Kilimanjaro Safari Scare - or normal?

[malonefamily]

Last year we visited WDW just before Christmas, and had a nice trip. Probably the most interesting moment came early in the day at Animal Kingdom on the safari ride:

The five of us were seated in the front row of the jeep. Maybe half way through the ride the driver stopped the truck because a large male, white rhino was in the road giving us a very unpleasant look. Over the intercom he said something like: "We're just gonna stop right here, there's a male white rhino just ahead, and we don't wanna get in his way." He may have also said something about the rhinos having had a baby that year... I've forgotten.

Because we were in the front we could somewhat hear what he said over his private radio to the cast members running the attraction... something to the effect of: "Yeah, he's right in the middle of the road..." and he seemed very nervous to me. Also, another truck was literally off the road and the driver was out up ahead beyond the rhino.

We waited a few minutes-- the rhino gave us more dirty looks, then finally decided to wander off.

Later in the day we happened to take the train (or maybe it was a path / walkway) and we saw that the rhinos had all been caged up.

So, the question is: Were we in any danger at all? Was the rhino? Was this actually quite normal?

We've ridden the safari a few times but never had anything that seemed the slightest bit dangerous happen before.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Hmmm, rhinos, baby rhinos, I'd say there was probably some danger. Many of these animals have access to the roads, and many are known to be dangerous if riled. I don't know exactly how likely it is for a rhino to charge one of those vehicles (they're huge, after all!), and have never heard of it happening, but hey, there's a first time for everything, right? If it was to happen at any time, it would be while they are protecting their young. Probably why they caged them...better to be safe than to have another really public media incident.

 

[nalabell]

Well I have been on that truck and my vote was NOT in danger. I think it's hard to get a non-threating look from a rhino. I have taken several trips to San Diego animal park and I have feed the Rhinos there, and even though I was a little nervous at first I realized these beasts are really nice and calm. Had you jumped from the truck I think then you may have had a problem. Great story thanks for sharing.

 

[MartDM]

We had a similar incident last time we were there. We too were near the front of the truck and my impression from overhearing the guide's conversation on his radio was that it is simply standard operating procedure to give the beasts a wide berth when they are in the pathways. I believe the guide called ahead so that they didn't keep sending trucks out into the ride area and cause a backup. I never felt that we were in danger.

 

[Robo]

Well, we WERE charged by one of the rhinos.
The truck was stopped due to another truck in front of us encountering an animal across its path.

The rhino in question (standing and looking at us from about 100 fett away) suddenly just came running full-speed towards our truck and...

simply veered off around us and slowed to a stop afterwards.

Our driver then just slowly pulled away (the truck in front had moved on) and continued the normal speil.

Those of us who were "regulars" laughed and talked about it a bit.
Folks new to the ride assumed it was just "par for the course".

This is the only time in dozens of KS trips that we've been "charged" but it might not be all that unusual.

 

[joshsmom]

Wow, never thought about it at all. I could see a rhino getting a little protective if they felt their young were threatened. But I don't know if there was any danger or not. The most "dangerous" encounter we've had is one VERY NOSY giraffe!!!!

 

[jann1033]

a while ago someone posted they were disappointed that all the animals on safari were animatronic so did you notice the little electrical paths they run on? never knew these actually crossed the road as i never felt the "bump" from going over them so i just figured they were on a big circle- kind of like those targets at the frontierland shooting range. that disney , sure does make them look real





if the rhinos keep that up WDW is gonna have to add "Depends" to the safari trucks ala airsick bags on MS

 

[Robo]

if the rhinos keep that up WDW is gonna have to add "Depends" to the safari trucks ala airsick bags on MS

At least for the drivers.

 

[Blueberry]

We had two young male rhinos get into a heated argument (rhino style), right next to the vehicle on the left side. You could have almost reached down and touched them as they were shoving each other back and forth next to us. One of them bumped up againest the side of the vehicle and it did rock a little, but the driver was very cool and said "You have to go get in the regular line, this is NOT the entrance to the Safari guys"..hehehe. However he also said a couple of times to keep your hands and arms inside the car, if you want to take them home with you tonight...

The rhinos finally took their dispute away from the safari car and we moved on, but it was interesting to see.

