Camel Safari – Camel Ride and Zoo Tour

Camel Safari gives you a rare chance to do two very different things in one morning: ride a camel beneath the Virgin Mountains and spend time near animals such as sand cats, sloths, and more than 30 camels. The setting is a 176-acre desert property in Bunkerville, just outside Las Vegas.

I like the personal scale of the experience, with a maximum of 15 people, and the fact that the camel ride is tied to an educational visit rather than being a quick photo stop. I also like the hands-on animal care, including feeding and petting opportunities, plus the practical touch of cold drinks and frozen treats.

The main point to check before booking is the timing. The experience is advertised as about two hours, but the camel ride and safari tram descriptions each list two hours. Ask Camel Safari to confirm exactly what your $199 booking includes and how the morning is arranged.

Key points to know before booking

• Ride named camels such as Jafar and Norman: The camel portion is led by handlers who guide the animals and explain their habits and adaptations.
• See more than camels: The property is home to sand cats, a two-toed sloth, and other exotic animals.
• Expect a small group: Participation is capped at 15 people, which gives you a better chance to ask questions and get close to the animals.
• Enjoy Virgin Mountain views: The camel ride takes place with open desert scenery around you.
• Plan for a morning start: The meeting time is 9:00 a.m. at 2725 River Cliff Road in Bunkerville.
• Check the camel weight limit: The maximum load is 250 pounds per camel.

A camel ride with more to it than a photo

The camel ride is the headline attraction, but it is not the whole point of the visit. You sit on one of Camel Safari’s animals while an experienced handler leads and manages the camel, making the ride suitable for people who want an unusual outing without trying to control the animal alone.

The educational side matters. You learn about camelids, their desert adaptations, and the individual animals in the park. That gives the ride a little more purpose than simply climbing aboard, taking a picture, and getting off again.

You also get views toward the Virgin Mountains and the other camelids living at the property. I would keep your expectations realistic: this is a guided animal encounter, not a long desert trek. The information provided describes a camel ride within the park, with a maximum load of 250 pounds per camel.

One useful detail from the experience is that the camels may be identified by name. Jafar and Norman were two animals used during a January visit, with Norman described as especially sweet. Individual animals can change, but knowing that the camels have distinct personalities helps you see this as a keeper-led encounter rather than a standard ride.

The 176-acre property and its animal residents

Camel Safari covers 176 acres, or about 71 hectares. That is a large property for a family outing, and the safari tram helps you cover more ground than you could comfortably see on foot during a two-hour visit.

The animal collection gives the day variety. You may see the camels first, then visit exotic animals such as sand cats and a two-toed sloth. These are not animals you normally associate with a Las Vegas day trip, which is part of the appeal.

The visit is designed around contact with keepers. You can ask questions while the animals are being cared for, and the morning feeding routine provides a reason to move from one enclosure or animal area to the next. Feeding also lets you see behavior that may not appear during a simple viewing stop.

I like that the tour links animal care with education. You are not just looking at an enclosure. You are learning how camels eat, how they have adapted, and what makes the different animals on the property distinctive.

The experience can be especially rewarding for children who are curious about animals, but adults should not dismiss it as only a kids’ activity. The combination of unusual animals, open desert scenery, and the camel ride gives the visit enough variety for a mixed-age group.

What happens during the safari tram portion

The safari tram is used for the morning rounds, including feeding the more than 30 camels on the property. You accompany the keepers as they move around the 176-acre site, then visit the other exotic animals.

This portion is likely the more informative half of the experience. The camel ride gives you the memorable physical activity, while the tram tour gives you time to ask questions and watch the care routine. If you enjoy animal behavior, this may be the part that stays with you longest.

You also have the chance to get close to an ambassador camel. The supplied details do not promise a specific animal or a particular type of contact every time, so I would treat this as an opportunity rather than a guarantee of a certain interaction.

The small group limit helps here. With no more than 15 people, it should be easier to hear the keeper and get a reasonable view during feeding. It also makes it more practical to ask about camel history, feeding habits, and the animals’ adaptations.

The tram ride provides a break from sitting on a camel, too. That matters if you are booking this as a family activity or if someone in your group is interested in animals but less interested in riding.

Why the animal encounters add real value

The camel ride alone is unusual, but the feeding and petting opportunities make the $199 price easier to assess. You are paying for a package of activities, not only a short ride.

One particularly appealing detail is the chance to meet a baby camel. A young camel can turn a pleasant visit into a memorable one, especially for families. As with any animal encounter, the timing and availability of a specific animal may vary, so I would not book solely on the hope of meeting one particular calf.

