AKV Kidani villas views

[paults]

Which savanna has the best views of zebras and giraffes.
Sept trip in 1 bedroom Kidani Savanna view

 

[disneynutz]

Sunset savanna.

Bill

 

[paults]

thanks

 

[LisaS]

Kidani Village has two savannas, Sunset and Pembe. Pembe is a small savanna and does not have either giraffes or zebras. It does have okapis, a rare animal in the giraffe family, and other animals not seen on any other savanna at AKV. DH and I enjoy watching giraffes from our balcony so I always add "Sunset Savanna" as a request when I make my reservation.

 

[pogopossum]

We found that a balcony facing the NE was better due the path of the sun. Rooms around 7228-7252 are closer to the lobby. There is also a giraffe feeding station in the area. To be closer to the pool, rooms around 7614-7632 are the ones I would recommend. Much further around to the north, the sun can be a bit much in the morning.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Kidani Village has two savannas, Sunset and Pembe. Pembe is a small savanna and does not have either giraffes or zebras. It does have okapis, a rare animal in the giraffe family, and other animals not seen on any other savanna at AKV. DH and I enjoy watching giraffes from our balcony so I always add "Sunset Savanna" as a request when I make my reservation.

Just for interest, at the Lunch with an Animal Keeper, they told us how disappointed Kidani has been at the response to Pembe savannah. It was a conscious decision to put okapis, not zebras and giraffes on that savannah. The thinking was that, since the resort was built to appeal to DVC visitors, almost all of whom would be repeat visitors, everyone had seen lots of zebras and giraffes. So why not show them something truly unique, and thus the okapi were brought in. What a surprise when they learned that we DVC owners can't get enough of our zebras and giraffes. We stayed at Kidani once and didn't see a giraffe all week from our room, just some okapi. Boy, was I disappointed!

 

[hakepb]

Just for interest, at the Lunch with an Animal Keeper, they told us how disappointed Kidani has been at the response to Pembe savannah. It was a conscious decision to put okapis, not zebras and giraffes on that savannah. The thinking was that, since the resort was built to appeal to DVC visitors, almost all of whom would be repeat visitors, everyone had seen lots of zebras and giraffes. So why not show them something truly unique, and thus the okapi were brought in. What a surprise when they learned that we DVC owners can't get enough of our zebras and giraffes. We stayed at Kidani once and didn't see a giraffe all week from our room, just some okapi. Boy, was I disappointed!

The okapi are marvelous creatures...
but nothing compares to the majestic gait of herd of giraffe wandering around.

I think the biggest problem with Pembe is the size and theming. With chain link fences so visible, it feels like "Bob's backyard animal pen" more than an authentic savanna.

 

[LisaS]

I agree with you both. The okapi are very interesting animals but I love watching the giraffes and would miss watching them from the room if I was assigned a room facing Pembe. On some tour I took, we were told that Pembe was too small to have giraffes.

With Pembe being so narrow in places and with the fence so visible, it doesn't give me that feeling of being transported to Africa like the other savannas at AKL/AKV do.

 

[DenLo]

I think groups of the same kind of animal are always more impressive. The poor okapi is just a forest loving loner that doesn't play well with others.

 

[Happiest.Haunt_999]

Sunset Savannah, but be aware these are live animals that roam the savannah all day. The animal specialists do their best to scatter their food thoughout stations all over the savannah so everyone gets a look at them. But they will move no matter where you are.

 

[lovetotraveltx]

Are the giraffes usually out in Sunset early in the morning say 8:00 to 10:00 am? We were at Jambo House in November and didn't see Giraffes or zebras until much later in the day? Is there a section of Sunset to recommend for a studio not so far from the elevator?

 

[Nie0214]

Are the giraffes usually out in Sunset early in the morning say 8:00 to 10:00 am? We were at Jambo House in November and didn't see Giraffes or zebras until much later in the day? Is there a section of Sunset to recommend for a studio not so far from the elevator?

In November 2015 we saw them all the time. In January 2017, it hit 45-50* and we saw not a single animal for a day or two. The handlers said the animals were huddled and bunkered down for the cold.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Animals are spotty in the morning time. Sometime between around 8:00 and 11:00, they go in for their daily checks. They stay in around 90 minutes and who goes when varies by specific animal and/or savannah. I'm not sure exactly when giraffes go, and maybe giraffes on different savannah go in at different times.