Reviews of Wild Africa Trek – Animal Kingdom
Reviewed by annebill Review Date: 09/24/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
We two "60 something" ladies took this tour last week and it was amazing!. Our guides, Paola & Stephanie, did an incredible job. Safety is obviously their first priority and that overall feeling did a lot to help with some jitters regarding the unknown. The "up close and personal" aspect of the trek was more than special and the knowledge these two young women imparted was fascinating. They obviously love their work and did a great job of passing along their enthusiasm. I have done many, many backstage tours at Disney and this is one I would certainly consider repeating. Even the pouring rain couldn't put a damper on the experience ...thumbs up!!!!
Pros:
guides, knowledge, getting up closeCons:
the rainReviewed by manatee2420 Review Date: 07/21/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
This was a great tour. My husband and I went our last day at Disney. We had several thunderstorms throughout the week and were worried it would be canceled, but we only heard one clap as we were suiting up before the storm blew past. Whew. Disney makes a big deal about the intensity of this tour. Unless you're really out of shape or really old, I don't think it's very intense. My husband and I are relatively active late 20 year-olds and we had no problem at all. An older man in our group walked a bit slower, but made it through with no issues either. The bridges were not as scary as I thought they might be. Your safety gear gets checked what seems like every 30 seconds. I stepped down into the rope net under the bridge since I felt more comfortable doing that than taking a large step to the next wooden slat. When I did, I felt my harness pull on my back. I knew that even if I somehow managed to fall off the bridge (highly unlikely), the harness was only going to let me go a few inches. We saw lots of animals on the safari portion of the tour. I really enjoyed the snacks at the lookout station. I watched a giraffe trying to eat leaves from a tree that was just a little too tall. That was funny and worth the price of the tour by itself!
Pros:
animal viewing, safety, lengthCons:
weather proneReviewed by practicalwdwmom Review Date: 07/11/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
Just did Wild Africa Trek for the 3rd time. We became concerned the tour would be a bust when it started raining, but it turned out to be our best trek of all. The rain seemed to bring the animals out, except for the giraffes who tried to hide under the palms. We've had different guides each time and have enjoyed all, Davis and Stephanie were the most fun. They were also very knowledgeable about the animals. We got to stop for quite a while so that we could get a good look at the animals. You can take a camera if it is on a strap, but honestly the photos they take are great and trying to take photos just detracts from the experience. I don't remember what we paid for this tour, but it was well worth it and would absolutely do it again. Oh yes, the lunch we had was amazing!
Pros:
In depth, guided tour, fun, interestingCons:
NoneReviewed by EPCOTCitizn Review Date: 05/28/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
This tour is Kilimanjaro Safaris in-depth. It shares the same savannah as Kilimanjaro Safaris, but you see the animals closer and from different vantage points. We had 2 guides and 7 people on our tour. My parents (late 60's) were worried that the activity would be intense with walking and climbing. However, the activity was very mild. If you can walk in the parks all day, you’ll be ok on this 3 hour tour. We had 2 great guides with us throughout the tour and met 2 more guides on the trail. The tour was very informative about the animals and we had plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the animals. The food was very tasty and not overly spicy. Disney calls the meal a light snack, but I thought it was more a light lunch. The guides take photos of you throughout the tour for some great memorable shots.
Pros:
Guides, Photos, Light LunchCons:
noneReviewed by Imjustababyduck Review Date: 11/25/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
We did this tour on 11/11/13. We loved it!!!! My DH, DS, and DN complained for 4 days before we did the tour, and not wanting to do it. I had to make them go. Within 10 minutes of the tour starting all 3 of them were saying "This is so cool!" (And I am righteously indignant with my "I told you so's".)
It is expensive, but really worth it. The guides were wonderful, upbeat and very patient -- answering any and all questions that were asked. The tour was very informative and the view of the animals was spectacular. I know this can vary from tour to tour, but for ours, it was great. I mean a rhino came and essentially charged the platform we were on after eating lunch. To borrow a phrase, "It was so cool!"
Lunch was small but very, very tasty. If you ask, the guides will print the recipes for you at the end of the trek. Our family will do this again with absolute certainty. I can see the allure. On our tour there was another family and it was their 4th tour, and they were still as amazed as we were on our first.
The amount is walking is not bad at all. You are so busy watching/looking for the animals, that you don't even really notice the walking. The aspect of having to walk is what made my entire group not want to do it. However, when it came time to ride, they still wanted to walk because it was just so amazing.
The water bottle and pins are kinda cheap (especially for the price of the tour). I wish they would improve the quality of these items. I know you don't go on the tour for a water bottle and a pin, but since those are your keepsakes, it would be nice if they were nicer. Disney has a gorgeous conservation pin that you can buy. I think that should be given to those on the tour since a portion of the proceeds go to conservation.
Which brings me to my last point. You do get to choose where your money for conservation is spent; which I think is great. It makes you feel good to know where the money is going and not just that you "donated" in the abstract.