I want to hear about the nosey giraffe joshsmom..that sounds like a good story too..

 

[joshsmom]

I want to hear about the nosey giraffe joshsmom..that sounds like a good story too..

I have a picture, but I still don't know how to post those darn things!!! BEAUTIFUL giraffe RIGHT next to our vehicle. We're all ooohhhing and ahhhing and Mr. (or Ms.) Giraffe decides to see what all the fuss was about!!! Leaned that L O N G neck down and looked RIGHT in our window!!! The picture is one big giraffe snout!!!! (is that what they call them???) I thought it was SO cool!!!! The head was still outside the vehicle, so its not like we could (or would) touch the giraffe. But I KNOW I've never been THAT close before!!

I'm so glad he/she didn't SNEEZE!!! AK would be a little uncomfortable if I had to walk around with giraffe snot on me all day!!! But what a souvenier!!!

 

[brer rabbit 28]

we had a giraffe encounter too. He was standing at the side of the truck so it wasn't safe enough for us to move on without possibly hitting him.I will never forget the way he peered in at us and then wandered off.I like to think he was muttering to himself about the pesky tourists in his backyard again!!!

 

[disnut8]

Our "encounter" was with an ostrich. Darn thing just didn't want to move from the middle of the road. We must have sat there for ten minutes. The driver was nice. Kept making jokes like "why didn't the ostrich cross the road?"

 

[Robo]

I have a picture, but I still don't know how to post those darn things!!!

Its Free. If you'd like to give it another try,

Go HERE:

www.photobucket.com

and follow the directions.

 

[peter11435]

This was nothing unusual. The white rhino, Giraffe, Eland, Impala, Tommies, Wildebeest, Ankole cattle, scimitar-horned Oryx, ostrich, zebra, bongo, kudu, and sable antelope are all free to cross the ride path. I assure you that your driver was not nervous, as they are all very use to that situation. He has to radio in when and why he stops because all other vehicles in the ride must stop as well. I can also assure you that the rhinos you saw caged up were not the same rhinos you saw on the safari. They have many more rhinos than you think. While you may have seen rhinos caged up there were still other rhinos (including the one you mention) out on the savannah.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've taken at least 15 safari rides and nothing like this has ever happened when I've been on it. As long as no one's in danger, I'd love to have such a unique experience. I'll definitely try and hope next week.

 

[Stitchfans]

These experiences are all so neat. Sure hope on our upcoming trip we can experience something like that. On our past two trips the safari was kind of dull. the animals were either hiding or just sleeping.

 

[CarolA]

I have had my truck stopped several times by Rhinos. I don't think you were in any danger.
The rules are that there is NOTHING the CM can do. No honking etc. They just have to wait for animals to cross the road or for a handler to come deal with the animal. Which means of course that the whole ride backs up while animal camps out LOL! Normally they just wait it out, but if the animal settles down for a nap or something experts have to be called.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

The trucks have special markings that will prevent the rhinos or other animals from charging, since so many animals can access the roadways. So I'm sure you wouldn't have been in any danger.

 

[Robo]

The trucks have special markings that will prevent the rhinos or other animals from charging, since so many animals can access the roadways. So I'm sure you wouldn't have been in any danger.

Hope the new Rhinos don't miss the CM training classes on what markings to avoid.

 

[Twende]

Two years ago in March we were charged by a group of Rhinos. It was really scarey.

We were stopped by an ostrich in the road and as you know the drivers must wait for them to move. A light rain had started and it seemed to thrill all the animals. The cheetah decided to run around a bit and act all crazy in the rain. This movement then startled the rhinos who had been playing in the red mud and rain. The rhinos then decided to repeatedly charge our vehicle, which could not move due to the ostrich. Everyone was screaming and getting very panicked. It was very exciting and I can tell you I could have reached out and touched the rhino. He and I were eye to eye! It was a mind blowing experience!


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.

The ostrich finally moved out of the way and we were able to continue our "two week" safari.



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

I hope it happens again sometime and this time I remember to point the video camera at the Rhinos. I had one running at the time but I grabbed hold of the seat and the camera lens got pointed at the floor of the truck. You can hear the encounter but not see the actual charge.