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• Nov 28, 2023

What to Expect on Disney's Wild Africa Trek: A Complete Guide and Why It's Worth the Splurge

Updated: Dec 5, 2023

Embark on an unforgettable adventure through the African wilderness with Wild Africa Trek located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Discover the wonders of the Animal Kingdom, traverse breathtaking landscapes, and experience the thrill of up-close encounters with wildlife. This complete guide will provide you with all the information you need to make the most of your trek and why this enchanting extra is worth the splurge.

Preparing for the Wild Africa Trek

Before embarking on the Wild Africa Trek, it's important to make some preparations to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. Firstly, be sure to make a reservation in advance as spots for this popular adventure are limited. You can do this online or by asking your Castle Coach to book your enchanting experience.

Next, it's essential to dress appropriately for the trek. The "African wilderness" aka the Florida heat can be hot and humid, so it's recommended to wear lightweight and breathable clothing. Comfortable closed-toe shoes are also a must, as you'll be walking on uneven terrain. Don't forget to bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and insect repellent to protect yourself from the elements. Keep in mind you won't be able to take a backpack with you or even a small cross-body, these will all be stored in a locker prior to your adventure.

In addition to clothing, it's important to bring a few essential items. A small backpack or bag is handy for carrying personal belongings such as a water bottle, camera, and snacks. It's also a good idea to bring some extra cash or a credit card for any additional purchases during the trek.

Lastly, make sure to arrive at Disney's Animal Kingdom park at least 15 minutes before your scheduled trek time. This will give you enough time to check in and meet your knowledgeable guides who will accompany you throughout the adventure. Now that you're prepared, get ready for an incredible journey through the African wilderness!

Gear and Attire

When it comes to gear and attire for the Wild Africa Trek, Disney provides most of what you'll need. Upon check-in, you'll be given a specialized harness that ensures your safety during the trek. This harness is comfortable and allows you to move freely while exploring the wilderness. You'll also be provided with a headset that allows you to listen to your guide throughout the excursion. The harness/vest also has pockets for accessibility for your cell phone, water bottle, and listening device.

As for attire, it's important to wear comfortable clothing that can withstand the outdoor conditions. Avoid wearing bright colors or patterns that may startle the animals. Don't forget to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes that are suitable for walking on uneven terrain. Skirts and dresses are not recommended for this excursion.

In terms of accessories, it's a good idea to bring a smartphone to capture the incredible moments you'll encounter on the trek. However, for those up-close encounters, Disney's Africa Trek guides provide high-quality images of your adventure in addition to photos of the animals you saw while on the trek. You'll notice your tour guide snapping photos during your trip.

Overall, Disney ensures that you have all the necessary gear and attire to enjoy the Wild Africa Trek safely and comfortably. Just remember to dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes for the best experience.

Traversing the African Wilderness

Once you're fully prepared and geared up, it's time to embark on your adventure through the African wilderness. The Wild Africa Trek takes you on a guided journey through various landscapes, allowing you to witness the beauty of nature up close.

During the trek, you'll traverse suspension bridges, climb rocky terrain, and navigate through dense vegetation. This thrilling experience will give you a true sense of being in the heart of the African wilderness. Along the way, your knowledgeable guides will share interesting facts and stories about the wildlife and ecosystem, enriching your understanding of the environment.

One of the highlights of the trek is the opportunity to cross a swinging rope bridge high above a river filled with crocodiles and hippos. This exhilarating experience provides a unique perspective of these magnificent creatures and their natural habitat. Don't worry, the bridge is designed to be safe and sturdy, allowing you to enjoy the breathtaking views without any worries.

As you continue your trek through the African wilderness, be prepared to encounter various animals such as giraffes, zebras, and antelopes. Your guides will ensure your safety and provide you with interesting information about these animals. Remember to keep a safe distance and follow the instructions of your guides to ensure a respectful and responsible wildlife viewing experience.

Overall, traversing the African wilderness on the Wild Africa Trek is a thrilling and unforgettable experience. Get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and witness incredible wildlife in their natural habitat.

Encountering Wildlife

One of the most exciting aspects of the Wild Africa Trek is the opportunity to have up-close encounters with wildlife. As you explore the African wilderness, you'll get a chance to see animals like never before.

During the trek, your guides will lead you to special viewing areas where you can observe animals such as lions, elephants, and rhinos from a safe and respectful distance. These animals roam freely in their natural habitats, allowing you to witness their behavior and interactions up close.

Your guides will provide fascinating information about each animal, including their diet, behavior, and conservation efforts. This educational experience not only allows you to appreciate the beauty of these creatures but also raises awareness about the importance of protecting their habitats.

It's important to remember that the Wild Africa Trek prioritizes the well-being of the animals. The guides will ensure that the encounters are conducted in a responsible manner, respecting the animals' natural behaviors and habitats. By following their instructions and maintaining a safe distance, you can have an incredible wildlife experience while contributing to their conservation.

Prepare to be amazed by the wildlife encounters on the Wild Africa Trek. It's a rare opportunity to witness these majestic animals in their natural environment and gain a deeper understanding of their importance in the African ecosystem.

Lunch with a View

Enjoy scenic views near the BOMA and see the animals in their habitats enjoying the sunshine, bathing in the water, or roaming the safari plains. Lunch is provided by the Wild Africa Trek team, it is catered from one of the many hot spot restaurants at Disney's Animal Kingdom. They arrive in these awesome little tiffins and you can even enjoy everyone's favorite POG juice.

Capturing Memories on the Wild Africa Trek

The Wild Africa Trek offers countless breathtaking moments that you'll want to capture and cherish forever. Here are some tips for capturing memories during your adventure:

1. Take advantage of the photo opportunities: Throughout the trek, your guides will stop at scenic spots where you can take photos. Make sure to have your camera ready and listen to their instructions for the best angles and shots.

2. Don't forget to enjoy the experience: While capturing memories is important, it's equally important to be fully present and enjoy the adventure. Take the time to immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of the African wilderness without constantly looking through the lens.

After the trek, you'll have the opportunity to snag some photos taken by your tour guide during the adventure. These high-quality photos are a great way to commemorate your experience and relive the unforgettable moments. You'll receive a card that has a code that you can enter to obtain these photos. Be sure to snap a photo of this code on your phone in case you lose your card during your adventures at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

For this and more enchanting Disney experiences, make sure you follow @Castlecoachestravel and @castle_coach_natalie for more Disney tips and tricks. If you're interested in booking your next Disney Vacation, reach out to your fellow castle coach for more ways to book.

Embark on a magical journey with Castle Coaches Travel, your dedicated Disney travel experts! As seasoned travel agents, we understand that planning the perfect Disney vacation requires careful attention to detail and insider knowledge. Whether you're dreaming of meeting your favorite characters, exploring enchanting lands, or experiencing the thrill of iconic attractions, Castle Coaches Travel is here to make your Disney dreams come true. Our passion for all things Disney, combined with our expertise in travel planning, ensures a seamless and unforgettable experience for you and your loved ones. Let us take the stress out of planning, so you can focus on creating memories that will last a lifetime. Reach out for a personalized quote today, and allow Castle Coaches Travel to be your trusted partner in crafting the Disney vacation of your dreams. Your happily ever after begins with us!

