Animal Kingdom, Wild Africa Trek - Video & Reviews

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Posted on the Disney Parks blog 2/28...

Wild Africa Trek: You Can?t Feed the Animals, but You Get to Eat

posted on February 28th, 2011 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer

The new Wild Africa Trek at Disney?s Animal Kingdom takes you into the deepest, most-remote reaches of Disney?s Animal Kingdom ? a three-hour, expert-led adventure in groups of no more than 12. Trekkers enjoy an ?up-close-and-personal? experience with African wildlife that make their home in Pangani Forest as well as other areas of the park?s Harambe Wildlife Reserve.

Disney style, attention to detail counts, even with food served in ?camp tins? just like a safari in Africa. You start the trek with a sip of ?frunch,? a swirl of passion fruit, orange and guava juices, then you?re off on an adventure that includes clipping into a harness to cross the Safi River (watch for hippos and crocs). All that play makes us hungry.

Early-Morning Trek Meal on Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom

You unwind at a private safari camp ? keep your camera handy to catch wildebeest, giraffe, elephants and gazelles. If you?re on the early-morning trek, your double-decker, stainless steel ?camp tins? have a half-dozen delicious tastes: in one, slices of crunchy fig cake with almonds; savory slices of bresoala (dried beef) and prosciutto; and a buttery smoked salmon roll with jicama slaw and lime vinaigrette. Tin No. 2 has Brie and dried apricots; pineapple, honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelon balls in a mint dressing; and strawberry yogurt with granola and dried cherries. Lots of wonderful flavors in small bites.

Mid-Day Trek Meal on Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom

The mid-day trek includes a camp tin with bresoala and prosciutto, fruit balls and curried chicken salad in one; the other is the salmon roll paired with sun-dried tomato hummus and tandoori barbecued shrimp.

A team of Disney chefs came up with the ideas, but it?s the job of Chef Joe Karnath and his team at Tusker House to deliver fresh daily, ?comfort food that keeps well,? says Chef Joe. And, of course, the chefs will accommodate any dietary restrictions.

Reservations for ages 8 and up can be arranged by calling 407-WDW-TOUR. Pricing varies seasonally.

Photos and recipe here...

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/02/wild-africa-trek-you-cant-feed-the-animals-but-you-get-to-eat/

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

More info including photos and videos of the various parts of the Wild Africa Trek can be found on the Laughing Place site...

http://www.laughingplace.com/Lotion-View-1140.asp

[Lou... 3,118]

$189, plus park admission, kinda of an expensive day.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From WDW Magic...

Wild Africa Trek to expand schedule with two extra treks per day

Apr 22, 2011

The very popular "Wild Africa Trek" at Disney's Animal Kingdom is set to increase the number of treks per day to 8 in June (up from 6). Looking further ahead, the number of treks and schedule will vary according to the season, but are planned to increase even more for the busy summer period.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/Attractions/Wild-Africa-Trek/News/22Apr2011-Wild-Africa-Trek-to-expand-schedule-with-two-extra-treks-per-day.htm

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From the Disney Parks blog.  Follow the link for the video...

Wild Africa Trek Gets More Adventurous at Disney?s Animal Kingdom

posted on April 25th, 2011 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks

Have you heard? Our Wild Africa Trek experience at Disney?s Animal Kingdom recently got a shot of extra adventure with an expansion to the private safari camp. Now, you?ll get the opportunity for even more up-close views of lions, white rhinos and other animals as well as the sense that you?ve been let out into a place with no boundaries as Senior Vice President, Executive Designer and Imagineer, Joe Rohde tells us:

Beginning in June, guests will have even more opportunities to experience the Wild Africa Trek as additional departure times are offered daily.

Guests interested in reserving one of the only 12 spaces available on each of these immersive, three-hour adventures should call 407-WDW-TOUR (8687).

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/04/wild-africa-trek-gets-more-adventurous-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

A review from Touring Plans...

Adventure Abounds on the Wild Africa Trek

by Kristen Helmstetter 10 Comments

When my friends and I were planning our most recent trip to Walt Disney World, we realized we could take advantage of the introductory rates for a new backstage tour being offered called the Wild Africa Trek.  We were all really excited to participate since the tour started the month before with rave reviews from guests.  The trek is an experience guests may reserve for an added cost (depending on the season) which brings up to 12 people back stage at Disney?s Animal Kingdom.  Before I get to all of the fun details about the tour, there are few things people should know about it.

