The Day I Saw a Tiger Fly

I did not imagine myself to cough at a wildlife park. But there I was, sitting in the bleachers at Out of Africa Wildlife Park, and a 400 pound tiger jumped off a platform and dived into a pool pursuing a toy, water spraying the first three rows, the kids screaming with joy, and me totally losing track that I was an hour and a half out of Phoenix. This isn’t a roadside zoo. It is more of a bit of the African savanna, squeezed in between the red rock hills in the Verde Valley of Arizona.

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You made a wise decision, especially when you are reading about Out of Africa Wildlife Park before you book a trip to Sedona or the Verde Valley because this place is always rated as one of the best wildlife visits in the state, and a bit of planning will go a long way to ensuring that your visit is a success. This is all you should know, including how you should plan your tickets and what shows to visit and rearrange your schedule.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park is a 100+ acre wildlife park located in Camp Verde, Arizona that offers free-roaming African wildlife, big cat interactions, and other featured events such as Tiger Splash. It is open daily between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and it is approximately 30 minutes from Sedona.

General: What Is Out of Africa Wildlife Park

In the background of the Mingus Mountains, Out of Africa Wildlife Park is situated in a terrain of over 100 acres of rolling Verde Valley landscapes. It is not another zoo – much of the park is constructed around large natural-looking habitats and the bush safari will be an adventure on its own as you ride across large open environments where giraffes, zebras and other animals of the plains just walk willy-nilly around your vehicle. This difference does count more than you think when you are out there.

Beyond the safari is an estimated 40 exotic big cat population of lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cougars, bears and wolves as well as coati, javelina and an oddly compelling reptile house. The park also has a nonprofit sister organization, the Out of Africa Wildlife Sanctuary, that offers lifelong care to rescued animals that cannot be released to be returned to the wild. And that is something to know, assuming you are the sort of individual to feel good about where your admission dollars are going.

Best Time to Visit

The biggest factor when planning your visit is Arizona heat. The seasons rank as follows:

Best overall — March–May, October–November: Mild temperatures, comfortable walking conditions
Pinnacle only (June–August): Hot, up to 100°C, busier noontime
Winter — December–February: Cold, less humid, sometimes chilly mornings

Hack: Be there at opening (9:30 a.m.) or during the final two hours of the day. It is a little cooler at those windows, and the animals themselves, by the way, seem to be much more active–midday heat drives most of them into shadowy rest places where you will hardly have time to see them.

Getting to the Park

Out of Africa Wildlife Park is found at 3505 W. SR-260 in Camp Verde, Arizona, about three miles away on Interstate 17 Exit 287.

By car: Approximately 30 minutes
Starting at Flagstaff: About an hour via I-17 south
From Phoenix: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, making it a comfortable day trip

One of the things to keep in mind: there is no direct transport that will take you to the park directly, so you will require a car, either rented or your own. Many tourists combine this stop with a bigger Sedona or Verde Valley trip, and this concept rings quite true since the trek along I-17 is truly picturesque in its own right.

Best Attractions and Shows

African Bush Safari Tour – Ride through the open bushland and be up close to giraffes, zebras and other species of the plain.
Tiger Splash – This is the star performance of the park where the tigers splash and play around the water with the trainers; you should get there early enough to secure a good position.
Predator Feed – Observe big cats as they are being fed in a manner that portrays their instinctive hunting skills.
Giant Snake & Reptile House – An air-conditioned, shaded shop very popular especially on hot afternoons.
Giraffe Feeding – A participatory experience where visitors directly feed giraffes, commonly regarded as a trip favorite.
Zip Line (add-on) – Fly through some of the animal habitat to see it like a bird; it is not in general admission.

The free shuttle tram of the park is also worth it – you can be transported to the higher show areas without walking up the hill in the heat, something your legs will be thankful you avoid by hour three, as will kids.

Local Food and Culture Around the Area

The park includes snack stands, a cafe, and two gift shops, though the nearby Verde Valley is truly worth including in your day. Camp Verde is close to historical spots that relate to the territorial history of Arizona and nearby Cottonwood has a walkable Old Town that has tasting rooms that now pour local Verde Valley wine, a small, under-promoted wine region that has been gradually gaining popularity among people who accidentally get to it. The local food industry in Sedona, only 30 minutes away, is an entire spectrum of casual Southwestern cafes all the way to elegant patio restaurants with red rock vistas – of course the kind of place everybody will visit after they visit their park of choice, and likely into which you will find yourself anyway.