So to recap -- loved everything but the keepsakes, but still not complaining and will do it again.
Pros:
EverythingCons:
NothingReviewed by pednurse13 Review Date: 11/17/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
My 11-yr-old daughter & I did the Wild Africa Trek on Oct 23, 2013. It was awesome! There were only 10 of us on the tour. Being able to see the animals so closely during the walking portion & going across the rope bridges over the crocs was amazing. Having the chance to really slow down & stop & watch the animals in their habitats was beyond anything my animal-loving daughter hoped to experience. The food we had while sitting in the hut on the savannah, relaxing & watching the animals was delicious---and even my picky eater daughter tried all of the foods, and enjoyed some she was sure she wouldn't like. This experience was worth every penny. I would love a chance to do it again. There is a difference from earlier reviews: they no longer send you a CD of photos---you are given a card at the end of the tour with an access code to a website so you can see & download the photos 24-48 hrs after the tour. The photos the guides took were amazing and a wonderful addition to the photos my daughter & I took. We were able to take our own cameras as they had straps to tether them to the harnesses (everything has to be tethered or it doesn't go with you----they provide lockers for the things you aren't allowed to take on the tour, including cell phones). We were also given metal reusable water bottles with the Wild Africa Trek logo printed on them that were ours to keep after the tour. We also received a pin at the end to commemorate the tour. After the walking portion of our tour, they provided pre-packaged, chilled wet washcloths to help cool off---an added bonus in warm weather, although I would have preferred they be unscented (they were lemon-grass scented) as my daughter was bothered by the aroma. All in all, an awesome tour that I would recommend to everyone, even those who worry about the rope bridges (I was concerned about crossing them, but once I got part way across the first one, I was able to enjoy it and it provided an awesome view of the animals).
Pros:
Time to view animals, information provided by animal experts, food, photos, overall experienceCons:
noneReviewed by Ebersole2 Review Date: 08/11/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
I have been coming to Disney World since as long as I can remember. I am 33 right now. I told our guides at the end of the Wild Animal Trek, that that excursion was THE best thing I have every done at Disney in my years visiting. The cost is steep, but what one receives is remarkable. The price is worth is for the photos alone. About three weeks after one’s trek, Disney sends you a CD of our journey. My now husband and I have now well-over 100 extra professional pictures of our honeymoon! You leave the trek with a sunglasses holder, buttons (you can wear in the park saying you survived) “green†water canteens, .and thousands of tips on how one can save endangered species. In addition, part of the cost of admission helps an endangered animal which you personally choose at the end of your trip.
The trek itself takes you far into the Animal Kingdom. People on the Kilimanjaro Safari were taking pictures of us! You see things you could never find on one’s own nor receive access to! It is a remarkable, educational adventure. Both of tour guides were certifiable biology majors with goals to work in animal rescue.
It is definitely worth noting that is an extreme trek. You wear a lot of hot gear, and you move quickly and briskly. People with height anxiety may very uncomfortable on the rope ladders, and those not use to walking in rough terrain, may feel discomfort. The most fit and comfortable one is with the outdoors, the better.
Pros:
The price is worth is for the photos aloneCons:
It is definitely worth noting that is an extreme trek., may make person scared of heightsReviewed by dvcnut Review Date: 08/01/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
This tour was awesome!! I will never view the safari tour the same way again. You learn so much more about the animals and get to see them more closely from vantage points that the vehicles can't give you. It was fun to watch the safari vehicles go by and have people take pictures of us as we stood above them. The lunch was light, but gave you the needed energy to finish the tour. Definitely worth the cost!
Pros:
EverythingCons:
NoneReviewed by Fitzboyzmom Review Date: 07/28/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
I can't say enough good things about this experience. The guides (Shane and Krista) were outstanding...funny and informative. I loved the pictures that we received after the event...they were beautiful. Much better than we could ever hope to do and still enjoy what we were doing. It is pricey, but so worth it. I am so glad we decided to do this.
Pros:
—Cons:
—Reviewed by xoktenox Review Date: 03/23/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
My husband and I have been fortunate enough to have taken part many different "special" offerings in Disney including the Keys to the Kingdom tours, several spa visits, the Christmas and Halloween parties, etc. but none of these experiences have compared to the Wild Africa Trek. Hands down easily one of the best things we've ever done in the World and in the (real) world! Walking over the suspension bridges was such a rush! I have pictures I was taking of my husband while he walked over and I was on the other end; the smile on his face says it all. Another part of this experience that was great was the photopass CD we received in the mail from our tour guides a few weeks after we got home. One of our guides was there taking pictures of us as well as the animals and scenery throughout the tour and I loved having those professional photos to add to our collection. After a couple hours of the tour we receieved a delicious lunch out on the savannah with a gorgeous view as well as access to clean bathrooms. All the food was wonderful and of course, the jungle juice/frunch that they gave us (just like what's served at Boma or Kona Cafe) was tasty as always. While this tour was not cheap, I cannot recommend it enough! Amazing experience!!