Folks who are considering the tour should be forewarned there is quite a bit of walking on uneven pathways.  There is also a weight limit in order to ensure your safety using the harness equipment (the cast members will weigh you at the start of your tour).  If you have a fear of height, you may not want to sign up for the trek.  Everyone must walk across rope bridges along the way.  Once you have decided to sign up, make sure you dress properly with sturdy sneakers, sunscreen, and all that good stuff.  One last tidbit: there is no bathroom access for a couple of hours so watch your liquid intake that morning.  Now that we have all of those warnings out of the way, let me tell you all about my Wild Africa Trek.

Our tour began before the park opened for the day.  We had a car so we did not have to worry about the bus schedule.  If you opt to use Disney transportation to get to the park, you may consider taking a cab at that hour of the morning to eliminate any added hassle.  Since we arrived before park opening, a guide was waiting for us at the main gate to take our names and then escort us to the area where the trek begins.  This area includes lockers where guests can stow their stuff they won?t be taking on the actual tour.  You should know you are not permitted to take anything which you cannot attach to your body due to the psychical activity required (you may take your camera if you can clip it onto your provided vest or wear it around your neck).  Bulky items like backpacks will also not be allowed to come with you since they would get in the way of your harness equipment.

Preparing for our trek! Photo by Deanna Simmons

A group picture before we got started

After stowing your belongings, you will be fitted with a harness for the first half of the trek.  It is not flattering, it isn?t the most comfortable thing in the world, but it is for your safety.  When you are all suited up in your harness, you will be asked to take a practice run on a small rope bridge.  Your guides will try to get to know you a bit at this point before you begin. One of these guides will have a camera and will photograph your group throughout your tour.  A great feature of the Wild Africa Trek is that guests are provided a code for a free photo pass CD with all of the photos the guide takes.

Photo by Neil Citro

Photo by Neil Citro

Photo by Deanna Simmons

The first portion of the tour is dedicated to the jungle.  Like most things at Disney World, there is a storyline for the tour.  If you are familiar with the  storylines associated with the Pagani Forest Exploration Trail and the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction, the spiel given by your guides will sound familiar.  After walking through the African village of Harambe, guests are lead into the Pagani Trail to get a closer look at a few animals like gorillas before heading backstage.  Here there is a bit of a hike through a wooded area with a stop to look over the edge of a small cliff at the hippo habitat.  There is a bit more hiking until folks arrive at one of the highlights of the day: rope bridges over the hippos and Nile crocodiles.

Photo by Elisabeth O'Brien

There are two bridges guests must cross to continue on with their journey.  They are made of rope and wood planks which are designed to look weathered and worn.  Your guides will give you some safety instructions, assist you with attaching your harness to the safety equipment, and then you?re off!  The bridges give you a great view of the animals if you are brave enough to look down.  It was a blast to watch my friends cross the bridges, especially those who were a bit afraid.  With some encouraging words, everyone made it across!

Crocodile from the rope bridge.

Photo by Neil Citro

After the second bridge, the jungle portion of the tour begins to wind down and eventually guests are led to a truck waiting to take them out into the savannah for the second portion of the tour.  We were able to get a great view of several animals on the savannah that day.  Our guide stopped on occasion so we could take pictures and ask questions.  There were also binoculars on board the truck for us to use to get a better look at some of the more reclusive residents of the Animal Kingdom.

Photos from our savannah vehicle:

Photo by Elisabeth O'Brien

Photo by Colin O'Brien

Photo by Deanna Simmons

Photo by Deanna Simmons

After cruising around the savannah for a while, we were brought to the Boma (an area to take a break, have some food, and use the rest room).  This structure offers fantastic views of the savannah!  We were able to relax for a while, enjoy some yummy food, and take in the beauty of our surroundings.  Our time here was really enjoyable, especially since we were lucky enough to have a gorgeous day.  Food brought in from the Tusker House restaurant is provided at the Boma.  The African inspired menu changes based on the time of day.  Since our tour started early in the morning we were given a selection of breakfast items.  While there were a few things that were not my favorite just based on personal taste, I thought the food was great!  If you are a light eater, you could probably make a meal out of the trek?s munchies, but others may find their stomachs grumbling a couple hours later.

After our snack we were able to hang out and enjoy the view of the savannah for a while longer before piling back in the truck, checking out a few more animals, and returning to the area where we started.  When we arrived back at the beginning, we were informed a donation to the Disney?s Wildlife Conservations Fund would be made on our behalf which I thought was a nice gesture.  After retrieving our belongings for the lockers, we took one last group shot before wrapping things up.

