MS and Wild Africa Trek

[MollysWorld]

Hey.....DW and I are going to be at Disney in October for Food and Wine festival. One item that she would really like to go on is the Wild Africa Trek at AK. I was reading the requirements and just wanted to hear from others who have been on this adventure. DW has MS and one of the problems she has had is with her walking, especially with her right leg. I also worry about the heat and fatigue.

I know there are no guarantees, but I was just wondering about other's experiences on this adventure and what problems, if any, it presented. She really wants to go, but I just don't want it to be a situation in which she is overwhelemed or uncomfortable.

Thanks.

 

[MollysWorld]

Bump for info if available.

Thanks.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3253044 is a recent review of doing the Wild Africa Trek using an ECV. The reviewer also has MS so it may address other concerns with WAT that you hadn't thought of, as well.

 

[Tiggerish]

I did the trip report in the above link. My understanding is that the regular wild Africa trek does have walking over rough trails and there is the swinging rope bridge. I did debate whether or not I could do the tour because I do walk for some distances only need a rollator. In the end I decided the full tour was too much.

However, if she thinks she's up to it, do it now. It is unlikely to get better. I am big advocate of doing it now. Otherwise the adapted/substitute tour was amazing

 

[Sunnywho]

•You must have physical stamina, comfort with heights, and the surefootedness to negotiate small hills, foliage and unsteady rope bridges on this tour. Guests seeking a less strenuous or wheelchair-accessible trek should contact Wild Africa Trek operations at 407-WDW-TOUR (939-8687) for alternative programs.

I have MS too and although I could do this tour, I would book one of the first times available in the hopes of cooler weather in the morning as compared to afternoon and also do the tour as soon as possible after taking Provigil (fatigue medication).
Good luck to you and I hope she gets to do it!

 

[Pkltm]

We did this tour in mid-September last year, it was extremely hot. When you put on the vest with all the attachments your heat rises. It was four of us, all adults all in decent shape, we were all pretty wiped at the end of the day, I think that it was due the heat.

 

[zaksmom]

We did it on our last trip. My son uses a wheelchair and we did the " less intense" trek. It was wonderful. We only trekked through the on-stage part of "Africa" and then met up with the rest of our tour group when they loaded up on the truck. ( Fyi - it had a really good tie down for the wheelchair and the bathroom in the savannah where we ate was accessible.) For the trek we had a private guide and saw and learned so much more - but I am sure it all depends on animals, guide, etc. Because of this our walking was on flatter, paved paths. We would do it again. They offered that we could split up our group so some could go on the more intense part. But we all stayed together. Hope it works out for you.

 

[Starwind]

Hopefully this helps with your decision-making:

I did WAT in September. Our start time was at 11-something, so we were doing it during the heat of the day. It was HOT.

It is the better part of two hours of near non-stop walking on rough terrain that includes slopes up and down and which for quite a bit of the time takes you through forest, so you are navigating under tree branches and over tree roots. While going up and down inclines. You are on a path, but it there are obstacles on that path (see: roots, rocks, tree debris, etc). Branches will fling back and smack you in the face. Although you start in the AK proper, once you go onto the trail, it is a walk in the woods on a forest/animal *path* not a well-groomed trail.

There are short pauses when the guides stop to point out things, or to look at animals. Then it is back to walking.

At one point you cross a high series of two bridges that have gaps between the boards (there is a safety net below and you are harnessed above, so there is no danger of falling to the river below, but you have to be able to navigate the boards to get to the other side). The gap between some of the boards is a maybe a couple feet (or it certainly seemed like that). I am 5'4" and my legs were stretched to get from board to board a few times, others not so much.

If you do a Google images search for

"wild africa trek" bridge

you will see lots of pictures illustrating what I mean about the bridge.

The walk is long and at a steady clip except for the pauses. it is not a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood.

At the end of the walk, you come to a safari vehicle which everyone loads in to. You do part of the safari and are taken to a safari station for food and washrooms and rest. The safari station overlooks the animal area and is great for animal watching. You are there for a while, so it is a nice and restful break. There are washrooms. There is food (and they do a GREAT job of accommodating food allergies if they are notified in advance). there are decent chairs. It is shaded.

After the rest time, everyone loads back up into the safari vehicle to complete the safari. Note that it is an extended safari from the Kilamanjaro safari. it goes off-track onto a bypass at times to spend longer looking at something or to get an explanation of something, and as I recall in some areas it uses a different pathway.

Then you return to the base station and your WAT is over.

-SW