animal kingdom safari reviews

The Best And Worst Time To Go On Animal Kingdom's Popular Safari

T here's more to Disney's Animal Kingdom than just Pandora — The World of Avatar. In terms of wait times, Kilimanjaro Safaris is right up there with Avatar Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey as one of the park's most popular attractions. This is where Animal Kingdom lives up to its name and shows you some real live animals as you board a truck for a bumpy ride through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. With all the other animal-free rides like Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom , it would be easy to lose sight of the fact that it's as much a zoological park as it is a theme park. Kilimanjaro Safaris puts you in touch with both sides of that, letting riders see over 30 different species in their element, provided you catch them at the right time.

Unlike other Animal Kingdom attractions, Kilimanjaro Safaris isn't just subject to the whims of tourist crowds or the fickle malfunctions that sometimes cause Disney rides to break down. Even when the safari trucks are up and running, the best and worst time to ride one may depend on the animals' habits. Sometimes, they could appear to be hiding simply because they're resting out of sight somewhere in the 110-acre wildlife reserve. With hippos and crocodiles, for instance, you might only catch a glimpse of their heads above water. It helps to know when the animals are generally most active so you can maximize your sightings of them on Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Read more: 75 Things Every American Should Do In Their Lifetime

Plan Around The Florida Sun For Kilimanjaro Safaris

Like South Florida's Lion Country Safari, Kilimanjaro Safaris offers a savanna tour where you might momentarily forget you're in the Sunshine State, not Africa. Technically, it's Animal Kingdom's version of Africa, where the "Festival of the Lion King" show also takes place. As you cross the bridge into it, you might see tourists posing in front of Africa signs. Yet this is still Florida, and the weather here factors into how the safari animals behave. When it's too hot, they're more likely to be cooling off in the shade.

That's one reason why you'll hear frequent visitors recommend early morning, late afternoon, or early evening as the best time to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris. Aim for when the sun is lower and the animals are out feeding, like our giraffe friend above. It's a tip backed up by panelists at planDisney, who suggest visiting first thing after the park opens or later in the day before it closes. Keep in mind, Animal Kingdom usually closes earlier than Disney's other parks, with Kilimanjaro Safaris often ending its tours before sunset.

Conversely, the worst time to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris — especially in Florida's summertime heat — could be mid-day. This is true not only for animal sightings but potentially for your own comfort, as you'll be riding 20 minutes outdoors in an open-air truck. The tour's resident lions may actually be more comfortable than you since Disney reportedly built air conditioning into the rocks where they lounge.

Try To Catch The Kilimanjaro Safari After It Rains

One mistake to avoid when planning your next Florida trip is expecting all sunshine and no rain. The same is true of Animal Kingdom, where cooling rain can draw out the animals on Kilimanjaro Safaris after the downpour stops. When I was there with family one summer, we got caught in a typical afternoon rainstorm and ducked into Pizzafari. Later, I kicked myself for getting tied up there instead of heading straight for the real safari when the rain let up.

Understanding Lightning Lane can also help you strategize with Kilimanjaro Safaris since it's one of the attractions that service covers. You can always keep an eye out for special offerings on Disney's list of Enchanting Extras, too. One previous offering was a private Kilimanjaro Safaris ride, combined with a meal at Tiffins Restaurant and VIP seating for "Festival of the Lion King." When we did it, we had the safari truck mostly to ourselves, with only our guide and a few other guests.

If you don't mind paying for an add-on like that, the next best one that's often available is the Starlight Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. It offers the rare chance for a night safari at Disney (again, with real animals, as opposed to the fake ones you'd see on the Jungle Cruise at night). Otherwise, just keep the beginning or end of the day in mind as your best bet for spotting the most animals on Kilimanjaro Safaris.

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REVIEW: One Of The Most Popular Nighttime Tours In Disney World Is…At A Hotel?

By Shelby Smith 1 Comment

As part of Disney World’s phased reopening, experiences are slowly returning to the parks and hotels (but some still haven’t quite yet!) .

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

You can once again hug your favorite Disney characters, dine at fan-favorite restaurants, and enjoy a FULL parade in Magic Kingdom. But, if you want to take your park visit to the next level you might be considering one of Disney World’s behind-the-scenes tours . Many of these remain suspended to this date , BUT, one of our FAVORITE tours is FINALLY back and we’re taking you along with us!

The Starlight Safari has returned to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and we couldn’t wait to head back out to the savanna and see if it was still worth the cost!

As a quick refresher, the Starlight Safari currently costs $89 per person and takes place two times each night with one tour at 8:30PM and another at 10PM . Disney recommends arriving at least 15 minutes before your tour, so we arrived a bit in advance at the porte-cochere in Animal Kingdom Lodge — Kidani Village to check in. Note that a valid photo ID is required and guests must be at least 8 years old participate.

It’s almost time!

Once everyone had arrived, it was time to load up into the safari vehicle! Before we hopped in, there was a short ribbon-cutting ceremony where the first guest that had checked in for the tour got to do the honors. Cast Members were equally excited to be giving tours once again!