Our trek lasted about three hours when all was said and done.  I really loved this experience!  Our guides were fun, kind, and knowledgeable and they really added to our tour.  The opportunity to get a better look at some of the animals seen on the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction was a real treat.  Adding in the adventurous elements of hiking and tackling the rope bridges made this an unforgettable morning.  With all that being said, I?m not sure I would pay $249 charged during peak season.  If your travel plans are flexible enough, I think the regular $189 price tag is reasonable especially since a photo pass CD is included.

http://blog.touringplans.com/2011/04/27/adventure-abounds-on-the-wild-africa-trek/

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Here's another account from AllEars...

A Wild Africa Three-Hour Tour

by Debra Martin Koma

AllEars® Senior Editor

Feature Article

This article appeared in the July 12, 2011 Issue #616 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)

In January of this year, Disney's Animal Kingdom began offering a new "experience" -- the Wild Africa Trek, billed as an "expert-led" chance to "explore the most remote reaches" of the theme park's Harambe Wildlife Reserve. Sounded exciting, if a little dangerous, to me. Especially the part where they talked about clipping into a harness attached to a safety line, and crossing a rickety rope bridge over the Safi River, home to crocodiles.

OK, why not? Sign me up!

It took me a few months, but on a very hot and humid May afternoon, I finally had the chance to join in on this new three-hour tour, when I was at Walt Disney World for the Media Resort Showcase. (Disney picked up the tab for my Wild Africa Trek, but don't worry -- I promise that hasn't influenced my review of the experience!)

You have to check in for the tour about a half-hour beforehand behind the Dawa Bar in Animal Kingdom's Harambe. It's a little intimidating to have to read all the warnings and sign the waivers asserting your good health and exempting Disney from any liability if you should come to some harm, but, as I said earlier, why not? Let's do this!

After being introduced to my co-trekkers and our guides Meghan and Andy, we were weighed to make sure we met the weight limits -- there's a minimum of 45 pounds and a maximum of 310 pounds. A weigh-in? That was almost the scariest part of the experience! This caused a few of the other participants to balk a bit, but the guides tried to be fairly discreet. Then I had to stow my incidentals (wallet, cell phone, etc.) in their lockers, and was suited up in the necessary gear: a heavy vest/harness combination with straps that fastened somewhat uncomfortably in between the legs and around the waist. I clipped my small digital camera to a carabiner I had brought with me, but large clips and an insulated, filled water bottle, are provided. Be forewarned, though, that anything that can't be clipped onto the vest or worn securely around your neck can't be brought on the tour.

After crossing a small-scale practice suspension bridge, just to get the feel for what we were going to encounter, we were given a chance to hydrate a bit with Animal Kingdom's special "jungle juice" and water. We were also encouraged to spray ourselves with insect repellent and sunscreen before embarking on our three-hour tour, a three-hour tour. (Why did I hear strains of the "Gilligan's Island" theme in my head?) They also armed each of us with earphones and a wireless transmitter, so that we could hear the guide, who was wearing a wireless microphone, as she explained what we were seeing. Very cool, as I never missed a single word that was said, no matter whether I was in the front of the group or bringing up the rear.

Our guides gave us a brief introduction to what we'd be seeing and doing, then led us through Harambe, and on to the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, stopping for a moment to see the black and white, bushy-tailed Colobus Monkeys.

From there, the real trek began, with Meghan leading the way, and Andy on photographer duty. Negotiating narrow, uneven and overgrown paths lined with branches that reached out and hit me in the face if I wasn't careful, we encountered a large skull, which Meghan explained was used as a landmark in "real" Africa. Many in our party guessed that the skull, with huge tusks, was that of an elephant, but it was actually a hippo's, a good indication of what our first major stop was going to be: the Hippo Pool.

On reaching the pool, which was at least 10 feet below us, we were instructed on how to hand over the clips attached to our harnesses to the guides, so that we could be tethered to a line along the edge of the cliff above the pool. Once safely strung up, I could walk carefully along the edge of the path and actually lean way forward to get a great view of the hippos munching on their lettuce, cabbages and other vegetation.

After many photo ops, and additional background information on the hippos from a third guide who appeared from out of the blue, we moved once more along the path, eventually coming to what is arguably the tour highlight: the suspension bridge.