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Wild Africa Trek – An In-Depth Review of the VIP Backstage Tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney describes the Wild Africa Trek as “[a] privately guided VIP expedition offering close encounters with exotic African wildlife in their native habitat.” In other words, the Wild Africa Trek is a tour that builds upon the experience of Kilimanjaro Safaris by taking you to areas of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve that you may have seen on Kilimanjaro Safaris, but only from afar. This article takes an in-depth look at the Wild Africa Trek experience, details the cost associated with the tour, responds to possible FAQs from those considering the tour, and, ultimately, attempts to the answer the question: Is the Wild Africa Trek worth its cost?

Checking (and Strapping) In

Check-in for Animal Kingdom’s Wild Africa Trek takes place next to the entrance to Kilimanjaro Safaris. When you arrive, a cast member will verify your registration, inform you that there will be no restrooms available for the first two hours or so of the Trek, and subtly suggest that you take advantage of the the restrooms available around the corner before suiting up.

Once through the initial check-in, you’ll get a locker to store everything you cannot securely attach to your vest and/or harness. The “attached to the vest” restriction can be confusing with respect to cameras, but – according to the cast members with whom we talked – a camera strap that hangs around your neck will suffice. During this phase, cast members will also provide croakies for your glasses or sunglasses, a nametag, and a keepsake water bottle that clips to your vest.

After your belongings are secured in the locker, a cast member will fit you with a vest and harness. The harness fits snugly, through and around your legs. For this reason, and also probably because the trek includes walking across exposed bridges, Disney recommends that women do not wear skirts or dresses for the Wild Africa Trek. Based on her experience with the harness straps, my wife would also recommend that women do not wear very short shorts.

Once you are all strapped into your harness, you are weighed to verify compliance with the 300 lb weight limit (those of you who are scale-shy shouldn’t worry; there are no giant flashing numbers), provided a radio earpiece to hear the guides, and encouraged to take advantage of the available sunscreen and bug spray.

Starting the Tour

The first part of the tour involves walking through what our charming guides referred to as “some of the most dangerous animals in the wild:” homo sapiens. Basically, you walk from the Wild Africa Trek check-in location to the entrance of Pangani Forest Exploration Trail . On the Pangani Trail, you follow the same path as any guest, including winding through the aviary and quickly walking past the naked mole rats. Even with the additional and humorous insights provided by the Wild Africa Trek guides, this part of the tour might leave you wondering when the real tour is going to start. Thankfully, near the end of Pangani Trail, the fun really begins.

Over the River and Through the Woods

Toward the end of the Pangani Trail, your guides lead you up into the woods. This is where the real Wild Africa Trek experience begins. After a brief trail walk, you arrive at an overlook that extends out above the hippopotamus pool. Your guide will clip you (via your harness) to a support railing that allows you to move up to the edge of the overlook without fear of falling into the hippos’ gaping maws. The primary guides provide some hippo insight, but the group is also joined by a “hippo expert”, who provides you with information about feeding habits and the hippos’ relationships with one another, and, most importantly, brings large quantities of lettuce to coax the hippos closer to the overlook.

Next comes the rope bridge across the crocodiles. Those who have experienced Kilimanjaro Safaris have driven under this bridge (really two bridges connected by a platform tower) and may have noticed cast members or Wild Africa Trek groups traversing it. The rope bridge is not particularly difficult to navigate, though it was a little more wobbly than I had expected and I appreciated the fact that I was clipped into a safety line. Every member of the group will go across the bridge individually, and you are free to stop along the way to take pictures (assuming you have the courage to let go of the railings).

Since the bridge takes you literally over the crocodiles (don’t fall!), it shouldn’t be much surprise that the next stop is to view the crocodiles a little more closely. Just as with the hippopotamus overlook, you are attached to a safety rail so that you can inch up to the edge, and you are joined by a crocodile expert with interesting tidbits of information. Now is a great time for pictures: apparently natural models, crocodiles will hold a given pose (such as showing off their jaws) for quite some time.

Riding (and Stopping) in the Savannah

After you wave goodbye to the crocodiles, you’ll also say goodbye for to your vest, harness, and earpiece, and hello to back of a safari truck. The Wild Africa Trek vehicles are different from those on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Your vehicle for the Trek features benches along the outer edge of the bed of the truck, with a wide open area in the middle. This allows for everyone to face one another, and the guides, while riding through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, and, more importantly, provides a nice empty space for everyone to stand when the truck stops. Yes, unlike Simba–1 on Kilimanjaro Safaris, this truck will stop, and your guides allow you to stand to get a better view of the animals on the reserve. If you are a photographer, this fact alone might make the Wild Africa Trek worth its price.

Other than the truck’s configuration and the opportunity to stop for several minutes at various places along the tour, what you see during the ride through the Harambe Wildlife Preserve is nearly identical to what you would experience on Kilimanjaro Safaris. This includes views of the springboks, giraffes, elephants, and other savannah animals. However, since you have so much more time, you hear much more information. Our guides were very knowledgeable and the other guests had great questions. For example, we learned that one of the giraffes was pregnant, and it appears that Disney’s Animal Kingdom (or Animal Kingdom Lodge) will have another baby giraffe sometime in 2015.

When you are about two thirds of the way through the traditional Kilimanjaro Safaris trail, near the flamingo pool, the Wild Africa Trek again diverges from the standard experience. It is at this point that you stop at a boma for a meal and more animal-viewing. Note that boma simply means an area for outdoor meals and parties, and you are not going all the way to Boma , the restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The boma on the Wild Africa Trek is a large, beautiful observation deck with views of substantial sections of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. The front of the observation deck, where there are tables and chairs, has fantastic views of the elephants, the flamingo pond, and the grasslands populated with many other animals; the rear of the observation deck provides a (binocular-assisted) view of the rock formation that the lions call home.

The meal provided at the boma is specially prepared by the kitchen at Tusker House and differs depending on the time of day (i.e. breakfast for morning tours, lunch for afternoon tours.) For example, a breakfast meal includes brie, various fruits, and yogurt with granola, while lunch features items such as smoked meats, salmon roulade, and shrimp. If any of that sounded appetizing to you, then you are in for a treat on the Trek. The food is excellent, and, as our guides pointed out, the boma on the Wild Africa Trek is the only place at Walt Disney World to get these items. With classic Disney Magic touch, even the flower accompanying the meal is edible and tasty.

Finishing out the Tour

After relaxing at the boma, and taking in the views from both sides of the observation deck, it is time to pile back into the safari truck to finish the tour. As before, the truck travels a route similar to that of the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride vehicles, but it has the benefit of stopping and allowing you to stand and take pictures of the animals along the way.

