Just some quick input, vis-a-vis your question: DW and I stayed at AKL Deluxe Savannah Room (and first time on property) almost a year ago, and we requested a view of Arusha Savannah. Upon check in (about 10:30 a.m. on a Sunday), we were told that our room was ready. We excitedly went to our room, and noticed we had a view of the dreaded People Pen (
not in the Arusha Savannah). We went back down to the lobby and
ever-so-politely asked for a view without the Dreaded People Pen, and were promptly given a completely
awesome view of the Arusha Savannah, as we had previously requested. Don't know for certain, but I believe that the relative early time of our check in, plus the fact that I didn't affect an entitled-type of attitude with the people at the check in desk, contributed to our getting the Room of Our Dreams.
Just a thought.