As excited as I was, I have to admit that the thought of crossing the suspension bridge had been giving me some concern. What if I panicked and couldn't make it across? I don't really have a fear of heights, but... And then I saw them. Yes, them. There was not one, but TWO consecutive bridges, longer and higher than I had imagined. (About 120 feet long, I later learned, and 30 to 40 feet high. Wow.) Suspended over scads of seemingly smiling and hopefully well-fed crocodiles. Yikes.

I watched carefully as my fellow trekkers were clipped securely onto the zipline-like contraption that paralleled the bridges, and one by one made their way across the twin spans. I could see that the bridges had been designed with an eye to creating some Indiana Jones-type peril -- some slats were missing, others were broken in half, as if the bridge had been there for centuries and the support lines might SNAP! at any minute, leaving an unsuspecting tourist dangling above the crocs. But my common sense told me that it would be very bad PR for Disney to feed its guests to the crocodiles, especially my group, which consisted mostly of members of the media. So I gulped when it was my turn to hand my clip over to the guide, and trusted that she was hooking me up as securely as possible. Then I started out, with my camera in hand, determined to make a short video of the journey across.

What I didn't count on was that a number of the slats were irregularly spaced -- I had to take giant steps to be sure that I didn't miss the next board. (I'm a rather vertically challenged 5'1" with legs sized accordingly.) A stray thought entered my head: This tour takes 8-year-olds, but they better be long-legged kiddos! There was a net right under the boards, of course, so that if I had missed a step, it wouldn't have been the end of the world, but I didn't want to take that chance. I concentrated on my feet, while trying not to look down, down, down into the chasm below -- all while attempting to video the experience. The resultant 30-second snippet at least gives you an idea of what it was like. The squeaking you hear is my tether as it glided along the pulley on my zipline: http://youtu.be/Pf3z62Y4u0E

After the second bridge, we ran into our second skull landmark, that of a crocodile. This skull was a bit smaller and lighter than the hippo's had been, so we each had a turn hoisting it up and posing with it. Some of us may have gotten a little carried away, in fact. Not pointing any fingers. We also learned a good deal about the crocs -- did you know that in the colder months they don't need to eat but every few months? It was interesting, but I have to say that on such a hot day the smells emanating from their pool were more than a little overwhelming. I was happy to get out of there fairly quickly.

Once past the challenge of the two bridges, the tour shifted gears, so to speak, as we were then able to take off the cumbersome vests and boarded a truck that drove us out onto the savanna, the same savanna traveled by the Kilimanjaro Safari ride. In fact, this part of the tour is not unlike the Safari attraction, with the exception that you're in the back of a truck, rather than a jeep, and the truck stopped often to allow for photo opportunities. (We were also given nifty instant-cold-and-wet cloths to help us cool down a bit. On this particular 90-degree day, they were much appreciated!)

About two hours into the tour, the guides drove us to a part of the savanna that sits a little higher than the regular safari ride route, to a covered observation deck that looks out over the peaceful terrain. After a chance to freshen up at what they called the nicest restrooms in East Africa (and they certainly were nice, and quiet, too), we were treated to a light lunch with more jungle juice or water. Brought in a two-layered camp kit, the food, prepared by Tusker House, featured a sampling of tasty finger foods (though you were given a flat bamboo "spoon" to help with eating): shrimp, roasted red pepper hummus and bread, tropical fruit salad, dried beef, prosciutto, chicken salad, even an edible ornamental orchid. Each table came with its own binoculars, and after all the exertion of the previous hours, the chance to relax and enjoy the view was most welcome.

After eating, I wandered around to the back of the overlook, which has a boardwalk addition that is new since the tour's inception. This area looks out onto the part of the savanna that is home to the rhinos, and, in the distance, the lions. There were a pair of conveniently placed telescopes on the deck, so that you could get a close-up view of the lion, as he lay regally up on Pride Rock. The rhinos, however, were a bit shy that day, and chose to mostly show me their backsides. Still, it was great to have the chance to view them in these quiet surroundings, in an unhurried way.

We were given about a half-hour before we had to board our vehicle again, and we continued on the safari ride path, even encountering poachers and Little Red at the end. We disembarked at the Kilimanjaro Safari unload area, and walked back to our point of origin, where we recovered our personal belongings from the locker. Oh, and one last thing -- a portion of the trek's cost goes to the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, so we had the chance to designate how we'd like our donation to be allocated. By dropping a stone into a marked compartment in a box, we could opt to donate to the conservation efforts of Big Cats, Elephants, Rhinos, or the general fund -- a nice touch.