Time to board the vehicle!

Now, what makes this tour so unique is that you get to see the animals at NIGHT when many of them are more active. And, there’s no need to worry about being able to see all the nighttime activities because Disney provides night-vision devices so you can see the animals in the dark. We were given ours once we boarded the truck.

Got our night vision goggles!

Our guide for the safari was Noah, with Emily as our driver. Both are actually what Disney called “Interpretive Keepers,” which means they work directly with the animals AND lead tours — a.k.a. they’re the experts.

Our guide, Noah

Once our safari vehicle set off, it was time for an adventure!

The safari begins!

We were lucky enough to see a TON of animals, including zebras, antelopes, giraffes, and more! As we mentioned before, the animals tend to be more active at night, so you’ll see some enjoying their dinner, roaming the field, and whatever else animals are up to after sunset.

And, while our cameras did a great job at making it look like there was still some light out when we were touring, it was actually totally dark — making us all that much more thankful for our night vision goggles.

Hello, Giraffe!

Now, you can see the animals with night vision goggles at night at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge without paying for the tour . But, what makes this tour so unique (and worth the cost in our opinion) is that you get to see the animals at night up-close PLUS you’ve got a Cast Member who is dedicated to teaching you all about them!

SO many animals to see!

Our tour guide, Noah, was SO knowledgeable, but at the same time, he was also hilarious — he made everything he told us sound so interesting as he spoke about each animal and how Disney takes care of them.

Our tour guide knew EVERYTHING about these animals!

Our tour lasted just a little under an hour (though Disney suggests carving out about an hour and a half for this experience) and we were SO happy to have had the chance to come back! It’s important to keep in mind that this behind-the-scenes tour does entail riding in a rugged safari vehicle over an open savanna (and it gets BUMPY), but if you’re looking for something unique to add to your Disney World vacation, this is a great, affordable option. Plus, you could easily make an event out of the evening for you and your family by spending time at Animal Kingdom Lodge, having a nice dinner at Boma , Sanaa , or even Jiko , and then following it up with the tour.

So, if you’re thinking about giving it a try, reservations can be made online on the Disney World website, or through the My Disney Experience app . And, as always, make sure to keep reading DFB for more reviews — and news — from Disney World!

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I paid $185 for a private safari at Disney World. Up-close interactions with wildlife weren't even the best part.

• I paid $185 to go on a private safari tour in Animal Kingdom at Disney World. 
• The ticket included a two-hour safari, African-inspired food, drinks, and a souvenir at the end.
• The experience was top-notch and worth it for the up-close interactions with the animals and guides.

I live 10 minutes away from Disney World and visit the parks frequently, but I'm always learning about new offerings. I recently discovered Savor the Savanna — a two-hour private safari tour at Animal Kingdom.

Although I've experienced the park's 18-minute Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction, I wanted to see what the add-on experience was all about.

Here's what the private safari tour was like.

The Savor the Savanna tickets are limited, so they have to be bought in advance.

There are only 12 tickets available for each Savor the Savanna tour, so they must be booked in advance via the My Disney Experience app or Disney World's website.

The two-hour tour is held at 3:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. every day, weather depending.

I booked a ticket two days in advance for the earlier time and paid $174 before tax. The tour ticket doesn't include park admission, which is required to access this event. Fortunately, I didn't need to buy a park ticket because I had an annual pass. 

I checked in at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk.

I entered Animal Kingdom and made my way over to the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk just in time for the 3 p.m. check-in.

Upon arrival, I was asked to sign a waiver.

I had to sign a waiver before the tour that covered topics including medical treatment, insurance, and assumption of risk.

I received a personalized name tag.

I wasn't expecting to receive a name tag when I checked in for the tour, but I was glad I did as I could keep it as a souvenir .

Our safari vehicle was different from the standard Animal Kingdom attraction.

The Kilimanjaro Safaris ride vehicles have seats in horizontal rows, but our private tour vehicle had wooden benches lining the perimeter.

I enjoyed the seating style because it created a welcoming environment.

The vehicle's seating layout created an intimate atmosphere.

Our tour guide , Emma, was friendly and knowledgeable — she encouraged questions and ensured everyone could capture photos.

I liked that we were all able to face each other throughout the experience. It made the tour more intimate. 

We had extra time to speak with a park employee working with the giraffes.

At the beginning of our tour, we met John, a park employee who works closely with the giraffes in the savanna.

He shared fun facts about the animals and answered questions in great detail.

Since the vehicle was stopped, people could also stand up and take photos of the giraffes and other nearby animals. 

We stopped at the Boma Platform for refreshments and great views of the savanna.

We arrived at the Boma Platform, an enclosure-inspired stop, about 40 minutes into the tour.

Boma is a popular restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and we were welcomed with a table of similar African-inspired cuisine, including various cheeses , fruits, breads, and salads — the chicken salad was my favorite. 

The stop also offered a raised view of the savanna with binoculars for an even closer look at the animals. 

