Kilimanjaro Safari

[emilydawn]

Is the driver a role that is available to CP's? I really hope so because it's my top choice! I absolutely LOVE the guest interaction and I'm very good (and comfortable) at giving spiels infront of large crowds. I also can be entertaining most of the time with my extremely bubbly personality! I really hope that there is a possibility that I can do this! And also, any ex-safari drivers, if you could explain what the job was like and the recommended qualifications that are required, I would really like ALOT of imput so I can have a bigger chance of getting this amazing role! Thanks!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Yes, CPs can be cast as Safari Drivers. Biggest qualification is that you MUST have a drivers license issued by one of the 50 states or Puerto Rico. International drivers licenses will not cut it.

The role itself is very repetitive ... on a standard 8 hour day, you'll probably be on a truck for roughly 6 hrs, and on one of the land positions for 1-2 hours. A lot of folks are also surprised by the physical demands of the job.

Now, you may be thinking "oh, I get to sit and drive all day, how hard can that be?" Well ... one of the trainers calculated once that during one 20 minute ride, you will make the equivalent of 400 complete rotations of the steering wheel, which can put a lot of stress on your wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Also, the trucks are BUMPY, and that's hard on your back. Back injuries among safari drivers are very common. Not to mention losing your voice. Plus, add in the fact that you're sitting right behind a 200+ degree engine on a hot summer day, with little to no air conditioning available.

All that being said, I loved the time I spent driving around the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. Learning to drive the trucks was a lot of fun, there is great camraderie amongst the cast (just watch out for the drama!), and you get to watch the animals all day long.

One other cautionary statement ... yes, the personality of the drivers affects the ride, but the animals are supposed to be the show, not the drivers. When I was there, we had "show observations", where an experienced cast member/trainer would ride your truck and give you feedback. I got told to try and tone down my 'radio announcer voice' ... I have a habit of over-ennounciating and speak with a (natural) cadence that sounds a lot like what some radio announcers try to mimick.

 

[Up_Is_Down]

Yes, CPs can be cast as Safari Drivers. Biggest qualification is that you MUST have a drivers license issued by one of the 50 states or Puerto Rico. International drivers licenses will not cut it.

The role itself is very repetitive ... on a standard 8 hour day, you'll probably be on a truck for roughly 6 hrs, and on one of the land positions for 1-2 hours. A lot of folks are also surprised by the physical demands of the job.

Now, you may be thinking "oh, I get to sit and drive all day, how hard can that be?" Well ... one of the trainers calculated once that during one 20 minute ride, you will make the equivalent of 400 complete rotations of the steering wheel, which can put a lot of stress on your wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Also, the trucks are BUMPY, and that's hard on your back. Back injuries among safari drivers are very common. Not to mention losing your voice. Plus, add in the fact that you're sitting right behind a 200+ degree engine on a hot summer day, with little to no air conditioning available.

All that being said, I loved the time I spent driving around the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. Learning to drive the trucks was a lot of fun, there is great camraderie amongst the cast (just watch out for the drama!), and you get to watch the animals all day long.

One other cautionary statement ... yes, the personality of the drivers affects the ride, but the animals are supposed to be the show, not the drivers. When I was there, we had "show observations", where an experienced cast member/trainer would ride your truck and give you feedback. I got told to try and tone down my 'radio announcer voice' ... I have a habit of over-ennounciating and speak with a (natural) cadence that sounds a lot like what some radio announcers try to mimick.

That's where I work
it seems really intimidating at first but it's so fun to drive around all day and see the animals.
So far, the spiel-ing is a teeny bit repetitive but not really. you usually do about 4 rounds and then you get a break and then 4 more rounds and then break and then a land position so shifts go by pretty fast.
I have back problems and driving in the trucks does not irritate my back. no wrist, elbows or shoulder problems... you don't have to worry about losing your voice unless you don't drink water and if you strain your voice while you spiel- just make sure you use your natural voice and don't try to talk differently.
Syracuse, you make it sound like it's such a bad job- but i think it's great! plus the extra spiel pay is great too

 

[glendalais]

Syracuse, you make it sound like it's such a bad job- but i think it's great! plus the extra spiel pay is great too

It's not that it's a bad job, it's just that there are considerations that are different from any other Attractions position.

There's a reason that the Company provides a Premium Rate to Cast Members working on that Attraction. Forgetting CPs for a moment, Kilimanjaro Safaris has one of the highest turnover rates among Full Time and Part Time Cast Members of any Attraction in all of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts (including the Disneyland Resort in California). Many Cast Members do not stay there very long, thus the Company has to pay a higher rate to convince other Cast to transfer there. It's the same logic used to hire Cast Members into Housekeeping, Custodial and Quick Service Restaurant roles.

 

[emilydawn]

None of that really bothers me. Never had wrist, back or neck problems. I love spieling! And I'm good at it too! I just really hope I get this position. Its like my dream position!

 

[fall08CP]

It's not that it's a bad job, it's just that there are considerations that are different from any other Attractions position.

There's a reason that the Company provides a Premium Rate to Cast Members working on that Attraction. Forgetting CPs for a moment, Kilimanjaro Safaris has one of the highest turnover rates among Full Time and Part Time Cast Members of any Attraction in all of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts (including the Disneyland Resort in California). Many Cast Members do not stay there very long, thus the Company has to pay a higher rate to convince other Cast to transfer there. It's the same logic used to hire Cast Members into Housekeeping, Custodial and Quick Service Restaurant roles.

Plus they have one of the largest staffs on property and I believe the longest spiel (now that Backlot has the voice over). Most of the CMs that leave are for promotions- they get coordinator or facilitator positions elsewhere, but continue to keep their training current at KSR. There's no place like Harambe

I worked there on my program- it was great! The animals are absolutely fascinating. You don't get much time interacting with other cast members, which is such a bummer, and I also missed working with ICPs- they are a blast. Anyways, I requested MK and NOT DAk at all, yet I still got it Good luck and hope you can be a game driver one day

 

[emilydawn]

I guess I really don't understand why the turnover rate is so high. It's like my dream job! I love giving long spiels and am somewhat good at it. The animals are just a great plus of having this job, too.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Like I said, I enjoyed my time at Kilimanjaro, in fact, I'd probably rank it as my favorite attraction that I've worked at, but there's only so many times you can drive around in a circle and talk to your imiganary friend, Warden Wilson Matua.

As for the back and wrist problems, I was lucky, I didn't have any before I started working at KSR, and I didn't have any when I left. I know lots of people that are less fortunate ... I know at least 6 folks that went on light duty for wrist problems, several others for back issues, and at least one person who developed such major back problems that she hasn't been able to work for 2 years.

There are cast members that have been at the attraction for 5 or 6 years. There are a lot more who have come and left. (I believe the last 1998 Opening-Team cast member left the attraction about 2 years ago, and now works at Kali River Rapids)