Exploring Disney’s Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom Park

Animal Kingdom is one of the most immersive theme parks in the world. How often do you get to ride a thrilling roller coaster, see gorillas, hippos, and tigers, AND fly on a mythical banshee all in one place? Did you know it can get better than that?

One of its most unique offerings, the Wild Africa Trek, takes you on an unforgettable journey through the African savanna, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the park’s wildlife and conservation efforts. On my most recent trip to Walt Disney World, my husband and I decided to try out Wild Africa Trek for ourselves!

Booking Process

To reserve Wild Africa Trek, you must make a reservation in advance. Reservations can be made online by calling Disney’s reservation line or by entrusting the help of your travel agent. It’s recommended to book early, as spots tend to fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons. There are only 4 tours per day, with a maximum of 12 people per tour. You can begin booking 60 days in advance of your check-in date for resort guests.

Cost and Inclusions

The cost of the Wild Africa Trek varies depending on the time of year and availability. The price ranges from $219 to $229 per person, before tax.

Included on your tour are several exclusive experiences:

Guided walking tour through the park’s Harambe Wildlife Reserve, where you’ll get to encounter several animals.
The opportunity to cross over rope bridges suspended above the crocodile & hippo enclosures
This is an exclusive safari tour for just your group. You will get up close to the savanna animals. The giraffes were our favorite part!
Enjoy an African-inspired meal in the heart of the savanna, surrounded by breathtaking views.
Lockers for your personal belongings
Complimentary photo pass service. Your guides will take all your photos!
Gift commemorating the experience

A few special considerations to take note of would be that you should be in good health to participate in this tour as there is rough terrain and heights; children under 8 years old are not allowed to participate. Additionally, there is a maximum weight limit of 300 pounds and they do weigh you before the tour. All of this is for your own safety, of course! For full details on those limitations & requirements, check out Know Before You Go on the Walt Disney World website.

The Total Experience

We booked a 10:15 AM tour; so after riding a few attractions, we headed over to the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk, located across from the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction entrance. We were required to arrive at 9:45 AM so that the cast member could check us in and review safety requirements with us.

Once the entire tour group was checked in, we headed to the entrance to the tour so that we could put our personal belongings in lockers, weigh them, and fit for the harness equipment. Right from the beginning, the cast members were incredibly helpful and friendly.

This tour also has a few attire requirements. Recommended attire includes shorts or pants and a comfortable shirt. Closed-toe shoes with a back strap or hiking boots are required. No flip-flops will be allowed. I wore leggings and a T-shirt and was super comfortable. The harness fits really well, and my clothing didn’t interfere at all with it, which is key!

The first part of our tour took us “backstage” through the woods near the outskirts of the Kilimanjaro Safari & wildlife walking trails. The first animals we got to see were some of the hippos. One of their caretakers shared a lot of information about them. This was the first spot we got to hook up our harnesses so that we could get close to a ledge to see the hippos closer!

After this and a walk through a wooded area, we reached one of the best parts…the rope bridge over the crocodiles and hippos! You can see these bridges from the Kilimanjaro Safari rides, so keep an eye out next time you ride. Throughout the tour, including on the bridge, our 2 guides took turns taking photos of us and the animals. We ended up with a ton of great candid, professional photos.

After the walking tour, we boarded a smaller safari truck and were driven around the savanna part of Kilimanjaro Safari. This allowed us to get closer to some of the animals, like the giraffes, which was very cool. It was also much easier to ask questions about how the animals were taken care of, about the ride operations, and more!

After the safari, we were taken to the last part of the tour, an outdoor dining area right on the savanna. Everyone got their own lunchbox of African-inspired food & drink. During this time, we also got to look out over the entire savanna, take pictures, and talk to our guides more.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Wild Africa Trek tour at Animal Kingdom. For us, it ranks as one of the best things we’ve done at Walt Disney World. As someone who has been to Disney several times, I think this was a really great way to “uplevel” a standard Disney trip. I would recommend this tour to anyone, though! Especially anyone who loves animals. It truly was a unique experience to learn more about how Animal Kingdom operates and about the animals the park cares for. So, if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience during your visit to Walt Disney World, be sure to ask your travel agent to book your spot for Wild Africa Trek!