Various regional wines were also available to sip on.

Although I don't drink, there was a selection of regional wines available for guests 21 and over. 

We could also have complimentary POG juice (pineapple, orange, and guava).

A glass of the fan-favorite POG juice at Disney restaurants can cost upwards of $6, but we were able to have as much as we wanted during the rest stop.

I found the unlimited supply of juice to be a bonus, especially since I don't drink alcohol.

Dessert was my favorite part of the meal.

There were three desserts available at the Boma stop, and the fudge pop was the best dessert I've ever had at Animal Kingdom.

Toward the end of the tour, we had the opportunity to see rhinos up close.

This was my first time seeing a rhino in person, so it was a unique and fun experience .

The tour ended with everyone getting a small souvenir.

In exchange for the lanyard that held my name tag (I could keep the paper part with my name on it), I was gifted a wooden coaster with Savor the Savanna engraved on the front.

Although this tour was pricey, I found it to be worth the value.

Kilimanjaro Safaris is about a 20-minute attraction, but Savor the Savanna is nearly two hours, so I deemed the $185 ticket to be worth it .

I was able to ask many questions and had access to delicious food and unlimited POG juice.

Although the ticket is pretty pricey — especially since it doesn't include park admission — I'd definitely do the tour again for a special occasion.

• Main content

Wild Africa Trek: An Insider Review of Animal Kingdom’s Safari Adventure

Ever want to experience Disney’s Animal Kingdom behind the scenes? Well sort of… If you ever get the chance the Wild Africa Trek is an experience like no other. In this article, we’ll explore the journey you’ll take, the perks of this tour, and give you our impressions of this wild excursion!

Is The Wild Africa Trek Worth It?

Yes, it is pricey, but well worth the price in my eyes, as you get immersed in the experience of being on a trek in the African wilderness. I would recommend the first in the morning or the last in the afternoon. Going in the morning is cooler, especially in the summer, and during late afternoon the animals are moving again from their naps.  I have never been to Africa so I can’t truly compare but I love Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Prices for the Wild Africa Trek range from $139 to $249 per Person (tax not included), but avid animal lovers and explorers will definitely find value in this tour.

What’s The Experience Like?

When you get there to get started you get “suited” up in a vest like you are an explorer walking through the jungle, and you get a water bottle that straps on so you can’t lose it.

Guides are very careful with what you can bring, as you will be in the same areas that the animals can be, so they don’t want to leave something behind that an animal might think is tasty. I love the Kilimanjaro Safari ride, so getting to see the animals more up close, and more a bit personal, definitely caught my interest.

On the Wild Africa Trek, you get your own private Jeep. They do not allow you to get out of the vehicle for your safety and the animal’s safety, but they do stop and allow you to learn a bit more about the animals and take pictures without all the bumps.

The guides do allow you to walk around the hut to take pictures, and you have such great viewing of the Savannah. I got to see giraffes closer than I have ever before, I was in awe. Before all of that I even got to walk over a rope bridge over the alligator and crocodile area, that was an experience!

Another bonus of this trek, was to feed the hippos. We got tethered to a pole so we could walk down a steep hill and the cast member called for the hippos. The hippos showed up mouths open and got fed watermelon and other vegetables.

Wild Africa Trek Sample Menu

You also get your own private viewing spot on the savannah for your included snack time (I called it a small lunch or brunch).

Sample Menu

• Air-dried beef and prosciutto
• Smoked salmon roulade with dill
• Fig cake with Boursin cheese
• Brie cheese and apricot
• Berry yogurt and dried cranberries
• Fresh fruit marinated in mint and ginger
• Chicken curry salad
• Sun-dried tomato hummus and mini pita
• Marinated tandoori shrimp

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

Wild Africa Trek Photos

At the end of our tour we got to have some group photos taken, and when viewing the pictures later, we noticed some surprise pictures of some characters that normally where not in the parks. Keep in mind that this experience does have an age and weight limit to ensure the safety of guest on the trek.

I am hoping they will offer this again once COVID restrictions are lifted. If you have ever wanted to see more of Disney’s Animal Kingdom “behind the scenes” I would highly recommend this tour. I have done several tours at Disney and this one is always my top rated.

Do you have a favorite tour that you’d like to share? Let us know your experience with tours at Disney World by leaving a comment below!

Karen Sarasin

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Wild Africa Trek review (cost, is it worth it?)

By: Author Shannon Albert

Published: May 9, 2023 Updated: October 12, 2023

Tours might be what Walt Disney World does best, and that definitely includes Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom .

I loved my first experience on this tour so much that I recently booked it again.

Here’s what you can expect on the tour…

In this article

Wild Africa Trek is a 3-hour tour that takes place at Animal Kingdom and includes several different backstage elements (more on that below). It’s offered a few times per day, with a very limited number of people allowed on each trek.

How much does Wild Africa Trek cost?

The cost for Wild Africa Trek is $219-$229 per person (tax not included). Price varies by date.

