It is an experience as close to a real-life safari as many will ever come -- hiking along a dirt trail winding uphill and down through a wooded area with tigers, leopards and jaguars around every corner.

At the Sierra Endangered Cat Haven, visitors come face to face with some of the world's most exotic cats, housed in a natural setting that allows for unique, up-close and personal interaction with some truly amazing animals.

Located just under an hour's drive away in the Dunlap foothills on the outskirts of Kings Canyon National Park, the Cat Haven makes for a great day trip for kids and their parents who might be bored with summer vacation. The haven is quite different from a zoo in that it's built to blend into the natural habitat. There are no sidewalks, no snackbars, no cramped cages, no scheduled performances by the animals. Only exotic cats living in huge enclosures in a habitat as close to home as it can be.

Founded 10 years ago by Dale Anderson, the Cat Haven has a mission that goes beyond entertainment. Anderson's larger mission is to sustain wild cat populations around the world. Formerly an airline pilot, Anderson's dream of working with wild cats began in the seventh grade when a mountain lion was brought to his class.

Now it is Anderson who travels around the Valley taking his cats into schools and teaching students about the importance of conservation. A visit to Roosevelt School in Kingsburg earlier this year prompted students to raise $790 for cheetah conservation.

"If I thought all I was doing was entertaining people, that would be pretty boring," Anderson said. "I want to help cats in the wild."

A visit to the Cat Haven reveals personalities so unique that they seem almost human. Ivan, a 3-year-old Siberian lynx, loves to chase water from the hose when it's squirted around his enclosure. He lounged lazily in the shade until a little boy started running back and forth in front of his cage at the prompting of the guide. At that point, Ivan was up and ready to play, chasing the boy back and forth.

Bob White has volunteered his time at the Cat Haven for the past 10 years. Trained as a zoologist, the now retired park ranger is committed to their mission. As White walked up to the enclosure of the haven's two Amur leopards, Argonne, the 16-year-old male, was clearly happy to see him. But Chen, his 14-year-old mate, was not nearly as pleased by White's visit. She growled at him as he approached, but White just laughed.

"Chen is jealous of my relationship with Argonne," White said.

Admittedly his favorite of all the cats, the 140-pound Argonne gently licked White's hand through the fence while Chen retreated like a jealous wife.

Rufus, a playful and happy little bobcat, is the haven's oldest cat at the age of 17. Before ending up at the Cat Haven, he had been illegally raised as someone's pet and declawed. Julie Langenheim, one of the haven's dozen volunteer handlers, sat on the ground in the enclosure and played with the cat. Climbing up behind her, Rufus rested his paws on her shoulders and bit her hair.

"You are a bad bobcat," Langenheim said with a laugh.

Rufus was feeling especially frisky, having just finished his breakfast -- a raw chicken leg.

All the cats are carnivorous, and are fed daily meals of chicken, turkey and beef.

""We don't feed them anything we wouldn't eat ourselves," White said.

Shebeth, a large jet-black leopard, was not as happy to have visitors as Rufus had been.

"Boy, you're in a mood today," White said to Shebeth as she jumped at the fence with all four paws extended, growling and snarling angrily.

White said that the 13-year-old leopard is normally much friendlier, but like all humans do, she appeared to be having an off day. Shebeth was raised to do TV commercials by a couple in Southern California, but according to White, she was retired after her first day on a sound stage.

A little further up the dirt path was an enclosure with three more Amur leopards -- the offspring of Argonne and his jealous mate, Chen. White explained that when the cubs were born, Chen didn't know how to care for them and tossed them from her den. One of the haven's handlers took the babies home and hand-raised them in her kitchen until they were able to survive on their own at the haven.

When the Cat Haven opened 10 years ago, Goliath and Kong, brother Bengal tigers, were just babies. White said their weight is estimated at 350-400 pounds, but they can't be sure on an exact number because none of the staff want to undertake the job of trying to get the huge cats onto a scale. They sleep about 20 hours a day, and when they're awake, they enjoy swimming in the huge pond within their enclosure or feasting on six and a half pounds of raw meat.

A giant lion enclosure is currently under construction at the Cat Haven, but until it is done, Anderson, the haven's owner, will have two lions residing with him at home.

Anderson said that while running an organization like the Cat Haven appears to many to be a dream job, it is not without its challenges. The haven has been on the verge of foreclosure eight times, but in spite of that, Anderson continues to give whatever donations are left over after operating costs directly to cat conservation groups.

He said that his passion for what he does and his refusal to give in to a defeatist attitude are what keep him going on the most difficult of days. That, and his cats.

"I go sit with my cheetah and he just purrs and purrs and purrs," Anderson said. "Things are never too bad when you have a cheetah purring next to you."

To get to the park, take Highway 180 east through Squaw Valley and continue past Clingan's Junction. The Cat Haven is 2.5 miles past there on the left, just past the Sierra Inn.

Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day but Tuesday. The last tour leaves at 4 p.m. General admission is $8.50 with discounts for seniors, children and groups. Hiking or tennis shoes should be worn. For more information, visit cathaven.com or call 338-3216.