The tour ends at the same place that Kilamonjaro Safaris concludes. At this time, the tour group and guides all must walk back to the lockers, where personal belongings were stored approximately three hours prior, and say your tearful goodbyes.

During most of the year, the Wild Africa Trek costs $201.29 per person. During peak times, however, the price tag jumps to $265.00. Peak times include: the weeks of Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Easter, and a period Disney defines as “spring break” (which changes from year to year and has not yet been set for 2015.) You must pay for your tour, in full, at the time of booking, and if you have to cancel, you must do so more than two days in advance if you wish to receive a refund. The tour takes place rain or shine, so it would be a good idea to pay attention to the weather forecast if the thought of experiencing the Wild Africa Trek in the rain does not appeal to you.

Through October 25 of this year (2014), Disney is offering a $50 discount, per person, on “afternoon” tours (i.e. tours that start at 11:30 AM or later.) At nearly 25% of the cost of the tour, this is a fairly substantial discount. Of course, if you are traveling in July or August, saving $50 per person might not be enough to make a three hour tour in the Florida heat (or afternoon thunderstorms) enjoyable.

At the time of publication, the cast members I spoke with informed me there is no current Annual Pass discount available for the Wild Africa Trek. When I booked my tour earlier this year, however, I received a discount of $50 per person that the cast member handling the booking attributed to my status as an Annual Passholder. Consequently, I encourage Annual Passholders to ask for any potential discounts when booking their tours.

How do I book a reservation for the Animal Kingdom’s Wild Africa Trek? Reservations for the Wild Africa Trek made by calling (407) WDW-TOUR (i.e. (407) 939–8687.)

What should I wear on the Wild Africa Trek? Sunscreen, bug spray, comfortable walking shoes (but they don’t have to be made for hiking – I did just fine in sneakers and my wife wore Converse), and breathable materials in temperature appropriate styles.

What should I not wear on the Wild Africa Trek? Flip flops (or other shoes that could easily slide off), dresses, skirts, or any clothing that would be uncomfortable when you are in the vest and harness. Take a look at the harnesses used in mountain climbing and ropes courses to see where the straps of the harness hit the body, and do what you can to avoid chafing.

What are the physical demands associated with the Wild Africa Trek?

• THE WALK: The total walking on the tour probably clocks in just under 2 miles (through the prohibition against non-vest-attached cellphones meant I didn’t get a precise calculation.) I would suggest taking a couple trips around Epcot’s World Showcase to gauge how comfortable you feel walking that distance over 90 minutes or so.
• THE BRIDGE: As I noted above, the rope bridge is a little more wobbly than I anticipated it would be. Additionally, some boards are “missing” from the bridge which means that you have to step over sizable gaps (though I didn’t have a measuring tape with me, I would guess the largest gap was around 16–18 inches, and there is a safety net under the entire bridge which is visible through the gaps). Despite the wobbliness and the gaps, my wife Elyssa, who is not particularly fond of heights, and the rest of the our group had no real issues traversing the bridge. Ultimately, it comes down to your particular sense of balance and your comfort with being approximately two stories off the ground.
• THE BATHROOMS: There are no restroom facilities for the first two hours or so of the tour. A cast member will most likely remind you of that fact before you are strapped in the harness, but it is probably a good idea to hit up the restrooms in Harambe Village before you check-in. There is a bathroom once you get to the boma about two thirds of the way through the Trek.

Should I bring my camera (smartphone or stand alone?)

This depends on how much of the experience you want to capture. The guides will take pictures of the group and the animals frequently throughout the Trek, and I felt our particular guides did a good job of getting shots of each individual party within the overall group. After the tour, you receive access to a website that allows you to download the guides’ photos and a “greatest hits” set of photos from other tours. I probably would have been content had the guide photos been all I received.

I was happy, however, that I brought my own camera. It allowed me to take more candid shots of my wife enjoying the experience than the guides did. As noted earlier in the post, you do have to either attach your camera to your vest or hang it around your neck to be allowed to bring it. Though smartphone photographs would probably be sufficient to get the extra documentation you may want from your Wild Africa Trek experience, the requirement of attaching your phone to your vest might make it easier to go with a compact camera. I found it much easier to find a suitable camera strap for my camera than to find an iPhone case/strap that would keep my phone connected to my vest while I took pictures.

Does the Wild Africa Trek photo download include other Disney Photopass photos from the rest of my vacation? No. In fact, you go to a special website – which appears to be separate from the Disney Photopass site – to download your images.

Is it Worth it?

The Wild Africa Trek is fantastic. Both my wife and I enjoyed it thoroughly, and, but for the cost associated with the Trek, would love to take the tour each and every time we go to Walt Disney World. Of course, in reality, the more than $200 per person price tag must be factored into the decision. Thankfully, Disney packs a lot into the Trek to justify the $200 cost, including: access to areas of Disney’s Animal Kingdom not available to regular guests, up-close encounters with animals not available through any other Disney attractions, a meal available only on the tour, full photographic documentation of the experience, and, of course, your awesome water bottle.

If you have never experienced the Wild Africa Trek, have at least a passing interest in animals, and think you might enjoy the experience described above, then the answer is simple: Yes. Go on the tour. If, however, you still have questions about whether you would enjoy three hours walking and driving mostly in the Florida sun, then you might have to think a little harder about whether this experience is right for you. The goal of this post is to provide enough detail for you to make a well-informed decision.

When my wife and I look back on our last few trips to Walt Disney World, it is the Wild Africa Trek that we list as our “Number One Highlight.” For us, the Wild Africa Trek was definitely worth its price tag.

After reading about the Wild Africa Trek, are you interested in going on the tour? What other Disney VIP tours have you been on? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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John is on the long list of attorneys who are also huge Disney fans. He likes to think there's more to him to that, but the jury's still out. John's love and fandom for Disney is only rivaled by his love for his wife Elyssa and his fandom for the Boston Red Sox. Though they live in North Carolina, John and Elyssa try to visit Disney World whenever possible - especially for runDisney events, holidays, special occasions, vacations, and days that end in the letter "y". John can be found on Twitter at @kivus.

15 thoughts on “ Wild Africa Trek – An In-Depth Review of the VIP Backstage Tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom ”

what is the age requirement?

8 years and at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall.

See https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/wild-africa-trek/

Thank you, after visiting the link you posted, I measured my 8 year old and found out that she is exactly 48 inches….. and we will be doing this on our next visit!!!

I am interested in knowing is an AM or PM tour better due to animal activity, etc. Heat doesn’t bother us.

Good question, and even better timing. Today, Disney published findings from a study it performed on animal activity at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The result? Time of day does not significantly change the probability of spotting animals. (You can read more details here: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/07/wildlife-wednesday-myth-busters-whens-the-best-time-to-see-your-favorite-animals-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/ )

So, if you believe Disney’s study, an AM or PM tour should not result in different levels of animal activity. One alternative factor you may wish to consider: Would you rather eat the brie, various fruits, and yogurt with granola they serve at breakfast, or the smoked meats, salmon roulade, and shrimp they serve at lunch?