Yes, Wild Africa Trek is on the more expensive side, but you are also getting a pretty cool and unique experience.

There are, however, 15% discounts for select guests that will save you a little bit of money:

• Annual Passholders : from $186.15 (plus tax; prices vary by date)
• Disney Vacation Club Members : $186.15 (plus tax; prices vary by date)

Remember that to participate in the tour, you must also purchase valid theme park admission and secure a park reservation for that day.

The full payment is due at the time of booking. To receive the discount, you’ll need to be logged into the Disney Website before reserving your tour.

Note: There is a 2-day cancellation policy. The full price will be charged/forfeited if you cancel within 2 days or are a “no show” for the reservation.

Some important details to consider before booking:

• In order to participate, guests must be at least 8 years old and guests 17 years old or younger must be accompanied by a participating adult of 18 years or older
• Due to height restrictions for specific areas during the tour, guests must meet the minimum height requirement of 48 inches (122 cm) or they may not participate
• Due to weight restrictions for specific areas during the tour, participants must weigh between 45 and 300 lbs (20.14-136 kg) or they may not participate (yes, they weigh you!)
• Expectant mothers cannot participate
• For safety, participants 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 the tour
• Guests who wish to participate in a less physical journey or a wheelchair-accessible trek may contact Wild Africa Trek operations at (407) 938-1373 for an alternative offering

Reservations can be made online up to 60 days out. Since spots are limited, be sure to reserve ASAP.

Is there a dress code for Wild Africa Trek?

There are certain items you are not allowed to wear and some that are recommended.

Closed-toe shoes with a back strap or hiking boots are required. You cannot wear flip-flops.

There is recommended casual attire, including shorts or pants with a comfortable shirt. Skirts or dresses are not recommended.

Small personal items, such as cameras and cell phones, are permitted if they can be securely attached to the safety gear provided. Backpacks are not allowed.

What’s included in the cost?

In addition to getting to experience the savanna in a new way and see the animals up close while learning from the experts, the price of the tour includes the following:

Food and Drinks

You’ll be able to indulge in African-inspired snacks.

To give you an idea of what you might expect, this is a sample menu. What you actually are served may vary:

• Chicken curry salad
• Sun-dried tomato hummus and mini pita
• Marinated tandoori shrimp
• Smoked salmon roulade with dill
• Air-dried beef and prosciutto
• Fresh fruit marinated in mint and ginger

If you have any dietary restrictions, you’ll want to make a note of that when booking online.

Plus, you’ll inform the Disney Cast Member, server, chef, or manager on duty of any dietary restrictions when arriving at the dining location.

One of your guides will capture different moments of you throughout the tour.

Then, at the end of your expedition, you will receive a photo code that you can use to access and download the images.

As a souvenir, you’ll get to keep both your water bottle and name tag. You can see both in the photo below:

Safety Gear

Any necessary safety gear is provided by Disney.

• Warning: big spoilers ahead.

Arriving for the tour

This tour starts with checking in right by Kilimanjaro Safaris in the Africa section of Animal Kingdom. Be sure to show up a little early to allow time to sign paperwork, ask questions, etc.

Once the group has arrived, the guides will lead you to a locker and harness area where you can store your items.

You can take sunglasses and phones with you as long as they have a strap, which they’re happy to provide.

The guides will get you connected to harnesses and give you a water bottle that you can fill right in this area.

They will also give you a headset to wear that they’ll use to speak to you throughout the tour.

Parts of the tour

Once you’re ready to get started, the tour consists of a few different parts:

Hippo backstage viewing

• Rope bridges with views of crocodiles 
• Croc viewing 
• Private safari ride 
• Snack time at a private pavilion on the savanna 

To get to the first step, the group will walk through part of the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and then enter a backstage area from there to get started.

First up, hippos!

After hiking a little ways toward the hippo viewing area, a knowledgeable Cast Member will talk about hippos and attempt to wake the up for a snack.

Lucky for us, the 2 hippos responded and came out for quite a while as the Cast Member taught us about them and answered any questions we had.

Since this is a ledge overlooking the hippos, you are tethered via your harness during this part.

Rope bridges

If you’ve ever been on the Kilimanjaro Safaris and seen people climbing the rope bridges, you might’ve wondered how they got there. This tour is the answer to that!

You’ll be able to climb 2 different rope bridges during this part, with the second one passing over the crocodiles that you see from the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride.

You can kinda take your time walking across the bridges, which comes in handy if you have a fear of heights and/or want to snap some pics.

The guides will take pics of you along the way that can be downloaded afterward.

Croc viewing

While the 2nd rope bridge does include a view of the crocodiles, you’ll get another chance once you’re back on land with another tethered harness view overlooking their area.

Private safari ride

After seeing the crocs, the whole group will head out on a truck that will provide a private safari ride. After this, you may never want to go on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride again.

The main perk of having a private ride is the ability to pull over and spend time with active animals, providing lots of chances to take great pics.

On our recent trek, we spent at least 10 minutes in the giraffe area as they were very active after being fed.