Budget Tips: Tickets & Extra

Book online in advance where feasible – third-party sites sometimes provide a combination discount on entry and extras like the zip line.
General admission is the essentials. The base price of any ticket is usually the African Bush Safari and all the planned performances; add-ons such as ziplining, photo packages are more expensive.
Use your own water bottle. No outside food but bottled water is usually allowed, and this will reduce snack bills on-site.
Bundles: check seasonally. Combination tickets with other local attractions (such as Sedona off-road tours) can also provide significant discounts in case you are doing several activities in the area.
Check existing prices before you leave. Prices of tickets are changed regularly, thus the official ticketing site of the park ought to be consulted rather than a third-party site that is not up to date.

Sample Day Itinerary

Morning (9:30–11:30 a.m.): Arrive at opening, go to the African Bush Safari Tour before you get to the heat of the day, and then come back and walk the trails in whatever pace you would prefer.

Lunch (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.): Tiger Splash and Predator Feed (refer to the schedule of shows that day at the entrance – this is easy to forget and annoying not to be at), have lunch at the cafeteria within the premises.

Afternoon (1:30–4:00 p.m.): Duck inside the reptile house to cool off, feed the giraffes, and tie up any other shows you may have before walking out.

Continue your visit: Suppose you are putting together an extended trip through the Verde Valley, combine this with a day in Sedona to hike and see the red rocks, and an afternoon in the wine-tasting rooms of Cottonwood – that one is a truly great long weekend.

Hidden Gems & Local Secrets

Sunrise photography classes are held occasionally before standard park hours, providing softer light and closer experiences to photography enthusiasts.
Inquire about the resident macaw. An affable, chatty bird outside the reptile house has become a noiseless fan club among the regular flyers.
Visits during the weekdays are significantly less than those on weekends, particularly during non-summer holidays.
The annual overnight campout event (usually in spring) provides visitors not on a day basis with after-dark wildlife viewing experiences they usually do not.

Pass by Numbers

Most of the paths are on dirt or gravel and became uneven when wearing sandals or open shoes.
Leaving the shuttle and walking the whole park in summer heat.
Coming in without glancing at the daily concert list as performances happen at specific times and are not non-stop.
Forgot you are not a vampire, when ignoring protection against sunshine, shade is scarce in quite a few outdoor viewing places.
General admission to all activities is assumed, such as the zip line – they are not usually.

FAQ

Q1: What are the timings of Out of Africa Wildlife Park?

The park is typically open every day between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. with admissions closing about 4 p.m., occasionally closed on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Q2: What period of time do I need to spend in the park?

On average, most visitors take 4-5 hours to enjoy the safari, shows, and exhibits in a comfortable manner.

Q3: Will young children enjoy Out of Africa Wildlife Park?

The park is popular among families, yes, but the dirt path and the heat imply planning ahead and relishing strollers and sunscreen.

Q4: Tiger Splash show is included in admission?

Yes, the regular admission usually covers scheduled activities such as Tiger Splash, but adds extras such as ziplining on a separate basis.

Q5: How far is Out of Africa Wildlife Park from Sedona?

It is about a 30-minute drive to Sedona, so it is a convenient complement to a trip to the Verde Valley.

Q6: Does the park have a wheelchair or stroller?

The choices available will depend on the time of the year and the vendor, so it is always ideal to check on the rental availability at the park before visiting.

Q7: What’s the best time of day to visit?

Mornings or the few hours before closing are generally cooler and have more movement of the animals.

Final Thoughts

One of the rare places is Out of Africa Wildlife Park which somehow both fills your heart with pure excitement and at the same time as genuine educational experience over the course of the afternoon the type of attraction where a tiger in the creek and an inquisitive giraffe silently turns into a personal day of wonder you never imagined. A little planning, timing, footwear, and what actually comes in your ticket will see you walk away with a lot more than a hurried walk-through.

Ready to plan your visit? Reserve their tickets and verify the park hours before visiting it on the park official website, and consider combining it with a Sedona or Verde Valley vacation to get the most out of the drive north.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park: The Complete 2026 Visitor Guide