The sand cats and two-toed sloth also make this different from a standard farm visit. You get a mix of camelids and less familiar animals, with the keeper explaining how they live and feed.

The best experiences here seem to come from the personal contact: feeding, petting, hearing stories about individual animals, and having enough time to ask questions. If you prefer to keep your distance from animals, you can still enjoy the scenery and viewing, but you may not get as much from the price.

A practical look at the $199 price

At $199, this is not a casual walk-in attraction. The value depends on how much of the advertised combination you receive and how long the animal interactions last.

The price includes admission, the camel ride, the zoo or animal tour, and the safari tram element described for the morning feeding rounds. Cold drinks and frozen treats are also provided. Those extras are modest, but useful in the Nevada heat.

I would compare this with the cost of arranging separate animal activities near Las Vegas. The advantage here is convenience and variety: one booking brings together a camel ride, animal care, feeding, and a guided visit across a large property.

The cost makes more sense for a family or small group that will use every part of the experience. It is less compelling if your only goal is a quick camel photo. In that case, the educational animal visit is what must justify the difference.

Before paying, confirm the schedule because the supplied timing is not perfectly clear. The overall experience is listed at about two hours, while both the camel ride and safari tram sections are described as two-hour activities. That may reflect alternate formats or a combined description, but you should verify what your reservation includes.

Timing, meeting point, and weather

The start time is 9:00 a.m. at 2725 River Cliff Road, Bunkerville, Nevada 89007. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

A morning start is sensible in the desert. You can expect cooler conditions than later in the day, though winter mornings may be genuinely cold. One January visit was described as cold but fun, so bring layers rather than assuming Nevada always means hot weather.

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The camel ride and tram portion both take place outdoors, so weather is not a minor detail.

You receive a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided when you book. Most people can participate, but the camel has a maximum load of 250 pounds. That limit applies per camel and is worth checking before you commit.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made inside 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, except when Camel Safari cancels because of poor weather.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this for families, animal lovers, and anyone looking for a different side of the Las Vegas area. Bunkerville gives you an outdoor break from casinos, shows, and city traffic without requiring a full wilderness trip.

It also works well for a group with mixed interests. One person can enjoy the ride, another can focus on animal care, and children can watch feeding and meet unusual animals.

The small group size is another reason it suits people who prefer a more personal visit. A 15-person maximum is not private, but it is much more manageable than a large attraction with a crowd moving from one exhibit to the next.

I would be more cautious if you dislike outdoor heat, cold morning air, or animal contact. The activity is also not ideal if you need a fully flexible schedule, since it begins at 9:00 a.m. and depends on suitable weather.

Small details that can improve your visit

Wear clothing suited to the forecast, with layers during the cooler months. You may spend time on the tram, near feeding areas, and on the camel, so comfort matters more than dressing up.

Keep the camel weight limit in mind when planning for your group. If you are close to the 250-pound maximum, contact the provider before arrival instead of leaving the question until the morning of the tour.

Allow enough time to reach Bunkerville from your base near Las Vegas. The meeting point is outside the main city area, and the activity starts promptly at 9:00 a.m.

Bring a curious attitude. The strongest part of this outing is not just the ride itself, but the chance to ask why camels eat and behave as they do, how they handle desert conditions, and what makes the other animals different.

Is the Camel Safari experience worth booking?

I would book this if you want an unusual, family-friendly morning with several animal encounters rather than a single camel ride. The combination of the camel experience, safari tram, keeper-led feeding, sand cats, a two-toed sloth, and Virgin Mountain views gives the outing real variety.

At $199, I would confirm the exact two-hour schedule before booking, since the activity descriptions present two separate two-hour elements. If the price includes the full combination described, it offers a distinctive day outside Las Vegas. If you only want a brief ride, it may feel expensive.

For the best chance of enjoying it, choose a day with good weather, arrive ready for outdoor conditions, and leave room in your morning for the animal care portion. That is where the visit gains its character.

FAQ

Where does the Camel Safari experience begin?

It begins at 2725 River Cliff Road, Bunkerville, NV 89007.

What time does the experience start?

The listed start time is 9:00 a.m.

How long does the activity last?

The overall experience is listed as approximately two hours. The camel ride and safari tram descriptions each also list two hours, so confirm the exact schedule with Camel Safari before booking.

What animals can I see?

The property has more than 30 camels, along with exotic animals such as sand cats and a two-toed sloth.

Is there a weight limit for the camel ride?

Yes. The maximum weight load is 250 pounds per camel.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not refunded.