Wild Africa Trek is one of the extra tours that you can book while you are at Disney World. You do need a valid park ticket to get into Animal Kingdom to enjoy this extra tour, and while it is not considered a VIP tour, they sure make you feel like you are a VIP.
The Details:
This tour ranges in price from $189-$249 per person, the price will depend on adults/kids pricing, and also the time of day/year you want to visit. As stated above, you do need a valid park ticket to get into Animal Kingdom, and while you are on the tour, you are required to wear closed toe shoes, as you will be hiking on uneven terrain to get into some of the backstage areas. The complete journey takes about 3-hours from start to finish. They have tour times throughout the day, but we have found the earliest slots are the best for several reasons: entrance into the park before it opens, awesome empty park pics, and the animals tend to be more active in the morning before the afternoon heat hits them.
What’s Included:
As stated earlier, entrance to the park is not included, but there are a few fun extras included that make the experience more awesome. First, you get a wonderful lunch or breakfast (depending on the time of day you book). They do call this a snack, but we found it was quite filling, and served as a full meal for us. You also receive a water bottle, eye glass safety string, and button to commemorate your experience. Finally, last but not least, my favorite inclusion. The pictures. The guides also carry a camera and act as your own personal photographer. Not only did they take shots of the animals as you see them on the journey, but they also take pictures of your family. At the end of the journey, they give you a download code so that you can download all the pictures to your device for free.
The Experience:
You start off your journey getting fitted for a vest and safety harness. This is because there are several times throughout the beginning of the journey that you are harnessed into guide lines for safety. Once you are harnessed properly, you walk for about 5-10 minutes through the park into the backstage areas. First, you view the Hippo enclosure. At this point you are able to get very close to a ledge (pictured above) and are totally safe with the harness. The trainers come out, and you even get to watch them feed the hippos. It is an awesome opportunity to see the hippos be a little more active.
From there, you do a little more hiking and learning as you go. The next stop is the alligator bridges. This is exciting and scary as well. Keep in mind, you are completely safe and harnessed in, but it is still fun and exciting. The bridges seem wobbly and unstable, but there was never a time that we felt unsafe. The best part, the photographers are there the whole time taking pictures of your experience as you cross. You are never rushed, and you do really get to take your time walking across the bridges and taking in the experience.
Once you have completed the Alligator Bridges, you jump onto a truck where you are driven through the savanna to enjoy and learn about the animals who live there. The guides really take their time, and you get to drive up close to the animals to learn about them. Its a great opportunity for pictures, and family time. Keep in mind, they are still taking pictures of you. They even captured one of my favorite pictures, and I had not idea they were doing it. Such a cool moment to see me taking a picture of my husband and son.
Finally, the last stop is the huts pictured above, for your snack. Below is the sample menu. The best part is you are get to sit, in the middle of the savanna and are served delicious juice and water, while they bring you your snack. It was such a fun way to finish the trip. Once you are done eating, you can walk around and look and take pictures of the animals around you.
Once your dining experience is completed you take another short ride back to your starting point to get your belongings, at this point the guides will provide you with your digital code for all the pictures that were taken.
Was it worth it?
The big question, was the experience worth the cost? I say a big resounding yes! It was such a fun way to get away from the crowds and have a more personal experience in the parks with the animals. Our family has done this experience twice now, and I am certain we will do it again one day!
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About the Author:
I am just another Disney lover. I am in the parks often and love sharing about all of my experience and tips and tricks. I figure if I am at Disney, then I am off the couch and outside enjoying life. Hope you enjoy my blog!
-Shanna
Pictures courtesy of The Pixie Dust Life