Safari in January

[kslo69]

Hubby and I will be in Disney World in January. We have never been there in January and I was wondering if all the animals we see in May will be out in January on the safari ride when we ride it. With the weather being on the chillier side I am not sure if safari is worth doing a FP for.

 

[FCDub]

There are animals out all year round, all day.

 

[MomOTwins]

Yes! It is in the hot months that the animals are hard to see because they are all hiding in the shade. We saw more animals on our Christmas trip than on all of our prior trips combined.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

Yes! It is in the hot months that the animals are hard to see because they are all hiding in the shade. We saw more animals on our Christmas trip than on all of our prior trips combined.

The safari is an "African" safari with animals from Africa. These animals have existed for many thousands of years living in the climates of Africa. The weather in Orlando is not atypical to what they would experience in the wild. The animals are out during the hours of safari operation unless there is a requirement for them to be called back to their barns for medical or other procedures. Many of these animals typically sleep during the day as they are either nocturnal hunters or di-urnal foragers. Many of the ungulates graze all day long and they appear more active than say the lions, who sleep 18 - 22 hours a day. There is no "best time" or "best season" to go on the safari. I have ridden it probably 50 - 60 times, and can count on one hand the times that I saw any reduction in animals. The black rhino is about the only hit or miss I can think of. Yes, you can get lucky and see the cheetah walking to a new spot to sleep, or the lions walking around the kopi rock to re-settle in for a nap, or a hippo walking on land, but they are always out and visible.

enjoy your trip!

 

[kslo69]

thanks everyone. when we went this past May, it was the first time EVER that i didn't see ANY giraffes on the safari which i know is very unusual.

 

[Simba's Mom]

thanks everyone. when we went this past May, it was the first time EVER that i didn't see ANY giraffes on the safari which i know is very unusual.

That IS unusual! In all the times I've been on the safari (at least 50, and that's no exaggeration-I LOVE it!) I've never NOT seen giraffes. The only time there was a shortage of animals was one January when I went first thing in the morning. It was unseasonably cold-they even cancelled the Lion King Show (this was back when the Lion King was in an open air theater) and even later in the day the Lion King show did't have any acrobatics, something about the bars that the tumble monkeys use being too cold. Otherwise, plenty of animals all the time.

 

[kslo69]

I know right! I was totally shocked.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I am about to display my full on Disney nerd side and I know you all will forgive me. According to my notes we rode Safaris at 8:20am on Saturday, 1/13.

We saw ostrich running after our truck, 10 giraffes, black rhino, white rhino, flamingos, "wild dogs," "very close encounter with ankole."

My husband got some really great pictures of the ankole.

Yes I carry my notebook in my daily backpack.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I am about to display my full on Disney nerd side and I know you all will forgive me. According to my notes we rode Safaris at 8:20am on Saturday, 1/13.

We saw ostrich running after our truck, 10 giraffes, black rhino, white rhino, flamingos, "wild dogs," "very close encounter with ankole."

My husband got some really great pictures of the ankole.

Yes I carry my notebook in my daily backpack.

Impressive.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Impressive.

Thank you

It's fun to go back and see what we did. Helps me plan for the next time!

 

[brewhome]

I think we definitely saw more animals on our January/February trips than our November trips...

 

[robinb]

Be prepared for the baobab tree to not be in leaf.

 

[cavepig]

Our January safaris have always had most if not all the animals just as if it were any other month. There are times we rode it though and saw no elephants I know for sure.

 

[Delirium]

One advantage of January is there will be fewer humans.

 

[AngiTN]

Be prepared for the baobab tree to not be in leaf.

It is shocking isn't it

 

[AngiTN]

Our January safaris have always had most if not all the animals just as if it were any other month. There are times we rode it though and saw no elephants I know for sure.

The elephants know where and how to hide

Also, if you happen to take the safari when they are on the night route you end up missing most all the elephant enclosure. You pass only the male area. And since the males are out one at a time, it's easy for them to hide

 

[AngiTN]

There are a very few animals that they will pull off display if the temps get too cold. In January it can get too cold (this year we had nights below freezing and days barely at 40) but that is unusual. Normal Orlando temps doesn't change anything.