By: Bekah Beliveau, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
When the news broke that Disney's tour experiences would be returning in February this year, I know I wasn't the only one rejoicing! The news couldn't have come at a more perfect time personally. I was headed to Disney World for a late February/early March girls' trip with my sister. We were so excited to add the Wild Africa Trek to our itinerary for our first time.
This is where you can enter your 3-hour tour, Gilligan's Island joke. One of our guides, Jason, appreciated my nod to the classics but said that marketing wise, a 2-hour & 59-minute tour just doesn't have the same ring. Ha!! But I digress, back to our 3-hour tour. This tour definitely takes up a good portion of your day. Now that being said, would I recommend it for a first-time guest? No, I actually wouldn't. There's so much to do, see and enjoy in Animal Kingdom between the rides, animal trails, shows and delicious food. However, if this isn't your first visit and you are looking for something new to try, I couldn't recommend the Wild Africa Trek more!
They ask that you check in 15 minutes before your scheduled time. You will find the Check-In kiosk right across from the Kilimanjaro Safari entrance in Africa. The cast members and guides will get you checked in, help you get all your personal items stowed in a complimentary locker and get you fitted in your trek gear. They will deck you out with a harness, vest, a name tag, earpiece and even a water bottle that is yours to take home. We got introduced to our guides, took a few group photos (a small group of 12 total), and even learned a few words in Swahili; including Jambo (a greeting similar to Hello in English) and Asante Sana (Thank you).
We headed first to see and learn more about Animal Kingdom's resident Hippo males, Hans and his father, Henry. We got to see them up-close and personal, watch them get some lettuce snacks and learn all about their dental health. The awesome part of this tour is also the time that our guides and the animal keepers take in sharing all the info about the animals and answering any questions the group has.
Next up, we headed across 2 rope bridges and headed to see the crocodiles. In fact, you get to walk right over the crocodiles. You also cross over a road the Kilimanjaro Safari vehicles use. Definitely take a few moments to stop and enjoy the views from up there. Very cool!! Note: it's not a good idea to look around or down while walking...you might miss a step. You'll just have to trust me on that one
From there we were off to the savanna! What differs this portion from the Kilimanjaro Safari ride is the vehicle. The bench seating wraps all the way around the edge of the back of the truck; ensuring everyone has an awesome view. They also pull over and stop periodically to answer questions or discuss the various animals more in depth.
We were lucky enough to also see the two male baby rhinos: Ranger & Mylo. The newest; baby female rhino, Logan, is still backstage with her mom, Lola. How cute are they?!
In the middle of our savanna tour, we also stopped at a Boma (an open-air private pavilion) for our African inspired snacks. Every item is prepared specifically for the Wild Africa Trek- which means you won't find the items anywhere else in the parks. And man, were they delicious!! Like always with Disney, they make allowances for dietary restrictions. I had a gluten-free tin filled with safe snacks and another member of our group had a vegan tin. Make sure you note any dietary restrictions with your travel agent or when you book the tour. Also, if you've never had it; try the Jungle Juice. If you have had it, I'm sure you will be happy to hear it's included!! It's the best! Jungle Juice is also known as POG juice at the Polynesian Resort and 'Ohana Restaurant. It quickly became a favorite of mine! YUM!
Complimentary Photo Service- Your guides are not only walking and talking animal encyclopedias, but also trained photographers. They are both taking pictures of not only you and your party but also the animals. At the end of your tour, you will receive access to download all the photos. No extra purchase necessary!! You can also enjoy the moment and still have it beautifully documented. This doesn't mean you can't bring your cellphone and take your own photos/video footage.
The price is currently $199.00 per person (tax not included) and you must be 8 years old or older to participate.
**This is just ONE of the tour experiences offered at Animal Kingdom. Reach out to an agent to discuss adding this VIP Expedition or one of the other animal tours. We can assist you in planning your trip and finding the perfect fit for your family!
Thank you to our guides, Jason and Josh- you both were fantastic! And a BIG thank you to Disney for offering these opportunities to their guests so that we can continue learning about wildlife, and animal conservation.
Have you done Animal Kingdom's Wild Africa Trek? I’d enjoy hearing if you loved it as much as I did. Asante Sana for reading!
Please reach out to Bekah, an agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation or you may contact Marvelous Mouse Travels.
