About.com Rating

Visit Their Website

If you have an exotic pet, or just enjoy wild animals, Wild Africa Trek is the perfect experience if you visit Walt Disney World and go to Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. You get to go backstage on the savannah used for the Kilimanjaro safari ride, trekking through the underbrush and over swaying bridges. Best of all, you get a great close-up view of hippos and crocodiles, as well as many other animal sightings.


An Extra-Cost Adventure

Wild Africa Trek is an extra-cost adventure that needs to be booked in advance by calling 407-WDW-TOUR. I experienced it as part of a media event and had an afternoon tour time, although it runs at various times of the day. I recommend going early if you do it in the summer because the Florida sun gets brutal and afternoon thunderstorms like to sneak up on you.

The tour cost is close to $200 per person, but it includes all your equipment, including a safety harness and water bottle, refreshments, and a photo CD with custom pictures of your trek.

You meet near the safari ride in the Africa section of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Your guides help you don gear that lets you view the hippos safely and cross the swaying bridges without fear of plummeting down to the crocs. Yes, I said swaying, and the rope bridges also have missing slats, which necessitates crossing them gingerly.

Don't worry, there's a "practice bridge" before you head off on the tour to make sure you can handle the real ones out on the course.

Unless you're truly terrified of heights, the amazing scenery will overcome any fear.

Exotic Animals Everywhere

The hippos and crocs are the highlight of this trip, since you get a unique view of both of those species. You get hooked to a safety line so you can observe the hippos from the edge of a cliff over their pool. If you're lucky, you'll find a researcher out by the habitat who will throw them fresh vegetables while you snap photos.

The crocs are located directly under one of the bridges you cross. They usually look lazy and sleepy, but you can never feel 100 percent comfortable when you notice those prominent teeth. The crocs are a great photo opportunity, but note that if you want to bring a camera, you need to have a way to fasten it to your body.

You also get your own private safari in a special vehicle. It's not too different from the Kilimanjaro safari ride, with one notable exception: you get to stop for the best photo opportunities, unlike the regular ride trucks which have to keep moving. You'll see plenty of exotic creatures, including hooved stock, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, rhinos, warthogs, and ostriches.

An African Feast

Wild Africa Trek is advertised as coming with a snack, but it's really more of an African feast. You get delicious juice and a sampling of ethnic delicacies delivered from the Tusker House restaurant. Expect a two-layer tin dish with goodies like fruit, curried chicken salad, prosciutto, salmon, shrimp, and hummus.

The dining area also has restrooms, but I recommend hitting the bathroom before your safari starts because you don't get another opportunity until food time.

This experience might be pricey, but it's well worth the cost to get a once-in-a-lifetime backstage view of some gorgeous exotic animals and scenery.

Visit Their Website

Disclosure: The company provided free access to this service for review purposes. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.