Snack time at a private pavilion

The safari truck will eventually make its way to a private pavilion overlooking the savanna.

The view is gorgeous from here and makes for great photo ops. In fact, many proposals have taken place at this spot.

Bathrooms are available, and a light lunch prepared by Tusker House restaurant is provided. Oh, and the popular pog juice (passion fruit, orange, guava) is included as well.

If you have special dietary needs, you’ll be able to email them ahead of time to let them know.

From there, you’ll hop back in the truck and finish out the private safari.

This is also the end of the tour, so you’ll want to pick up your locker belongings before heading out.

Is the Wild Africa Trek worth it?

As mentioned in the intro, Walt Disney World is exceptionally good at tours, so it will not come as a big surprise when I say: yes! Definitely yes.

Though it’s definitely not cheap, it’s 100% worth it, especially if you’re looking for something new or special to do during your trip.

• If you’re typically a person who wears sandals or skirts, be sure to pack close-toed shoes and long shorts or pants for this trek.
• During hotter months, I’d suggest booking the earliest time possible to avoid afternoon heat.
• With the tour overlapping prime touring, be sure to have your Individual Lightning Lane Selections and/or Genie+ Selections booked for afterward.

Tuesday 5th of December 2023

The list of conditions mentions "motion sickness". When would someone have motion sickness on the tour? Just the safari ride portion?

Friday 12th of January 2024

@Regina, That would be due to the rope bridge swaying and the rough ride of the vehicles.

Friday 27th of October 2023

how many people are in a group? we have a group of 11

Caitlin Kelch

Monday 2nd of October 2023

They say no backpacks. Is the locker large enough to store the backpack in??

Shannon Albert

Tuesday 3rd of October 2023

Yes, it is. That's what I did on this tour.

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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REVIEW: An Exclusive Nighttime Tour is FINALLY Back in Disney World!

Have you ever dreamed of taking a tour through the savannas of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge ?

Well, you can! And not only that — there’s a tour that takes you out onto the savanna when the animals are most active after the sun goes down! This nighttime tour had been missing since the global pandemic caused Disney World to shut down — until now! The Starlight Safari Tour returned r ecently, and we’re bringing you along with us as we check it out!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge boasts gorgeous architecture themed after the large and diverse continent of Africa, but our favorite part lies outside the walls of this resort.

That’s right, Animal Kingdom Lodge is also home to — well — animals! And, while we enjoy stopping by to say hi from afar, one of our favorite ways to get up close to the animals and learn all about them is through behind-the-scenes tours — that’s where the Starlight Safari Tour comes in!

This tour takes guests on a nighttime journey through lush scenery while riding in an open-sided safari vehicle.

While on this wild ride, guests are given night-vision goggles so that they can get an entirely new view of over 30 incredible species.

The Starlight Safari Tour has just recently returned, and we couldn’t wait to share our experience with you! Here are the details:

• Each tour lasts approximately one hour
• Guests must be 8 years or older, and those younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult
• The cost is $89 per person and reservations must be booked in advance

It’s time for us to check-in for our tour!

Check-in takes place at the porte-cochere at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge — Kidani Village. You should plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour , and be sure to bring a valid photo ID.

After checking in, we were given some brief training and instructions and were given our night-vision devices. Then, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place to celebrate the re-opening.

After that, it was time for our Starlight Safari Tour to begin!

Like we said above, each tour is one hour long, which is a pretty good amount of time when you consider that the Animal Kingdom Lodge savannas aren’t super large!

Our guide and driver were Interpretive Keepers, which means they work directly with the animals. They were extremely knowledgeable, so we learned a lot!

We saw giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and antelopes. And, while you can usually see these animals from afar with night vision goggles at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, it was nice to have the Interpretive Keepers there to answer all of our questions about these animals.

We caught a glimpse of SO many animals during our tour!

The tour was impressive , and it remains one of the coolest experiences we’ve had at Disney World. Our guide and driver were very knowledgeable and they kept things light with tons of jokes! 

While the tour certainly is a bit out of the way (you’ll need to find transportation to the hotel yourself), it’s worth the trek if you’re looking for something unique to add to your vacation — especially if you have any animal lovers in your party.

When comparing it to other behind-the-scenes tours that you can do of Disney’s wildlife, this is the only one that takes place at night, increasing your chances of seeing more animals.

So if you’ve been looking forward to the return of this tour, head on over to the Disney World website to book a Starlight Safari of your own. And, as always, stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and beyond!

Starlight Safari - Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village

Find out what else is reopening in disney world soon , join the allears.net newsletter  to get the free cheat sheet for disney's wilderness lodge & animal kingdom lodge click here to get started.

Have you ever been on the Starlight Safari Tour? Let us know in the comments!

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One Reply to “REVIEW: An Exclusive Nighttime Tour is FINALLY Back in Disney World!”

If they bring back Minnie Vans then it may be easier to get here.

