press machine here!
Niomi Martinez
a month agoWe had lots of fun here. We were able to feed the animals, including the tiger. There are a few shows that go into more depth on certain animals. The time spent there was worth it. We didn't feel rushed and we were able to take our time and leave once we felt ready
Tyler Steinheiser
2 months agoThis was our very first experience here, and I must say, it was absolutely INCREDIBLE. I was very unfamiliar with the park and all the activities, but Barbara in the gift shop was so nice and took the time to explain how everything worked and made sure that we didn’t miss out on any of the fun. I got more up close and personal with tigers, lions, and giraffes than I have ever been in my entire life. I got to feed a huge tiger and a spunky giraffe, I got to watch the tigers swim and the lions feed, I saw gigantic snakes and watched a very cute sloth munch on veggies, I even got to see a rare miracle - a grizzly bear waking up from hibernation! The closeness and behind-the-scenes access that this place provides for these amazing animals is extremely impressive, and you can tell how passionate the staff is about their work. It was a very magical day, and I will definitely be back again soon.
David Adams (TheGimpyJeepGuy)
3 months agoSuch an amazing place. I've been to quite a few zoos before, this was an entirely different feel and experience. It was amazing driving through the Serengeti area and being able to see all the different animals in one shared enclosure. All of the big cats were incredible. It was neat being able to see the tiger splash exhibit, and watching all of the big lions and tigers and mountain lion and everything eat. I am in a mobility scooter, and was pretty impressed with the accessibility of the entire area. Their buses and tour vehicles are accessible, and I was able to load up in the vehicles in my scooter, which was nice. It might be a little bit difficult for somebody in a manual wheelchair because there is a lot of rock and dirt, but my electric scooter was able to go through most of it without too much problem. Definitely would come back. Highly recommended for anybody who loves animals, and especially children.
Paulo Dutra
2 months agoI love this place. My family has been to similar safari parks in California (Safari West and Vision Quest Ranch), and this was my favorite. The MOG tour is great to tour the park as you get to have close interaction with the animals. The giraffe will poke his head into the jeep looking for nibbles to snack on. The park attendants are passionate and share a real connection with animals.