We did an 8am tour in August 2012. Rather than “Check-in takes place next to the entrance to Kilimanjaro Safaris”, because our tour started before the park opened we had to check-in just outside the main turnstiles.

Our group was of 12 people, I assume this is the maximum. The cast members were fantastic. Disney supplied a total of 187 photos (in 2012 it was on a PhotoCD that arrived in the post a few weeks later), the vast majority were our of tour rather than being stock photos. At the boma the CMs were happy to oblige by taking numerous individual and family/group photos.

My kids still remember eating the flower during the meal! We threw the souvenir water bottles away as the screw lids kept getting cross-threaded.

We didn’t do the normal Kilimanjaro Safaris ride, there seemed little point when the tour offered so much more. It was definitely worth the money.

Adding this to my Disney Bucket List immediately! Looks like a must-do, especially for been-there, done-that types like our family. Thanks for all the information and photos!

I booked this tour a few days ago for my husband and myself in September, and with the discount it was just under $300 for the two of us including tax. We’ve been going to WDW every year for several years and this is our first tour, and I’m very excited. One question – is the meal a full meal or more like a snack? We’re doing the 1:30 tour and have dinner reservations at 7:30. I’m just wondering if we’ll be too full to enjoy dinner.

I would classify it as a “light lunch.” If you need more details than what I put in the review, Disney’s official explanation of the meal (available here: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/02/wild-africa-trek-you-cant-feed-the-animals-but-you-get-to-eat/ ) has another picture of what you will be served.

If I was taking the 1:30 PM tour, I would eat something light for lunch around 12:00-12:30 PM before going on the tour, and have the meal on the tour around 3:15-3:30 PM, and then I would be ready for dinner at 7:30 PM. If I was really concerned about maximizing my value when it comes to dinning options, I might not schedule a buffet or similar “all you care to enjoy” meal for that 7:30 PM reservation.

Again, that is based on my eating habits, but hopefully it gives you a little more insight. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you for your more than through review. I think I am putting this on my list for October.

My family of 4 and another family of 4 are doing this together this August. This will be our 4th trip to the World but our first Wild Africa Trek. I am looking forward to this tour the most out of our entire trip. We got the $50 per person discount and are taking the 11:45 tour. For all 8 of us that’s a $400 savings – so we’ll tough it out in the Florida heat. Can’t wait!

My wife and I did this tour in 2011, and it was great. (To be fair, we’re the kind of people who will stand in line and ride Kilimanjaro Safaris 2 or 3 times in one trip.) It’s definitely not for Disney-on-a-budget, but if you can afford it, it’s not going to let you down.

As for the weight limit, I think it used to be 250, and when I did it I was probably about 230, but they never brought out the scale to check. I’d imagine that 300 is closer to the actual safety rating of the equipment, which is why they need to break out the scale now.

This is on my Disney bucket list. Thanks for the great article. I think when the trek first started, the weight limit was lower, I remember thinking that I wouldn’t qualify. (I’ve lost weight, so it is not any issue any way now for me.) If I ever do a solo trip to WDW, this will be my big slurge.

My wife and I have looked very carefully at this adventure and are scheduled to take the Trek on Sep 5 in the morning. We too believe this will be the highlight of our next visit. I was a bit disappointed in the reservation process. You call and give your credit card info (charging the full amount) and all you get in return is a number. No email no hard copy. We were told to ask at check in about our DVC or Disney Visa card discount. There was no discount available at the time of reservation. Then the reservation does not link to My Disney Experience. You can only make a note. Something for the Mouse to work on! Really looking forward to the experience though!

My 11-year-old daughter (who loves animals) & I did the Trek in Oct 2013. I agree that it was totally worth the cost! It was a wonderful experience that tops anything else we’ve done at Disney. Although we were both nervous about the bridges, being harnessed made it a very safe-feeling experience & ended up being one of the highlights of the experience (I will warm that short-legged people will have to stretch to make a couple of the gaps based on my 5-foot-tall daughter’s experience, but she says that was part of the fun). Being able to stop during the drive portion of the safari was great as well—but do be alert & listen to the guides as you may need to suddenly sit back down to move along quickly should the animals take an extra interest in you (they are wild animals!)—we had an up-close encounter with the rhinos when they decided to come check us out! The trek was definitely worth every penny & we would love to be able to do it again.

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Your Guide To Wild Africa Trek At Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Do yourself a favor and book the Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom during your next visit! This 3 hour private tour takes you up close with the exotic African wildlife where you can discover animals of nearly every variety living in the Safi River Valley.

Related – Guide to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge at Disney World

Your private guide will take you to walk along a grassland path, cross a rope bridge and ride in a rugged safari vehicle over an open savanna where you will have the chance to see giraffes, rhinos, hippos and crocodiles! All of this while learning details about the animals and Animal Kingdom’s dedication to animal conservation.

And as if your safari weren’t memorable enough, you’ll receive a complimentary souvenir as well! 

Relax and enjoy the encounters with the animals of the Harambe Reserve while a trained photographer captures the moment! This is a service included with your tour so you can be in the moment and get fully immerse in this wild experience.

At the end of your expedition, you’ll receive a photo code that you can use to access and download images taken during your Wild Africa Trek experience.

After all of this fun, you will for sure wake up your appetite, but don’t worry, you will be able to enjoy some first class African inspired snacks while watching animals in their natural habitat. This is a sample menu:

• Garlic and leek hummus and pita
• Prosciutto and mozzarella
• Fresh fruit
• Chicken wrap
• Marinated tandoori shrimp

Looks amazing right? This is a great activity for families with older kids, all guests must be 8 years old or older to participate and at least 48 inches tall. Guests must also weight between 45 and 300 pounds to enjoy this experience. You can check all the requirement at the Walt Disney World website.

Have a wild time!

Credit: Disney Parks

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Guide to H2O Glow After Hours at Walt Disney World

Wild Africa Trek At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Review

The first part of the tour starts with a gentle hike into the safari grounds.  Along the way the guides will stop at various look out points and provide some interesting information about different plants and the safari in general.  The hike ends at a rope bridge.  Trekkers walk across the bridge one at a time and have the opportunity to get a very close view of the hippos and crocodiles.

This is the view from the bridge

Once each family has had the opportunity for a photograph, the entire group loads into a jeep.  The jeep follows the normal Kilimanjaro Safaris road, but you get a much more personal view of the animals and stay for a lot longer at different spots than you would during the normal ride.  This gives you plenty of time to take as many pictures of the various animals as you would like.  Throughout the ride the guides provide interesting commentary on the animals and their personalities.

The trek ends at a lookout station over the savannah.  Here each guest is given a beautifully presented snack and a chance to take a few more pictures.  After about 30-45 minutes here, you are all taken back via jeep and it’s time take off the safety gear and say goodbye to the guides.

Our tour guides were Paola and Karen.  They were both personable, perky and were especially good with children.  They were very knowledgeable about the various animals and kept everyone interested and engaged throughout the trek.  They happily answered questions and were a lot of fun.  Throughout the trek, several trainers joined the group at different times and provided in-depth information about the hippos and crocodiles as well as some of the other animals.

