Kilimanjaro Safaris

Kilimanjaro Safaris Review

A giant Imagineered baobab tree is the starting point for this adventure into the up-country. Although re-creating an African safari in the United States isn't a new idea, this safari goes a step beyond merely allowing you to observe rhinos, hippos, antelope, wildebeests, giraffes, zebras, elephants, lions, and the like. There are illustrated game-spotting guides above the seats in the open-air safari vehicles, and as you lurch and bump over some 100 acres of savanna, forest, rivers, and rocky hills, you'll see most of these animals—sometimes so close you feel like you could reach out and touch them. It's easy to suspend disbelief here because the landscape is so effectively modeled and replenished by Disney horticulturists.

But it is a theme park, and Disney has a story to tell: dangers lurk in the form of ivory poachers, and it suddenly becomes your mission to save a group of elephants from them. Even without the scripted peril, there's enough elephant excitement on the savanna to impress everyone. In the past several years five baby elephants have been born here. The first, a male calf named Tufani, born May 22, 2003, is the fourth surviving elephant calf in North America resulting from artificial insemination. The second, a female named Kianga, arrived July 6, 2004, as part of the park's breeding program coordinated by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. On December 19, 2005, the 233-pound female calf Nadirah was born, and a male calf named Tsavo arrived June 28, 2008. Luna, another female born to Nadirah's mom, was born May 20, 2010. Other babies born at the park and thriving in their habitats include a white rhinoceros, a black rhino, an okapi, giraffes, and several gorillas.

Parents can hold small tykes and explain the poacher fantasy. The ride is very bumpy and should be avoided by expectant guests or those with heart, back, or neck problems. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair accessible, but ECV users must transfer to standard wheelchairs. Equipped for assisted-listening and handheld- or video-captioning devices. Guests with service animals should check with a host for boarding information. Come first thing in the morning, using Fastpass if necessary. Otherwise come at day's end, when it isn't so hot, and you'll probably see about the same number of animals as in early morning.