Camp ikigai Animal Sanctuary 501c3
Hosted by Camp · Squaw Valley, California
125 sites · RV, Tent, Lodging · 72 acres
Near Kings Canyon National Park
Within a 60-minute drive from the Grant Grove Visitor Center.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
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$49
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2 sites
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Dispersed Camping - Tent Sites
89%
(73)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
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for 4 guests$49
/ night
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RV Camping
100%
(1)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
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for 4 guests$59
/ nightLodging
4 sites
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Birdhouse
92%
(6)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
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for 4 guests$99
/ night
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The Cozy
100%
(3)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
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for 4 guests$109
/ night
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Bell Yurt Tents
100%
(1)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
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for 8 guests$85
/ night
The Garden Tiny Shabin Cabin
Booked 1 time
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
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for 2 guests$60
/ nightfrom
$49
/ night125 sites
Reviews
90% Recommend84 ratings · 54 reviews
Recommends
· December 2025
Camp Ikigai is amazing! I booked the birdhouse cabin and have no complaints. The outdoor shower was my favorite especially using it during the night! It has hot water and soap. I think there was a meteor shower because we saw about 20 shooting stars in like an hour. The camp has such an amazing view of the night sky, i havent seen that many stars in so long. In the morning we were able to sit outside and watch the horses. It was very peaceful, I will definitely be visiting again
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Vanessa L.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· December 2025
16 ft car ·
Dispersed Camping - Tent Sites
Cutest dog and hosts were really welcoming. Nicely decorated with lights.
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Amanda S.
7 months on Hipcamp
Easy to understand instructions to enter the site and very friendly dog and cat who greeted us in the entrance i would definitely go back there just to see them again :)
Dennis G.
3 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· November 2025
16 ft car ·
Dispersed Camping - Tent Sites
i really loved this campsite :) great amenities, beautiful and spacious site, helpful and responsive hosts, and very adorable dog!
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Serena J.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· November 2025
Great Animal Sanctuary Camp Spot
Tent · Group trip ·
Dispersed Camping - Tent Sites
Awesome hosts! They were very accommodating and even brought out their small excavator to build us a bigger fire pit. It was awesome and so much fun. There were also horses and sheep roaming around and Timber (their dog) was a wonderful guide around the property.
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Chad M.
6 months on Hipcamp
Host was communicative and the land was as advertized. We had 3 to 5 year olds and the animals were gentle with them. It is a good location so near the national park. Strongly recommend this campsite.
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Brandon W.
5 months on Hipcamp
This place is magical. It's not fancy by any means but has all the elements to make a person (me) dipping their toe into camping feel at once rugged yet comfortable. You can camp in the wilderness, yet are not too far from a potable water source, grills, shower, and even a fridge where you can store perishables. Matt, the owner is so friendly and kind and it felt like we had been long time friends. I camped here for two nights with my 5 year old and he absolutely loved running around and exploring the grounds. Camp Ikigai is a true labor of love and I can wait to come back.
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Kavi K.
5 months on Hipcamp
A wonderful place to leave the city and soak up life on a sanctuary. Matt appreciates those campers who want to share the space kindly and enjoy the outdoors with intention. This space also provides so much to both novice and lifelong campers and is great for animal-loving children too. Don’t just visit to sleep and hike, make sure you spend time in community too!
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Natalia ..
3 reviews
Recommends
· October 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Dispersed Camping - Tent Sites
This was a piece of heaven on earth! I am a single Mom to my four adopted girls. Animals and connection in nature is a source of comfort and emotional peace and security to my children. They were welcomed at Camp Ikigai by the host and all the animals. It was a much needed weekend of solace and peace and excitement! We highly recommend for anyone to go and support this amazing mission. God bless Camp Ikigai! We will be back and we are bringing friends! 🤗
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Stephanie S.
5 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2025
I absolutely loved it! I wish I was there longer. The owner was really nice. We got to spend some time with the animals, they were all so adorable. The shower was also so fun, I liked the open shower concept. Also there were no to very little bugs.
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Sebastian C.
6 months on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· September 2025
Overall decent. However, the advertised laundry was $10 for a wash and $10 for a dry.
This would be fine if it was just in the listing, but this was the main reason I booked it instead of a campground, so I was disappointed to see it cost so much.
Shower was great.
D
David T.
6 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2025
suuuuuuper close to kings canyon, which was super awesome and convenient!! lots of really cool animals <3 had a great time
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Victoria M.
13 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
I loved camping with all the animals around! The property is super cute and funky and the grape shower is epic
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Grace S.
5 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
Magical Animal Camping Experience!
Tent · With kids ·
Dispersed Camping - Tent Sites
Really wonderful place! I am so glad we stayed here when traveling to sequoia and kings canyon national parks. This place is an entire camping experience with magical animals, views, and people. Composting toilet which I’m used to when camping, and an outdoor shower with grapes growing. There’s a gold mine on the property but we didn’t make it all the way to the top to find it sadly. We found a cave we thought was it so if you go and hike up to look for the gold mine continue past the smaller cave! Six friendly horses, 2 friendly dogs, 1 friendly cat, and a friendly sheep! Oh and two adorable snuggly baby possums and a little flock of special geese and one chicken that survived a recent animal attack. Geckos and hawks. So many animals! My kids loved playing in and by the pool. We ended up staying longer to just enjoy the campground for a day after checking out the parks! The camp host was really great too I’m so glad we met! All this to say you should definitely go :)
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Naomi H.
2 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
With pets ·
Birdhouse
The camp is a perfect spot for people looking for communal outdoor recreation, with many friendly animals and amenities. It’s nearby the national parks and Fresno and you will definitely get to know the camp owners and other visitors. I would absolutely return! Be ready for the heat and bring a swimsuit and treats for the animals.
