Up Close With Animal Kingdom’s Wild Africa Trek

Have you ever been on the Kilimanjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom and wished the truck would stop longer so you could get a better view/picture of the animals? Yea, me too. While that’s not going to happen on the Kilimanjaro Safari, there is a way to get that perfect picture and time to gaze at the animals — the Wild Africa Trek. I recently experienced Animal Kingdom’s Wild Africa Trek for the second time, and let me to tell you, it was just as cool the second time as it was the first time.

It’s hard to put into words just how cool it is to have a personal, guided, behind-the-scenes tour of Animal Kingdom’s wildlife. It is VIP status at its highest, and yes, anyone can do this tour. (Well, anyone over the age of 8 years old, in good health who books the tour.) If you want to feel like the most important person at Animal Kingdom, this tour is for you.

The Trek takes you off the beaten path. Picture the wooded, roped off areas of Animal Kingdom that you can see as you enjoy a normal day in the park. That exclusive, private area — that is where guests who embark on the Wild African Trek go. That is where the animal magic happens. But it’s not all jungle. There are also a couple of awesome rope bridges for a bird’s eye view of the crocs below.

After emerging from the jungle, Trek explorers find themselves in a safari jeep on the Savannah. But this jeep stops for animals. This jeep tour is what you always wished the Kilimanjaro Safaris tour was. Something you are reminded of every time one of the other jeeps speed by.

Animal Kingdom’s Wild Africa Trek is a truly unique experience that gives guests an opportunity to enjoy the park’s animals in a whole new way. The three-hour Trek is not included in the price of admission, however, if you are visiting this summer you can save $50 per person by booking on or after 11:45 am though August 25, 2012. The excursion price includes lunch (out on the Savannah overlooking the animals) and a photo CD mailed to your house including pictures of you, your party and the animals taken by your guides. The pictures are fantastic! (Except for the hippo pictures that I took, the pictures in this post are from my CD.)

Tips – You MUST wear close-toed shoes, long shorts or pants, be at least eight years old, and able to walk – a lot.

Disclosure – I was invited to a Chimpanzee premiere blogger event, which included my adventures in Florida. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.