Up close with the Hippos

The guides also took pictures, a lot of pictures – almost 150 of them to be exact.  It was good mix of candid and staged shots.  You are welcome to take your own pictures on the tour (be sure to have a neck strap for your camera) but it’s nice to be able to experience some parts of the tour without worrying about getting a great shot. As the family photographer, I was thrilled to be in the pictures too!  These pictures are included in the cost of the trek and are accessible via an access code that is communicated to you at the end of the experience.

If you are interested in learning more about the safari animals, you will not be disappointed by the Wild Africa Trek.  We paid full price for the tour, no discounts – these are all my opinions and I highly recommend it!  If you have tried this tour – I’d love to hear what you thought!   ~ Monica

This review was written by Monica Loberto

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Starlight Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

As the sun sets, the savanna awakens.

Witness the wild as it comes to life on an after-dark safari tour of Disney’s African savannas and wildlife! This popular, nighttime expedition is open to all Guests at Walt Disney World Resort.

Climb aboard an open-sided safari vehicle and feel the rush of night air as you rumble through lush scenery, scanning the horizon for over 30 species of African wildlife!

The Nightlife of Wildlife To make the most of your animal-viewing extravaganza, Guests will be provided with a night vision device! You’ll be astounded by what you can see: zebras, giraffes, wildebeest and antelopes—plus ostriches and over 20 other exotic African species that freely roam across the savannas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge .

Reservations and Important Details Reservations can be made on this page or in the My Disney Experience app .

This nighttime tour lasts approximately one hour. It’s available exclusively to Guests 8 years of age or older. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult who is 18 years of age or older.

Know Before You Go

• Warning: This experience features a ride in a rugged safari vehicle over an open savanna. For your safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure; heart, back or neck problems; motion sickness or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not participate.
• Late arrivals after the start of the tour will not be accommodated.
• Check in at the porte-cochere at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village, and plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour. Valid photo ID will be required to check in.
• There is a 24-hour cancellation policy. Full price will be charged/forfeited if the Guest cancels within one day or fails to show up for the reservation.
• Guests must be at least 8 years of age to participate in Starlight Safari, and Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
• Guests using an ECV must leave their mobility devices behind at the Resort. They will retrieve them upon conclusion of the tour. This experience requires Guests in ECVs to transfer into an available wheelchair in order to participate in the tour.
• Nontransferable wheelchair Guests may remain in their wheelchair throughout this experience, however due to limited capacity on board the safari vehicle, all accommodation requests must be confirmed by calling (407) 666-6400.
• While safari vehicles are equipped for rain and wet terrain, experiences may be cancelled due to inclement weather.
• All aspects of the tour are subject to change without notice.
• Starlight Safari is a night experience, and Guests are responsible for transportation to and from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village.
• Allow up to 1.5 hours to travel to your destination within Walt Disney World Resort.

Related Activities

Savor the savanna, safety, accessibility and guest policies, make a reservation, times for starlight safari at disney's animal kingdom lodge.

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Kilimanjaro Safaris Guide

On Kilimanjaro Safaris, guests will embark on an African safari in one of the most ambitious attractions ever developed by Walt Disney Imagineering.

Ride Information   Restrictions   Accessibility   Location   Fun Facts   Top 5 Tips

Ride Information

Opening Day: April 22, 1998

Type of Ride: African safari

Age Recommendation: All ages

Duration of Ride: About 20 minutes

Typical Queue Time: Long; often peaks at over one hour

Single Rider Line: No

Chicken Exit Available: Yes

Baby Swap Available: No

Type of Vehicle: Safari truck

Type of Restraint: None

Attraction Open During Early Theme Park Entry: Yes. See our Early Theme Park Entry page for more information.

Ride Photo Available For Purchase: No

Ride Restrictions

Height Requirements: None

Flash Photography or Video Allowed: Yes

Safety, Accessibility, and Guest Policies

Accessibility: 

• Guests must transfer from wheelchairs
• Video Captioning
• Assistive Listening
• Handheld captioning
• Service animals permitted with caution

Guest Policies: Children under age 7 years must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.

Shopping: Near Kilimanjaro Safaris in the Animal Kingdom’s Africa section, guests can purchase apparel, plush dolls, and collectible ostrich eggs at “Ziwani Traders”; and African wines, art, crafts, and instruments at “Mombasa Marketplace.”

Dining/Refreshment: Dining options abound near Kilimanjaro Safaris. Guests wanting a counter service lunch or dinner can enjoy chicken skewers, vegetable stacks, gyros, fried sausages, and ribs at Harambe Market . Those preferring a sit-down meal should make ADRs for a buffet breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Tusker House . At Tusker House guests can choose between a variety of American and African dishes served amidst entertainment from Donald Duck.

Restroom: Find facilities convenient to Kilimanjaro Safaris at Mombasa Marketplace.

Smoking Location: Smoking is permitted in designated smoking areas only. Disney parks are smoke-free.

Kilimanjaro Safaris Fun Facts

Did you know.

• Guests can encounter more than 34 African animal species on Kilimanjaro Safaris, including antelopes, baboons, cheetahs, crocodiles, elephants, flamingos, gazelles, giraffes, hippos, hyenas, impalas, lions, ostriches, rhinos, warthogs, wild dogs, and zebras. Each safari vehicle is equipped with pictorial guides of all the animals you might encounter during your wildlife adventure.
• The fictitious African village, Harambe, where Kilimanjaro Safaris is located is a homage to real African villages that sit adjacent to vast preserves. Harambe is Swahili for “working together.”
• Kilimanjaro Safaris’ savannah encompasses 110 acres, rendering this single attraction larger than the entire Magic Kingdom park, which only occupies 105 acres.
• Kilimanjaro Safaris’ savannah is called “Harambe Wildlife Reserve.”
• As Kilimanjaro Safaris is located in a theme park, precautionary boundaries, including berms, moats, fences, wires, and chains, are overtly or covertly implanted throughout the savannah to keep the animals in their respective habitats.
• Devices such as air-conditioned rocks, cool breezes, salt licks, cooling or warming waters, and food help guide the animals toward the vehicle routes.
• Guests experience Kilimanjaro Safaris in 10-ton, open-sided GMC trucks, with a camouflage exterior, and seats up to 32 passengers. Cast Members actually drive each vehicle and provide educational commentary throughout the safari.
• The attraction replaces its plants daily to account for the animals’ consumption.
• Guests can experience two related tours, Wild Africa Trek and “Starlight Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge,” for an additional cost. The latter experience begins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge , not the Animal Kingdom Park.