After making sure that they had my address correct so that they could mail me my PhotoPass CD (with all the photos the guides had been snapping along the way), they gave me a FastPass for the Safari ride and allowed me to keep my water bottle as a souvenir.

And that was the end of my three-hour tour, my three-hour tour. No mishaps, no lost trekkers, just lots and lots of happy faces and the satisfaction of having yet another truly unique experience at the Most Magical Place on Earth.

So, you're probably wondering, was it worth it? In a word, yes. Obviously, it's not for someone who has a fear of heights, or does not think they could meet the physical challenges of hiking (possibly in very hot weather) for several hours. It's also not something you'd do every time you visit Walt Disney World -- it's too expensive and too time-consuming for that. But I'd say it's definitely something to consider doing at least once. For your money, you get the fairly personal three-hour tour, a light lunch, a PhotoPass CD, and the opportunity to spend an extended amount of time on the Animal Kingdom savanna animal-watching (and the water bottle). If you love Disney's Animal Kingdom and the animals, and especially if you enjoy photographing the animals, you'd probably enjoy the Wild Africa Trek.

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

RELATED INFO

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

The Wild Africa Trek is currently booking through the end of September. Times vary throughout the year, but right now, the tour is offered every 45 minutes between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The price of the tour varies depending on the season, but is currently $189/person. Book the tour by calling 1-407-WDW-TOUR.

There are a number of restrictions associated with this tour. Participants must:

-- Wear closed-toe shoes with a backstrap, or hiking boots. Skirts/dresses are not recommended.

-- Weigh at least 45 pounds and no more than 310 pounds.

-- Be at least 48 inches tall.

-- Be at least 8 years old.

-- Be in general good health, and ambulatory, with sufficient stamina. Pregnant women should not attempt the Trek.

There is a maximum of 12 participants per Trek.

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

RELATED LINKS

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

Wild Africa Trek Photo Gallery: http://allears.net/btp/wild-africa-trek.htm

Crossing the Suspension Bridge: http://youtu.be/Pf3z62Y4u0E

Hiking through the Reserve: http://youtu.be/WHduGPQJW6Q

Jeanine Yamanaka's Blog about the Trek:

http://land.allears.net/blogs/lauragilbreath/2011/02/wild_animal_trek_animal_kingdo.html

AllEars® Readers Rate and Review the Wild Africa Trek:

http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/showproduct.php?product=592&cat=66

Other Disney Tours and Experiences: http://allears.net/btp/tours.htm

[Lou... 3,118]

While I'm sure it's a great tour, at $189 per person for a 3 hour experience, how many of us will take that tour?

[PureTcrazy...rita 380]

Have any of our Fiends done this? I know it's expensive, but it sures seems neat!

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Rita - do you know if this tour is one of the ones included in the Platinum plan you did?

If it is, I might have to seriously think about how to pull that off next year. :)

[PureTcrazy...rita 380]

Rita - do you know if this tour is one of the ones included in the Platinum plan you did?

If it is, I might have to seriously think about how to pull that off next year. :)

Nope, it is not included in any of the plans. I wish it was!

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From the Disney Parks blog...

Adventurers Get Red Carpet Treatment as Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Celebrates 15,000th Guest

posted on December 6th, 2011 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks

Now there’s a rare sight. Mickey Mouse and Goofy just rolled out the red carpet in the wild for a special group of adventurers exploring Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s part of the celebration of an important milestone at the experience – our 15,000th guest.

An entire group of Wild Africa Trek adventurers were recognized during the celebration at the park, including guests Cassie and Lucas Dillinger from Beaver Falls, Pa., who were first to walk the red carpet.

Are you ready for your own Wild Africa Trek adventure? It’s open to guests age 8 and older. Price varies seasonally. Call 407-WDW-TOUR or 407-939-8687 for more.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/12/adventurers-get-red-carpet-treatment-as-wild-africa-trek-at-disneys-animal-kingdom-celebrates-15000th-guest/

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From Chip and Co.

Disney Food Confession – Wild Africa Trek Meal

Monday, February 6, 2012 Dulcie 0 Comments

1

Where can you find it?

Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

What is it?

Tin 1-Pita bread, prosciutto,dried beef, salmon roll with cream cheese on top of a jicama and cucumber salad. Topped off with a slice of fig almond bread.

Tin 2-Yogurt with granola,edible orchid, brie cheese and melon.

http://www.chipandco.com/2012/02/disney-food-confessionwild-africa-trek-meal/