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Starlight safari - Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

• United States    
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Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek

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Stayed at akl in a savanna view bunk bed room. View was beautiful and had a blast watching all the animals! Room was smaller than other deluxe but still pretty roomy. Room and entire lodge was immaculate! Pool area was nice and huge. Only con I saw. About the lodge was the bus stops having an uphill climb when returning from the parks. If you’re disabled or have difficulty with walking this is a challenge. Also, the food court area is quite a trek too. Otherwise amazing.

I’m delighted to see this was another magical vacation for the books. It’s always a pleasure hearing about the wonderful memories our Guests are making, and these views sure make some great memories. I’m sorry to see there was some frustration with the return trip back from the bus stops after the long days. I can totally see where you’re coming from, just wanting a short trip back to your room so you can crash for the evening. Thanks for sharing some thoughts about your stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We’ll see you next time for another roaring good time. Brittany Disney Social Reviews

We love this place. It really feels like you are on a different continent in a jungle safari. It is a truly magical place. We love it! The grounds are huge and amazing. Each little corner with another surprise waiting for you.

• Sleep Quality

After arriving three hours late at the Orlando Airport with only an hour to get to our hotel and dinner reservations, we decided to take advantage of the free Disney airport transportation we had signed up for. That was a big mistake. We waited about five minutes in line to check in and explained our situation. No, problem, just tell the bus driver you need to get to your dinner. Shouldn't be a problem, we were told. Except that we waited over an hour after check in (65 minutes) for the bus to even arrive. After about 55 minutes someone explained that the traffic was bad all over the area and that the bus would arrive soon. That is not what google maps showed, nothing but green roads everywhere. After all, it was nearing on 8 PM on a Tuesday night by that time. The bus ride from the airport was about half an hour. By the time we walked to the bus pick up area at the airport, waited in line to check in, and waited for the bus, we had added about 75 minutes to our trip time. If I had any clue that was going to happen I would have grabbed a cab or Uber. Disney really needs to have approximate wait times for each destination available at check in. The hotel was nice. It is not anywhere near the entrance to the Animal Kingdom park, so just know that takes a bus to get there as well. The breakfast buffet in the morning is pricey but well worth it.

• Cleanliness

I want to begin by thanking you for such detailed insight to your airport transfer experience. Our Guests’ feedback is imperative to our success so it’s terribly important to receive information from you to continue to improve our services. We know just how important time is while on vacation, especially when you’re just beginning and have plans in the works. I’m incredibly sorry for the amount of delays you experienced with Disney’s Magical Express. We partner with Mears Transportation to provide this service, which is supposed to be an easy connection between the airport and your Resort of choice, taking away the added stress of finding your own way to and from your flights. I can definitely see how this was not the case for your family and want to assure you that I’ve shared this feedback with our Transportation teams and partners so that we can continue to provide excellent and stress-free service, especially through our communication. I looks like you enjoyed our Resort, once you had finally arrived, and I hope that this hitch in the start of your vacation didn’t carry on into the rest of your stay. Again, we really appreciate your comments and suggestions and look forward to welcoming you back for a more magical first impression in the future. Holly Disney Social Reviews

What a huge disappointment! After paying of for a family holiday of our dreams we have received a email that starts with 'Disney are enhancing your experience' what a slap in the face, for it to state that they are doing major refurbishments and the pool will be closed! They have informed us that they are putting a bus service on to another pool (which shows how far the pool is from hotel), the best part of booking a 'luxury hotel' is knowing we can get up in the morning and the kids can jump straight into the pool, not wait in ques for a bus to arrive at a overly busy pool, the thought of having 2 little ones this makes me anxious. As a Disney customer staying at the resorts I was made aware that we can hop on a bus and use any hotels facilities of our choice, so Disney are not offering us anything better! After contacting Thomas Cook signature who have been sending emails daily to disney I have had a reply a WEEK later to basically tell me theirs NOTHING they can do! No moving to another hotel, no compensation, no refund if cancelled not even an apology of them! What a 'magical' experience we are having aye. DISNEY are a world wide organisation but will not offer customers anything! Absolutely devastated as a family. 'All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them' a well known Disney quote! Well Disney this is one customer that does have the courage and we will not be leaving this! £9000 for a 2 week holiday to tell us tuff! Nope this will be getting taken further!!!! Holiday of a life time has turned into the most hurrendous experience we have had, funny the email came once the whole holiday was paid for isn't it! Just can't believe it's Disney that has let us down!

