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Las Vegas is, by far and away, the chief attraction of the state of Nevada. Las Vegas is full of attractions with plenty to keep one busy every hour of the day. But sometimes, It's fun to get out of the city and have a chance to do things in the desert - like having a fun day out off-roading in the desert around Las Vegas. Another fun thing one can do around Las Vegas is go camel riding.

No one needs to go all the way to Morocco to go camel riding (although there's no beating camel riding in Morocco). Another of the many great attractions to discover outside of Las Vegas is the stunning Valley of Fire State Park. Las Vegas is mostly about The Strip, the Casinos, and everything that comes along with that - but not everything needs to be about Sin City. It so happens that there are plenty of things to enjoy about the city.

Woman and camel in the Sahara Desert
Via: Unsplash
A woman blowing a kiss to a camel in the Sahara Desert

History Of Camels In North America

It may surprise many, but horses and camels are arguably native to North America. Horses and camels first evolved in North America, and then they migrated across the Bering Land Bridge (the remnants of which are preserved in the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve). Then, during the Pleistocene (around 11,000 years ago), they went extinct in North America.

The camels familiar today are quite different from the prehistoric camels of North America. The genus that lived in North America was Camelops; they were contemporary with other famous Ice Age animals like the wooly mammoth, mastodon, ground sloth, and the saber tooth tiger. It is possible or likely that humans in North America helped drive them to extinction.

For a while, there were feral camels roaming the Southwest. They were imported and used for the United States Army; the project was interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil War. Some of them were killed by soldiers, while others were sold off to butchers and other people around the region. Some managed to survive in the desert, but there wasn't enough living in the wild to support a thriving population.

Camel riding in Zagora desert, Morocco

There were sightings of camels in the Southwest up until the early 20th century. The story was very different in Australia, were the feral population really took hold, and today, there are around 1 million dromedary camels roaming the country.

Related: Prehistoric Cave Paintings Prove The Sahara Was Once Green

Camel Safari - Las Vegas' Accredited Zoo

Camel Safari is a zoo located around an hour north of Las Vegas that is ZAA accredited. To be ZAA accredited, the zoos need to attain the highest standards of animal welfare and have extensive application and site inspection. They need to undergo the complete process every five years.

They provide rewarding animal encounters where people can see the animals up-close and personal. They have over 40 camelids that people can see. Other animals they have include sloths, porcupines, sand cats, alpacas, and others.

They offer guided safari tours that include the opportunity to ride camels (as well as climb abroad on the Safari Tram and an ATV).

Camel Safari has two species of camels - Bactrian camels (native to Central Asia) and Dromedary Camels (the common single-hump camel). They also have the two camelids from South America - Alpacas and Llamas.

Tourists On Camels
Pixabay
Tourists On Camels

One of the best places to discover American wildlife in the Southwest is Bearizona safari park and see an animal park specializing in North American wildlife.

Related: Why Morocco Is The Best Country From Which To Explore The Sahara

Camel Riding Options At Camel Safari

There are a number of guided safaris with interpretive two-hour tours. Before going, one should check their safari tour calendar. Camel Safari is a great place for wedding photography, TV shows, family reunions, parties, and more.

Go in the evening and enjoy the VIP Sunset Safari on the 176-acre outdoor venue - see how stunning the sunset is in the Mojave Desert.

There are three different Safari tours - ride a camel, tram, or ATV to view their zoo and camels. Safari Options:

  • Camel Ride + Zoo Tour
  • Safari Tram Ride + Zoo Tour
  • ATV Safari + Zoo Tour
Close Up View of A Camel Face
Pixabay
Close Up View of A Camel Face

The cost of a camel ride and zoo tour is around $218 per person.

  • Cost: $218 Per Person
  • Duration: 2 Hours Total

One fun fact about camels is that their closest living relatives are the alpacas and llamas of South America (whose ancestors migrated south from North America). It is thought that the ancestors of the llamas originated from the Great Plains around 40 million years ago, and they headed south during the Great American Interchange (when many plants and animals spread from one continent to the other after they joined up). There are believed to be over 7 million llamas and alpacas in South America.