• Kilimanjaro Safaris’ 1998 debut marked the realization of Walt Disney’s idea to utilize live animals in an adventure attraction. Disneyland ’s Jungle Cruise originally intended to fill this role in the late 1950s. Animatronic animals replaced the live animals in the version of Jungle Cruise that guests enjoy today.
• Kilimanjaro Safaris’ development entailed much research. In 1990, Imagineer Joe Rhode ventured to Kenya and Tanzania to view animals and experience authentic East African safari tours.
• Kilimanjaro Safaris toned down and then eliminated an overt poaching plotline. First, during the Cast Member previews in 1998, complaints arose over the grotesque depiction of a fake elephant named “Big Red,” who was killed by poachers. Imagineers immediately wrote Big Red out of the attraction. The attraction debuted with a tamer plotline, where poachers kidnap an animatronic baby elephant called “Little Red” and, subsequently, get apprehended. Then, in 2007, this version was altered to limit the dialogue related to poaching between the safari driver and a naturalist named Ms. Jobson. In 2012, the entire poacher storyline, including the related props, were eliminated from the attraction. A zebra habitat replaced the space that the props originally took up. In early 2013 the addax antelope replaced the zebra in this space to allow for better viewing.
• Save for a trial during the 1998 holiday season, Kilimanjaro Safaris ended its tours at sunset, regardless of park closing time, until 2016 because of lighting and animal sleeping issues. Beginning in the summer of 2016, with the debut of nighttime entertainment at the Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safaris will commence extended hours.

Hidden Mickeys:

Top 5 Tips for Kilimanjaro Safaris

• Consider experiencing Kilimanjaro Safaris multiple times as the live animals render each journey different.
• Guests wanting to view the Lions should ride either in the morning or closer to park close when the sun is not as intense.
• Take photos of the savannah and the animals.
• Hang onto your belongings. Anything dropped from the vehicle cannot be retrieved.
• Following Kilimanjaro Safaris, guests can view more African animals, such as gorillas, hippos, naked mole rats, and birds, by walking the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail .

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This Is My South

A travel guide to the Southern USA

What to See at Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World

July 27, 2022 By Caroline Eubanks Leave a Comment

The newest of the main Walt Disney World theme parks is Animal Kingdom, which opened on Earth Day in 1998. The over 500-acre park takes its inspiration from the wildlife around the globe. It’s located the furthest away from the other parks, including the Magic Kingdom , but is accessible from hotel buses.

The park is laid out among different zones themed geographically. There are also a few things to see at the entry gate including a gift shop, lockers, a butterfly habitat, a coffee cart, and an outpost of the Rainforest Cafe.

Because of the changing of the system from FastPass to Genie+, there aren’t many rides that you can skip the line for. Lightning Lane access includes rides and shows, including DINOSAUR, Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Naʻvi River Journey. Expedition Everest is also included but also has a single rider lane.

And don’t forget about the animal habitats scattered throughout the park, including the chance to see otters, tigers, flamingoes, and more! The Wilderness Explorers is another feature popular with kids, where you can earn badges along the way.

There are also optional tours you can take of the park. Caring for Giants is an add-on tour of the elephant habitat. A Path Less Traveled Tour is a behind-the-scenes tour. Savor the Savanna is a luxurious lunch in the savannah habitat. Up Close with Rhinos is a tour of the rhino habitat. Wild Africa Trek is a three-hour trek through the animal habitat as well as lunch.

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Get your  Walt Disney World tickets  for entry into the parks or hire a  Walt Disney World Private Guide  to help you see as much as possible.

The highlight of any trip to Animal Kingdom is a visit to the Africa area.

If you only do one thing in this area, make sure it’s Kilimanjaro Safaris. The incredible ride through the animal habitat provides visitors with an up-close look at African animals they might not otherwise see. Expect to wait close to an hour in line, but take in the animal facts on signs along the way.

Experiences

There are a number of areas to explore, but the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail is incredible. The street performances are also great, including the tam tam drummers of Harambe. Festival of the Lion King is a show that features colorful costumes and dancing inspired by the movie.

If you have time, take the Wildlife Express Train to the outer reaches of the park, home to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. At Conservation Station, check out the veterinary treatment rooms and reptile and amphibian habitats. There’s also The Animation Experience at Conservation Station, a class on animation and drawing.

Food and Drink

Harambe Fruit Market is the spot for a quick snack, including water, fruit, hot dogs, and soda. At Harambe Market, order the bowls and salads. Dawa Bar is Harambe’s cocktail bar with beer, wine, and margaritas.

Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery has pastries, breakfast sandwiches, flatbreads, and caffeinated beverages. Tusker House is one of the park’s character dining restaurants, with family-style food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dishes include curry shrimp, Moroccan-spiced beef, and delicious cocktails.

Tamu Tamu Refreshments has breakfast pastries, coffee, cocktails, and the beloved Dole Whip. Mahindi has popcorn and soda.

Tiffin’s Restaurant is one of Disney’s most acclaimed restaurants, with multiple rooms of African art. The menu is excellent, including shrimp and grits and butter chicken. Don’t miss the cocktails, either! A reservation is strongly recommended.

If you can’t get a table at Tiffin’s, Nomad Lounge has views of the lagoon and a similar menu like tuna poke and glazed pork belly.

The Asia area takes its inspiration from places like India and Nepal.

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain is a thrilling roller coaster that winds through a model of the famed peak. Take advantage of single rider lanes to avoid having to wait too long. Cool off on Kali River Rapids, a thrilling rafting ride.

Maharajah Jungle Trek is one of many areas to see the animals. Feathered Friends in Flight is a daily show featuring birds of prey.

Yak & Yeti Restaurant is one of the top-rated in Animal Kingdom with Nepalese-inspired decor. Chow down on Korean fried chicken, potstickers, and noodle bowls. If you’re short on time, Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes is a favorite for its quick-service Asian fare like breakfast bowls, burgers, and sandwiches.

Yak & Yeti Quality Beverages is another casual option with cocktails, draft beer, sangria, and grab-and-go options of the full restaurant’s menu. This includes chicken fried rice and egg rolls.

Drinkwallah is a drink cart with ice cream, chips, soda, and beer. At Trek Snacks, get popcorn and ice cream. Warung Outpost is the best spot for a margarita, along with chips, beer, and soda. Thirsty River Bar is a good spot to unwind with margaritas, craft beer, and wine.

Anandapur Ice Cream Truck has ice cream and other snacks to cool off. Right near the Tree of Life, Caravan Road has shaved ice and cocktails.

DinoLand U.S.A.

As the name implies, Dinoland is all about prehistoric creatures.

TriceraTop Spin is targeted towards younger visitors as the individual dinosaur cars go up and down as well as rotate. DINOSAUR brings guests in a rover through the prehistoric land with animatronic dinosaurs around every turn.

Don’t miss a chance to photograph Dino-Sue, a reproduction of the famous dinosaur skeleton in the Field Museum in Chicago. The Boneyard is a play area modeled after an archaeological dig site. Fossil Fun Games has carnival games that you can buy vouchers for.

Donald’s Dino-Bash is a fun show featuring Donald Duck and friends in dinosaur-inspired costumes. Or catch Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond, a show featuring your favorite fish from the Pixar film.