First, let me say I just love going to Disney! Went in 2015 after a long absence, 2016 (left a little early- hurricane was heading that way), 2017 skipped because of the wildfires and back in 2018 to finish that 2016 trip! This was my first stay on property- we’ve been staying on Hotel Plaza Blvd. I would have given a solid 5+ except for one employee and the way a new Disney policy is being implemented- comment at the end. I booked a standard room and fully expected to get a parking lot view and was so happy to get a partial pool view room. The cm checking us in was so friendly and truly excited that we were excited! In fact, every single employee we encountered just went above and beyond (except for that one!)- from the cashier in the Mara for insisting on getting me a take away cover herself, the cashier in the Lodge gift shop, and the bartenders at the pool walking around and chatting when we all discovered we lived / played in the same part of TX. The resort is just lovely, peaceful and relaxing (or was at first). The room- while the sleeping area was a little on the small side I felt it was very well planned out and more than adequate. There is plenty of space under the beds for storing suitcases and the room was "Disney" clean- loved it! There's a nice size closet, large dresser recessed into the wall, and a double vanity. The dressing area was very large. One oddity in the room- all the plugs were installed upside down. The food at Mara was very good and had a good selection- try the African stew! The roast chicken was very nice. Now for that incident. While my 73 year old mother was napping I get a knock on the door. Upon opening it, I was rudely told "Room Inspection"- just 2 words. No- I'm sorry to bother you, etc. I tried to explain that my mother was napping and was rudely told- "I have to inspect the room." No reason was given, no identification was presented, and no policy explained at check-in. I let the cm in my room (which I should not have done without checking with the front desk first) and she immediately left when she saw my mother sleeping (who was totally oblivious since her hearing aids were out). It put a damper on the rest of the stay. Not a magical experience.

Well, let me say, we love having you at Disney World! It’s always wonderful to welcome new Guests, but there’s a special place in our hearts for those return visitors who come again and again to relive the magic. I’m delighted that you’ve found your way back to us for a new adventure at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s really wonderful to see that most of your interactions with our Cast Members were everything we’d hope for; inviting, knowledgeable, and at the ready to assist in any way possible. Perhaps that’s why it’s even more disheartening that the incident during your room check was the exact opposite of what you’ve come to expect when visiting us. I want to wholeheartedly apologize for how this occurred. While this process is relatively new to our Resorts, and is in place to ensure the safety of all our Guests and Cast, we never want to have such a negative impact. In truth, we want this process to have as little intrusion into your stay as possible. Feedback like yours in paramount to making necessary changes to ensure our Guests are completely comfortable, while still being kept secure. Again, I’m sorry this had such an impact on an otherwise fantastic visit. Our Resort Leadership have received your comments and will continue to work to smooth out this process, while also keeping the positives from your stay in tip-top shape. We hope you’ll travel back to our warm and welcoming Lodge to experience more of the incredible Guest service you’ve come to appreciate and we strive to provide. Holly Disney Social Reviews

Starlight Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney's Animal Kingdom Resort Area

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Age Interest

Tweens, Teens, Adults

Accessibility and Other Information - Opens Dialog

Accessibility

• Must Transfer from Wheelchair/ECV

Behind the Scenes, Animal Encounters

Set out on an immersive safari adventure reminiscent of a nighttime drive through an African game reserve!

As the Sun Sets, the Savanna Awakens

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.

Savor the Savanna

Take off on a private safari through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve and indulge in premium eats and drinks.

Wednesday, May 08, 2024

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The Starlight Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

11/22/2022   |   Blog , Walt Disney World

INCREDIBLE!! This is how I would describe my recent after-dark safari tour through the savannas at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It was kind of like that old cowboy song, you know...." Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam, Where the deer and the antelope play ". Okay, it’s not exactly like that, but you get where I’m going. From a giraffe who practically stuck her head inside our open-air safari vehicle, to a few zebras who had no intention of moving off our path, and the giant Ankole cattle who's only concern was finishing his dinner. My family and I were amazed at the amount of wildlife we saw during our 1-hour tour.

The Starlight Safari is currently offered nightly, weather permitting, at 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm, and the cost is $75 - $89 per person, before tax. Reservations are required, and payment is due at time of booking. Check-in for the safari starts about 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour, near the valet area at Kidani Village. Valid ID is required and each guest over 18 must sign a waiver for themselves and any minors in their party under age 17. Please note that the minimum age to participate in the tour is 8 years old, and any guests under 17 years old must be accompanied by an adult. After completing the check-in process, my family climbed into the ride vehicle and were given a night-vision device which made seeing everything in the dark very clear. Each tour has 2 guides. A driver who works very hard to get your vehicle in and out of the savanna's multiple gate systems without any escapee's sneaking behind and the riding guide, who is inside the vehicle to explain everything you are seeing.

These guides work closely with the animal’s day in and day out and are extremely knowledgeable about each individual one. They know the names, personalities, and likes and dislikes of each one you encounter. They have funny stories, sad stories, and even birth stories! You name it, the guides can tell you about it! My son is very inquisitive and asked many questions and our guide was able to answer each one promptly. During our trek, we went through 3 different savannas’ and saw and learned something different each time.

Fun Fact : Did you know that giraffe eat up to 75 pounds of food per day, and to accomplish that, they must eat almost the whole time they are awake!

During the many times we would encounter wildlife, the guides would stop the vehicle and encourage everyone to get up and take a good look. With the night-vision devices, seeing the wildlife was not hard at all. This experience was definitely the highlight of our vacation and something we’d be more then willing to do again!

