A dilapidated suspension bridge was all that kept us from falling into a bask of crocodiles.
Did you know what a bask was? Apparently, it's what you call a group of crocodiles. That's not the important part...I guess there was more that separated us from them - the harness, the clips, a secure netting under the "dilapidated" bridge. OK, maybe it wasn't as scary as that sounded. But it still didn't take away the thrill of getting a bit closer to some of the fascinating animals that are featured on the Kilimanjaro Safari attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
I've seen these animals multiple times from the safety of the safari vehicle on the designed trail, but this summer my family saw the safari from a different perspective on the Wild Africa Trek. As part of the "Enchanting Extras" at Walt Disney World, the Wild Africa Trek is a semi-private, 3-hour guided tour that includes some behind-the-scenes access to the safari. We joined our group of 12 after gearing up for the tour - vest, water bottle, safety harness clips, and a headset to be able to hear our tour guides. After a few instructions and details, we were on our way to our first stop to feed the hippos.
Throughout the tour, the guides provided insight about Disney's involvement in conservation as well as info about the animals. They provided fascinating details as well as answered the many questions offered by our group. Obviously, animals are unpredictable, so nothing can be guaranteed. However we were fortunate enough to experience a hungry, hungry hippo. A simple pounding of the food bucket on the rock formation woke one of the hippos from their sleeping for a mid-nap snack. It was so exciting to see a hippo eating from such a close distance. While you may be tricked into seeing them as a calm manatee-like water animal, seeing their chompers from up close reminds you of what a fierce animal it can be.
From there we prepared to cross the first of three suspension bridges that would provide us secure passage over the crocodiles sunbathing and hoping for a safety malfunction. Izzy - our 11 year old at the time - was a little apprehensive about the suspension bridges. Disney did a great job of making them look like they are falling apart, but they are completely safe and secure as you navigate your way across each bridge while securely tethered in to the safety harness system. The thrill of adventure may quickly dissipate, but the ability to see these powerful animals from this viewpoint is breathtaking. Disney definitely knocks it out of the park with any immersive attraction. One by one, we each made our way across the bridges before loading into a safari truck with the rest of the group.
Now, the safari vehicle that you ride on the Wild Africa Trek is different from the vehicles used on the regular Kilimanjaro Safari. We sat around the edges of the covered bed of the truck as our guides continued to educate and point out sites in a way that felt they were just on this ride with us. As we navigated through the safari, the driver stopped in various areas that you don't normally get to stop in so we could get pictures and observe the animals a little longer. We had an incredible viewing experience with the giraffes and even saw one of the young rhinos nursing on its mama.
We soon arrived at the boma on the savanna - a dedicated space just for us to enjoy views of the savanna on the Harambe Animal Reserve before a unique dining experience. There are binoculars provided at the boma, and we enjoyed seeing baby flamingos, wildebeest and elephants - all in a serene environment that seemed so removed from Walt Disney World. While the food is eclectic and may not fit everyone's palate, it is truly a dining experience for the trek - from the double decker metal canteens to the wonderful POG juice that is famous around Walt Disney World. My wife tried the edible flower (not the first time we've had edible flowers), and our kids actually were quite adventurous compared to their normal picky selves. I thought it was all great and enjoyed the dining experience.
From the boma, we continued on our tour around the savanna with views of the lions and additional viewing points of the elephants. This provided a wonderful conclusion to a phenomenal Disney add-on that we thoroughly enjoyed.
The Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom is a unique experience that I'm glad we chose to do. It is one of the more expensive experiences that Disney offers, but it was a wonderful experience. If you're looking for something different to add to your next trip and want to experience Disney's Animal Kingdom in a whole new way, this should be on your list.
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