One of the best additions to Animal Kingdom is Disney KiteTails. The water show features large scale kites from The Lion King, pulled by jetskis. There’s an amphitheater with plenty of seating, but you can also see it from the Asia area.

Restaurantosaurus is a quick service, casual restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The lunch and dinner menu includes burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and the signature Safari Amber beer.

Dino Diner has Frito pie, hot dogs, beer, and soda. Cool off at Dino-Bite Snacks, an ice cream stand also with beer and soda. Trilo-Bites offers margaritas and buffalo chicken chips.

Discovery Island

The Tree of Life is the most impressive feature in the park, right in the middle, with incredible animal carvings.

There are no rides in this area.

When you need to cool off, head to the area under the Tree of Life, home to the It’s Tough to be a Bug! show. The performance features 3D encounters with critters from A Bug’s Life but can be scary for young visitors. Animal Encounters: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight is a show featuring mackaws.

The flotillas with your favorite Disney characters go down the river that runs around Discovery Island. They take place throughout the day. If you want to get up close for a photo, Mickey and Minnie can be spotted at Adventurers Outpost. There’s also a Caribbean street band performance.

Creature Comforts has Starbucks coffee and other treats to get you through the day, like breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Grab a quick bite at Eight Spoon Café, which has baked mac and cheese and pulled pork donut sandwiches.

Flame Tree Barbecue is all about the meat, with smoked meat, baked beans, mac and cheese, and beer and wine. Pizzafari has five themed rooms to enjoy your meal. The menu features pizza, salad, and garlic knots.

The Smiling Crocodile is the perfect spot for tacos and a cocktail. Isle of Java has some delicious treats like coffee with rum and pastries. Terra Treats has pizza by the slice.

Pandora: The World of Avatar

Pandora is the whimsical world from James Cameron’s film Avatar, complete with tropical plant life.

Despite opening a few years ago, Avatar Flight of Passage is still one of the most sought-after rides in Animal Kingdom. Expect to wait for it, even if you are inside the park at opening. It’s also on the short side, an interactive screen with a moving seat that simulates riding on the back of a creature called a banshee.

Na’vi River Journey is a raft ride through a bioluminescent part of Pandora, full of exotic plants. This indoor ride is popular during the heat of the day, so go early.

There are no shows in this area.

Satu’li Canteen is the best place to eat in Pandora. The menu has bao buns, chili garlic shrimp bowls, and fried tofu. Pongu Pongu has quirky drinks like the Rum Blossom, made with boba balls, and food including breakfast dishes and spring rolls.

Staying Onsite and Nearby Animal Kingdom

If you’re looking to be close to the action, the best place to stay is the Animal Kingdom Lodge . It’s one of the priciest as well, but you can’t beat the access to the park and animals that roam the grounds. You can take advantage of character dining and Starlight Safari, a nighttime trip through the animal habitat.

The property boasts a massive pool, multiple top-notch restaurants, and a variety of room options to choose from. There are studios and villas for even more space.

If you don’t mind staying off Disney property, the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek has unrivaled service and amenities. Located a few minutes from Disney Springs , this hotel has multiple restaurants (including a rooftop cocktail bar), a spa, access to golf, and a complimentary shuttle to the Disney parks. Rooms have views of the fireworks, along with bathtubs, plush robes, and coffee makers.

About Caroline Eubanks

Caroline Eubanks is the editor of this website, a Lowell Thomas award-winning travel writer, and the author of This Is My South: The Essential Travel Guide to the Southern States. Her stories from the South have appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Afar, Thrillist, Roads and Kingdoms, and BBC Travel.

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Wild Africa Trek

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Walt Disney World® Resort

Valid admission required. A theme park reservation may be required based on admission type.

Age Interest

Tweens, Teens, Adults

Accessibility and Other Information - Opens Dialog

Accessibility

• Must Be Ambulatory
• The harness on this experience may prohibit guests of certain body shapes or sizes from participating.

What's New, Behind the Scenes, Animal Encounters

Embark on a privately-guided, VIP expedition full of close encounters with exotic African wildlife!

An Exhilarating Safari Adventure

The Journey Walk along a grassland path, cross a rope bridge and ride in a rugged safari vehicle over an open savanna—with a chance to view African creatures including towering giraffes, powerful rhinos, hippos and crocodiles.

Along your journey, your knowledgeable guide will share insights about the majestic animals you’re viewing, as well as details about the park’s dedication to animal conservation.

And as if your safari weren’t memorable enough, you’ll receive a complimentary souvenir as well!

Complimentary Photo Services Enjoy your encounters with the animals of the Harambe Reserve while a trained photographer captures all the action and excitement throughout your adventure—a service that’s included with your tour.

At the end of your expedition, you’ll receive a photo code that you can use to access and download images taken during your Wild Africa Trek experience.

Theme park admission is required, but not included in the price of this tour. Theme park reservations are also required.

Indulge In Gourmet Eats

Sample Menu

• Garlic and leek hummus and pita
• Prosciutto and mozzarella
• Fresh fruit
• Chicken wrap
• Marinated tandoori shrimp

Please note: Menu items are subject to change without notice.

Know Before You Go

• WARNING: For your safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure; heart, back or neck problems; motion sickness or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not participate.
• Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult (18 years of age or older).
• Participants must be 8 years of age or older and at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall.
• Participants must be between 45 pounds and 300 pounds. The safety harnesses used for this experience may prohibit Guests of certain body shapes or sizes from participating.
• You must have physical stamina, comfort with heights, and the surefootedness to negotiate small hills, foliage and unsteady rope bridges on this tour. Guests seeking a less strenuous or wheelchair-accessible trek should contact Wild Africa Trek operations at (407) 938-1373 for alternative programs.
• Recommended attire includes shorts or pants and a comfortable shirt. Closed-toe shoes with a back strap or hiking boots are required. No flip-flops will be allowed. Skirts or dresses are not recommended.
• Complimentary lockers for your belongings will be provided. You will also receive a safety vest and wireless headset so that you can hear your guide at all times. Cameras are allowed as long as they can be securely fastened to the vest.
• Please check in 15 minutes prior to the start of the experience at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk, located across from the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction entrance. Late arrivals may not be able to join the experience.
• Excursion occurs rain or shine, with the exception of severe weather or lightning.
• Tour itinerary, content, duration and availability are subject to change without notice.
• There is a 24-hour cancellation policy. Full price will be charged/forfeited if the Guest cancels within one day or fails to show up for the reservation.

Monday, April 29, 2024

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Theme parks, disney cruise line – what you need to know, cruise line ships, recent walt disney world, recent disneyland, all reviews, recent reviews, allears style, newsletter home, reviews of starlight safari – animal kingdom lodge, kidani village, {"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"breadcrumblist","itemlistelement":[{"@type":"listitem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/allears.net\/","name":"all reviews"}},{"@type":"listitem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/allears.net\/reviews\/category\/tours-at-wdw-wild-africa-trek-keys-to-the-kingdom\/","name":"tours at walt disney world reviews"}},{"@type":"listitem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/allears.net\/reviews\/starlight-safari-animal-kingdom-lodge-kidani-village\/","name":"starlight safari - animal kingdom lodge, kidani village reviews"}}]} all reviews > tours at walt disney world reviews > starlight safari - animal kingdom lodge, kidani village reviews, recommended by, reviewed by iluvvacations review date: 07/07/2023, rating: (10) recommended.