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Natalia ..
3 reviews
Magical low-key spot with very kind hosts. Kids had a great time in the pool and with the well-behaved animals. We met some great people and will be back.
C
Christopher H.
3 reviews
The experience was great and the owner was very friendly and nice. Views of mountains were great and can even hike the ones on the land. Would definitely go back.
M
Michael A.
6 reviews
Amazing camp site!! The horses are friendly and come right up to your tent. The people are so nice and the amenities are well kept. Highly recommend this and I will be back! Thank you!
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Sydney N.
9 months on Hipcamp
Everything was great only thing I didn’t like is that there was horses pop all around, we have to clean up the pop to set up the tent.
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Lazaro G.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Dispersed Camping - Tent Sites
He had an awesome time camping on this beautiful land. We set up tent next to the horses, hung out with them at sunset and woke up next to them. It was truly magical. The shower was awesome after a long day of hiking and the bathroom was also nice. We stayed here with our 6 year old daughter and felt very safe both nights even though it was a busy Memorial Day weekend. Easy access and fast communication with host.
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Saira B.
3 reviews
Great hidden gem! Loved the communal feeling of this place. Very easy to get to know other campers here and the dogs are nice too. Definitely look forward to future visits again.
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Angel D.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent · Group trip ·
Dispersed Camping - Tent Sites
Alyssa’s land was a peaceful and inviting escape! What stood out the most was the feeling of seclusion and quiet—it’s the perfect spot to disconnect and unwind. The property was well-maintained, with plenty of flat space for tents and a beautiful view of the surrounding nature. Host was a warm and welcoming , easy to communicate with and full of helpful local tips One of the highlights was definitely the beautiful horses on the property—they added a special charm and made the experience feel even more connected to nature If you’re looking for a relaxing escape with the bonus of being around gentle animals, this is the perfect spot. Highly recommend!
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Sneha T.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
My sister and I had a good time camping here! It was really close to Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks and the view of the mountains around the area is amazing. The sunsets were so beautiful. The animals were also super friendly. We had a magical dinner with the horses and sheep grazing nearby that we will not forget.
The camping is free-for-all first-come-first-serve so arriving earlier is better to find a spot. The ground was also fairly hard where we set up our tent, so we'd recommend bringing an inflatable mattress or sleeping pad. Sound also travels well here, so you will hear your neighbors if they are being noisy.
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Paige M.
1 year on Hipcamp
Not recommend
· May 2025
Tent · Group trip ·
Dispersed Camping - Tent Sites
removing some horse poop, hard to find a place without to place the tent
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Telma L.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
All around an amazing campsite. Matt or Crazy Camphost, was such an inviting and insightful person to be around. The kitchen and shower were clean and well kept. The resident animals were also a pleasure to be around. Campsite is not too far from the Grant Grove entrance to Kings Canyon National Park. I will definitely stay here again for my next trip to sequoia!
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Saul C.
3 reviews
I LOVED this place! Alyssa was extremely communicative through the app and Matt was an incredibly welcoming camp host. There are six (?) horses, a sheep, two dogs and cat that roam freely on the property and are incredibly friendly. There is plenty of land to spread out on and also a common area if you want to interact with everyone. I came for Memorial Day weekend alone so I pitched my tent near the common area but I could have easily had a more secluded experience if I wanted. I cooked over the communal fire/ate raw foods but it is quite equipped for those wanting a less primitive camping experience: grills, a sink with running water, even a microwave. I came to visit the sequoias, (took me about an hour to drive to the park during peak hours on a busy holiday weekend), but honestly had just as good of time at camp as in the park. Already figuring out when I can come back!
J
Jamie K.
1 year on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· May 2025
Pros: very pretty area, was easy to find and enter, I felt safe staying here
Cons: I arrived at around 6pm and it seemed like the area was pretty full and it was confusing on where to find a spot. I had to drive around and up a hill, and the only spot I could find was slanted, so my tent was on a slant.
Rachel F.
2 reviews
Not recommend
· May 2025
We were very excited about the prospect of an animal sanctuary! Unfortunately, things immediately got off to a rough start when the directions on the app routed us to a random stop in the freeway. When we called the helpline, we were met with an AI assistant that did nothing to help. When we finally arrived, we found the campground full(understandably) and had a hard time finding a spot to set up. Without the host to help, we probably picked a bad spot. Finally, the toilet is literally a home depot bucket located in a shack with cracks so large you can see whoever is inside. We ended up deciding to leave early and find somewhere else to stay.
Overall I think the campground could benefit from designated camping plots with individual amenities(picnic tables at each plot, etc) and a decent toilet.
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Michelle M.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
You can land easy here
10 ft travel trailer · With kids ·
Dispersed Camping - Tent Sites
Matt was an excellent and attentive host. The land is easy to navigate and all the amenities make you feel right at home. Kinda brilliant to wake up to horses around my sight. The shower is hot and the view is amazing. We will go back for all this and we want to support his work!
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Kathleen M.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
Absolutely Beautiful place and the host was very cool and friendly. They have horses and a couple dogs running around and a sheep. My wife has an emotional thing with horses so it was amazing I could have her experience this and pet a horse up close. The views from this place are spectacular, lots of mosquitos so just be prepared for something to fight those suckers off. I would love to come back and camp here again but we live in Texas. Thank you for sharing your place and animals with us and doing what you do for them. Say hi to your husky for me, I miss her lol (I have 4 of them)
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Daniel R.
2 reviews
Location
Squaw Valley, Fresno County, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Camp Host C.
Joined in July 2024Things to do nearby
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