Daktari had a world wide following and there are still legions of fans around the world. One German fan, Matthias Schurig, took the time to write to Ralph Helfer to find out what happened to Africa USA after the series ended. As many of you know, a devastating flood destroyed Africa USA (see previous post) but thankfully, the story doesn’t end there.
Mr. Helfer told Matthias the following in a letter:
“I owned a three hundred acre ranch in an area called Solvang in Southern California. That is where we shot Daktari. I sold the ranch. The new owners took down the Daktari house and built their own. The flood came after we had finished shooting the series.”
The new owner is actress and animal activist Tippi Hendren and she has developed the Shambala Game Preserve. Here are the details:
“Shambala is maintained by the Roar Foundation, founded by actress Tippi Hedren in 1983 as a 501(C)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization . Shambala cares for endangered exotic big cats such as African lions, Siberian tigers and Bengal tigers, leopards, servals, mountain lions, bobcats, plus a lynx, and a Florida panther.
The site was originally that of Africa, U.S.A.
The first Africa U.S.A. in California was created in 1962 as a 600-acre affection training compound by Ralph and Toni Helfer. It was located in Soledad Canyon near Los Angeles.
Ivan Tors first discovered Clarence, the cross-eyed lion, at Africa, U.S.A. and it inspired him to create the film Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion (1965) and the spin-off television series Daktari, which was partly shot on location there. Judy, the chimp and other star of the show, was also owned by Ralph Helfer.
A few other shows such as Cowboy in Africa, Gentle Ben, as well as an episode of Star Trek “Shore Leave” were also shot there. Helfer was providing both the location and the animals.
In January 1969, Africa U.S.A. was struck by a powerful storm over Soledad Canyon, which dropped large amounts of rainfall. The resulting severe flooding and mudslides in the canyons destroyed the compound, but only 9 of Helfer’s 1,500 animals had drowned.
In 1987 the property was purchased and restored by actress Tippi Hedren and is now called Shambala Preserve.”
https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/shambala-game-preserve/view/bing/
Here are some videos of the preserve:
What an appropriate and wonderful ending to the story of Daktari and Africa USA! Thank you Matthias for this information.
Daktari TV Show 