My son (13) did this tour with my Mom (65) during our stay at AKL. I didn’t go because there were only 2 spots left at our 60 day time. So book asap. Ben said he would recommend it and so did my Mom. So it’s great for a wide range of ages and is only 1 hour. And it’s all in a safari truck.

Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 12/31/2018

This tour was the highlight of the trip for my husband and myself. The night viewers are easy to use and it is really cool to see the animals interacting at night. Our tour guide was AJ and she did a fantastic job explaining the lives of the animals and answering questions. The driver was so great too but unfortunately I forgot her name. We went in December and unfortunately it was too cold for the giraffes to be out. So the tour guide arranged for us to go back stage in the giraffe barn!!! It was the coolest experience ever. They even had baby giraffes in there. It was a small group so we didn't feel over crowded. Everyone got a glue in the dark safari pin at the end as well. I cannot even begin to tell you how worth while this tour is.

Reviewed by billndawn Review Date: 09/29/2018

We had dinner at the Sanaa restaurant at 5:45 and walked around the Kidani lodge until our 8:15PM check-in at the Sanaa reservation desk. Our guide Kristi greeted us and we all headed to the open air truck to get our night vision devices and start the tour. Laura was the driver and she and Kristi worked very well together getting us so close to the giraffes the we could touch them, but of course we didn't because that's not advised. Watching the zebras, okapi and ostriches feed and just experiencing night in the savanna with animals roaming about was indescribable. These animals are active at night in the cool air and this whole experience was well worth the cost and time.

Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 09/25/2018

Great personalized evening safari. We were right up next to the giraffes..... almost could touch them. Wish it was longer

Other topics in Tours At Walt Disney World

Epcot seas aqua tour - epcot, wild africa trek - animal kingdom, walt disney: marceline to magic kingdom, holiday d-lights tour, star wars guided tour - disney's hollywood studios, caring for giants - animal kingdom, savor the savanna: evening safari experience - animal kingdom, world showcase: destinations discovered - epcot, wilderness back trail adventure - segway tour at ft. wilderness, yuletide fantasy - parks and hotels, backstage magic - 3 park tour, behind the seeds - epcot, divequest - epcot, dolphins in depth - epcot, gardens of the world - epcot, undiscovered future world - epcot, family magic tour - magic kingdom, keys to the kingdom - magic kingdom, magic behind our steam trains - magic kingdom, vip tour guide service, follow us on social, trending now.

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Wild Africa Trek

Valid admission required. A theme park reservation may be required based on admission type.

An Exhilarating Safari Adventure

Be awestruck viewing wild animals in their natural habitat on the 3-hour Wild Africa Trek. On this privately guided tour, discover animals of nearly every variety living in the Safi River Valley—an untamed environment that resembles their home turf in Africa.

The Journey Walk along a grassland path, cross a rope bridge and ride in a rugged safari vehicle over an open savanna—with a chance to view African creatures including towering giraffes, powerful rhinos, hippos and crocodiles.

Along your journey, your knowledgeable guide will share insights about the majestic animals you’re viewing, as well as details about the park’s dedication to animal conservation.

And as if your safari weren’t memorable enough, you’ll receive a complimentary souvenir as well!

Complimentary Photo Services Enjoy your encounters with the animals of the Harambe Reserve while a trained photographer captures all the action and excitement throughout your adventure—a service that’s included with your tour.

At the end of your expedition, you’ll receive a photo code that you can use to access and download images taken during your Wild Africa Trek experience.

Theme park admission is required, but not included in the price of this tour. Theme park reservations are also required.

Indulge In Gourmet Eats

Work up an appetite during your trek and then enjoy some first-class, African-inspired snacks.

Sample Menu

• Garlic and leek hummus and pita
• Prosciutto and mozzarella
• Fresh fruit
• Chicken wrap
• Marinated tandoori shrimp

Please note: Menu items are subject to change without notice.

Know Before You Go

• WARNING: For your safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure; heart, back or neck problems; motion sickness or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not participate.
• Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult (18 years of age or older).
• Participants must be 8 years of age or older and at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall.
• Participants must be between 45 pounds and 300 pounds. The safety harnesses used for this experience may prohibit Guests of certain body shapes or sizes from participating.
• You must have physical stamina, comfort with heights, and the surefootedness to negotiate small hills, foliage and unsteady rope bridges on this tour. Guests seeking a less strenuous or wheelchair-accessible trek should contact Wild Africa Trek operations at 00 800 2006 0809 for alternative programs.
• Recommended attire includes shorts or pants and a comfortable shirt. Closed-toe shoes with a back strap or hiking boots are required. No flip-flops will be allowed. Skirts or dresses are not recommended.
• Complimentary lockers for your belongings will be provided. You will also receive a safety vest and wireless headset so that you can hear your guide at all times. Cameras are allowed as long as they can be securely fastened to the vest.
• Please check in 15 minutes prior to the start of the experience at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk, located across from the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction entrance. Late arrivals may not be able to join the experience.
• Excursion occurs rain or shine, with the exception of severe weather or lightning.
• Tour itinerary, content, duration and availability are subject to change without notice.
• There is a 24-hour cancellation policy. Full price will be charged/forfeited if the Guest cancels within one day or fails to show up for the reservation.

Safety, Accessibility and Guest Policies

Times for wild africa trek.

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Is joining the West Africa Trek and the Savor the Savanna at the Animal Kingdom theme park and the Starlight Safari at the Animal Kingdom Lodge all three tours on the same day too much or is it doable? Thank you! ”

• Are you planning on visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park on another day during your trip? There's so much to experience in this park, such as flying on the back of a banshee on Avatar Flight of Passage , immersing yourself in the incredible Festival of the Lion King , speeding through Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain , and enjoying all of the dining delicacies . You may want to either book fewer tours or enjoy an extra day in the park so you don't miss a minute of the magic!
• Make time for rest! If you do end up reserving all three of these tours, you'll want to make sure that you allow for ample time to rest. This might include making an advance dining reservation so you have time to recharge and refuel before your next adventure or taking a midday break (either a nap or a swim) at your Disney Resort hotel. 
• Consider the other Guests in your travel party. If your crew is full of adventure-seekers who love to keep going from sunup to sundown, then a jam-packed day filled with unique animals and festive flavors might be just right for you! If a few of your Guests enjoy a slower pace and a healthy mix of relaxation amongst the adventure, then you might want to narrow down your options to just one or two tours. 
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Meet the Panelist: Michelle, Pennsylvania

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Related Links

Visit Walt Disney World Resort to explore the magic.

• Animal Kingdom at Night
• Walt Disney World Disney's Animal Kingdom
• My Disney Experience
• Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

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