Animal Kingdom Safari

[mugglemom]

When we made our last trip to Disney we had a very exciting experience on the Safari ride. I now have people who tell me that what happened could never have happened so I want others to post their personal experieces on this attraction.

We went on this many times during the week and this only happened once. It had just begun to rain and one of the big cats(Cheetah) started to play in the rain and it's movements startled and then spooked the rhinos who then decided to charge our vehicle. Our driver could not, or more specifically would not, move forward to get away from the rhinos because an ostrich blocked the road.


Others have told me that there is no way that the rhinos or most of the animals could get anywhere near our vehicle. I know that certain species like the hippos and the lions are kept separate(moated) but I know that the rhinos were right there and nothing separted them from our vehicle. The driver later told us that they have very poor eyesight and his biggest concern was that they would actually ram into the truck because they would not see us and identfy us a human, quick enough to stop. The charged the truck three times before another jeep like vehicle came out of a hidden drive and herded them away from our vehicle.

It was incedible to get so close to them and be able to hear their breathing! What a rush!

So has any one else had a close encounter?

 

[HillPete]

Our truck was delayed a few minutes because the rhinos were crossing the road. The whole gang of them were crossing at once. There must have been something yummy on the onther side! (I hope it wasn't anything furry!)
--H

 

[sunny04]

I know that the cheetah and lions are separated from the trucks pretty well, but it seems like the rhinos were pretty free-roaming like the gazelles, giraffes, etc. Everytime I ride I wish with all my might for something exciting like that to happen! The best so far is that we saw a hippo out of the water and a bird was irritating it, so it raised up and snapped at the bird. Not nearly exciting as yours!

 

[jk1]

Our driver could not, or more specifically would not, move forward to get away from the rhinos because an ostrich blocked the road.

If an ostrich is blocking the road, the driver cannot move forward.

 

[mugglemom]

jk1 - That is what I was trying to say about the driver not being able to move forward. The animals have the right of way and there was no way the driver was going to bump the ostrich forward to clear the road!

What I can't seem to get others to believe is that the animals are all real(except for lil Red) and that most can approach the tour vehicles. I am actually being accused of telling a lie and being crazy because our vehicle was charged three times by the rhinos.

I have part of it on our video but during the charge I lowered the camera to hold on to the rail and all you can see is the floor of the truck. You can hear people screaming and talking about it all but the actual footage of the rhinos getting so very close to us - like eye to eye- is not there!



HillPete - When you say the rhinos crossed the road, would you say that if they wanted to they could have come right up to your vehicle?

 

[Ted and Holly]

During one safari ride a few years back, we saw a cheetah jump up from its usual lying down position, run acroos the small clearning and jump INTO a tree. He jumped down and had a bird in his mouth. This is definitely not typical cheetah behavior, but it was amazing.

Ted

 

[Dopey's Girl]

Yes, it's true. The rhinos do roam free. I've done the safari several times and have twice had to sit and wait while they crossed the road. Once the rhino was about 3 feet from me. So, I attest, yes they are real and yes they run free. Print out this post to those who don't believe you. At least they'll see that others have had similar experiences.
Hope they'll believe someone called "Dopey's Girl"!

 

[PrincessaC]

I have never had an experiences with Rhinos but I can say during our last trip there were about 3 giraffes blocking the road and we had to wait for them to pass.. there was another giraffe right by our vehicle that seemed to be bending over to look into the vehicle..it was really really close and exciting..

 

[PandyPaws]

You can print this post for your non-believers...I'm a Kilimanjaro Safri driver. Every single animal in the reserve is real (Little Red is OUTside the reserve). The BLACK rhinos can not come near the vehicles, however the WHITE rhinos can; I've been stopped by them many times. One thing I try not to do is drive between them...they can get a bit anxious when they can't see each other. Many of the animals can cross the roads in front of/between the vehicles. I've been stopped by rhinos, assorted antelope, various birds including the ostrich, etc. I've had a giraffe lick my windshield once and another time one leaned against the toolbox on the front of the truck in order to reach leaves from a tree hanging overhead.

When you say the rhinos crossed the road, would you say that if they wanted to they could have come right up to your vehicle?

Yes, they absolutely can come right up to the vehicles.

During one safari ride a few years back, we saw a cheetah jump up from its usual lying down position, run acroos the small clearning and jump INTO a tree. He jumped down and had a bird in his mouth. This is definitely not typical cheetah behavior, but it was amazing.

I've seen them catch birds, and also rabbits

 

[QUACKHEAD]

If an ostrich is blocking the road, the driver cannot move forward.

...If.....I was the driver.....and a rhino was charging me.....the ostrich would become a hood ornament!!!

 

[eeyore45]

Thank you for sharing your expertise!! That's just way cool!! DD8 loves the Safari, we also had (ok we loved it too!) take the Safari many times in our 7 day visit!! Thank you for enjoying your work, and giving us such a wonderful time!!

 

[PandyPaws]

...If.....I was the driver.....and a rhino was charging me.....the ostrich would become a hood ornament!!!

Actually, I've gotten quite used to them. Nothing to be afraid of, It's a 10-ton truck...we're about 6 feet off the ground, way above the rhinos heads (but it *is* exciting, though)

Thank you for sharing your expertise!! That's just way cool!! DD8 loves the Safari, we also had (ok we loved it too!) take the Safari many times in our 7 day visit!! Thank you for enjoying your work, and giving us such a wonderful time!!

...and thank YOU as well. It's always nice to hear positive feedback

 

[mugglemom]

Thank you all for answering me! I am off to print this thread out!

Thanks PandyPaws for reminding me that there were two kinds of rhinos!
It was a white rhino that charged our truck!

 

[Mickeyfaniam]

yes we have had rhinos standing in the road in front of our truck. We had to stop and wait for them to move!!

 

[aec]

This photo shows that there is not seperation between the rhino and the safari truck.

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2130796034&idx=1

I hope the link works.