Kilamanjaro Safaris

[Pyedog]

Last time we were at AK, we went on this ride and were thoroughly disappointed. It was in the morning, but not incredibly early (maybe 10:00) and it was June (hot).

I'm wondering if we should try again. We have a PS reservation at the Breakfastasauras for 8am in late Sept., were planning to just do the Lion King show and leave for another park....but I'm wondering if this would be worth trying once more before rating it a big thumbs down?

I'd love to hear feedback from others. I see the pictures of the giraffe bent over the jeep; does this actually ever happen?

Thanks,
Pyedog

 

[gshoemate]

The good thing about the safari is it is never the same. There are differant things to see every time you go. We have had giraffes so close that you could reach up and scratch it's chin. Same thing with rhinos, they have been right next to the truck. I have never been on it in the morning but I do know around 3:30 they put food out for the animals and you can see alot of them. There is also a new addition, a baby elephant. We seen him for the first time yesterday and boy is he tiny standing next to all the adult elephants. I say give it another try, you will be right there so why miss it. You might want to time it so you can get fast passes for after the lion king, then you won't have much of a wait time for the safari.

 

[FreshTressa]

Hmm, I don't think the ride will change much for you. It is just a ride through a zoo, and if that is not your thing, then you probably won't enjoy it. It isn't exactly thrilling even when there are a lot of animals.
We did happen to get lucky and got pretty close to some animals, and I really liked the atmosphere, so we plan on going again. It was pretty cool outside, we wore sweaters and went at 9am, so maybe that is why. But I can understand that with a limited amount of time, there are a lot more thrilling things to do than a slow ride through a zoo.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Yes it happens... there was a giraffe blocking the roadway and another within arms reach looking at us tourists!

I have always seen many animals and some really up close... try again!

>>^..^<<

 

[Otimon]

Very sorry you were disappointed with the Safari but certainly give it another try. It is, in my opinion, the best ride there but as you are dealing with live animals moving around you may not see them all during just one visit. You can ride through once and go back again when you get off and the scene will be different from before.

We've seen many animals right alongside the truck as we drove through and even had to wait while others crossed the road in front of us.

Check out that Safari again and I bet you'll be very glad you did.

Best wishes and have a wonderful time.

 

[donpaul]

my family really enjoys this ride.
we got our fast pass and would have loved to get right back on but the line was about 90min last week.
we saw almost all the animals and our driver was excellent.
she pointed out the ones she saw and encouraged us to yell if she missed one.
we even saw the elephants in the water hole trying to cool off and the aby was standing right there near mom!!
it really was a great trip as like all other times.
the last time the giraffe could have licked my dh face--that is how close we were.

 

[cindala]

Definitely give it another try!! I say the earlier you go on the safari, the better!

 

[ryley26]

we go first thing every time and have seen giraffes with in 10 ft and lions and elephants running we saw most of the animals out and about go early first thing

 

[disnaholic]

Definitley give the Safari another try! We did the safari and 8 in the morning and we saw a ton of animals! There was a giraffe so close to the truck we could have touched them. It is worth another try, the earlier the better. This was in June and by 11:00 it was so hot we left and went back to the hotel for a swim.

 

[yecats]

I am the type who would love to sit and study the animals. Last trip we did one full day and one half day at AK (over the course of our 10 day trip). We did the safari at least 3 times (once on the full day and twice on half day) all before 10:00 a.m. The last time we did the safari about 9:30 we were seated in the last seat at the end, the vehicle rounded a corner with a man-made hill on the right side of the vehicle. Right when we rounded that corner we ended up boxing in a rhino in between us and the man-made hill. The rhino just had enough space to fit inbetween the vehicle and the side of the hill, I could smell his breath. The driver just made it past him and stopped. The rhino walked and stopped right behind our tour vehicle. Now I am only 4 feet away from this animal. We could see that he had a number of stitches on his face around the horn area. Just then another tour vehicle came around the same corner and boxed the rhino in and he did not look to happy. By this time many in our vehicle were asking the driver to leave because the rhino wasn't looking to happy. The driver obliged. It was a very interesting, enthralling and nervous experience to be so close to an animal of that size. Each ride is truly different. The first one we took wasn't overly exciting and we couldn't locate a lot of animals - glad we decided to go back.

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says................................. There have been a couple posts suggesting that AK is a zoo.

I ask those people, especially on the west coast,....

1. Is the San Diego Wildlife Park a zoo?
2. I'll even ask, is the San Diego zoo, really a zoo?
3. Northwest Trek, is that a zoo?
4. Is Monterray Aquarium a zoo or a bucket of water?

The only way to combine a thrill ride and animals, is if you try to shoot them on some corkscrew rollercoaster, blindfolded. Just Kidding, it can't happen. You need to enjoy the animals for what they do and what they are, and I don't think they like thrill rides, so lets be happy with a ride where you get very close.

 

[disnaholic]

You have a good point about not having thrill rides close to the animals.

 

[John VN]

By all means give it another try, the reason I suggest this is that the first time we went it was ok then the next time it wasn't but then the following trip it was better than the first and now we hit the ride every time we get to AK 6+ times a year. Our last driver was absolutely the best we have had and that made the ride even more enjoyable. In 10 days we'll have our 2yo and 4yo grandsons with us and we will do the ride at least once. Most likely we will hit AK in the AM before it gets too hot.


OKW-DVC Member

 

[Pyedog]

Sounds like many of you out there have had really great experiences at this attraction. We'll just have to give it another go.

To the Disnee Dad...sorry if my question was misleading. I'm not expecting KS to be a thrill ride, by any means. But I was expecting to SEE some animals. The day we went, we had trouble even finding them. The guide would stop the vehicle and then say things like..."They're over there...if you look closely, you can see one behind that rock....oops, let's wait and see if he comes back out.....hello?.....hmm....well, let's drive on and see what's around the corner". It was REALLY disappointing. That was in 2000. I wonder if they've altered the layout for better sitings, or if the animals have "friendlied up" in the past few years?

Thanks for all the responses,
Pyedog

 

[Dznefreek]

It is just like any zoo......hit or miss.

I have been there when we have seen very few animals......I have been there when we have seen TONS of animals.

 

[Darwineffect]

The first time I went to the park itself I was disappointed and thought it was a little dull. We went on the safari early in the morning as per our CM friends suggestion and really didn't see any of the animals. I vowed not to go back for a long time if ever. we did however go back a year later and I really enjoyed it. The safari was great, the animals were everywhere and I had a great time at the park as a whole. Aside from that whole dino world blemish. I still think AK is only a half day park but I liked it.