My family was lucky enough to be staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge during our visit to Walt Disney World, but reservations are open to everyone. Keep in mind, this tour has very limited availability with only about 25 spaces between both tours. If you think this is something you'd like to experience, reach out to your favorite Me and The Mouse Travel Specialist soon and tell them you want to go on a nighttime adventure through an African game reserve!

Tagged: activities , Animal Kingdom Lodge , Disney , Family , Favorite , Orlando , Planning , reservations , Starlight Safari , Travel , Vacation , Walt Disney World

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Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

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What Makes This Resort Hotel Unique

Exotic Animals

Discover over 30 species of African wildlife, including zebras, giraffes, gazelles, kudu and flamingos. Read More

Discover over 30 species of African wildlife, including zebras, giraffes, gazelles, kudu and flamingos. Identify each species with a Wildlife Field Guide (found in your Guest Room, with extras available from the Front desk), and learn more about African animals and ecosystems during fun programs led by Animal Specialists.

Award-Winning Dining

Savor vibrant African specialties and favorite American classics at our award-winning restaurants.

Pool with Waterslide

Escape to an 11,000-square-foot pool with an exciting waterslide and gently sloping, zero-depth entry point similar to that of a natural watering hole. Read More

Escape to an 11,000-square-foot pool with an exciting waterslide and gently sloping, zero-depth entry point similar to that of a natural watering hole. Surrounded by large canopy trees and Floridian palms, Uzima Pool includes a children’s wading pool and 2 whirlpool spas.

You can also cool off at Samawati Springs Pool, which offers a thrilling waterslide, 2 whirlpool spas and Uwanja Camp—an animal observation site-themed water playground with squirting Venus flytraps, a rope bridge, water cannons and more. Samawati Springs Pool is located just a short walk away at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village.

Learn more about recreation at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Room Types Sure to Suit Your Style

Choose from a wide array of accommodations, from rooms and suites—some offering Concierge service—to home-like options in the villa section of the Resort. Read More

Choose from a wide array of accommodations, from rooms and suites—some offering Concierge service—to home-like options in the villa section of the Resort. All room types share the same Resort amenities, including pools, dining and recreation.

Room types offered at this Resort:

• Rooms and Suites (sleep up to 4 adults)
• Rooms and Suites with Club-Level Service (sleep up to 8 adults)
• Deluxe Studios (sleep up to 4 adults)
• Deluxe Studios with Club-Level Service (sleep up to 4 adults)
• 1-, 2- and 3-Bedroom Villas (sleep up to 12 adults)
• Villas with Club-Level Service (sleeps up to 5 adults)

Villas feature:

• A fully-equipped kitchen , so you can prepare meals and snacks from the comfort of your villa
• Spacious living and dining areas where your family can share even more quality time together after you return from the parks
• Separate bedrooms that offer space, privacy and tranquility – so it’s easy to rest, relax and recharge your spirit after each exhilarating vacation day
• A washer and dryer , so you can pack lightly and always have fresh, clean clothes

Studios and Deluxe Studios feature:

• A kitchenette , so you can prepare meals and snacks from the comfort of your studio
• A sleeper sofa , in addition to one queen bed and one pull-down bed

Deluxe Studios are larger than Studios.

Visit the Room Rates page to see what's available for your stay!

More Magic for Your Stay

A More Magical Stay Starts with "Hey Disney!”

The "Hey Disney!" voice assistant experience features tons of character fun plus a helpful host, who can order you extra towels and answer lots of your park questions.

Disney Signature Services

Guests staying in Club-level rooms and suites are eligible for personalized vacation-planning support.

Enhance Your Stay with the My Disney Experience App

Simplify your arrival, access your room and discover a world of fun with this helpful app. Read More

Simplify your arrival, access your room and discover a world of fun with this helpful app.

Be sure you have the latest version of the My Disney Experience app to enjoy these handy features during your stay.

Check In and Check Out with Ease

Enjoy a simplified arrival at your Disney Resort hotel! Use the app to begin the check-in process , view your room number and even unlock your door .

At the end of your stay, there’s no need to stop by the Front Desk if you have a valid payment card on file or a zero-dollar balance on your account. Instead, check out of your room via the app by visiting My Reservations or your Hotel Account.

Plan, Play, Dine and Unwind

There are many more ways to enhance your stay! With the app, you can:

• Make vacation plans during your stay—and review existing plans
• Enter the theme parks (with a valid park reservation and valid admission) using Disney MagicMobile service
• Order food and beverages with mobile order service
• Check park schedules
• Get directions
• Explore transportation options
• View your Disney PhotoPass photos

And that’s only the beginning!

Learn more about the My Disney Experience app .

Available for iPhone®, iPad® and smartphones for Android™. Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc .

Easier Trip Planning – Like Magic!

Once you’ve settled in, let Disney Genie service summon the attractions, entertainment and dining experiences you love the most. Plus, as a Disney Resort hotel guest get early access to purchase individual Lightning Lane entry for up to two different attractions each day.

View Rooms and Prices

Hotel Address

(407) 938-3000

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